Christmas 2011 - Part I

I know...Christmas was 3 months ago...I figure better late than never! (btw...I don't know why everything is being underlined and I don't know how to fix it). Oh well. Here is Christmas Part I. These are a few pictures from around the house this past Christmas.

Pretty obvious, I guess, but this is our 2011 Christmas tree.

I just used my "It's A Wonderful Life" village this year.

My favorite movie of all time!

My three wise men were in the living room this year...

...while the rest of the nativity was in the kitchen. :)

Advent

Our Advent Candles and the book I use that tells about Advent (and many other wonderful Christmas traditions)

Neal reading the Bible during our family devotions.

Our Advent Hershey's Kiss calendar chain. Starting on December 1st we give Beth and Ben a candy Kiss each day.

Before they get their candy kiss, they have to give one of us a real kiss.

When I'm doing it, this is my favorite part. I think Daddy enjoys it, too!

Here's a close up of the chain. It's fun and easy to create, and makes for some great memories!

My Skating Rink

I was able to download a short video of my skating rink. I love the music, but after a while it gets tiring...I'm so glad there's a volume control on it!

(Okay...I was able to see the video when I previewed my post. Is it showing up for anyone?)

A Few of my Favorite Things

These are a few of my favorite things around the house right now:

I have a huge Christmas village, but this year I only set out a few pieces. I was overwhelmed at the thought of having to pack them back up after Christmas! I kind of like it simpler this year for some reason.


This is the skating rink that Neal purchased for me many years ago! The skaters actually skate around and there's Christmas music playing. The ferris wheel moves, too.


A close-up of the tree stand. I would love to buy a tree there!


Here's our tree this year. I just love to sit and look at it.


Every year Neal and I purchase an ornament with the year on it. This is the ornament from our first Christmas as a married couple.


This ornament was made when Ben was about a month old. His hand is so tiny! I love this ornament!


A couple of years ago, Mom gave me some ornaments from when I was a kid. This one was one of my favorites. I can remember decorating the tree while we played Christmas records on the stereo (yes, records! You know...big CD's.) I love the old Christmas songs performed by Bing Crosby or Frank Sinatra.


Have to have a Virginia Tech ornament or two on our tree!


This is one of the ornaments I decorated early in our marriage. I set out to have a "Victorian Tree." It worked until the kids came along, and then any thoughts of a theme tree went out the window! (But that's OK!) :o)


I'd love to see other people's favorite ornaments and decorations! Let me know if you post them on your blog.