Our family's stockings (hung by the chimney with care!)
The most recent addition to our wall of handmade banners. These are from the kids' years at Advent Parish Day School - we have three made by Abby and two from Tyler - when we're done there, we'll have a collection of seven banners.
Abby and Tyler decorated mini trees for their rooms this year. Tyler's is covered with matchbox cars and "machines," while Abby's is all girl!
In addition to raiding her accessories basket (beads, wands, tulle), she gathered a bunch of her Littlest Pet Shop pets (that's not all of them sadly!) to ring around the tree a'la the Whos in How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Auntie Jenn got this nativity scene for Abby a few years ago, and since then, we've adopted it as our main one for the family. The figures aren't breakable like most sets and it's a great size for the kids. Abby had a wonderful time setting it up this year.
This is the first thing you see when you come in our front door. Thanks Martha for this great find ... it is one of our favorite decorations!
Well, this is actually what you see first ... on the porch (along with the beautiful lights Dennis hung). It used to belong to my parents, but they thought Abby and Tyler would like it. They do!
And here are two of the ways we are counting down to that big day. The kids take turns putting ornaments on the Advent calendar, but this year it's Abby's job to update the chalkboard.
She keeps up with it pretty well, until Tyler erases it ... about halfway through the day ... everyday. Brothers!
Grandan got a new jacket ... "Hey, you wanna make something of it?!"
Tyler and Dennis have had a blast with the tool set Grandma and Grandpa gave Tyler ...
And, the rocket the kids got from us was a "blast" for the WHOLE family!
EXCEPT Nanny, who reluctantly came out to see the show, but almost had her head taken off when it went awry!
Books are ALWAYS a huge hit with our kids. Abby has already read a few of these chapter books to herself!
To parents, it's the homemade gifts that mean the most. Grammy and Grandan loved their mugs, painted by Abby and Tyler. And, Dennis was thrilled to get ANOTHER portrait for his office. I think I'll have to go in and help him arrange his gallery.
A break in the present opening to fly like Superman!
More reading ... thanks Colorado Schnittkers for keeping our library stocked!
And, thank you for the cute cousins frame to remind us of the times we spend together (too few and far between though!) Notice Grammy behind Abby in this photo? Unfortunately, she was camera shy on Christmas morning, because I only got shots of her behind people! Believe me, she was having fun!
Abby got Tyler a personalized mug to match hers ... "Cheers Tyler!"
And Cheers to me as well. When the present opening goes on all morning, a mimosa is in order! No shots of me opening my gifts ... but the new vacuum I received from everyone definitely came in handy to clean up this mess! And, I've been LOVING my new coffeemaker too!
When everything was opened, Grandan and Abby hit the green. Thanks Grammy and Grandan for this fun gift. I think Grandan is grooming the children to join him down the road!
Sorry Mom, Dad and Nanny missed the excitement of that initial reaction (anticipating they would sleep in a bit, we suggested they arrive around 7:00 a.m.), and we didn't even get it on video. But, Tyler's reaction, and Abby's soon after when she walked out into the living room was great! I ran out with Tyler (Dennis was still rubbing his eyes trying to wake up) to the living room, where Uncle Aaron was still sleeping on the couch. Abby was quite shocked that Aaron (who had a prime spot RIGHT in front of the tree) didn't see Santa as he made his stop at our house! Abby's gift from Santa is behind Tyler (he's being an underwear model here) ... a three-story dollhouse. It's cuter from the front ... pink and purple with balconies!
And, we can plan all of our upcoming vacations with this cool globe! 
Aaron looks a little blurry, but this is a great photo of Nanny.
Oh, you poor tree ... looking all peaceful there with just a couple of gifts under your branches. You have no idea what craziness you're going to witness for the next 24 hours or so!
Tyler, whom I don't believe had a nap that day, was kind of cranky and got downright indignant when he was told there would be no additional 
Don't let Abby fool you ... in the photo above, she was actually eating the decorations! I caught her red handed ... OOPS!
And Tyler decided to follow suit! The only decorations off limits were the red hots ... as they were too hot for little mouths!
Grammy thought they would work better as a Rudolph nose for Abby ... but we made her join in the reindeer games as well!
Didn't the house turn out beautiful?!?
Good practice, because tomorrow or Wednesday, Mom and Nanny are going to construct and decorate a real gingerbread house with the kids. Oh joy! Hope they do this project at the Little Yellow House!
She is just so proud of the shots she takes ... and she loves the special features on this kid-friendly model (you can give people pig noses, distort their faces and add horns, etc.). And there are even a few games. A camera and video game in one ... gee, thanks Auntie Jenn!