Countdown To Christmas

The time is upon us once again. Tomorrow will be Christmas and yet we still had so much to do. But with the help of my husband and two girls, we were able to accomplish everything and even had fun along the way. Isn't that what days like these are supposed to be about anyway?

I have been saying all along that this time of year is all about TRADITION and today was no exception. We filled our day with activities that I hope will become permanent every Christmas season.

I wanted to try to set the table in a way that made it stand out from every other day. This was my best attempt...

The past four years, we have had this advent calendar...

And the girls have looked forward to opening a new door every day...

All pegs have been filled and our calendar is complete...

Joe thought of a new, special dinner for us to eat on Christmas Eve. TAMALES!! He worked hard and I must give him all the credit for this yummy dinner...

The girls waited patiently to decorate our gingerbread house. A tradition that we started when Lily was a baby...

This was Sophia's first year decorating and she couldn't wait...

to eat the candy...

and part of the gingerbread man...

Lily chose her candies and strategically placed them...

While Sophia enjoyed the icing...

She finally took a break from eating to help Lily decorate...

and then went back to eating again...

and again...

While Lily and Sophia worked on the house, I made some cookies for Santa...

The gingerbread house was completed...

The girls moved on to the cookies next...

Just testing them to make sure they were good enough for Santa...

Once I got the ok, we set out cookies and milk for the jolly man in the red suit. A tradition many people do and one we will always do...

It was time to put the girls into their Christmas pajamas. Lily got the snowmen...

and Sophia wore some that I think were specially made for her. (Please take the time to read the wording on the front)...

Then, as was tradition when I was young, the girls got to open one present apiece...

and immediately fell in love with their new sleeping bags...

I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings...