I started this project last Christmas and finished it last week, just in time. I gathered all the boys' Santa pictures from the past twelve Christmases and framed them in collage frames. This is now the focal point of our holiday mantel.
Sadly, I don't think we'll be visiting Santa this year as there are some skeptics in the house. But at least we now have the years of magical thinking captured and framed.
Speaking of capturing things, I found a new way to capture another batch of memories. I bought a merry and bright red scrapbook, embellished it with a holiday foil tree...
...and filled it with our family holiday cards from the past twelve years since the boys were born. I thought organizing made me happy but now I know holiday organizing makes me elfishly happy!
Just so you don't think we're all structure and no fun during the holidays, you must know that we honor the pickle tradition in our house. Now that's fun.
Even more fun is the funky holiday glasses that the boys received in the mail this week. They turn the view of your Christmas tree lights from ho-ho-hum...
...to HOHOHO-LY SNOWFLAKES!
I put the glasses over my camera lens and this is what you see.
We like tradition as much as we like fun so I must point out some traditional holiday treasures that are included in my holiday decor. These caroling books grace the piano every Christmas season. They belonged to my parents' families and date 1942 and 1935 respectively.
I also display my mother's Christmas story and prayer books, dating 1941 and 1943.
And you thought it was titled, "Twas the Night Before Christmas..." Look again.
Another thing I have from my mother is something that has developed without my knowing.
My mother has a vast collection of Santa Claus figures.
I never fully undestood her fascination with collecting them.
But it seems that I too have a fairly sizable collection.
How did this happen?
Maybe it happened while I was admiring my Nutcracker collection. Somebody stop me.
Thankfully my kids are always here to keep me in check during the holidays... after all, it is about them, right? And for them, we have a new advent calendar this year. Behind each door is a small surprise.
Some days, there is a message or a fun holiday "to-do" item for the day.
I've lost count of the stops on this holiday home tour. Whether it was twelve or not, doesn't matter. What matters is sharing the joy of the season. May you have it and share it twelve-hundredfold.