Christmas Beginnings

 I feel a bit like yesterday was Thanksgiving and tomorrow is Christmas and I'm not sure how things fit in between. The time moves so quickly and this stage in life means its hard to add something in that's not already part of our normal routine (i.e. decorating for Christmas). I guess it has to happen little by little, here and there!

Today we had the treat of attending the Indiana Repertory Theatre's production of A Christmas Carol. I've always wanted to go and this year Rachel's online school made it possible to get affordable tickets!

We all sat spellbound as the snow fluttered from the ceiling and the actors in their Dickensian outfits began by singing Carol of the Bells. By the end everyone was in awe of how spectacular a "real" production like this is.

And I finally got our new advent calendars hung up properly tonight!

I asked my mom a month ago if she would be willing to paint some new ones for the kids.

Then it was a last minute job to get all the windows filled.

And tonight I cut the mattes so that the calendars will stay nice for many years.

We do love our advent calendars!

And they help make the kitchen/dining room look very festive -- even if we don't have much else done yet. And they make me think of Tasha Tudor, our inspiration for advent calendars and many things Christmas.

Maybe later this week I can even change the mantel and door from fall to Christmas! In the mean time I think reading some more of my Christmas books is a good idea!