Advent

The girls and I made this advent calendar out of $.99 mini stockings.  I think I was more excited about it then they were.  I love Advent calendars.  The only real crafting involved painting glittery gold numbers on each stocking, but that it about as crafty as i get.  We agreed that Derek or I would fill each stocking individually on the night before the appropriate day.  There is just no way that the Middle Who would be able to resist the temptation to look in every single one on Day 1. I have 4 small gifts for them to go in those slightly bigger stockings.  The other 20 days are really small trinkets, but they'll love them anyway.

More lifestyle photography.  This image shows:  my horrible family room/kitchen wallpaper, the plastic covered, non-working fireplace, the splintery, faux accent beams in my family room and that wonderful ceramic cat missing an ear that Derek saved from his Grandmother's house (I think) and has always had a spot in every one of our homes (and always will).  This image is cropped funny so that it doesn't show the baskets of crap toys-that-never-get-played-with that are sitting on the hearth.