Right after Thanksgiving we picked up our tree and I got the decorations out from the garage. We don't have much – just two small bins, mostly of candles. It's always fun to set everything out though and since I tend to buy all my decorations on sale on December 26th then pack them away for the year, I always find something I forgot I had.
Ellerie has been pretty cute with the tree. She's mostly interested in all the balls (which thankfully, are plastic). All day long she'll touch them (or grab them) and all day long I pick up stray ornaments and stick them in a bowl on our shelf. After she's gone to bed I'll rehang everything (otherwise my month would be one long tree-redecorating party).
We're doing a simple version of Elf the Shelf this year. I bought an Elf (Ellerie named her "Cuddles" – which is the name of every stuffed animal in our house) and each morning we "find" her in a new spot in the house and Ellerie proceeds to cuddle her. It's adorable. I'm learning you're either very "pro-elf" or "anti-elf" (I am neither but I just thought it would be a fun way to expand the Christmas season). Next year we'll do an advent calendar too.
Candles are my thing in the winter months. I hate that it gets dark so early, but if I can't have sunlight, I'm going to have candlelight. We are making a point to eat dinner as a family at the table (it's my number one goal in 2015 for us to do nightly) and each night we light candles on the table. Little rituals with little kids are the best. You do it one night it's special. You do it two nights and it's just the way things are done.
Our Christmas cards went out the door yesterday and I am thrilled to check that off my list. I'll be sharing them early next week, hopefully after they've arrived at their destinations.
'Tis the season around here for sure. (Next week we're visiting Santa!) I love it.
Lots of DIYs in this post. Here are the links : string stars, star tree garland, felted garland, JOY wall hanging, Christmas collage.
enJOY it 
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