1. This was our very first Christmas decoration given to us as a wedding gift (from the Magnusson Family). It is the first thing I put up each year as I decorate for Christmas.
2. We made this gingerbread house the Sunday after Thanksgiving. We enjoyed looking at our beautiful creation for a few weeks but then it was time to partake. It was source of two well-behaved children, some bribes, many sneak attacks, and a few stomachaches.
2. We made this gingerbread house the Sunday after Thanksgiving. We enjoyed looking at our beautiful creation for a few weeks but then it was time to partake. It was source of two well-behaved children, some bribes, many sneak attacks, and a few stomachaches.
3. This year I bought this advent calendar. I have always wanted one like this where you can stuff lots of goodies inside. That was the plan (the lots of goodies part) but I quickly realized the kids were eating plenty of sweets so Adam suggested putting their vitamins in it. Brilliant!
3. Elf on a Shelf. Grandma Graham gave this to the grand kids this year. We named him Dash. He watches over out little munchkins and then flies to the North Pole each night to update Santa on who's been naughty or nice.
4. Little People Nativity. This is one of Charlie and June's favorite things (thank you Momoo). The kids love playing with baby Jesus and singing along to "Away in a Manger" as the angel on top lights up.
5. We began a new tradition this year. On Christmas Eve we write Santa a letter giving him an update on the happenings at the Koch household. Santa then responds and we log the gifts he brought.
6. I LOVE getting Christmas cards. Truly a favorite thing. 
7. Another fave, our Santa plate (thanks mom).
8. The story goes like this... My very first Christmas as a married woman I came home from shopping with two adorable stockings. I went to show them to Adam and he did not like them. So I asked, "Well dear, what do you picture our stockings looking like?" His response, "I don't know, it's just that my mom MADE ours." Lovely. I guess I was not the domestic diva that he thought he married. So the next day I marched over to the fabric store, dragging Adam along with me, and we each picked out some fabric so he could have a HOMEMADE stocking. Well, to make a long story short I have made and re-made our stockings every year since then. I made one when Charlie was born and then the following year for June. This year I re-did them all because I did not like how they all looked together. Adam has been fine since attempt #1 but now I am a crazy woman about our stockings. These are the ones I made this year... we'll see if they stay the same in the future.
I wish it could be Christmas all year long. I love having so many extra decorations on the walls, lights twinkling at night, and that extra special spirit that fills our home. I guess that is what makes it a favorite though, that it only comes once a year so we need to savor every moment.
3 comments:
I LOVE CHRISTMAS! It was quite an interesting one this year. Thanks for your planning of "The Koch Family Christmas". It made things have some semblance of order(since I was almost checked out). I appreciate and love you sooo much. Every family needs a "Nora". Thanks for pulling us together and "just doing it".
I have to chuckle at your stocking story - when I was a child, we pinned up one of my dad's work socks, so I wasn't prepared when I discovered that the rest of the world didn't seem to do that!
At least they are fairly simple and straightforward to make!
I love your Dear Santa letters! What a great idea. I wish I had my Santa Letters from when I was little! I am going to copy, and I am going to make the book now, otherwise I will forget before next year.
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