More Christmas Decorations...

In my quest to keep things low key this year, I am slowly putting out Christmas decorations. I put up my mantle decorations, my nativity scene and my Currier & Ives Christmas Village. I've wrapped my kid's gifts and they are ready for Christmas morning. Dad took the boys Christmas shopping last night, so I was able to complete my second session of gift wrapping.

For the last few years we have stuck with three gifts each for the boys and one big gift for them to share. Jesus got three gifts, so they do too. Three seems to be the perfect number of gifts.

Every year I have a Christmas tea. I always go a little overboard much to the delight of my guests. This year, in keeping with the scaled down Christmas, I've only invited a few friends and I'm not calling it a "Christmas Tea" so I don't feel obligated to go all out. So far, it's working. I'll do a little baking today and I'll bake scones tomorrow so they are fresh. I have my Celestial Seasonings Sugar Plum Spice and Gingerbread Spice Tea ready to go. I'll also make some decaffeinated Community Coffee. I'm keeping myself in check! I do love to entertain.

This year with our nativity set we move Mary and Joseph closer to the barn every day. On Christmas Eve, they will be in the barn and on Christmas Day the baby Jesus will appear.


We visited with family and friends out of town this weekend. Kids grow a lot in one year! All the nieces and nephews are getting tall and my nephew brought a girlfriend to the celebration. The sea of gifts this year was amazing. We pick names, my MIL gives everyone a gift and we have a white elephant, so we only get three gifts each. But somehow my sister-in-law's little tree was bursting with Christmas cheer this year. What recession? I feel very blessed this year!