On the 25th Day of Christmas...

Opening Presents

Loving What You Get

Some Assembly Required

Trying On New Clothes

The Decorations Come Down

Putting New Clothes to Use

On the 24th Day of Christmas...

Christmas Lights in Motion

Does this shot capture the feeling of chaos that this day seemed to be packed full of? Christmas brunch with my sister's in-laws, last-minute shopping followed by last minute wrapping in which we ran out of paper before the boxes were completely covered, and dinner and Dirty Santa with my brother-in-law's extended family all crammed into one 24-hour period.

On the 23rd Day of Christmas...

I got this Christmas scrapbook a couple of years ago for Christmas and just kept saving it for "just the right Christmas." This is it. No more procrastination. Except for the part where I wait until after Christmas to get started so that I actually have pictures to put in it.

On the 22nd Day of Christmas...

homemade Christmas candy

(these are chocolate covered peppermint sticks that I made this weekend)

On the 21st Day of Christmas...

Christmas Cards

On the 20th Day of Christmas...

I absolutely adore these little holiday rubber duckies. I'm pretty sure they make them for just about every major holiday.

On the 19th Day of Christmas...

Today was our class Christmas party at the preschool, and I intended to get a picture or two of that to post for today's installment. However, anyone who has ever dealt with groups of children at any type of party knows that it was far to chaotic for me to even remember I had gotten my camera out, let alone sneak in a picture or two. So instead I give you:

The Loot: Grande Finale

This is the rest of what I brought home from the staff Christmas party last week:

* 2 dish towel, 2 pot holder Christmas kitchen set

* body butter

* Skin So Soft lotions

* an emery board

* 3 ornaments

And a partridge in a pear tree. Not really, but it sure seemed like it. The actual Dirty Santa gift I received contained the kitchen set pictured above, the Christmas tree, and the angel ornament. Everything else was gravy - little tokens that some of the staff gave out to everyone.

On the 18th Day of Christmas...

Mistletoe

On the 17th Day of Christmas...

The Loot

Part 3

This wasn't actually part of the Dirty Santa gift I received at the party, but it was technically part of my party loot, and therefore fits into my Loot series. Isn't he a cute little snowman in a hat?

On the 16th Day of Christmas...

This is the tree that my pre-k class made earlier this week. I drew a simple tree shape on the paper and had them put their little green handprints all over it. Then they colored ornaments and we taped those to the tree. It was a lot of fun.

On the 15th Day of Christmas...

The Loot: Part Deux

an angel ornament

On the 14th Day of Christmas...

Another healthy dose of Christmas Spirit brought to you by my great-neice.

On the 13th Day of Christmas...

The stockings were hung on the wall with great care.

Yes, there really are 11 stockings up in this house this year.

On the 12th Day of Christmas...

This little golden Christmas tree is just the first installment in a mini-series of pictures henceforth known as "The Loot." This was part of the Dirty Santa gift that I ended up with from the work Christmas party last night.

On the 11th Day of Christmas...

Tonight was the Christmas party for work, and this was my Dirty Santa gift on it's way to the party.

*EDIT*

The contents of this package were previously highlighted on the 1st Day of Christmas.

As for my haul from the party, stay tuned. I brought home enough subject matter for several days worth of posts.

On the 10th Day of Christmas...

You may not be able to see it very clearly, but this is a picture of the wreath on the street lamp.

On the 9th Day of Christmas...

My Christmas tree earrings always help me to get in the spirit of the season.

On the 8th Day of Christmas...

WRAPPING PAPER!!! I fell in love with these 2 rolls while shopping Saturday. I think they complement each other quite nicely, don't you?

On the 7th Day of Christmas...

It's amazing it took me a whole week to get a picture of this little angel into the mix. She was in such a good mood this morning! Sis and I set up a little photo shoot, trying to get a couple of good shots that would work for a Christmas card (I know, nothing like procrastination). In the half-hour that we had to work with, I got over 70 shots. I dare you to look at those chubby little cheeks and arms and not suddenly be pumped for Christmas. Go on. I dare you.

On the 6th Day of Christmas...

Not the best quality picture, but pretty good considering I may or may not have been behind the wheel of a moving vehicle at the time. I love the street-light decorations that cities have out this time of year!