Christmas Stuff-cont'd with bullets

• I finally have some Christmas pictures up. Blogger was acting up for awhile, by the time I got the slide show to work I didn't want to go in and add text for fear that an hour of work would go down the drain- so we have this addendum entry.....
• Decorating the tree was so much fun this year. Ev was really into it and was a helper with every stage. I always set out bits of fruit and snacks while we decorate so that's why she's munching on something in a couple of the pictures.
• I have a few pictures of our ornaments this year. Some ornaments Leslie and I have had from our first Christmas together so they are 15 years old! Hard to believe they have survived, as we have had many military moves during that time.
• The Polar Bear that Ev made is special to me. She just sat down last week and made it- all on her own! I love that it really does look like a polar bear and that it was her idea.
• My mantle forest is thanks to Leslie. I mentioned that I wanted a little pine tree forest up there and he went right out to his workshop and made those for me. They are all originals and I think they look quite pretty. Can you see the beeswax moose we tucked in?
• I have the panda ornament to honor China in a small way during our Christmas season.
• The octopus is from Hatteras- we love octopus around here so it's appropriate that we have one. We are not the only people I know with an octopus on the tree, Les' sister Jenny has one too!(they also have a panda!)
• I used to have alot more Christmas stuff about the joint, sadly we lost an entire tote in the last move and it was Christmas. I had alot of handmade things from friends and family in there so it's really bothered me that it's all gone.
• 2 days until Christmas!!!! I can not wait to see Ev's face when she sees her rocking horse! And her Mighty Masters Art Kit!!!!!