Follow Me in Merry Measure

See the blazing Yule before us,
Fa-la-la-la-la-la la-la-la-la
Strike the harp and join the chorus,
Fa-la-la-la-la-la la-la-la-la
Follow me in merry measure,
Fa-la-la-la la-la-la la la la
While I tell of Yuletide treasure,
Fa-la-la-la-la la-la la la!
--from Deck the Halls, a traditional Welsh melody


I am BIG on decking the halls.  Huge!  For 11 months of the year, I like things plain and simple.  For 1 month of the year, I love the fancy!  We do 2 Christmas trees--kids' tree downstairs:

And fancy tree upstairs with Grandma Marge's beautiful ornaments:

And we do an advent calendar from December 1-24, which I realize probably isn't the real advent season or whatever, but it works for us.  I made 24 little envelopes and wrote a number on each one with sparkly glitter.  Then I clothespin them to some yucca branches that I keep in a jug.  See:

On the days the kids are with their dad, they get little chocolates and candies, but the days they're here, it's usually some sort of experience or gift.  For instance, today, this is what was in the envelope:

...and so we did:

So much fun!  And tonight we got to light the first candle in our advent wreath (Nancy and I made advent wreaths for all the Sisters, as a surprise).  Tonight's candle was for hope.  I hoped for the health of my loved ones, Caroline hoped for our family and friends (general, non-specific hope), and Jack hoped to get lots of Lego sets for Christmas. Ha!  Here's the wreath:

Fa-la-la-la-la
la-la
la
la!