it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Living in California definitely has its perks.  We are close to both the beach and the mountains.   We have warm weather in the summer and cold weather in the winter and we don't ever have to shovel a walkway of snow.

Of course, it also makes it difficult to get into the "Christmas spirit" when it is sunny and people are walking around in shorts and t-shirts.  I have been waiting for it to feel like Christmas and it just didn't.  I was slowly pulling out decorations and lighting scented candles to kick start that holiday feeling in our house but it wasn't working.

Then this weekend we got our Christmas tree and it all came together...

The kids were giggling and bouncing with excitement.  Miraculously, no ornaments were broken in the trimming of this tree.

Every year Chris passes out ornaments and we all take turns putting our favorites in that perfect place on the tree (or in Landon's case, putting every ornament at eye level, right in the front).

And this year we brought back one of my favorite things.  One of those things that brings me right back to my childhood.  Wait for it.....................

Yep, the Dickens Village finally made its appearance.  Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, Ebenezer Scrooge and the whole gang.  The kids have never seen the village and they loved it.  

I remember being a kid and scooting as close to the village as I could without touching it (we were never allowed to touch it) and imagining the hustle and bustle of busy streets at Christmas time.  I loved it.  The glowing windows, the streetlamps and the little people (who, let's be honest, are WAY too big for the houses).  I loved them all.  
As a kid, the joy and wonder of Christmas is all around.  The village was it for me.
 

More Christmas to come......Happy Monday!