Advent: expectation and festive preparation

There were birthday parties, cookie exchanges, tree decorating, carol singing, and a Nutracker fairy at the Phipps.  I was the happy beneficiary of crafty friends who invited me and my kids to make clove-studded clementines, icing covered Christmas tree cones, construction paper greeting cards and luminaria.   

We celebrated St. Nicholas' day and when Grace learned there was something in her shoe, she said, "That's silly!" but after she saw the cookie, she checked the other shoe too.  "It's Nicholas-time!"

St. Nicholas cookie exchange haul. 

And then we left for Tucson, and the parties continued!