We’ve never spent Christmas Day at our home – but it’s OK because we have our own little tradition called Swiss Christmas. We look forward to Raclette and presents from under our tree. And then of course we have Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to celebrate at Grandma’s houses. What is more fun than showering…

Why is it that knickknacks and trinkets are somehow more acceptable at Christmas time? I usually like to keep things relatively simple, but at the holidays I want to surround myself with all things sparkley, cute, sentimental and even kitschy. I think I’m not alone. This year I collected some tiny Christmas baubles and ornaments and…

If we can’t have snow outside we’ll make our own inside. Bea created the snowman and we each snipped some paper snowflakes.

The ballerinas are little gifts for Claire’s ballet class holiday party. Yes, there is even a party for the four year olds ballet class. Her teacher said we could bring a treat and the moms got to watch the last few minutes of class. I’ve been a little annoyed at all the sweet store bought…

This week we are busy with class parties, wrapping presents and finishing a little bit of shopping. And we are missing Brian. For a second week in a row he’s gone all week traveling. Here’s his schedule for this week: Minneapolis to Geneva to London to Paris to Zurich… to Chicago. He’ll be due for…

Because it’s not Christmas until I’ve documented my decorations. And because we finally had some sun shining in the windows today. Here are the things that are making our house feel festive this year. The girls and I made lots of glittery mini houses. There will be glitter hiding in our banquette cushions and nooks and…

I hope my girls keep on enjoying our yearly visit to the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Wonderland Express for a very long time. It’s a sweet holiday outing for us. They fill a big room with eight model trains running all around miniature famous Chicago buildings. Plus all the plants that make the scenes are amazingly…

I didn’t buy one of those advent calendars with little chocolates behind the doors this year. Instead I found an idea for a different kind of countdown to Christmas. Everyday santa gets a little haircut – until Christmas Day when he will have almost no beard at all. Here’s santa after just one haircut. We’ve…