In the spirit!

I finally got around to putting up our super tiny Christmas tree last week. Now the stockings have also been hung by the chimney with care, the holiday photos have been pasted on the mirror, and the Christmas gifts have been placed beneath the tree (color-coded depending on which house they will be opened at, of course!). It finally feels like the holiday season in our house!

Did you note that, for the presents I wrapped, someone is lucky to get a ribbon, much less a stick-on bow?

Here is a "decked out" present from me:

Mike, however, is a bit more ... (how shall I say it?) infused with the holiday spirit, perhaps, than I am. That's why I receive such gorgeously decorated presents.

Can you believe these handmade bows?!? They are almost too pretty to want to open! (Almost.)

Apologies in advance to everyone who gets the ribbon-less and bow-less gifts that I wrapped. When you see them side by side like that, even I realize that the gifts I wrapped look particularly homely. However, I assure you that, while they were wrapped with 'efficiency' foremost in my mind, they were also nevertheless wrapped with an equal part of 'love.'



And finally, just because I can't resist (and because I would like to distract you from my lame gift-wrapping abilities), I'm throwing in a couple gratuitous photos of the cats for your viewing pleasure.

Mac is really good at "helping" me to wrap presents:

And really good at making me feel guilty for not playing fetch with him when I'm trying to finish wrapping those gifts!

Lucy, on the other hand, is a girl after my own heart. She would be content to sleep all day (although she will rouse herself when it's dinner time!).

Happy Winter Solstice, everyone!