The first day of December is an exciting one around here especially for Mama. Every year I say I will wait just a bit longer to decorate but then I get too excited. I usually pull things out when the girls are asleep or at a neighbors house playing and they come home or awake to a surprise. So many of my own childhood memories fill me up as I set out the advent calender or the nativity scene. I remember what a simple pleasure it was opening the calender window each day to see what was inside. Now as I watch my girls do the same thing it warms my heart. Today we made pomanders with oranges and cloves. The house smelled like Christmas!