Christmas countdown, day 5

With a hint promising another time-related gift, package number five will be a favorite for a long time. The more careful unwrappers that took charge found a lovely to look at, lovely to listen to holiday clock.

Sparkling in the Christmas lights around our house, the clock plays one of six holiday songs upon each hour. It has the uncanny ability to quiet our house at the top of the hour so little ears can listen. We're now consulting the instruction manual to see if there's a setting for chime songs each quarter hour.

Christmas countdown, day 4

To accompany the ceramic train station under our tree, package number four contained a set of lighted building figurines. A church, fire station, house and shop help grow the kids' holiday street scene.

Thorough packaging kept all structures in tact despite the unwrapping strategy of the dynamic duo.

Christmas countdown, day 3

They had this one right from the start. "Sweets for our sweets" ... and the chorus rang out candy. The specifics, though, couldn't be determined until the paper was removed.

Holiday M&Ms are the candy pinnacle in these parts. Spiking bowls of popcorn during movie nights, M&Ms are an added bonus. Their new bag should last through our holiday showings. "A Christmas Carol" anyone?

Christmas countdown, day 2

Countdown gift number two quickly turned from simply opening a rather sizeable rectangular box ...

to a scene stolen from a Lifetime Movie Network movie featuring a bridal sale of some sort. Hanger pulling, taggled tags and shouts of dress sizes ensued. Everyone but Trace was trying to get their hands on a festive, plaid holiday dress, complete with velvet shrug. (Lucky for him, he was the only one interested in black cords and a red sweater.)

Once size sorting wrapped up, a fashion show got underway. Sunday morning's church service provided all the compliments and twirling (by the pastor, nonetheless) they desired. Now they're filling up their holiday calendars with other dress-wearing opportunities.

Christmas countdown, day 1

The hint for the first advent gift of 2011 was that the giftees needed an official time keeper. Fighting the paper-ripping urge, they all quickly guessed a clock or stop watch.

What they found inside was a tree ornament that counts down the days, hours and minutes until the big day. So, now they are off ... only 23 days, 7 hours and 16 minutes to go. They only wish they could speed up time.