It’s undeniably one of my favorite times of the year right now – this sweet spot between Thanksgiving and Christmas. We’re doing all the things and getting *so* excited for Santa.
![](http://keepingupwiththeallens.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_7068-scaled.jpeg)
Our Thanksgiving was lovely. It was very quiet – just the four of us – but we had a really great day. The kids were very excited to help prepare everything.
![](http://keepingupwiththeallens.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_6849-scaled.jpeg)
Living in the mountains in a winter wonderland, especially with a downtown that is so magical, still feels like such a dream. We’ve driven into town a few nights to enjoy the all of the spectacular Christmas lights.
![](http://keepingupwiththeallens.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_7059-scaled.jpeg)
I’ve been rather reserved in cookie baking this year. The kids helped make sugar cookies {with this frosting}, Christmas M&M cookies, and ginger molasses cookies, as well as peppermint bark. One day I decided to bake by myself and made some candied pecans and Mexican wedding cookies.
![](http://keepingupwiththeallens.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_6989-scaled.jpeg)
![](http://keepingupwiththeallens.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_7167-scaled.jpeg)
It’s always a special day when we put up the Christmas tree. This year’s came from our property. We knew it would be a tricky year to have a Christmas tree with a puppy, so we chose a small one and set it up in our loft.
![](http://keepingupwiththeallens.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_7053-scaled.jpeg)
![](http://keepingupwiththeallens.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_7040-scaled.jpeg)
The kids, especially Ben, get so into decorating the tree and the house.
![](http://keepingupwiththeallens.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_7022-scaled.jpeg)
This year I decided to make a gingerbread house totally from scratch. Probably won’t happen again, but it was worth the experience. Ben and Hannah loved decorating it.
![](http://keepingupwiththeallens.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_7208-scaled.jpg)
We’re loving all of the holiday greeting cards that have been arriving this season. Thank you *so* much to everyone who has taken the time to send us one. We display them all and take so much joy in receiving them.
![](http://keepingupwiththeallens.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_7270-2-scaled.jpeg)
Happy holidays!