Photos courtesy of Emma Hand
Another friend and neighbor who has generously shared her family's Christmas traditions is Emma Hand (see post about Emma here). Emma, who describes her decorating style as "very haphazard, easy and earthy," and her husband Carter live a "hop, skip and a jump" from our house. That's exactly how their two adorable young daughters can be seen traipsing about the neighborhood. You'll see the girls' chipper gait in action in a post next week with photos of Lilah and Cali's trip to Crepes, etc. for "the best hot chocolate in St. Louis."
The mantel over the Hands' fireplace is trimmed with pine cones and foam holly berries found at a local craft store, and a cardinal perched on top of curled birch bark from a neighbor's tree.
The Scandinavian wood-cut vignette on the mantel is a nod to Carter's mother who's Norwegian. 
In the entryway, there is a dried boxwood tree next to a drawing by local artist Leslie Laskey, which was a gift to the Hands from the artist.
A view of a simple bench near the fireplace covered with pillows and rolled blankets, above.
According to Emma the family's holiday elf, Skippy Dimpledot (above), "skips" around the house all night and lands in different spots each morning with a note for the girls.
Emma randomly hangs tree ornaments around the house, such as the magical mushroom above the window bench, left
In their bedroom, Lilah and Cali can hang a sweet dream in the treetop that Emma has decorated with pink lights for the holidays.
Merry Christmas and thank you to the Hands for their generosity. Someday maybe Carter will share his mother's dark chocolate butter cookie recipe with us, which he brought to our first Big River Food Swap. When Lilah was visiting recently, she told me how to make them: Melt chocolate chips, roll them into a log, harden in the fridge, and then slice and bake them. Sounded perfect to me, though I suspect there is a little more to it.
Nicki,
Thanks for such a sweet description of our home & holiday traditions. Good luck with YOUR holiday tradition of hosting a Christmas Eve meal. In light of posting thoughtful blog entries that peek inside the neighborhood homes, sharing your vintage cookie cutter stories with my kiddos (and hopping around with an injured foot!), you make the holiday hustle & bustle feel meaningful and inspired.
Happy HO HO HOlidays to you!
Warmly,
Emma