Saturday, December 21, 2013

Our Christmas Decor

I love decorating for Christmas but we ended up decorating little by little this year.  I have actually contemplated decorating right BEFORE Thanksgiving next year so it's done.  We'll see.  Don't want Thanksgiving to lose out.  We didn't get out the BIG tree this year because there just isn't a great place to put it.  Maybe we'll have a better place next year (here's hoping!).  My favorite things to decorate with are snowmen and nativities.  My mother-in-law got me this cute snowman for our door.  I've been eyeing this burplap snowman for a while and can enjoy it this year. 
This is the tree in the den.  It's a combination of our "nice" ornaments and some that are just special to us and we want everyone else to see.  I thought putting K's rocking chair and books by it was a fun touch.
Decorating the mantle is a new thing for me.  I had everything arranges a few weeks ago but finally put the finishing touches on it with the garland last week.  I like the way it turned out.
This nativity place was one I saw last year when I was registering for gifts but of course it wasn't available when we were having wedding showers.  So, I used store credit to get it...LOVE it!  The glass balls in the silver present are from my grandmother's.
This was the first nativity I got.  My mom gave it to me one year, and I just love it.  I think I actually left it up all year one time. 
These little trees are a new additional and I found the sleigh at a local gift shop.  I think they go perfectly together! Now we just need to get our stockings up!
Just below the mantle is another new addition.  I got him at a local gift shop with some credit I had.  I would never have bought him otherwise...but he makes me smile!  So glad he's part of our decorations now.
The built ins were a struggle for me but I think it ended up looking okay. 
Cindy had a collection of Santas and I thought these were really pretty.  The antique looking books really fit with them.
K decorated this little tree while I was doing the mantle.  Thankful for distraction and she did good (though I did have to move a few ornaments as there were about 7 on the bottom branches touching the counter...even on a small tree, little kids put everything down low!).  I've also put all our Christmas cards (except the picture ones) on this shelf.
Another little nativity plaque.
And another nativity...love these!
On the other side of the room is a row of bookcases.  It was really hard to decorate these, but I added David's set of train ornaments, my gold Christmas tree, stocking plate, and snowman stocking holders.


K's tree.  She "helped" put it up and then did help decorate.  We have added ornaments at least every other day.
The tree in David's and my room.  We put all our childhood ornaments and others that are just not able to fit on the den tree.  It ended up being pretty full, too.  The presents are in here right now because the cats would destroy them if in the den...they've proved it already!
A new tree this year is my kitchen tree.  K helped me pick this out and I think the white is growing on me.  Mama got me several baking/cooking ornaments and I added David's Santa's sweet ride ornaments too. I love this tree!
My snowman Christmas Cookie jar made a home next to the kitchen tree.  I think it's appropriate since I have mostly snowman ornaments.

We have two countdown stations.  First is K's on the refrigerator.  She picks out a new magnet everyday and adds it to the baking sheet.  She loves it.
This is my nativity advent calendar.  My mom has one like it that is a Christmas tree.  I went in search of a nativity and when I found it, I splurged.  However, I have NO regrets.  It's one of my favorite things to do at Christmas! 

The newest nativity is this wooden ornament.  I got it at a local Christmas shopping gala that the civic league hosts every year.  My best friend and I go every year.  This was actually a "wait and see" that I got the second day I went. Love it!
And that is our current Christmas decor.  I'm sure I'll amass more after Christmas...what fun!














6 comments:

The Cookbook Junkie said...

I can feel the love in those decorations.

I grumbled through decorating this year. It took me 3 days while the boys were at their dad's. My decorations are a collection of items that are loved but don't necessarily blend together easily, plus a lot of items that are strictly for the kids (a parachuting Santa strung across the living room, for instance). I added another full sized tree (for homemade ornaments only) since we had too many ornaments for one tree. It felt chaotic.

But the boys came in and were in awe. Dan kept asking 'Did you do this? How did you do this?' Then he stopped and put his hand on his chest and said 'My heart! My heart is ...." and hesitated. I thought he was trying to tell me it was beating fast because he was excited. Then he said 'My heart is ... happy!'

And that's why momma will drag all that crap out and spend 3 days decorating again next year LOL.

The Cookbook Junkie said...

(But Momma also packed every single bit of it up last night. She can only handle it for so long!)

The Cookbook Junkie said...

I can feel the love in those decorations.

I grumbled through decorating this year. It took me 3 days while the boys were at their dad's. My decorations are a collection of items that are loved but don't necessarily blend together easily, plus a lot of items that are strictly for the kids (a parachuting Santa strung across the living room, for instance). I added another full sized tree (for homemade ornaments only) since we had too many ornaments for one tree. It felt chaotic.

But the boys came in and were in awe. Dan kept asking 'Did you do this? How did you do this?' Then he stopped and put his hand on his chest and said 'My heart! My heart is ...." and hesitated. I thought he was trying to tell me it was beating fast because he was excited. Then he said 'My heart is ... happy!'

And that's why momma will drag all that crap out and spend 3 days decorating again next year LOL.

Unknown said...

Hello,
Where did you find the baking pan advent calendar on the fridge? I have been searching for one for a few years now.
Thanks!
Julz

Unknown said...

Julie, It was from Hallmark a few years ago. I saw one maybe last year, too but not sure if they still have it.

Unknown said...

Ah! Ya know what - now that you said that, I think I remember seeing one there recently. I'll have to go back & check. Thank you! :)