Christmas Decorations

This post will begin the story of our first Christmas together--ever! We forgot the camera when we went to cut down the tree, but used our cell phone instead...but I can't get it off Brian's phone while he is at work...

 Brian stringing the lights--I hate that part!  He said he had lots of practice. ;-)

 HUGE mess!

 Beginning to decorate!  It's a concolor tree and smells like spicy citrus!  Yes, it's tiny and real.  I have received an ornament every year I've been born from parents and grandparents, so I had a pretty decent collection of Christmas ornaments.  If we ever have a bigger tree, though, we'll need a LOT more.  I have a list of some I'd like to get...  I'd also like to collect Christmas mice.  I have a list of things to get for next year...slowly, but surely, my collection will grow.

 Sea chest.  Isn't my snowman adorable?

 Top of the Bookshelves.  I used old fabric from dresses I had made with my sisters and white lights my Grammy gave me to do all the shelves in my house with.  So pretty!  I found these goblets and candles on clearance!!  And purchased the greenery at the dollar store.

  I plan to do a video of the house Christmas Eve with all the lights on and my Christmas stockings and mistletoe... ;-)  There's a basket of cinnamon scented pinecones up there...hmmm!

 So...  I found out that Christmas decor is EXPENSIVE!!  As are nativity sets.  But, they're the whole reason we have Christmas, right?  So.... Brian and I traveled back to our childhood homeschool Christmases and made a paper set complete with paper snowflakes.  I couldn't find my colored pencils (still working on collecting craft supplies) so I used my chalks and hairspray to seal them.

 Angel, Mary, Joseph, donkey, and Baby Jesus.

 Snowflakes!  Friends are lending us a half sized keyboard and that has helped me in my wish for a piano.  I still have a hard time learning to play with half the normal amount of notes...

 LOVE this ornament!  I like the big and bold ornaments.

 Front hallway decor.

 Front door arrangement that I made!  I was so proud of this because I usually get my Mom or sister to do this stuff for me.  I have a hard time with it and don't enjoy it that much, but I really wanted to try it!  I love it (especially after my Mom put a few finishing touches on it).

 Candles, Nutcracker, and Angel.

 Pointsettia!

 Tea sets from my great-great grandmother--things she played with as a little girl.  I told Brian recently that I would really like to find a tea service that I like, and go to a tea room.  They're such fun & I really enjoy trying all the different foods and getting inspiration for my baking/cooking!  I went to a tea room in Dallas as a little girl, and the ladies who managed the place had served tea to the Queen of England--they were in her employ on a regular basis.  I looked it up and it is closed now.  For our 9th Birthday parties, my Mom did dress up tea parties for us, to help celebrate the transition from girlhood to womanhood.  Yup, I admit it.  I'm a girl.  ;-)

 Tree!  So pretty!  I love a well decorated tree!  Brian laughed and said I was like a kid in a candy shop, but he wanted to know why we even bothered with the tree--why not just dump everything on top?

Lights and window snowflakes!  Since I decorate mostly with flowers and plants, it's easy to change them seasonally.  I have my spring flowers from my wedding, now my winter flowers.  In summer I'll need to get some daisies, sunflowers, etc. and others in autumn.

  Well, that's all for now, folks!

Smiles!