Christmas Tour

I love love LOVE having my house decorated for Christmas.  

I hate hate HATE the process of dragging everything out of the garage and the marital discord that putting together our Christmas tree causes (FIVE. YEARS. IN. A. ROW!), but in the end, I love having it all out and decorated!

We've had our Christmas decorations out since the second week of November.  I know.  But, it was the only weekend we had to work on it-- and really, it takes so long to get everything out, you might as well enjoy it as long as possible.  And, you know what else?  Despite the popular belief that putting out Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving is like writing off Thanksgiving--I don't see it that way.  If anything, while the rest of you are experiencing marital friction the weekend after Thanksgiving, I'm blissfully thankful that we're fully decorated.  

Anyway, here's a little tour of our Christmas spirit--

The main "formal" Christmas tree.....We bought this tree 5 years ago from Costco.  It's a 9' pre-lit tree that has held up amazingly well.  It's been from McKinney to Lubbock to Aledo.  Every year, Jeff and I hold our breath while we plug this baby in just knowing that some huge section of the tree's lights won't be working.  So far, we've been lucky.  However, there are small sections of the tree that have started to go out.  But, since this is the 6th year we've used this tree, I'd say that's a pretty good run!

We have the tree up against the big windows in our living room and I love the reflection of it at night.

This is the mantle and bookcases (and tv) area of the living room.  

Everything seemed so dark when I got stuff on the bookshelves, so I lined the back of the bookshelves with really expensive silk Italian fabric.  Just kidding--I lined the back of the bookshelves with Target-bought wrapping paper.

These bookshelves have the girls' Santa pictures.

The Little People nativity set is a new addition this year.  I just think it is so dang cute!

The stocking holders still have older pictures of the girls in the frames.  I think about changing them every year, but I kind of like pulling them out of the storage box each year and remember how young my babies were when I first got these.  (Kind of how the stocking my sister gets every year is her "baby's first Christmas" one!)  :)

8-month-old Korley

(almost) 5-year-old Landry

This bookshelf has our past Christmas cards and a few random other things.....

...like this picture of Korley when she was sleeping in Heavenly peace.  

This little penguin a new addition to the decorations this year, too.  I think penguins are so stinkin' cute and when I saw this little guy at Home Goods, I couldn't pass him up!  

I have a BIG painting on one of my living room walls that's colors pretty much clash with my Christmas decor.  So, I wrapped it (in the same fancy Italian silk) and added one of my all-time favorite photos of Landry.  I got the photo blown up to a 16X20 for really cheap at Wal-Mart.  Pretty cheap and easy regular-to-Christmas decoration.  {side note--I realize it still needs *something* else--like a ribbon border around the photo or something.  but, it's a start!}

Here's a closer look at the photo.  So sweet!  

On my console table, I have my Willow Tree nativity set.

And, I still have a headless wise man.  

 My dining room got a transformation this year, too, thanks to my mom!!  Jeff and I were in Lubbock a few weeks ago and we came home to the holiday table set.

I've always loved the Lenox "Chirp" pattern, and as an early Christmas present, my mom got me several of the Chirp holiday pieces.  I love them--I think they're SO pretty!  

And, aren't these little bird napkin rings just so cute?!

This is the "kid tree" in the play room.  It's actually a 7 foot tree despite the fact that it looks 18 inches in this picture.  This is our "fun" tree that has multi-colored lights and all of our family ornaments--from when I was a baby until the newest ornaments of this year--on it.  This tree is the most fun to decorate because there are a lot of history and memories in many of the ornaments.  Also because the kids like to help with this tree.  Although, after they're tucked in bed, I go and do a little rearranging.....

.....because most of the branches look like this!

And, last but not least, here's a picture of the front of our house with the Christmas lights on.  This is the first year we've ever done exterior lights!  I wish they had photographed better because they really are pretty in person!