Deck The Halls.....

I'm a day late in posting, because yesterday I was wanting to link up for Show & Tell Tuesday, but our weekend was spent traditioning it up for the holidays, and then Monday we had a sick little one and a wreck of a house! 

But, I'm finally posting pics of our house all decked out for the holidays, and I can't wait for you to come on in!

This year, we opted for colored Christmas lights. I tried to convince DJ to get on top of the roof and line everything, but for some reason he wasn't willing to climb that high! 

Welcome to our humble abode. 

In DJ's office, I set out our only Christmas houses. DJ's mom started my collection, and I have to fess up that this is the first year I've ever had them out! We have never had a place to put them, and now I definitely need more than just the two I have. 

Our entry table has greenery, deco mesh, a flower arrangement from our wedding, three wooden Santa's that are for some reason, my favorites, our "Good Cheer" sign, and our Santa face. 

I've mentioned before, that when DJ and I were married, I had a Christmas themed wedding shower. Most of my decorations came from that shower and a few others are odds and ends that I've picked up throughout the year, and almost always when they're on sale after Christmas!

Awe, twinkle lights. So festive. 

A little Happy Holidays sign on our end table. 

And a brass serving tray decked out with greenery, berries, red garland, candles and Spode coasters. 

Above our console table, I took down the girls portraits and added their hand and foot print art that we've made for several years. I've picked up more canvases so we can make more art for this space in the years to come. And, I didn't realize when I took the photo that one of the canvas' was blurred out, but we made an angel using Gretchen's foot and her hands as wings.... A reindeer from Megan's foot and hand, and then a Christmas tree with Adalyn's foot. 

Some more greenery, glittering ornaments, and red beads. 

Just a happy little reading nook with the girls photo from seeing Santa, and a whimsical snowman. 

Our gingerbread man hangs on the pantry door. 

And the kids corner is decked out with felt mitten garland that I found in Target's dollar section. Their fingerprint strand of lights, our advent countdown, and gingerbread man plates. We use the gingerbread plates for our Christmas Eve good-bye elf breakfast. 

This garland is seriously the cutest!

I kept my cabinets simple. I added a Santa chip and dip platter, a Spode serving tray, and I kept my large white bowl. I considered adding greenery, and then I realized I'd have to undecorate eventually and opted out. 

And the other side....

My grandmother gave me the Santa cookie jar, and my other Spode pieces are set here as well. And of course a jar of paper straws, because paper straws make me seriously happy. 

Our living room all decked out. 

We finally purchased a new Christmas tree this year. I really wanted something slimmer, but I think it's the same size as our old one! I decked it out with deco mesh, and then we all decorated the tree together. 

Our ornaments are a hodge podge. My mom buys the girls an ornament every year, we buy ornaments when we travel, and we have some hand made and personalized ornaments too. 

Some our hung too close together, some are too low, but my girls helped and our tree is perfect. 

A few years ago I decided that our angel wasn't working any more. Gretchen really wants a star on top of the tree, and maybe next year we'll have one, but this year we opted for tons of fun greenery, feathers, and sparkles. 

And down below..... I bought our tree skirt last year and just monogrammed it Friday night! Gretchen already has presents under the tree that she's drawn for us and that she's bought from her school's little shop. I think Megan has made some presents as well. I found them crafting together the other morning.... 

On our bookcases, I placed Santa's and photos of the girls from Christmas' past, as well as a few hand made things from the girls.  

Megan made the little handprint manger scene last year. 

Adalyn made her mistletoes for us. 

And the stockings were hung by the chimney with care.... Our stockings are from Lillian Vernon. 

DJ wasn't sure that I would be able to decorate the mantle this year. But, I proved him wrong, and he can still totally see the t.v. and change the channel. 

There's nothing better than sitting by the fire at night. 

And, in case you come over for a dinner party....

Our dining room has two pinecone candle sticks from my grandmother, a wooden tray, and I picked up this greenery from Hobby Lobby last week. 

I wanted it simple, outdoorsy, and fresh. 

We are ready for you to dine with us.

Just call first!

The girls each have a tree of their own. Adalyn's is white and decked out in pink, purple, lime, and turquoise. 

She loves seeing her nights on at night. 

Megan's is green with pink, and she has a little "Charlie Brown" pink tree.

Gretchen has two little trees in her room with a few other decorations, but she's moved them around and played with them, so I wasn't able to snap any pictures. 

I just love this time of year, I love having a cozy home with twinkling lights, a fire, and family.

It most definitely is the best.