Decked the Halls

We had so much fun decorating our still new to us home for Christmas. It feels so cozy and festive. Following are several pictures in no particular order.

Our tree.

The bay window in the kitchen.

The kitchen from another angle.

I have the plaques above the kitchen cabinets. I stole the idea from my friend Shannon. Rachel helped me tuck garland all the way around. Part of it involved Rachel climbing on top of the refrigerator and trying to drive a nail to support the garland in a particular spot. According to her, she all but fell off the refrigerator. She didn't even come close.

Another shot of the kitchen. As a total side note that has nothing to do with decorating for Christmas, our cabinets did not have knobs when we moved in. It is very akward to open the cabinets without them. I got out the drill this past summer when PK was away and put them on all by myself.

I know, but I really like my kitchen.

The stairs. When I was looking at pictures from the rental house, I noticed the stairs are similar.

This little reindeer makes an appearance evey year. Hannah especially loves him.

I hung these in the windows in the livingroom and dining rooms. They look much better in person than they do in the picture.

The stockings.

The stocking holders.

Aaron painted this candle in preschool. We only light it before going to bed on Christmas Eve so Santa will know where to find his cookies.

PK doesn't like this snowman because it tends to fall off the doorknob. I hund it on the back door this year and since that handle isn't shaped like a traditional round doorknob I don't think the snowman will fall off.

This isn't a decoration. It is one of the molds we use to make our St. Nicholas cookies. The girls and I made them this past Saturday. I think our house smells like Christmas once we make these.

The finished product.

The top of the piano is usally full of framed photos of the kids and extended family. I had a hard time packing those away, but I like the nativity there. I let Aaron and Hannah set it up and did not reaarange it once they had it set up. I am going to put Christmas card in the basket this year. I usually hang them. This is the second year in a row I am not sending Christmas cards so we are probably being crossed off of several lists. The picture of Aaron is from first grade. It is too cute.

Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus.

Another shot of the fireplace. I like this room as much as the kitchen.

Looing into the dining room form the living room. I think this is a better angle for the window decorations.

This our Advent wreath. We haven't done a very good job lighting the candles this year. The kids have one they made at church this year that is on the kitchen table. We have used that one. I like this one because it isn't busy like the season of Advent should be.

This is a shot from the bottom of the stairs.

Same thing. Different perspective.

Hannah made this banner and wanted it hung outside her door. If you look closely, you can see "Jesus" written on the bottom of the "e." Glad she got that part!