We picked the wrong day to go to cut down our tree. It was raining, hard. And it was cold. But the place we go to is awesome. The owner remembered us from last year. Commented on how big our kids had gotten in a year. Really, the best customer service ever!
We picked out our tree, cut it down, and used the handy cart thing to pull it back to the van. While it was getting shook, the kids and I were warming up with hot chocolate in the barn! Steve got the tree in the van (yup, in the van, thanks to Big Bertha!) the owner came in and chatted me and the kids up. Once paid, Steve all warmed up, we headed home.
We set up the tree and let it dry out for a while. We set up the other decorations around the house.
This year, I didn't want to hang up the stockings above the fireplace, but didn't want to spend almost $100 on stocking holder/hooks that would take up space on the mantel. So, between Steve and I, we came up with the idea to use PVC pipe, spray paint it white, spray paint glitter on it, hot glue some ribbon around it to make it look like a candy cane. Then use smaller ribbon to go through the pipe and around the mantel to hold it all up, without taking up space on the mantel. I got some shower hooks from Target, wooden snowflakes from Michael's, spray painted them white and the glitter, hot glued them together. And voila! An awesome, cheap, stocking holder!
So here is my fireplace all decorated for Christmas!
I LOVE that I got my three Wise Men last year for Christmas. It just completes my nativity set.
An up close shot of the stocking holder. I think it turned out great!
This year, for the kids yearly ornaments, I made them with the help from this tutorial. It's an "I Spy" Ornament. I got all the stuff I needed from Michael's. And the kids loved shaking them and looking for the things I lost in the snow! Plus, they look great on the tree!
I Spy Christmas 2012 Ornaments. <3 font="font">
It was Steve's year to decorate the tree. Meaning, he got to pick out the lights. He loves multi-colored lights, but the ones we have are gross. Too much orange and yellow, and not enough of the other colors. So, over the years, we have picked up single colored lights to mix or use alone on the tree. By using 8 strands (two of four different colors) he created his own multi-colored lighted tree. With green, red, blue and purple lights, we have a great looking tree!
Love our big, colorful tree! Missing her skirt, it was still dripping a bit and wet down on the floor.
Lights out.
On Saturday, after the Aggies won the WAC Championship, we put up our lights outside. We fixed our lone reindeer (ie, we took out the lightbulb and put in white lights we weren't using), hung up the cool white lights and the multi lights on the garage. While hanging up the last of the blue lights inside, I fried on set, I got to Target to get another blue light. I noticed that gutter clips were cheap. We still have some multi colored lights left, so I grab a box or two and came home. After a birthday dinner of Jake's favorite dish, Steve headed up onto the roof to hang up the rest of our lights, in the dark.
Our house all lighted up!
I'm excited for this Christmas! I love how everything has turned out! I love that we have set up a budget and Christmas fund. We won't be borrowing money, using credit cards or spending a bonus on Christmas. (Plus, we haven't heard if there will be a bonus this year or not.) We are doing Christmas all within our means! And it feels great!
I'm also looking forward to next year, and getting more lights for around the house and decorations for inside and out.
But for now, I am loving what we have and how great it's making our house look! I love the spirit of Christmas and love the excitement, the decorations and family get togethers. But most of all, I love what this season represents. The birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ and His gift to us. The gift of salvation and returning to live with Him and His Father.
May God bless you and yours this Christmas season! And may we all remember what Christmas is truly about!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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