A Few of My Favorite Christmas Decorations

Lisa at The Long Road to China has inspired me to share some of my favorite Christmas decorations. Although we did not put up every tree that we normally do or even unwrap every ornament for our main tree, I still managed to find most of my "favorites" that bring me joy year after year.

Each year my mom gives me a Santa to add to my collection. Below is the Santa that she gave me last year. He is larger than life, and I adore him.

Although this wreath is artificial, I love its appearance on the window.

I made this ornament when JC was still in the Navy. It is a shoulder board showing his rank and his affiliation with the Dental Corps (oak leaf with two acorns).

Each year, I attach this huge Santa face to the wreath that hangs above the mantle. This year I also added starfish.

I made the ornament below one Christmas when I was home from UNC. It is made using old buttons. For some reason, it is still special to me, and I love hanging it each year.

I just love the fact that we have five stockings hanging from the mantle this year. Here are also a few more of the Santas MiMi has given me through the years.

Below is a photo of our front door. My MIL made the wreath for me, and my mom did the garland about four years ago. I still love using these outdoor decorations since I am not crafty enough to make my own greenery.

Last year I found these matryoshka doll ornaments at Pier 1, and I bought all they had.

And of course, the reason we celebrate Christmas in all its GLORY...

Merry Christmas!!!

From Thanksgiving to Christmas

This year we celebrated Thanksgiving at TheDentist's parents house. We had such a large feast! Everything was wonderful. We even got his family together to take a group photo!

Butch with our brand new cousin

Pop

TheDentist and my BIL

My Mom, Sister and me

Another family photo

And now that Thanksgiving is over...let the Christmas decorating begin.

Friday, Butch and Lil' Roy helped me make the annual Gingerbread house.

Butch and Lil' Roy (in Kung Fu Panda gear) posing with the house

Yesterday was so nice here so TheDentist and I were able to get all the Christmas lights, garland, wreaths and balls up!

I always love the Christmas season! I love to decorate, but it does get exhausting! We have been decorating the inside all day today, but there is much left to do. I will post photos when it is all over!

A Pier One Find

It is that time of year again!!! I have already started my yearly traditions of enjoying Peppermint Mochas from Starbucks and listening to my Christmas playlist on the iPod. It's true that every year we seem to rush Christmas and bypass Thanksgiving. I don't mind starting to decorate for Christmas early. That just helps my sanity level in December! As for Thanksgiving...we have not skipped that celebration yet. And I don't plan to any time soon. As a matter of fact, we are planning a huge meal at my in-law's house, and my mom, sister and her husband are all going with us.

Back to the topic...I was in Pier One Imports the other day. I don't shop there too often, but I always love their Christmas ornaments and decorations. This year, they have a section of International handblown glass ornaments. And, can you believe they had one painted like a Matryoshka doll? I bought all that my store had (some for me to keep as well as some to give as gifts). I think this ornament is so cute, and it makes me think of Emma every time I look at it. In fact, I have already decorated Emma's tree, and this ornament has found a home there.

Enjoy!