It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

We had a Christmas Party at our house the other night and thought it would be a great time to take some fun and festive pictures of our Christmas decorations. Once I got started, I didn't know where to stop! Since some of my sweet friends that are wonderfully commenty on my blog have requested pictures of the house, I took pictures of more than just the Christmasy stuff.

So Becky and Mary... this one's for you!

My Mom and my Grandma's trees have special themes, but ours is just a combination of a little bit of EVERYTHING and all our memories throughout the years. There are ornaments from our childhoods, from when we first got married, different places we have lived, and from wonderful friends we've made along the way. I could probably tell you a story about every ornament, but my favorites by far are the ones that the children have made.

This is the first year that I have put garland up the banister and I just LOVE it! It shines so pretty at night and makes the entire house feel so Christmasy! These are all pictures of the family room that you enter into when you first walk in the front door.

Doesn't this fire just make you want to curl up with some hot chocolate and sing Christmas carols? I love having fires in the fireplace, but you don't actually NEED them too many days here in Florida.The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.

Dining Room


Master Bedroom

Kitchen

We just HAD to buy this plaque with "Micah's" verse. (sorry for the glare from the flash)

We love Micah 6:8

The little church and newlywed getaway car with couple and preacher were a wedding gift from one of my high school teachers. We got married at Christmas time 13 years ago, so this time of year is very special and nostalgic.

Micah got caught sneaking a treat before the party!

I just love Christmasy hand print art! Anything with those tiny hand prints definitely makes it onto the fridge and then into the "forever box"!

This is our half bath ~ my favorites are the naked baby pictures from when the kids were 8 months old.

I love my little plaque on the wall that I found last year. It reads...

"Please excuse the mess, the children are making happy memories."

I tend to have some terrible OCD tendencies and this little saying is such a good reminder for me to help keep things in perspective and give myself permission to have messy fun with the kids!

This is the kids game room where they spend most of their time playing. It is complete with all the fun things like Foosball table, karaoke machine, Wii, drawing easel, puzzles, books, toy box, lego land collection, game closet, etc... It's no wonder that this is where they spend most of their time.

We decided to do a fun and whimsical tree in the game room for the kids with these crazy, over sized ornaments. They were just too cute to pass up! I love framing the kids' artwork above their homework table.

I think it gives them a sense of such pride and it creates an environment of whimsical fun.

This is just the entrance way of the house. I wanted to point out the snowman wreath that my mom bought from the special needs students at her school. Every year they set up a Santa Shop with craft projects that they have made themselves. I always look forward to the treasure that Mom buys for us from this most special store.

Going upstairs we have some snuggly Christmas buddies. My mom made the Santa several years ago and he is one of my favorite decorations. I love anything homemade!

The bear sings and dances to " I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" if you squeeze his hand. You always know when Micah is going up or down the stairs because he simply can not pass by this bear without making him sing!

Here are some pictures of Savanna's girly girl room.

I would like to do a little product endorsement for Pottery Barn quilts. We got her this quilt 5 years ago and it has held up REMARKABLY well considering that we wash it OFTEN because of her terrible allergy to dust. As you probably know, their quilts aren't cheap, but you definitely get your money's worth.

My friend Rachael painted the beautiful canvas with Savanna's name on it to match her room and my friend Connie made and monogrammed the personalized blanket. I have the SWEETEST most TALENTED friends!

This little dresser has special sentimental value. My grandparents got this dresser for $25 when they first got married 63 years ago. It has been passed around to virtually every member of our family over the years.

It now resides in Savanna's room with a few extra decorations to make it go with the "sugar and spice and everything nice" theme.

Micah's favorite things in his room are his lava lamp (that is ALL he asked for for Christmas last year) and his bungee cord desk chair.

Our children definitely know their genders and their rooms reflect that.

Of course, Chomp sits on the bed! Micah's already informed me that he is going to take him to college.

And my favorite of favorites is our beautiful nativity scene out front. I looked for SOOOO many years to find a PRETTY (not tacky) nativity for the front yard. I found this about 5 years ago in Jacksonville and was so excited! Another perk is that it folds FLAT for storage!

There is an awesome ministry movement going on right now called the N.O.E.L. ministry ~ it stands for "Nativity On Every Lawn." It is a movement trying to encourage all believers to display a nativity scene in their own yards. You know, we don't really have a right to get mad at City Hall for not putting up a nativity if we don't put one up ourselves.

(If you are interested, you can check it out for yourself at noelministry.com)

Merry Christmas!