Decking the Halls & Fun Christmas Traditions

Well what do you know...I got my sleeping quarters and my blogging quarters decorated on the same day! ^_^ I decided that this year I wouldn't do the Charlie Brown display--you know what that looks like...lights hanging from the ceiling on long strips of tape, beads strewn here and there, etc. Nope...I've done that a bunch of times, and this year I decided I would try to decorate a tree for the $15 that I had. Thank goodness for Dollar Tree!

We have an old 5 foot tree that my family used when I was a baby. It's got a lot of quirks (for instance, it stands slightly tilted), but I rigged it to stand fairly sure of itself. I bought several packs of red, green, and gold ornaments at the Dollar Tree, and then went to Wal Mart for a pack of 400 lights (because who wants those cheapo lights that don't last more than a week?). In the end, I spent $16 on everything, and I think it turned out so well! I love it.





I decided to put my shoes underneath it...makes it "me".



Now, my mom is doing a link up on her blog of Christmas traditions. Of course, she mentioned a bunch of the ones that we practice as a family, but I'll just mention a few more here.

We stay at home

- I think we can all agree that Christmas is absolutely best when spent in a familiar and comfortable place...so, when we can, we don't leave home on Christmas day.

Read the Christmas story

- Jesus is the reason we celebrate Christmas, and it's so beautiful to be able to share that with my younger siblings as they're getting older!

Looking at Christmas Lights

- Every year, my family picks one day to hop into the van together--maybe with a tub of caramel corn or some other holiday treat--We listen to Christmas music, and drive around looking at various and beautiful Christmas displays.

Reminisce about past gifts

- Jared and I do this more than anybody. We'll dig through his media shelf and pull out random things that Mom's gotten for us in the past. It's traditions like this that make things like Ratatouille (mine ^_^), The Office, & Shrek Christmas classics.

Watch classic Christmas movies

- Mom mentioned this, but there have been a couple of recent additions to our Christmas movie list that are definitely worth mentioning. We love Shrek the Halls, and Merry Madagascar! All of that cheeky animated movie humor is just completely awesome. And Veggie Tales shall rule forever.

Oh! Guess what...it's finally snowing! It started this morning, but it's going again now. I'm hoping it'll get deep enough to get some pretty pictures. :)

Welp...that's all for now I think. Lahaaaater peeps!

Isaiah 9:6b

His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince Of Peace.

How awesomely fun are these?!

You know what's great about the holidays?

I've been enjoying reading for the first time in a long time. I love all of the autumnal wine colors and all of the beautiful sunsets. Oh, and we all got a FUN package in the mail the other day. Can you guess what was inside?

Well...I'll bet you've figure it out by now. Aren't those hats just TOO fun!? I LOVE them. I can't get myself to stop wearing them.

Want one?

Well, my lovely friend Alexis has just started an Etsy shop for all of her adorable hats, scarves, and other crocheted goodies, and right now she's doing a giveaway on her blog!



All you need to do to enter is give her some good name ideas for her blog. She's got some extra entry opportunities too, so make sure you stop by and enter as many times as you possibly can...especially for you photography junkies out there--*wink*--they make EXQUISITE props! ^_^

Short Answers is NOT over!

Yay! I'm so happy! Short Answers is not gone forever! Wouldn't you know it...God worked it all out just perfectly. So, from now on, Short Answers will be hosted here. I hope you'll all continue to participate...I certainly will when I can! :)

So....snow is in the forecast for next Tuesday!!!!!

That's fantastic, except my guess is that it won't snow, and we'll have multiple frigid days before the white bliss finally makes its way to the ground. :( Oh winter...where art thou sweet essence?

Oh...speaking of snow...and *giggle* Christmas, I'm getting ready to make over my blog Christmas style! I just finished up my momma's too. Want one??? Check out my prices here.

Just so you know...I think my brother looks like a Land's End model...is that weird?



What? Am I lyin'!? He totally does!