Christmas Decor

As I write this, this is my view: 

not too shabby, huh? :) it is my happy place right now. 
After having a sick little girl for the past week she is finally back to her happy playful self. Thank you to all who helped and prayed! 

It is so awful, pitiful, heartbreaking, frustrating and exhausting when your little one is sick. BUT all is well now, and praying she can stay well for the rest of this winter. 
Now, onto the decorations! I took pics of my favorite things. I think I got them all. but maybe not. theres so much ! and I love each one :)  My Dad and Philip spent ALL DAY putting up our outside lights. It was probably not the most fun task, but so worth it. well, for me at least:) 

this literally makes my heart happy. 

So this was Monday. That night, Philip and I put up the tree. We got a new taller one this year, and got one that advertised 'if one light is out it won't affect the rest of the tree!'. Philip was like 'SOLD!'. anyway, we got the tree up and I had started putting ornaments up, when we realized two whole sections of the tree were not lit up. He tried everything, and they wouldn't come on. He promised to box it up and return it for me, and have a new one before I got home from BSF the next morning. I was devastated. 

take one. not the tree we have now. 

Our annual tradition is to drink champagne while decorating the tree. Then take the cork and write the year and make it into an ornament. He had the champagne all ready when we realized the tree didn't work. He asked me if I wanted to to drink it and I refused. I was so sad and I wanted to wait until we had our fully lit tree. So the next night, we got to work and decorated the tree! 

I can't show some of the pictures because they are on our christmas cards and I don't want to ruin the surprise:) 

wooden nativity around downstairs tree 

so much awesome in this picture. my new favorite clock from Aunt Loyale that chimes a different christmas carol every hour. a handmade tree of ainsley's handprints. Buddy the Elf. a nativity set from my Mom. our stockings. and my new idea to display christmas cards on each side of mantle.  

clip the cards down burlap on each side of mantle 

Philip bought me a burlap tree for the bay window in kitchen 

thanks momma:) 

Nanny and Pop made Rachel and I 'Mistletoes' out of our girls feet! so cute. Ainsley sees it and said "ainsley's feet!" 

of course, the christmas box! it's ainsley's this year and she loves opening it every morning. 

my 'bride tree'. i love this one a little extra. 

Buddy the Elf has returned. Ainsley doesn't really get it this year, but she knows his name. and she's so observant that she notices his new hiding place in the morning. but we aren't getting crazy or creative at all this year. 

eating her fruit chews from her christmas box and wondering why buddy is in her car. 

day 2, Nanny hid in her kitchen. she found it without me knowing, and I found poor Buddy like this. 

You all know i LOVE Christmas. it is my absolute most favorite time of the year. I love having our inside decorated and our outside lit up. Being in our new home and sharing it with Ainsley has just made this year so much better. 
Next weekend is our annual Overall Christmas Family Party. Excited for that and getting to spend time with everyone.