December 21, 2014

Christmas Decorations

I really did the house up this year with Christmas decorations. Briana loves it so much ~ it's a lot of work, but I don't mind doing it for her.

The whole decorating thing for us starts with a live tree (we always go pick one out on Thanksgiving weekend)...

Briana loves looking for a tree. We disagreed on which tree to pick this year. Doug and I liked the one we ended up buying and Bri liked a different one. She got outvoted, but it didn't damper her spirit...


It was freezing the night we picked our tree. Doug and Bri kept going back inside the store to warm up (we went to Pike's Nursery). They had free hot cider to help keep warm and Bri loved that...

We bought this one and I put the lights up...

A few days later, I decorated it...

It is such a pretty tree and I am so happy with it.

My fireplace, carolers, light up houses and tree...

The day after Thanksgiving, Bri and I decorated the artificial tree that I put up in my master bedroom sitting area...



 We also decorated our special China-themed tree (which is in the dining room)...



This is the little tree that is in Bri's playroom (it has Looney Toons characters on it)...

And this is the tiny tree in Bri's bedroom. This is tree I used to put up in my room when I was a kid. I asked Bri a while back if she wanted a bigger tree or one that was pink or something like that. She said she wanted to keep this one. She is a sentimental thing like her mama...

Besides the trees, we have a Christmas Lego village (that Bri pretty much built all by herself over the past few years)...


An assortment of light up snowmen...

Nutcrackers...

And angels...

And while Bri and I were decorating inside, Doug was taking care of our outside...

He did an amazing job.


And since the day after Thanksgiving, our little friend Red has visited daily. He has been all over our house bringing much joy to a very excitable 8 year old.

More on that in my next post. :)

December 20, 2014

A Visit With Santa Claus

Our tradition each year is to visit with Santa before right before Thanksgiving Day. The reason we do this is because the line gets much crazier to see Santa after Thanksgiving. Also, Doug and my dad both have time off of work around Thanksgiving, so they are able come and watch Miss B visit with the big guy. It works out for everyone.

Here are all our past visits...

2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013

Briana was all dressed in pretty purple to visit with Santa...

Gramma came with a small goodie for Briana...

She was ready with her list...


Briana and her Christmas entourage (hee, hee)...





We got to the mall about a half an hour before it opened. We were second in line...

Santa finally arrived!!!

Briana walked up armed with her list...



Briana was excited to tell me what they talked about...

Pictures with Papa and Gramma...

Doug, Bri and I...

Bri earned a well-deserved cake pop...

I love watching Briana visit with Santa. I will keep doing this with her until she is ready not to anymore. I just love the magic of Christmas, and I love seeing the excitement of Christmas through her eyes.

December 19, 2014

All About Christmas

This Christmas season is kicking my tush. I promised myself back in November that I was going to get everything done early in December this year (shopping, wrapping, decorating, etc) so I could hang out and relax for at least a few days with my best girl before Christmas. I am pretty much on track now - which is a good thing. I wish I had gotten things done even earlier, but even going at what I felt was lightning speed, I still couldn't get it all done as soon as I wanted to.

I can say that my house is fully decorated (inside and out), I've done all my wrapping, all my cards are filled out and I've sent off all my packages. Bri's elf Red has visited daily, we've had some fun Christmas outings and we even slipped in a weekend trip to Chattanooga. So, we've been super busy - and I'm exhausted. My poor blog has been severely neglected and I desperately need to fold some laundry.

  Whenever a get a quick chance post over the next week or so, it will be Christmastime related. You will be inundated with all things Christmas - for a while. Until possibly after the New Year. I'm apologizing now - heh. Christmas has been the all consuming theme in our world over the last few weeks.

Here are a couple of sneak peek pictures...




And I just realized that this is my 1800th post! Wow!!!

December 12, 2014

Thanksgiving Day

My family came over to my house on Thanksgiving Day this year. Miss B was all dressed in sparkles.

I had the elongate my dining table and I had the right amount of mismatched chairs for everyone to fit. ;)

Luckily, my turkey came out a golden and delicious. Thank goodness...

Doug and Bri sharing some turkey neck...

Bri and Cousin N1 watching the Macy's parade on TV...


We tried several times to get a nice family photo - as you can see, Doug didn't always behave...

Bri's favorite part ~ pie...

My mom came bearing early Christmas gifts (as well as my sister)...

Make a wish on the wishbone...

Bri was happy to win...

My little turkey had a great Thanksgiving...

Hope you all did too.
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