Homefront: Christmas at Home

  Our Christmas decorating has undergone a few changes over the past two weeks.

 Our teeny weeny tree (that looked even crazy smaller last year in front of our huge apartment window)

 got knocked down a few times...

Then, one day I went out for donuts while the boys were working on cars, (thanks Arne!) and came across this beauty at a garage sale for $10... they even delivered it to us for free.

 I started a tradition of the very first and last ornaments to be placed on the tree to be a nativity, to help us focus on the meaning of the season.

 A little handmade ornament I made a few years back.

 I love this ornament, I bought a few to give as gifts, and my mother in law 

got us one as a gift, she knows me well!

My boys love the Santa, along with the white shabby star/snowflake ornaments we

got on antiquing on our honeymoon.

 Their absolute favorite, a retro Christmas car, from pier one last year I think.

So, our mantle all bedecked with garland (shown in detail here) got turned into the one below. 

Garland with little boys hanging down can only last for so long.

 We used what we could for a little yard decorating. we had more candy canes, but they

got broken by some particularity interested little boys.

The door has this wreath on it I made last year, minus the letter "A" and with some 

additional gold snowflakes added. Christmas wreath tutorial here

 

 We made puppy chow (recipe here) for our neighbors and friends and gave them out. 

Our neighbors thought it was a little weird, do people not get to know their neighbors anymore?! 

I wish we had more baggies of treats to give to our new church friends, but I ran out! 

Puppy chow is super easy and yummy, but crazy messy!

Then I made chocolate covered sprinkle pretzels (recipe here)  for my honey's work. So tasty.

Obviously, you can tell I lack in the actual baking and candy and fudge making component here. 

Any recipes would be most welcome!

 I loved this little bag Isaac got at precshool. A cute little ornament made from scrappy foil confetti and glitter.

Thanks Mrs. Candy for being such a good preschool teacher!

Another one of my favorite honey moon ornaments. A white shabby heart... my little

Caleb broke it a day or so after this pic was taken.

Since we are trying to do less and be more this season, I'm trying to maintain sanity and the remember the true gift we have. If you would like a lovely movie about the birth of Christ to play to help invite that in, this Joy to the World is my favorite. For lots of family ideas to incorporate the Spirit of Christ back into your traditions and heart, this site has plenty of ideas and resources, from family activities to music, games, short devotional videos and inspirational talks. I also recommend this book called, "A Special Place for Santa" by Jeanne Pieper to help tie in the spirit of Santa with the spirit of the Christ Child.



Well my dears, may your Christmas be merry and bright. May your gifts be returnable, your goodies low in fat and your gift wrappings recyclable. May you have safety and peace and get along with those pesky stressful holiday get togethers. May the spirit and love of Christ speak to your hearts and let there be much rejoicing in his birth! May your souls be filled with the glow of the season.

 Merry Christmas!

*linked to Cottage and Vine's home tour and 'sort of'' Nester's home tour.

Homefront: Christmas Mantel

 I would love a larger statue of the kneeling Santa and the baby Jesus.

 I love using reds, aquas and whites for Christmas, though it will change one day.

I love love love trees, I think it would be fun to get one each year.

 My childhood gingerbread house debuts, and this vintage reindeer pair I found at a garage sale is a favorite.

 Ornaments and garland that will be going up on the tree.

My oldest son is almost 5 and has been asking about Santa's 'realness'. I found this book and it ties in the Christ child and the Santa legend beautifully, and explores the historial roots of Santa. For any Christian family who loves tradition, but also wants to keep the focus of Christmas on Christ, this book is a must!
It's called A Special Place for Santa by Jeanne Pieper
I got mine at Hobby Lobby for $10 and it would make a great Christmas gift!

 

 We found this authentic Chinese drums at Goodwill for an amazing price. they had about 30 of them, so I think a local monastary must have closed down or remodeled around here or something. We got 3 of them!

To see 2009's mantel in my old home, see here. For 2008's mantel in another home, see here.

Post will be linking up with lots of Christmas Mantle parties!

•  The Lettered Cottage Holiday Home Mantel Linky Party
• December 2nd :: Rhoda’s Christmas Vignette
• December 7th  :: Kate’s Christmas Craft
• December 6th  :: Deck the Halls Party @ Between Naps on the Porch
• December 9th  :: Sarah’s Christmas Tree Link up
• December 9th  :: Coastal Charm Open House
• December 10th :: Cloche Party @ A Stroll Through Life
• December 13th :: The Nester’s Holiday Tour of Homes {here at Nesting Place!} AND Kelly @ Kelly’s Korner; Show Us Your Life Christmas Tour {don’t you love how I bold our day?}
• December 15th :: White Christmas Party @ Cuisine Kathleen
• December 15th :: Share the Decor @ No Minimalist Here

Live in Thanksgiving Daily

 Well, the Thanksgiving week is upon us, and that means it's time to show my Thanksgiving mantle. I really loved and prefer my crisp white fall mantle, that changed swiftly to the Halloween mantle, and I left a few pieces out for this.  Some may wonder why I excessively change my mantle. Well, it's one of the only surfaces in my home that I have that I can put decor on, and so there it is. Plus, I just love to rearrange and be creative, and I bore easily of seeing the same thing up there too many weeks in a row.

Well, my sis and her 4 boys will be joining my hubs, mom, my 2 boys and myself for the weekend, and we are so happy to see them. Isn't that what Thanksgiving is all about?? Taking the time to reflect on what is important and deciding to make a change to enjoy those things a little more. 

May your pies be yummy, your bellies be stuffed and your homes filled with warmth, love and laughter. I love love love this short little video of learning to see and appreciate those little things, and live in thanksgiving daily:

Here is a cute little video of random people on the streets of New York City sharing a variety of grateful responses to one simple question: What are you thankful for?