"A man's heart plans his way but the Lord directs his steps." Proverbs 16:9

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Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Christmas Decorating

I love to decorate for Christmas! We have actually had everything up since right before Thanksgiving (I know...I am one of THOSE), all but our tree which will be going to cut down our very first one on Saturday.
I thought it would be fun to share some ideas and pictures of how we decorate, so if you would PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do the same, leave me a comment so that I can go see your blog! I love new ideas and it would be like visiting one another's homes without leaving the house, and at the end of these pictures, you will see why we have been sticking close to home these days.
This is an inexpensive way to add a little Christmas. We hang over sized Christmas balls on fishing wire from the ceiling. This is a picture of the homemade hot cocoa we make every year. Here is the recipe:
6 cups dry milk
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup + 2 Tbsp. cocoa
Mix together while the kiddos take a box of candy canes and use spoons to crush them inside the package and then dump into your mixture. Use 3/4 cup per coffee mug of hot water.
Another inexpensive way to decorate is to use a fun wrapping paper and wrap your large pictures. We have these everywhere in the house. I even wrap the kids school desks for Christmas. My mama used to be the janitor in my school when I was a child, and I loved to walk in the classroom and my fellow students would oohh and ahhh over my beautiful desk. I decided just because we home school doesn't mean my children can't experience this wonderful gift!
This is our guest bathroom picture gift there with "Stinky Bear". My dad is a very talented artist, and this is one of my favorite pieces I have of his in my house.
We have jars we keep at the table with forks and spoons in them (another brilliant idea from my mama) and I have special jars for Christmas.
Here is where we keep our Nativity and little sculptures of angels my daddy also made. You see this right when you walk in our door...a reminder of why we celebrate Christmas.
I have garland strung with lights all around the house...I think I will keep this around until Spring when all the snow is melted and gone. It just makes things feel so nice and cozy!

More garland and lights along with a few more of my dad's creations.
This is why we have been sticking close to home...you can't even see the mountains, which are also covered in snow, due to the fog.
Your turn!

6 comments:

Shannon said...

I'd love to play along, but I do not know I will get the pics posted or that I have anything worthy of posting. We are having "lighting difficulties' with our tree... although, that is quite a story that could be it's own post! ;) I might be sharing some ornament making crafts that we are going to spend our days doing... I'll try to post some other pics of the way we decorate. I don't have much up because we are considering a Christmas away from home this year. That means we will be decorating there! A nice touch we like to do it put greenery garlands all around the house and fake holly on candleabra light fixtures. All I really have to have is a tree and the lights.... again, those are not cooperating, so I am trying do to focus on it too much and just "let it be"... so not like me though... I want to take the whole tree apart and "fix" it! ;)

Love your decor!!

Too Many Kids In The Bathtub said...

I am going to take pictures of ours now. I will post them in a bit!

Too Many Kids In The Bathtub said...

It is posted! :)

HAPPYHANERHOME said...

My camera is not working with the new computer, but I love al your pertty things. We are focusing on the importance of Jesus and trying to cut down on the commercial and material this year, and having a great time doing it. Our favorite new tradition is our Jesse Tree (our little evergreen in the yard) where we hang paper ornaments each day celebrating a different part of the Bible's story from beginning to end. We are a little behind,since we started late, but it is a fabulous tradition we are really enjoying. Miss you!

HAPPYHANERHOME said...

Here's a link to the Jesse Tree info: http://www.rca.org/Page.aspx?pid=1628

Too Many Kids In The Bathtub said...

PS. Just wanted you to know that we tried your hot cocoa recipe. SO YUMMY! Thanks for sharing!