Our Home at Christmas

Welcome to our home... I feel like I haven't really ever fully decorated for Christmas since we've been married. This year I was determined to get it ALL out of the attic.

I LOVE Glory Haus decorations, and I found this little tile to add to our Christmas decor this year. I found the blocks at Hobby Lobby this year - my mom has a set, so they bring back childhood memories for me.

The small tree is a replica of the Rockefeller Christmas tree in NYC where we got engaged

The Budweiser horses are probably my favorite part of the snow village

One side of the mantel - the little bell was from the year I was born

Our stockings

Other side of the mantel - I started decorating and framing pictures with Santa to display each year

Dining room table - I plan to add ornament balls to these gold boxes next year

Our tree - I managed to lose our tree topper when we moved. Oma and Opa brought this star home from Germany. It is supposed to hang in a window, but its our tree topper this year =)

Little lighted present that my Nana and Papa made for me

Caroline's felt Christmas tree that I made this year

And the snow village...

More snow village...

Front porch

Other side of the porch--- We had the same Santa Claus at our home when I was growing up

And all of our Christmas cards on display on the pantry door

Visiting Santa

Bunco Christmas Party

Last night, I hosted a Christmas bunco party for the girls in our small group. We had so much fun with lots of good food and fellowship! I made Euna Mae's White Chicken Chili, and it was fabulous. I also made a salad and a four different candies for dessert. Oh, and we definitely can't forget the Coffee Punch that never disappoints! 

Prizes!! 

The candies-- Crockpot Candy, Christmas Bark, Christmas Cheetos, and Puppy Chow

I was so excited about using my new Christmas dishes =))

So thankful for these sweet girls

And the winners with our prizes

I also found this cute printable online for some festive score cards

Nursing Home Visit

Our playgroup went to the nursing home on Wednesday to deliver Christmas crafts/goodies to the "grandparents" {I think we all decided "grandparents" sounds more appropriate than referring to them as "old people" to the kids- ha!}. I was so proud of Caroline because this was the first time she actually walked through the nursing home, handed out our reindeer crafts, AND said "Merry Kissmas" to everyone!! 

And our attempt at a group picture =))

Christmas Traditions

We started a few Christmas traditions with Caroline this year. I am so happy to be settled in our own house for the holidays this year, so we can do these fun things as a family. We are doing three different advents this year. I put together 25 books to open each day of December up until Christmas. This was work getting all these books together!! We only had a couple Christmas books, so all the others I had to find! Some are a little beyond her age, but my plan is to put them all up after Christmas and re-wrap the same ones every year. Of course I will have to replace some each year as she gets older. 

I bought this tree from Pottery Barn a couple years ago, and this was the first year we were able to use it. 

Oma and Opa got Caroline this calendar again this year. She loves the candy in it! 

I'm so thankful for this time of year!!