Christmas #2 in the new house and it’s been so much fun to decorate this year – I remember last year, we’d barely moved in and BAM! Christmas was here! I had trouble remembering where I put the boxes – much less what was in them! This year gave me time to be creative and have some fun, especially with the fireplace mantle Christmas decorations.
We took most of these photos right before our neighborhood Christmas party on a chilly December evening…nice big fire, lots of wine, lots of cookies, and some great new and old friends.
The centerpiece is the fireplace mantel – it’s loaded it up with candles, garland, sparkly trees and tiny white LED lights. I decided to add some red ribbon looping throughout the garland–my mental picture was the birds from Cinderella adding their whimsical touch 🙂
It seems there are more ornaments for the tree every year! But every year there’s a new family memory or adventure to celebrate with something to hang on the tree. I’ve found a unique ornament for our boys every year since they were born to remind them of something from their life that year. Rich and I worry that when they someday have a tree of their own and we give them all their ornaments, that our own tree will look like Charlie Brown’s! Ha!
One of our favorite things about the new house is the woodburning fireplace – it’s a least twice as big as the one in house #2.
From the top of the stair, a nice view of the room, right before our guests began arriving.
These little guys have been following us around for many years, from one house to another. I think they like the new place! These Bryers’ Carolers have also been a Christmas tradition in all our houses. Almost all of them were gifts from Rich’s Mom (once she knew I wanted to collect them). It’s like greeting old friends for me every year when I unpack them. (Do you think our boys will want those too someday?)
From the street – welcome to our home!
After the party, Rich went outside to bring in the luminaries and blow out the candles…he completely forgot that the lantern candles were not real candles! That shows how realistic the flameless flickering candles are–and that maybe Rich should keep his glasses handy.
Merry Christmas from our home to yours!
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