Getting Ready for Christmas

The presents are purchased, wrapped, and under the tree. The Christmas meals are coming together. The kids are anxious, I think we are finally ready to celebrate Christmas.

Well most of us anyway.

Merry Christmas eve!

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No Shopping, Just Decorating

My kids ask a lot of questions…Lately Thade has been asking more and more questions about my childhood. He is curious about what holidays were like since we are well into the Christmas season. This week when we were celebrating Thanksgiving he had a lot of questions about Black Friday, when did it start, what is it all about, etc. I had to google it to get all of the answers for him. I couldn’t remember exactly when it started, and I didn’t want to go into such graphic detail about competitive consumerism (which I am not a fan of). I decided to tell him that instead of celebrating that day, we’ll take a day out of my childhood and celebrate the way that we celebrated the day after Thanksgiving.

When I was little we spent a few Thanksgivings in Kansas City. My (father’s side)Grandparents lived there, we would have a big dinner, and go and see the Plaza lights. The day after Thanksgiving we would have another delicious meal with my (mother’s side) Grandparents, spend time with cousins, go to my Great-Grandmother’s house for Coconut Cream Pie, and start the Christmas decorating around our house. It was always a fun day, and I miss those stress free sweet days.

I’m bringing it back! As a parent of  three young children I want to teach them what is really important, and spending time with family is the most important gift we have. Thade asked why I wouldn’t go shopping, and I told him I just couldn’t, I just don’t feel the need too. I have this strange feeling of contentment, and Wal-Mart just doesn’t do it for me. Now, I assure you, there will be presents, but I won’t be shopping for them, it’s Dad’s job. I will be taking care of the handmade items and photo albums, and trying my best to keep the stress out of the holidays.

And you know what… I didn’t miss out on anything at all,

I had a beautiful,

stress free, relaxing day.

James put one some non-Christmas music, and I had a blast decorating the tree.

I didn’t spend a single penny, and I had a fantastic day. I actually enjoyed decorating for Christmas (which I never do), and the house looks really pretty too. I even put a tree up in all of our bedrooms.

Agnes loves the simple white tree in her room. She kept saying “how pretty”. She was the most excited to see the Christmas lights go up.

We even have a little Kansas themed tree in our room. My mom made it for me a few years ago. It is really cute, and has the prettiest lights at night.

The tree I am most proud of  is the tree in the boys room. They had such a great time decorating it all by themselves. We hung several wreaths in their room too, and added in a small Santa to finish off the decorating.

Their tree is full of handmade ornaments. They picked up everyone, and told the story of when the ornament was made, and placed it carefully on their little tree.

Those sweet little moments are what’s it all about.

What a great kick-off to a happy holiday season.

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A Little Destruction

Last weekend we decided to start working on the downstairs bathroom/utility room, we had a little bit of wallpaper to take down. I got the steamer ready to go, and that’s when James said let’s take out the vinyl flooring and tile too.

I told him I was game as long as we could tear out the kitchen flooring too.

We did and it was awesome!

A little bit of destruction was a blast! I have hated that awful flooring ever since we bought our house, and I am so happy to have it out of the house.

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There Are A Few Things I Like

Earlier I posted a long list of dream house wishes, so I thought I would share a few of my  favorite spots in our home. That way my house doesn’t get jealous, because I’m neglecting it with my silly dreams and wishes.

Our house was built in 1905, and we are on a block where most of the homes were built in the late 1870’s. I’ve heard that the original court house in town burned in 1905, and all of the original records were lost. Our house might be a bit older. Our house is also a work in progress, we have been painting and working on projects for about five years now. I have so many projects that I would love to accomplish, if I only had an extra eight hours every day.

I love our stairway, but I feel this insatiable urge to paint every square inch of it.

You see my desk is tucked under the stairway and I get to see all of these pretty little details, but I think they would just pop a bit if they were painted.

Also I grew up in a house with antiques, and we were not allowed to paint any woodwork. So there you go, rebel me must paint everything!

One more view from my desk. It is pretty, but it just needs a little something.

All over the house we have kitschy vintage doorknobs. Sometimes they acquire a little maintenance, but they are really cute.

We also have a a leaded glass door, and one large leaded glass window.

The window is really pretty when the tree has budded out in Springtime.

Throughout the downstairs living room and office there is really pretty crown molding.

Some I have painted…

Some I have not, but I really want to, as soon as I have the time.

So what are your favorite places in your house?

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