Christmas Decorating

We are really looking forward to the first Christmas in our new house.   We never really decorated for the holidays until I got pregnant with Hudson and we have been having fun ever since.  When we got our tree we got a lot of trimmings so we could use them throughout the house.  The trimmings were free! As much as you wanted to take. We took a lot, obviously.   I love having a mantle to decorate.  Having three stockings on my mantel makes me so happy.  



This chalkboard has been awesome and so much fun on the mantel. Thankfully Marc has awesome Rudolph drawing skills.



Our fire place full of tree trimmings and lights.   While I was taking pictures Hudson discovered that his stocking had gifts in it.  Oops!  I explained they were for Christmas and he left it alone but as soon as he went to bed I took out the gifts and put them in the closet.  I guess the stockings will be empty until Christmas Eve.



After we had Hudson we wanted to make some family traditions.  One of them is to have the Christmas tree people make a clean cut on the tree trunk and then cut about an inch off the trunk so we can save the tree round. I let it dry out a bit and then write on it.  Here is our tree round from Hudson's first Christmas 2010 in Manhattan.  I have them tucked in our Mantel this year.



Our tree all lit up.   Between the tree, the trimmings and burning Yankee Mistletoe candles all the time our house is smelling so good.  Also, this is a sneak peek of the curtains I made for the living room.  After the holidays I will take more pictures to show them off.  I love them.



Our little dude trying to sneak on ornament while I am taking pictures. He is fast!
We have the following conversation at least once a day-
"Hudson please sit on your booty while you are on the couch"
"Okay Mama"

He is allowed to play with the ornaments, one at a time, while he is on the couch. He just has to ask us and we will get one down for him.  He is really good about staying on the couch and picking out one ornament to play with at a time.  Of course he still tests his limits daily by trying to climb into the tree.



I love these windows in our dining room.



Christmas Wreath holder in our dining room.  I am still working on the art niches in here.  I finally got them painted and now need to cover up that tile with some moulding and decorate them.



Top of the bookcase is filled with trimmings and big ornaments and apple gourds.



Our dining room table decor.  Marc thought it would look neat to plant poinsettias in a wine box. He was right! I think it looks awesome. These poinsettias will be planted in our yard.  Did you know they are tropical plants and grow great here? I had no idea until I saw a huge poinsettia in my in-laws yard.



Remember our outdoor planter boxes?  Marc planted all the plants in our butterfly garden and we started a lettuce garden in the planters.  I tucked in tree trimmings to make it look festive on our deck.



Little lettuce sprouts in the planters.  I am looking forward to eating these!



What decorations are you loving this season?