Sunday, November 29, 2009

christmas decorations!

yay! i was very excited to decorate our new house for christmas this year. so, we borrowed my dad's truck, and loaded both it and my van to the hilt full of ornaments, wreaths, 2 trees!, village pieces, and 3 tables to put the village on!
the 2 trees is a dream i've had for a long time. i love having a "fancy tree". one that has very beautiful ornaments all in one color scheme (this year is maroon, black, silver, and white). it is in the formal living room and until this year, was the only tree we would have.
which brings me to tree number 2. i also equally love what my mother calls an "eclectic tree". this is beautiful in a very different way- it's where all the ornament that the kids make in school and church, etc can hang and be proud of their sometimes funkiness. there are also some nice ornaments that were gifts, or that i got along the way, but didn't match the fancy tree. toby and i made the tree skirt out of a cheapo walmart felt tree skirt and some cut out gingerbread themed cupcake papers we cut out the bottoms. i bought some adorable jelly bean garland (plastic!) and hope to find a multi-color lighted tree when they go on sale the day after christmas. the one we used this year for the kid tree is seriously busted- about 8 limbs are gingerly resting on top of the branches below them because they have become unattached to the trunk, and one set of lights doesn't work, look closely at the picture to find it.
then there's the village. we love our village. it started with a gift someone sent me when matthew and i were first married. now, every year, we add 2-3 pieces. although for a couple years there were 8 bought! so, it's steadily growing, just like our family, and our marriage!
fancy, eh?
do you see the stripe of unlighted tree???

our village! fyi- all of it is from the st. nicholas square collection at kohl's.

thanksgiving

so, i love fall. and thanksgiving is one of my favorite things in fall. last year we all volunteered together, but i couldn't make it this year with the baby and all. we were planning to host our families for dinner, but couldn't in the end. i was disappointed, but we wanted to still have a great thanksgiving, and we did!

matthew and toby volunteered at the salvation army in the morning, while i stayed home with miller and cook for my family gathering.

the salvation army dining room
my turkey- the brine really works, the whole bird was super yummy and moist!
miller with nana and bumpa- my folks- cute old people, eh?
i love catching my mom in pictures- she's always very reluctant to have her picture taken, so it's great to capture such a fun one!

it can't be november!

that happened way too fast.....here are some pics from our fantastic fall festivities!
miller eats




miller plays

miller sleeps
repeat cycle perpetually......................................