It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Blake and I don't have a LOT in the way of Christmas decorations, but what we do have, I love.  So, here is just a glimpse of what makes our house festive this time of year.

This is my newest Christmas decor- just a bundle of poinsettias for our dining area:)

Our stockings hang above the fireplace- Ellie and Gus's are more exciting as ours.  We hope to have Blake's grandma make us some next year.

Our tree was given to us by my parents, and it's decorated in silver, white, and Crimson (Boomer!).

My favorite decoration is our Willow Tree Nativity.  It was a gift from our wedding and I just love it.  I've even told Blake we could just put it up, place the presents around it and forget about the tree haha.

So there you have it, some of our Christmas decor.  We have a few other pieces, but it's definitely a process, collecting things we love.  What does Christmas at your house look like?

Caked

Just wanted to give everyone a heads up that there is a giveaway on one of my favorite blogs today: Caked!  Here's the link: http://bit.ly/gLJU60

Love this blog and all of the gorgeous cakes and goodies she creates!  Head on over and check out the eye candy! Yum!

Melt my heart

So, I'm pretty sure I win the bad sister/ aunt award this year.  I took photos at my niece's dedication back in June, and I just now got around to editing them.  Seriously, bad job me.  But, since I finally edited them, I thought I'd share some of my favorites, because she's just so darn cute.

Christmas Questions

Borrowed this from Glamlife Housewife!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both- gift bags are easier, but hard to transport.  I'm actually a very bad present wrapper (patience isn't one of my virtues), so I usually only wrap my neice's gifts.  They enjoy pulling the paper off more than getting into a bag.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial please!!!  I like the uniformity of an artificial tree.  I'm sure when we have kids we'll do a real tree at least for a few years.  But, for now, we put up the plastic tree, light a pine candle and call it good.

3. When do you put up the tree? After Thanksgiving.  When I was little it was always the weekend after Thanksgiving, but with Blake and I, it's usually sometime the week after, or whenever he can take a break from studying.

4. When do you take the tree down? Whenever Blake can take a break from studying:)  Usually the week after Christmas, but this year it will be after New Years since my family is coming to our house then to celebrate Davenport Christmas.

5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, yes, yes.  Mmmmm.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Barbie House my parents made for me out of a bookshelf.  They painted, and wallpapered, and cut rugs out of felt.  It had a kitchen, livingroom, bathroom, bedroom and attic.  Ah- mazing.  My parents still have it and my neices love playing with it now.  Best surprise EVER.

7. Hardest person to buy for? That would be my dad.  He never wants anything except peanut MnMs.

8. Easiest person to buy for? Jeni- she usually just sends me a link to whatever she's eyeing at the time.  But, when it doubt, size small in pink usually works:)

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, and I LOVE it.  Willlow Tree.  It was a wedding gift.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? One year my brother, Cory, gave me dog treats.  I was ticked!  A few minutes later, I figured I might as well give the dog a treat.  When I opened up the box, inside was a shiny blue belt I wanted (I was 9, don't judge).  So it wasn't really a bad gift, but I thought it was at first, that stinker!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? White Christmas.  And Love Actually.  And Elf.  I love Christmas movies.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Black Friday with my in-laws!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Nope!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My mom always made monkey bread cinnamon rolls and we get oranges in the bottom of our stockings.  We'd eat after opening presents on Christmas morning.  Other than that tradition, just all the yummy appetizers we have at my in-laws. 

16. Lights on the tree (colored or clear)? White lights! And, I'd like to get some white bubble lights for our tree for next year!

17. Favorite Christmas song? I love the traditional carols like Silent Night and Hark! How the Bells.  But, I also like some fun songs thrown in- Baby it's Cold Outside:)

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travel normally.  This year we'll be at my in-laws for Christmas, then having my side come down New Years.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? No.

20. Angel, star or ribbon on top of tree? Star.  After all, that's what guided everyone to the manger.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Whenever anyone will let me!  With my in-laws it's always Christmas eve, after candlelight service.  At my parent's it's one gift Christmas Ever, and then the rest on Christmas morning after reading the story of Jesus' birth in Luke.  Blake and I usually try to exchange gifts sometime before traveling.

22. Favorite children's Christmas song? I didn't know there were songs specific to children?

23. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Feeling pulled in too many directions. 

24. Favorite ornament theme or color? Our tree has silver, white and Crimson (Boomer!)

25. Turkey or ham on Christmas day? Brisket

26. What do you want for Christmas this year? Most of what I want is for the house and too expensive to ask for.  Other than that, I want some brown boots that I happen to know are waiting for me under my in-laws tree!

27. Does anyone in your family dress up as Santa? No.  Thank goodness.

28. Age you discovered who Santa was? I never believed in Santa.  My parents didn't do Santa, and I don't really want to with any children we have either.  Gifts are given to symolize the gifts the wise men brought, and I'm not sure what Santa would have to do with that.

29. Eggnog, hot chocolate, or apple cider? All three, thanks!  Not together, of course.

30. Traditional colors (red and green) or other colors? I love lots of greenery, and then accenting with white and pops of crimson.

31. Do you have any Christmas decorations on your roof? No.

32. How does Santa get into your house? Chimney or magic key? See 28.

33. Do you prefer gifts or gift cards? I love gifts, but gift cards are always awesome so I can try stuff on, or combine gift cards for bigger items.

34. Favorite children's Christmas Cartoon? We just watched regular Christmas movies.

The week after Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving holiday was fun and full!  We went up to Springfield, MO on Wednesday night and had dinner with my parents, then headed over to my aunt and uncle's house in Republic on Thursday for lunch with my Mom's family!  It was wonderful to see my grandparents, and aunts and uncle and cousins, some of whom I hadn't seen in over two years!  I also got to meet a sweet new member of our family, Miss Taryn, who I may or may not have snuggled with most of the day:)

I'm the youngest grandchild (thought there are now lots of great grandchildren) on both sides, and there's a bit of an age spread between my cousins and I.  So, growing up, I kind of felt a little behind- they were graduating college when I was starting middle school.  They were having babies when I was in high school.  Just not a ton in common.  Plus, I was also the annoying little cousin that asked lots of inappropriate questions such as "When are you getting married?" to my oldest cousin and her boyfriend, (who is now her husband, so I think I've been forgiven- sorry again, Amy and Steve).

But, it seems like as you get older, the age difference becomes less of an issue.  We're now the grownups- there are family recipes to share, babies to hold, and hunting stories to compare (I'll leave that part to Blake).  And, my cousin Amy is a blogger, which left us talking about our Internet friends and attempting to convince my aunt and mom that we're not crazy:) 

And so, this Thanksgiving left me especially thankful for my family, and for the opportunity to reconnect.