Christmas in New England

Welcome to our home!

I thought I'd document what our house looks like before the birthday parties happen...because things just never recover after that, ha!

I love seeing how people decorate their homes and what kinds of things are special to them.  And I love this time of year, but I admit it can become much too stressful & hectic.  This year I've been more purposeful in decorating our home, taking the time to enjoy nights spent lingering by the extra candles on display, marveling at the twinkling lights all around the house- inside and out- but most importantly, trying to be mindful of the whole reason we celebrate, the birth of the Jesus!

This one is celebrating a birthday this weekend...

And this one turns four on Wednesday...how did that happen???

I really miss the candles in the windows, but a certain little orange someone will not.leave.them.alone.  Sigh.

Here is our entryway all decked out with the stockings I made several years ago and some other pretty, festive items.

Okay, so maybe there are a few essentials too...  :)

Ooh, and a sneak peak at our newly redone (well, in process) family room...

our Guatemalan nativity & my favorite egg I bought in Hungary when I was...much younger

notice how it isn't ON the tree this year?   orange-colored trouble!

pine cones & ornaments look festive in the trifle dish...
and it just isn't Christmas without the beautiful advent calendar my mother made for our family when I was a little girl ~ I love having this piece of childhood with me for my family now

 one of the last things Isabelle & I got in Guatemala right before {finally} coming home

I prefer white lights, but I was overruled...that's okay.  I know I'll wish they were back home decorating the tree after they're all gone, when I'll have lots of time to have it the way I want it

Next we have the kitchen and dining room...

I usually put lights and garland up above the kitchen cabinets, but I deviated from the plan this year.

I think you've gotta mix it up every now and then, right?

hmm, it isn't as pretty without the lights up there, and it needs some color...and now that I see the light fixtures, I think I usually add garland or something to them...more projects for the weekend!

 Mmm, yummy things get made in here (click here for recipe)
 

happiness!

it's so much fun having more special things to celebrate!

with two birthdays 3 days apart, all less than two weeks before Christmas, I need to keep my gift wrapping central...central!  That basket houses all the tape, scissors, labels and tags, pens, and ribbon I need ~ the paper is in a tall, skinny clothes hamper on the other side of the table (which I may or may not have stolen from the boys' room), and my wide island counter top is the perfect place for me to wrap since I'm so tall...well, when it's clean anyway  :)

Our dining room...check back soon because we're going to be making a few changes...

this is the recycled garland from the kitchen- I like the touch of color the swags add to the room

I have to include these because the reflections crack me up...it's okay if you don't appreciate this as much as I do  :)

 

wow, that is one wrinkled tablecloth, ha!

this tree is our skinny, faux tree, and I love how it looks in the corner of the dining room!  It was looking a little barren, so I hung all of my cookie cutters on it, added some candy canes and bought two 4-packs of stars at Target for a buck.  I already had the bows, but the main colors on the big tree are more red than cranberry, so voila!  I love it!

On our way upstairs...

this is Isabelle Kate's teeny tiny room ~ I am so in love with that pretty pink glow!

the room that Jonah and Caleb share ~ they get a great view of the lit up trees in the backyard
(Ethan has a tabletop tree, but this year added a string of lights to his windows, but you don't really need a visual to imagine what that looks like...)

there is something so special about going to sleep with Christmas lights on in your room!

Hope you enjoyed the tour!
Merry Christmas!

I'm linking up to Kelly's Korner, The Nesting Place, The Shabby Chic Cottage,  No Minimalist Here & Hooked on Houses