Day 281- It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

This week has been dedicated to decorating our house for Christmas. It's quite a process, and add a toddler to the mix, it takes even longer. I've also had to be more creative about where I put them, so they stay out of curious hands! We have more Christmas decorations than we even know what to do with. I still have a large tote full of things that I have no room for. I inherited most of them. So we have a large mix. 

There are new decorations that I have picked up. 

Of course we each needed our own Christmas stockings. I can't wait to add a fourth one next year!

This beautiful painting was a gift from some members of our church. She painted it. I love that Joseph is holding Jesus while Mary rests in the background. It definitely reminds us that Christ was truly man, born to a sinful, human being, who had to endure a hard, natural labor. What a humble birth!

Of course there are many hand-made things that my mom crafted over the years. Many good friends of hers own Christmas mice, just like this...

...or a NOEL like this.  

We have three nativities. Two were my parents. One we got as a wedding gift. We usually have room for two.

Some of the decorations are very old. I believe these mice belonged to my Grandma. 

I also inherited all the ornaments, so I have my first Christmas ornaments on our tree. 

(How cute is that baby? :) ) 

And Anna has her first Christmas ornaments as well.

Many Mickey ornaments that my parents collected from our friends, the Feiocks. Anna, especially love these.

An ornament from my preschool years. I was a bit stingy with the macaroni. 

 And a pickle hidden deep with in the tree. Anyone else hide a pickle in their tree?

I love the way all these wonderful things make our home feel warm and cozy. It makes all the hard work worth it!