Winter Decor

Just wanted to share my decorations for January.

Here's a little stitchery I made yesterday. Don't look too close- the one mitten got kind of wonky.

I used my cricut and some vinyl on the let it snow block.

Here's the entry shelf.

And the little black hutch downstairs.

Hope you are staying warm wherever you are!

Christmas Decor

Finally getting around to sharing a few pictures of my Christmas decorations...

my little entry shelf- (a work in progress as I really am not loving this as much as I have in past seasons)

Christmas cheer in the kitchen

on top of the entertainment center

little red chair

little black shelf

Decking the Halls, etc.

Thanksgiving was awesome and the rest of the weekend was nice and relaxing. Friday, Jameson and Troy went to the last Nebraska home game and Connor, Genna, and I stayed home and hung out. We got all the decorations down from the attic. That night we all snuggled under the covers and watched Christmas With the Kranks.

Saturday, we got serious about putting up the decorations. I wish I could say it was just like a scene out of Norman Rockwell painting, but the reality is that it was more like a scene from Christmas Vacation with the Griswold's. The lights didn't work, there was fighting over whose turn it was to put up the star, etc. but the end result was magical.





That night Troy and I were able to go to the temple with his family. We decided we are going to do a monthly family trip. In our session that night, there were only 2 people who weren't part of our family. It was such a wonderful experience to be there surrounded by those you love. It was snowing when we came out.

Afterwards we went out to eat at Carlos O'Kelley's and then did a little Christmas shopping at Walmart.

Tonight we had FHE here at home and then went to visit Troy's Grandma Kastens and bring her a little Christmas cheer.

She was so excited that we sang some songs for her. She couldn't get over the fact that we all had matching hats on. She has a little book where people sign in and we were her only visitors today. Made me sad and more determined that we get there more often.

Last of all, while we were having our treat(Eggnog Shakes) Jameson finally set off his volcano tonight. He made this volcano about 3 weeks ago and it has been sitting in my kitchen, crumbling,ever since. We oohed and aahed as it erupted.


Hope you all had a great weekend, too!

November Decorations

Ok, I'll admit, I am ready to get my Christmas stuff out. I have started my shopping, I even tried unsuccessfully to find the radio station that starts playing Christmas music the day after Halloween. But tradition holds that we put our tree and decor up the Sunday or Monday after Thanksgiving and so I will be patient.

Even though I am excited for the Christmas season to get started, I don't want waste a perfectly good excuse to decorate for a holiday. Plus, I really do think that Thanksgiving is a very cool holiday. The world would be a much better place if we remembered to be more grateful for our blessings.

So for the record, here are my November decorations.

My entry way shelf. I still would like to find some mini multicolored corn for the little basket.


On top of the entertainment center.


This vintage treasure used to be my Grandma Olson's. She used to read us a book we loved about squirrels who needed to learn some manners and so this little squirrel is precious to me.


The two sets of pilgrims are new this year and I really love them both. They remind me of the gratitude I have for those who came to this country searching for religious freedom. Plus, my old set was ceramic and Mr. Pilgrim's head was not going to be glued on an 11th time.