Snippets of Christmas!

Snippet...I like that word. A small piece of something.  Everyone needs "a small piece of something".  I was quite busy during December and didn't participate in any of the Christmas decoration link up parties, but did want to show you a snippet of of my favorite things.  I'll start with one of my favorite rooms in the house, the laundry room.  Since I spend so much time there, I better like it.  During Christmas, it is turned into Santa's Wash and Dry! The red wreath was made by my maternal grandmother.  I treasure it and put it up each year.

I made this wreath for the laundry room door in a matter of minutes to match the toile in the laundry room.  A styrofoam wreath, leftover fabric, and a little greenery was all I needed to tweak this into a happy wreath.  Maybe I should have trimmed the strings before taking this picture!

We have manger scenes throughout the house, but this is one of my favorites.  Our oldest son sets up the scene each year. Joseph is a little top heavy so that staff must be strategically placed! Not to worry, our oldest is an aerospace engineer.  He is terrific with critical elements!
This is our reading room off of the kitchen.  During Christmas, it turns into my husband's Christmas Village and he has his "train tree' in here.  He is an avid train collector and the tree is dedicated to trains.  There is another set of houses in here, but we didn't get them in the picture.  I like the way the mirror gives you the ability to see the scenes from the back as well.  I have always been fascinated with Christmas village scenes.

I like to decorate the dining room.  My china cabinet is decked out in gold and greenery.  The Santa picture on the left hand-side was purchased from Lands End as a charity event for children's cancer.  He is a jolly ole Saint Nick!

Here is a shot of the den from an upper balcony.  Over the years I have learned to organize the decorations in each room prior to storing away.  I can literally put up the decorations in a few hours. Our main tree has never been a themed tree.  I like to see the ornaments our children made as well as those we've collected over the years.  Taking each one out brings back so many wonderful memories that you just can't get when you "theme" your tree.  I made our stockings our first Christmas together and added the boys' stockings as they came along.  Each is made of the same quilted fabric with a cross stitched scene and our names across the tops.  As you can see, we collect nutcrackers!

These are special to me as they were on my first Christmas tree as a baby.  My goodness, that makes them..ummm...old!

I can't believe that we didn't get a shot of the kitchen.  It is another favorite room in the house and is decorated in gingham and gingerbread.  Here is a special gift I received this year!  His name is Luke Bailey.  Luke for the chapter in the Bible telling of Christ's birth and Bailey for George Bailey in my favorite Christmas movie, It's A Wonderful Life. He is a sweetheart.  Our two big labs don't know quite what to make of him.  More about Luke later.

 I don't think I have ever shared a picture of my family with you.  We took this one for our Christmas cards this year with minimal fussing! Our oldest son, our aerospace engineer, is to the left of the picture and our youngest son is to my right.  He is in his junior year at MSU majoring in electrical engineering.  I must say, they do not get their analytical brains from me!  We have thoroughly enjoyed having them home during the holidays.  Of course, the guy on the right side of the picture is my sweet hubbie.  My family and I wish you and your family a Happy New Year and many blessings for the coming year.

 

Linking to...

Cozy Little House

The Brambleberry Cottage
Debbie-Debbiedoos
The Dedicated House
Sunny Simple Life
Ther Rustic Pig
Creative Cabin