Let the decorating begin...

Over the weekend, my sister Carol & I went to a holiday open house, where I found this old metal bread tray.  So yesterday, I put together this ensemble of Christmas decorations that I had in my collection.  The santa is something I had made when I was selling crafts, so I've had it for a while.  The jingle bells came from a cool little gift shop a few years ago... sort of distressed ivory covered with some glittery goodness.  I think I'll change the stuff inside of the tray with the change of the seasons. I also put up the nativity scene, the garland with the stockings in the stairway & the boys put up their small trees in their rooms.  Dan & Evan even put some lights on a few spruce trees that are in our front yard & Dan put up some icicle lights around the porch roof.  Thanks honey!  We're really enjoying taking our time getting the decorations out & putting them up this year.  Last year we did it totally at the last minute & it was not at all enjoyable.  Hoping to get most everything up before Thanksgiving so our families can enjoy them when they come for dinner on Thursday & Saturday.  We don't normally get many visitors during this time of year, so we're pretty excited.  We're also doing some last minute drywall finishing in our basement & Lydia's room.  The guy is supposed to get the texture done tomorrow, so maybe we'll get some paint on before the guests arrive.  Yay!