A Christmas Tour

Dear Grandma,

I took these photos for you. Dad said you would like to see some decorations...Plus, they are one of my favorite parts of Christmas at dad's house. Always so BeAutIfuL...

For anyone who is not my grandma, I hope you enjoy too.

This is my favorite tree with the top hat :)

Here is Molly sitting in her chair. She's really not supposed to be there, but she just fits so well I couldn't bear to reprimand her...


The dining room...

The living room or family room (I never know which name is correct) and Isabelle...



The family room/living room...I love the chair legs. So fun. :)

And the game room/extra sleeping space when the house is full (hence the mattress)...

One of my favorites, but it doesn't stand a chance of being in anything but a state of complete ChAoS. You can imagine why...


And that's all I've got. Hope you enjoyed the tour Grandma (and anyone else who made it this far).

Love,
Katie

Too Late

I was just about ready to do a True Confessions entry on how my Christmas tree was still up and how I had AbSoLuTeLy no intention of taking it down anytime soon...how plugging the tree in and seeing its cozy, warm glow makes getting up at the DreAdFuL hour of six a.m. a little less painful, etc....



When much to my SuRpRiSe my love met me at the door on Tuesday, our tree in hand, hauling it to be disposed of in a location that shall remain UnDiScLoSeD (I'll simply say that I am a rule follower...Mr. Bailey is not ;)). It should also be noted that the tree was still wrapped in LiGhTs while it was headed for destruction! The scene was quite hilarious...scads of pine needles and ornaments everywhere...I must have said something to the effect of "No! I can't believe it's over...our tree, our beautiful tree!" about ten times...

I so wish I had a picture of Dan carrying our light adorned tree out of this place...such DeTeRmInAtiOn!

At any rate...after all of that I'm afraid I still have a true confession to make...

We haven't sat on our couch all week... I just can't bring myself to pack up those lovely ornaments...

Anticipation...

The first year we were married Dan and I didn't have much money so we made it a tradition to buy one Christmas decoration for our home each year. We picked this Advent Calendar up at a market in Cambodia two years ago, and already it is becoming one of our most TrEaSuReD yule tide traditions.

With our schedules quickly FiLliNg, the temperature rapidly DrOpPiNg, and the sun RaReLy shining, I find the days of Advent are ones that I'd rather curl up on my couch with a good book, burning fire, and a cup of FrU-FrOo coffee instead of heading into work.

It is on such days that I find great JoY in something so seemingly SiMpLe. I love how the small act of moving just one nativity piece a day, be it a sheep, a shepherd, or a king stirs up great HoPe and AnTicIpaTioN in my heart...

The KiNg is coming, and as we remember his HuMbLe entry into Earth so many years ago, it reminds me on those "I wish it was a SnOw DaY" days that he is coming again soon.

So tomorrow morning as we stand before our calendar placing the lone sheep on the scene, I eagerly expect that He will stir my HeArT and give me the StrEnGth to walk out the door and face my WorLd with his LoVe, the love of the coming KiNg.