Christmas is here!

Well, at our house anyway. Adrian and I finished decorating the inside and the outside for Christmas. I love getting out all the decorations and remembering when I bought them or who had given them to me.  I bought an ornament for Adrian every year we've been together and it's always fun to look at them and remember where we were in our relationship during that time. I need to buy a wedding one for this year. My favorite new thing this year is the nutcracker on our fireplace mantel. I don't know why, but I love the look of the nutcracker. I also bought the huge book on our mantel this year. It's "The Night Before Christmas," and I would like to have Adrian read it aloud on Christmas Eve and have that be a new holiday tradition. 

 My oldest and fondest memory is the Nativity that used to be my

 grandmother's. She always had it displayed on a table in the formal dining room, but I like to have it under the tree. I know I'm not a very religious person, but I love the story behind it as well as the fact that it is

 something from my grandma. I hope I can keep it in good shape so that I can pass it along to my children one day. Although it is not the nicest Nativity scene I've ever seen, but there is something special about having one passed down. 

Adrian was brave enough again this year to go out on the roof to put up our inflatable snowmen. We were debating whether or not to put lights on the second story, but I still think it would be too dangerous. Adrian would have to hang off the side of the top and staple the lights on in order to do it. I'd rather have him safe then to slide off and break a leg, or worse. We have the big, old school bulbs on our house. Those are my favorite lights. I don't care much for the icicles. 

Here is our huge 9 foot tree. Yes, it is fake, but I like the fact that it doesn't come with bugs and that I don't have to remember to water it! Also, it always makes me sad to see all of the Christmas trees thrown out on the curb after Christmas. This year I decided to decorate it with red poinsettias, red berries, an angel, and all the ornaments we had. Last year we had a Winter Wonderland theme tree with a huge red and white bow on top that also cascaded down the sides, snowy and icicle branches, and only red, white, and silver ornaments. I think it's a lot of fun to change the theme of the tree. I don't know if I could keep up with a new theme each year. Not only is it pricey to buy all of the new things, but also to store everything is a pain. I think I'll switch between last year's tree and this one for now. 

All that is left to do is to wrap up all the gifts I bought and place them under the tree.