Deck the Halls

Good morning, my friends. I am attempting to catch up on posting some pictures today. It's been a busy (in the best way) couple of weeks around here. 

First up, a little holiday tour of our home. I feel content with the way our home looks for the holidays this year. With the exception of one little sign, I have resisted all temptations to buy more this season. And that has not been easy, I tell you. Target dollar bins, I am talking to you. Instead, I edited the bins that we've collected over the years and brought in only our very favorite things to make our space festive and cozy. 

Let's flip this tour and start at the top of the stairs, shall we? 

Our console table that meets us on the landing has one of our nativity sets. 

Taylor is constantly rearranging this scene and it makes me laugh. I think it's sweet that the kids have always played with these sets and made them their own. 

Across from the console, is the door to our room. Decorations in here are subtle, but we do have a really cute pup to show you around. 

Next up is Donovan's room. This is is first Christmas in his own room and I wanted to make it really special. The tree to the left of his bed, is one we usually use on the front porch. This year we brought it in and filled it with all of the ornaments that he's collected through the years. 

Another this that makes the kids' spaces extra cozy this year are all of the snowflakes. Way back over Veteran's Day weekend, the "bigs" and I got on a youtube kick watching tutorials about how to make paper snowflakes. We spent one entire afternoon cutting away and making a million super cool snowflake shapes. It was magical! We celebrated the unveiling of each and every one and cracked up at all of the not so glamorous ones. When we were finished we had a huge stack of snowflakes and a carpet full of paper scraps too! We decided to save them and then suspend them from the ceiling with a bit if string and a simple clear push-pin. I LOVE how they turned out. Each night as we lay in bed tucking the kids in we talk about our favorite ones and reminisce about who made which snowflake. 

Donovan's room also houses the bin of wrapped books. We brought back the tradition of unwrapping a Christmas book to read each night. Although Taylor has been known to unwrap 2 or 3 or... 7 on any given night. Needless to say, they have all been unwrapped at this point. But this spot still serves as a common meeting place in the evenings where the kids choose a story to read as they get ready for bed. 

Now the girls' room. As you can see, the snowflakes made a generous appearance in this room, as well. I had to hand them a bit higher in here because 2 year old hands are very interested in these dangling paper patterns. A tiny Christmas tree filled with girly ornaments found its way in the middle of the girls' beds. 

Even their little gallery wall got a cheery Christmas update. 

I never got a picture of their little table, but you can see the beautiful quilt my mom made that is topping it.  

Here are my little ladies trimming their tree. 

Now let's head downstairs to the entry. 

This framed chalk board usually has something written on it. But I must tell you, I have never loved it more. Emmerson asked if she could draw on it this year and I smile every time I see it. 

The entry shelf is much more simple than in years' past and I am liking it this way. A pine scented candle, some greens from the backyard, and my Dad's little toy fire truck that always seems like it brings some Christmas nostalgia with it. 

This is our dining table. The greenery hanging up in the back looks best when it's lit up, glowing at night. Otherwise the lights are typically off. It's hard to tell, but it's just simple greenery from Hobby Lobby that I added some pinecones and red berries to. It's always tricky to get it hung up so that it's even and stays put, but once it's up... it's good to go for the whole season. 

There are a few simple Christmas decorations in the kitchen. 

And then this is our cozy living room space that is next to the kitchen. This space gets used so much more during the holiday season. 

And then, believe it or not, one tree just didn't seem like enough this year. We went for two! In fact, we got two trees at Costco this year, for less than we've paid for one tree at other lots in recent years. We didn't "theme" our trees per se, but this tree in the living room has all of the kids' handmade ornaments and lots of ornaments that Dustin and I grew up with. 

This is always my favorite. 

And on the coffee table, a few more of my absolute favorites. Vintage ornaments, a collection from my Oma's tree growing up and that vintage angel bell inside the jar from my Dad's cousin Trish. The decorations that surround these spaces remind me so much of family and I think that's the thing that makes it feel so full of joy for me. 

Our Christmas mantle with stocking made by my Oma. 

And tiny Christmas vignettes inside glass vases sitting on the mantle.  

Finally, the family room or, "Grammie's room" as we usually call it. This tree holds all of my White House ornaments that have been gifted to me by my Oma since I was a little girl growing up outside of Washington DC. It also houses lots of the blue and gold ornaments that I've collected. 

And these blue glass balls are from the trees that my Oma always decorated with when I was a kid. I love that they have remnants of the flocking from the trees my mom grew up with. 

And that is it, my friends. Our home is decked and we've had  a blast having family and friends over to enjoy it these last few weeks. 

I hope your season is off to a wonderful start as well. 

Thanks for stopping by.

xoxo

Decking the Halls and to Grammie's House we Go

Hey friends! It's officially our first day of vacation and I could not be more _______(excited, relieved, thrilled, ready for it)! 

 Let's catch up, shall we? Last weekend, Dustin flew up to San Francisco to run the North Face Endurance Challenge Marathon. Unfortunately, we weren't able to get up there to cheer him on since we still had another week of school following right after. The kids and I had a lazy weekend at home. We pretty much decorated the entire house for Christmas. We couldn't help ourselves! The bigs and I got on a kick watching youtube how to videos about making paper snowflakes. When Taylor was napping we made dozens and dozens. Each one came out so cool! Then we decided to string them and hang them from the kids' ceilings. And the decorating just couldn't quit after that. 

 It kept my mind occupied while Dustin ran. (I always get nervous each and every time he does a race). He did great by the way. I am so proud of him! The decorations also kept the kiddos busy and happy. The girls used them as toys and played for much of the day right here in the garage amongst all of the bottle brush trees and ornaments. 

 Taylor has seemed so grown up to me lately. She falls right in line playing with the bigs now. 

They had fun playing in each others' rooms all weekend.

 We also worked on some craft projects together. The kids helped me make some special Thanksgiving aprons for our family in Sacramento. 

 The school week went fast! We had crazy hot weather at the beginning of the week, in the low 90s and windy. Then by mid-week we were down in the 50s and getting some much needed rain for the first time in a long time. It was so fun! The kids were so excited to come home from school, jump in their warm jammies and watch Christmas movies in their cozy, little rooms. 

I LOVE these moments and wish I could freeze time right here. I hope they will always hold these memories of the simple moments shared together like this. 

I only grabbed this picture of my Mom and Oma but I can't tell you how good it was to see my family last week! It had been about three weeks since we had gotten together and my heart was so full being together again. My mom and Dad helped me big time this week, picking up the kids from school, making meals, and babysitting for me while I got my haircut on Thursday night. So very thankful! 

In random side news, Emmerson lost a very important front tooth last week. She lost it at school and was SO excited! Now the second front tooth is hanging by a thread. I feel like losing those front teeth is like a major rite of passage. Once the big teeth come in, kids look so different! My little girl is growing up! 

Thursday was our last day of work because we took Friday off to drive to Grammie's! We have literally been counting down the minutes! It was a fairly easy drive up. (Our first one with three potty trained kids)! We only had to make two stops, so I call that a success. 

 In N Out for lunch makes it even more successful. 

 And then, we made it to Gram's! 

 Hooray for leaves, fall colors, and cool weather. We have arrived! 

 We went over to Uncle Dave's last night for dinner. He loved his new apron. The kids were thrilled to gift it to him!

And Gram loved hers too! 

We had a great dinner together and then headed home early to get in our jammies and head to bed. 

This is a week we've been eagerly anticipating for quite some time. I feel such a sense of relief to get away from the routine for a few days and enjoy the gifts of this sweet season of our lives. 

Donovan's Room

And just like that, our big eight year old now has his very own room. 

 We went back and forth about what type of bed to get for his new space. He really wanted a bunk bed and at first we were right on board with that. But after a little convincing, we all decided that a full size bed offered a bit more longevity for the space.  

 We chose not to theme his room up big time, but it didn't take long for baseball to make a steady appearance. I love this framed picture of his baseball besties waiting out a storm between innings. Emmerson helped me accessorize the space. (I swear she is my mini Joanna Gaines in the making) She found this old autographed baseball from Grampie. 

 After we finally bought his mattress last week, Donovan and Emmerson accompanied me on a trip to Target where Donovan picked out his bedding and pillows. (I may have had a little bit of a say in the decision too). I loved this bedding and pillows from the Hearth and Hand line at Target.  Donovan picked out the red striped pillow and at first I said no, because there was no other red in the room and I thought the stripe on stripe might be a bit much. But I love the little color that it adds. Well played, D. 

 Most of the things we hung up on his wall, were items he already had. This cork map was a present given to him on his fifth birthday. 

 Emmerson chose these books to put on display on Taylor's old book shelves. 

The closet is open for now. It's the easiest way to access all of the clothes items he keeps in the little bins on the bottom shelves. I'm sure this will evolve as he gets older. But for now, it suits him perfectly. I spy Molly in this picture, can you?