It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

First, thank you everyone for all your sweet emails, texts, calls, and prayers.  Brent's dad is doing much better and truly it is a miracle.  I honestly did not think we would be where we are today with his progress.  He is still in the CICU, but hopefully will be able to move to a Rehab facility soon.  He is awake, and can sit up.  He has some confusion at times, but they are hoping that goes away with time and progress.

Our weekends have been very busy, if for nothing else than travelling to Greenville.  I have opted to stay with Emma at home, since I really did not want to take her to the hospital (and actually it is not allowed for children under 12), and knew my support here would be more needed.  SO, we have used our weekday time trying to live life and enjoy the holidays.

I love decorating for Christmas, and this year I finally feel like I have a hold on where I want things to go.  Every year, it seems we kind of pull all the bins out and just kind of throw it anywhere it will fit.  All the while wondering where it all went last year - does anyone else feel like this?

I have friends that take pictures of their decor (smart idea), and I recently am in love with some new house blogs and all the Holiday boards on Pinterest.  I just wish we could extend this time of year into February....who's with me????

Now, don't laugh...but here is our home this Christmas...

The ornaments we added this year were a letter for each member of our family...I bought wooden letters at Michael's, then spray painted them red or silver, and added a ribbon.

This is my favorite...I  did nothing to it, just added the large plaid ribbon.  The natural wood looks so pretty in the tree.

I also am obsessed with greenery - real and faux.  I cut these berries off of a plant near our house.  I shamelessly waited until no one was looking..even though it was technically not on anyone's property...I don't think.  I then used clippings from our tree and some other greenery that I bought in a bundle at.....(drumroll please) WALMART.  Yes, you heard me right.  $4 for a bundle of assorted, real greenery.  I considered it a really good shopping trip.

On our dining room table, most of the greens are faux (from A.C. Moore), with real holly berries mixed in.  I have to be careful though, because apparently holly berries are somewhat poisonous to animals. 

I love our crab pot Christmas tree.  I also added some pinecones and fake pears to a glass jar. 

After months, we have finally hung our frames on the wall.  We took everything down when we painted the trim and walls, and have yet to hang anything back up.  They've been sitting in a pile in the corner waiting patiently for their new homes.

My parents gave me these Pottery Barn plates for my birthday, and I LOVE them.  I will probably never use them for eating, because I love them so much:)  Better picture below.

I actually wasn't going to put up my nativity this year, because honestly I didn't have room for it.  Then I had the bright idea to move the cable box and DVR off the top of the hutch to the floor (where it was not in sight, but still usable), and put it here.  The picture is awful, but I like how it looks.  Does anyone know what movie I am watching here????  (The Holiday is one of my favorites!!!  I could soooo move to England...)

I finally got around to reading my pins on how to decorate shelves...and rearranged the bookcases Brent made the other night.  It's not worthy of a magazine, but I love it:)

And here is our mantel.  It's cluttered and whimsical, and I have a tree fetish...but it's so cozy:)  Most of the felt trees and the knitted garland are from Garnet Hill.

Our beautiful home:) 

I of course couldn't leave out the tree...straight from the mountains of Virginia...and Emma is finally old enough to enjoy it and all the ornaments!

Putting the first ornament of 2014 on the tree....

My heart melts looking at this...I have such a sweet family:)

Putting the star on top:)

We probably won't get around to a Christmas card this year.  I jokingly told a friend that she may get a Happy MLK day card if we actually tried this year...that's how behind I am.  Next year, I vow to take a picture in early fall and order cards before November.  I so love getting other people's cards, so I hate not to send one.  But if we are going by tradition, we did not send out one Emma's first Christmas...so maybe the every other year thing works best for us!!!