It's a Christmas Wonderland Inside Our Home

I LOVE Christmas time. I love the smells, the sites and especially the feeling that surrounds our home during this time of year! Usually I have our Christmas tree up before Thanksgiving, but I didn't do it this year. I think it was because I was really into Thanksgiving and my gratitude and thankfulness blogs. I wasn't ready for Christmas because I had such great feelings for Thanksgiving this year. I loved focusing on all the things I have been blessed with and how very thankful I am to my Heavenly Father.

Now I can focus on the greatest gift of all, our Savior Jesus Christ. I have been working diligently getting our house decorated - and then I can relax. This year I have been VERY proud of myself for finally finding an arrangement of my furniture to fit the Christmas tree, village and all my decorations up. I DID IT - finally - I found the perfect arrangement and now I can have it all up every year. I haven't had my village up for years - because I couldn't find a place. I have changed the furniture around and around and it never really worked until this year. I love it!!

This is the 2nd year we have had this tree. It is quite a bit fuller then my old tree. I still add the lights and I prefer multi-colored lights verses clear lights. I purchase the cinnamon pine cones from the store and add them into the tree - giving my home a wonderful homey smell - since I don't have the real tree smell.

Jason and Sharon came by to harass me because I didn't have my decorating done yet even though it is only Dec. 3rd.. I made them put at least one ornament on to the tree... Jason is so silly -- Look he did one - LOL!!

I pushed my sofa's closer to each other and opened the area in the bay window, which left room for the Christmas tree and village. I also put the glass table behind the sofa - like a sofa table and it worked out great!

Here is an up close view of the village. The houses on the top of the village are the Santa houses with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Clause on top.

I have many Nativities throughout the house. Here is a view of the other side of the room.

Metal reindeer, metal sleigh with pine boughs and a Santa adorns the coffee table.

Here is a wider view.

The wise men - these were purchased 1 per year from Home Interiors. My mom is a consultant and these were my Christmas gifts for 3 years in a row. I love them!

Joseph, Mary and Baby Jesus.

The Shepherds!

A full view.

A nativity I've had for over 20 years. One of my first purchases from Home Interiors when I had my own home. This is on a shelf in the TV room.

I purchased this nativity last year so that I would have a less expensive nativity to take to church with me. I think it is really pretty - the clothes on the people are actual material.

This is my expensive nativity from Home Interiors that my Mom gave to me one year as a Christmas present. I still love it so much!

The are both on my piano. I have nativities in every room in my house. I am almost done transforming the inside of my house. Tonight I hope to get the lights on outside. Yes - I am really behind this year - but I'm still within the first week of December and am I not going to stress about it. I still have lots of time to enjoy it and the spirit it brings.

I love this time of year!!

(A side note - I try to get blogs up as fast as possible and leave out words or word thing weird. I don't spend a lot of time proof reading because I don't have a lot of extra time right now. I hope you will over look that - I just want to get them posted so I don't fall behind.)