Holiday House Tour

Merry Christmas, everyone! It's so fun to be celebrating our first Christmas in our new home. The holidays came at a great time because they encouraged us to do some serious nesting. The things that make a house feel like home always seem to be the last to get done (hanging photos, unpacking mementos, etc.), right? Luckily, there is really no better way to make a house feel very cozy and very yours than to fill it with all of your favorite Christmas decorations. We've only been in the house 3.5 months, but it feels like home a little more each day.

I loved having a blank canvas for decorating (literally - remember what I was saying about hanging photos last?). We could only fit so many things in the apartment, and there is so much more we could do in the house in the future (I'm going to be all over those after Christmas sales this year), but we managed to make it pretty festive.

Some of these photos are mine - the not as good ones. And the others were taken by Karen Race - who just happens to be a church friend of ours - as a gift from our real estate agent. The idea to do a holiday house tour came from my college friend and sorority sister, Holly - her blog is pretty cute so you should probably check it out.

Living Room

I think theme trees are pretty, but to me there is nothing better than a REAL tree full ornaments that are special to us.

I made those three wreaths. It's a Christmas miracle. 

I can't remember a Christmas without this calendar. The mouse went missing for a few years thanks to our family cat. 

Dining Room

This may be my favorite travel purchase ever. We bought this nativity set at the Familia Sagrada in Barcelona. It was handmade by a local artist. I'm so glad I talked Jon into parting with those euros. :)

Dickens Village. My mom has a whole village and she lent these farmhouses to me. 

Entry

Mistletoe!

Kitchen

Upstairs/Bedroom

Outside

Lighted garland. 

Lanterns filled with lights lining the path.

We put candles in all the front-facing windows.

There are a lot of things to love about Christmas (believe me, I love all of them), but there is nothing greater than the gift of a Savior who first loved me.

For to us a child is a born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.