So I promised you a nice little virtual tour of our house. Yesterday evening, I walked around the house (in and out) and got some pics. Dayton was so confused why he couldn’t get in the pictures, he just looked at me like a crazy lady. Aren’t I the one who’s constantly trying to snap pics of them and now I’m trying to shoo them out? I even lit all of our candles everywhere – they’ve only been lit on one other occasion for the bank party, but they’re so pretty and add the perfect touch! Enjoy –and Merry Christmas from our Christmas Joy-Filled home to yours!
Let’s start with the outside:
Here is our new addition to the yard this year. Brandon created this huge Z out of chicken wire and we wrapped it in lights. It was made to go on the extra garage since it’s so dark (see prev pic) but it was too heavy and awkward so we settled on the fence – I thought it turned out great. Only thing we are still lacking is lights on the eaves. Our roof has too many peaks and slants and Brandon’s not willing to take that risks just yet.
We also added some lights to our side flowerbed in the back yard. It looks great when your looking out the breakfast table windows:
Now let’s go inside!
Here is our entry table:
View from the front door:
Table in the foyer: 
Mallory’s Dora tree in her room:
Our dining room tree. This was our first tree from our old house. I put it up every year and I may even like it better than our living room tree. All of the ornaments on it are so meaningful and nothing beats a Santa-filled red and white Christmas tree! Most of our gifts reside in here, too. Mallory is less likely to rip into them since she doesn’t walk by them as often as the ones in the living room :)
Dayton’s Longhorn/Star Wars/John Deer/Sports/Whatever he’s into from year to year tree!
And into the kitchen:
And just in case you were wondering, Michael is back this year. I do recall his name being Matthew last year, but he seems to like to be called Michael this year, so we will do whatever pleases the elf. He hasn’t done anything too mischievous; he’s been a good little elf thus far – he hasn’t forgot to visit the North Pole one night yet! He’s in a new spot EVERY morning!
Our personalized Williams-Sonoma gingerbread house we got as a gift – how great is that? Kids are mad we won’t let them open it – yet…
Also changed up this little display this year. I went w/ all pictures frames holding Christmas pictures – turned out cute! Definently gonna make it a tradition and be on the look out for more 1/2 price Christmas frames after Christmas this year :)
This shelf housed our last three years of our family Christmas cards. I think it’s important to hold onto these things!
Our We Believe in Santa sign next to some Santa pics – the pic on the right behind our Santa pic is Coby, Me and Scott when we were young. If you could see it up close, I look very, very similar to picture of Mallory in the middle:
And top two shelves with more family pics:
Here is our breakfast area with our new Christmas Card tree. We had one last year, but this year I bought a new tree on Black Friday and I’m very pleased with it. I love this tree, too!
So, if you’ve sent us a card, thanks for helping us decorate this lovely tree b/c I promise your card is on here somewhere :)
The fireplace complete w/ our Christmas Build a Bear collection, Little People Nativity scene and two “What Christmas is all about” books:
And yes, our stockings are already stuffed. It’s a tradition at our house to take a load off of Santa and do the stocking stuffing ourselves. Daddy stuffs Mommy’s, Mommy stuffs Daddy’s and Mommy and Daddy stuff the kiddos. We open them on the 23rd – isn’t that strange? It gives us more time to appreciate what’s in them, along with the few gifts we exchange that are under the tree – mainly exchanges for Mommy and Daddy. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are so full and busy. It’s always nice that on some point on the 23rd we sit as a family and exchange some simple, fun presents and enjoy each other before the madness begins!
Our “big” tree in the living room:
And although it isn’t very decorated, here is our office –do you recognize it? It’s actually an office and not an office that doubles as a play room. All the toys are not gone – fear not! They’ve moved to the ping-pong/wii room where they all belong!
Our advent wreath that lives on our refrigerator for the entire Advent season. We try to do this every year with Dayton and every week when we get home from church on Sunday, we add another candle. Isn’t it exciting that all four candles are in place and we are preparing for the Lord’s coming?
And I had to throw in a picture of another Black Friday deal – here’s our infamous train - one of three that was toted in our full car. All Aboard the Zabodyn Express!
