December

It's hard to believe that December has come and is almost gone.  With such a short time in between Thanksgiving and Christmas all one had to do was blink and it was over!  Or at least that is what it felt like.  Harris was home relatively early this year and so we've immensely enjoyed having both children home!  Here's a peak at our December...

Christmas morning was lovely as always.  It's such a special time and I think it's our favorite of the whole season.

We also had some dear time with friends at our animal Christmas brunch.  Bryce and I also went into the city for dinner with Lori and Mark who were in town for the weekend. 

Marshall and Grace showed up in basically the same outfit!

Of course, the house was festive and twinkly and lots of yummy food, and drink, was served!

We were merry, one and all.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

 

I can't really remember the last time that we had a white Christmas.  In fact, I thought perhaps we never had but Bryce seems to remember that we have.  At any rate, we got a sweet dusting/layer of snow on the Friday before Christmas and then it stuck around because it was so cold.  Then, we got another light dusting the day before Christmas.  I loved it! 

This is my view out the window every morning.  I love watching how the seasons change out my bedroom window and love that this is the first thing I see.  As I come down the stairs to get my coffee, I get to see a broader view!

The very Friday that it was snowing the four of us went to see Die Hard in the theater!  We all four love this movie (which we all agree is definitely a Christmas movie!) and so when Grace saw that they were showing it for one night, she got us tickets!  

 We made a family Christmas night of it by going out to dinner at a fun new spot in town, getting our favorite ice cream, seeing the tree, and running a few Christmasy errands.

I hope that's not all the snow we get this season but I'm thrilled we had some on the ground for Christmas!

Wreaths and Garlands

I thought I would share a few pictures of the greenery we have throughout the house.  We purchase simple pine garland for around the door and on the stone wall and the wreaths on each window are fake but everything else we make!  

There's no getting around the fact that we have a lot of doors on our house, 4 total, and two light posts that we put swags on.

The doors are each a bit different and I even made a wreath for Bryce's office door!

The garland in the library turned out beautifully this year!  I really love all the different textures.

My favorite garland is in the den, where Grace makes a garland of oranges and cranberries to go with a simple pine garland.

The leftover greens got stuffed in a large vase set on the mudroom table that is most often completely cluttered but that the dream/goal is for it to just have a vase of flowers on it!  

I feel like our decorations are getting simpler each year with rather plain but seasonal greens.  My hope is that they are simple and elegant and a lovely nod to our farm!

Making Garland and Wreaths

 

The past several years, we've made many of our own wreaths and garlands for the farm.  Sometimes, we do it as a family, sometimes it's just me and often it is just Bryce and I.  I've come to really enjoy doing this, it's so satisfying to make something with greenery foraged throughout the farm!  

I start by pulling out Bryce's old Radio Flyer wagon (it's just so Christmasy) and wander around through the woods and around the house looking for greenery.  

I try to gather as many different greens as I can so that we have many different textures.  We have cedars, magnolias, pines, boxwood and some evergreens I have yet to identify!  

The ancient garland maker that we were gifted from our landscaper is still getting good use and I feel like we are getting better, and fuller, garlands each year!

To make the wreaths, I make little bunches first and then affix them to the wreath form.  My wreaths are still a bit wonky but I sort of love them regardless!

We often make a fire while working and enjoy some hot chocolate!  

I'll follow up with some photos of the garlands and wreaths!