Christmas Clean-up

"Clean up, clean up,
Everybody, everywhere.
Clean up, clean up,
Everybody do your share!"

This is the song I sing with my two-year-old granddaughter as we clean up her toys. It kind of works with her. It never seems to work with anyone when it comes to cleaning up our Christmas decor! Actually, Dan does take down the main tree. And he is completely in charge of the exterior decor.

But is it just me? Or does it seem like taking it all down is more of a chore than putting it all up was?

Since I decorate early, I'm usually ready to start cleaning up on December 26th. I always leave the main tree until last because Dan likes for it to be up a few days after Christmas. This year I had it all down by the evening of the 26th. In  the past, I had several oversize tubs that I packed it in.

 They were getting so heavy that it was hard for me to move them on my own. Since I don't want to wait for Dan to be available to help me, I re-packed this year into smaller tubs.

I use clear tubs so I can see what's inside. I also label each tub.

I'm not sure what method Dan uses for the outside decor. I probably don't want to know! ha ha

I can not believe this is the last day of 2011. I have enjoyed this Christmas blog and will post to it throughout the year. I'm always on the lookout for Christmas gifts, decor, ideas. I have also gained inspiration from reading the Christmas blogs listed on the side of this blog. Thank you for sharing your creativity!

Wishing all a Blessed and Happy New Year!

On to Christmas 2012

On Monday we ventured out to Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Home Goods, and Target looking for after Christmas bargains. I scored at Target, buying a Fisher-Price Little People's Pirate Ship on clearance. I'm going to give it to Thunder for his first birthday in July. But it was at Hobby Lobby that I found my first Christmas gift purchase for 2012. So, even in the midst of putting away Christmas 2011, I'm moving on to Christmas 2012!

And So It Ends...

So Christmas 2011 is over. When I opened my blog this morning I was greeted by the banner "365 Days Until Christmas". I have a few final photos to share. Tomorrow I'll start posting about the clean up. I hope you all had a great Christmas with your families and friends. We are so blessed!

Dan and I opened our gifts on Christmas Eve.

He asked for some REAL maple syrup!

Two more "A Christmas Story" ornaments to add to his collection

These are cool little individual casserole/soup bowls

I love the new corning ware designs

Christmas morning at her house, ready to open presents

She really liked that one!

Enthralled with Grammy's blinking necklace

He wants to play with this right now!

The Christmas Story

Luke 2 (NIV)
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
 
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
 
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
 
 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
 
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
 
On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

Santa Claus!

Katie works for an organization that contracts with CPS to run 20 group homes here in the Valley of the Sun. Individuals, small groups, and businesses adopt the houses at Christmas to provide gifts for the kids. Yesterday, a business that adopted two houses brought Santa Claus in to hand out the gifts to the kids. Katie invited us to come so she could get photos of her kids with Santa.

I'll tell you the truth. I had tears in my eyes almost the whole time we were there. It was fun and the kids were thrilled with Santa and the gifts. But it was impossible for me to not think of what their lives have been like and the challenges they have faced. It just makes me want to gather them all up, take them home, and provide for them. I am so thankful for the men and women who parent these group homes. For the administrators who manage the homes. They LOVE these kids!

I'm not publishing the photos I took of the event. These kids need their privacy. But I can publish the photo of Sunny and Thunder on Santa's lap.

Our Family Christmas

Last night we held our family Christmas. It was Skye and Thunder's first Christmas. Having three grandchildren was just as fun as I knew it would be. It was noisy, chaotic, colorful... joyful! The only thing missing was JD and Janel. Sunny performed, singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and "Jingle Bells". We opened presents. Ate way too many goodies. Laughed. Enjoyed being with each other!

We snuck in our official nine month photo

happy girl!

all dressed up

It was Buster's first Christmas too!

Gramps, Skye, Thunder,Sunny, Papa

Adam, Katie, Gabe, JoAnne (Gigi)

Carl (Papa) and Zach

Gigi and Pap showing off gifts Janel made them

Katie and Thunder

"All Mommy wants for Christmas is a silent night"

Katie and Gabe

Thunder and Gigi

Papa and Skye

Skye enjoying the wrapping paper!

Adam and Jessica

Ashley

Gramps and Thunder

Two More Nativities

When I posted my nativity collection a few days ago I didn't post pictures of these two. I couldn't. They were buried in with all of the other toys in the living room. But since I cleaned up for our family Christmas tomorrow, they were uncovered and ready for a picture.

These nativities are out all year long for my grandkids to play with. We have several other Little People play sets and sometimes Mary can be found working on the farm. Baby Jesus occasionally takes a ride on Noah's Ark. Noah drives the zoo keeper's jeep at the zoo. The animals travel from set to set...

Veggie Tales and Little People nativities

The Decor

I've shown you the trees, the nativities, the Santas. I thought I'd share a couple of photos of the overall decor in my home...

Remember these little carolers from your childhood?

Dan's sister sent these to us several years ago with

a note reminding Dan that he took a bite out of the

set his mom had when he was a child!

I filled this jar with a variety of ornaments and micro lights

Some of the nativities grouped on a shelf in the living room

another grouping on shelves in living room

I sure miss having a fireplace to hang the stockings on!

This is a x-stitch of the Christmas lights at the Country Club Plaza

in Kansas City. I grew up there and have many fond memories

of driving down to the Plaza to see the lights. I stitched this in 1992.

Jessica stitched this lighthouse for me in 2009

Behind the living room couch

I stitched this one in 2006

In the kitchen

The window seat in the eating area of the kitchen

The office

The office

The office

The Trees

I've always wanted to have multiple Christmas Trees in my home. I technically achieved this when the kids were growing up. They each had their own tree in their rooms with all of their own ornaments when they were teenagers. But all along, what I really wanted was multiple trees for my ornaments! A couple of years ago I decided to make it happen.

I started small by adding a tree to the office that was themed with Dan's interests. It was an eclectic tree with ornaments from "A Christmas Story" movie, outdoor activities, sports, and cowboys.

Last year I added several trees. I decorated them with various themes. I had so much fun!

This year I have six trees. It was just as much fun to decorate them as it was last year. I think this is a Christmas tradition I will keep around for awhile!

my newest addition - silver tree with black and white ornaments

our main tree - decorated with ornaments I've collected through the years

the kitchen tree - red/white/green vintage theme

guest room tree - purple tree with purple lights and ornaments

my "Grammy" ornaments are on this tree also

bedroom tree - snowman theme

we found this at Target this year

it plugs into the CPU and changes colors

office tree - holds Dan's favorite ornaments