It's Begining to Look a Lot Like Christmas...

All around my house are the sights, and sounds, of Christmas. I've had fun, and frustration, with decorating our new home this year. We had bought a new tree a few months ago on clearance (a 7 1/2 foot, pre-lit, for just $50, Woo hoo!) with the intent that it go in the front room as my tree, and the kids could have the other tree in the family room. I was having some serious doubts about the kids tree though, not about putting it up, but rather putting their ornaments up on my tree instead of theirs. Maddie is really, really into things now, and the last thing I wanted was for her to pull the tree over on herself. Enter my dear, sweet husband (the muscle behind the tree putting up), who insisted that it was possible to have them both up. We'll just have to deal with the baby, and barricade the tree in. It's working, so far the barricade hasn't failed, yet. And I was lucky to find exactly the ornament style I didn't know I wanted for my tree (thank you Target). I was going to just leave it empty, but $25 later, and I have a lovely tree. I've doubed it The Chocolate Tree. I'm planning on making some neat embroidered lace ornaments for it for next year along with a tree skirt, over the summer-when I actually have time.

I've also gotten some garland for the stairs, I need to work on the bows. Well, when I say I, I really mean Eric's mom, I can't make bows for decoration, they turn out really sad looking. I finished up the girl's stockings with fabric from my stash (I remade Eme's to match Maddies, and I almost ruined the velvet trying to remember how to heat emboss, thank goodness for the internet.) And in honor of our first mantle, I picked up two sets of stocking holders (seriously, you should see the deals you can get at Target on Black Friday). I know it appears that I've done a lot of shopping for decorations, but it's really not the case. I've found some great deals, and, including our new tree, I've spent about $100.

And I think it's a toss up for my favorite Christmas song/album this year. I really like both Diana Krall's and James Taylor's Christmas albums. And for specific songs I really, really like "The Holly and the Ivy" by the Medeaval Baebes and James Taylor's "In the Bleak Midwinter." What are your favorites this year?