Christmas Upstairs

Here is a peek at more of the decor you haven't seen yet.

The master bedroom.

The master tree is all snowmen. 

The mancave

 The mancave tree is woodland and Santas. 

I can't believe Christmas is just a 4 days away.

Sprinkled with Snowmen and Santas,

Katie

Linking with,

Funky Junk Interiors  

Faded Charm

A Light in the Darkness

 "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light, on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."

 Isaiah 9:2.

I just love that verse. 

 
 One of my favorite things about the outside of our house is the gas lantern.

It makes our street so charming.

It is never more charming than at the holidays.

Each and every neighbor had a

red ribbon and bow when the neighborhood was first built.

I guess one of the neighbors thought it would be fun if each house was the same.

The original owner of our house didn't leave the ribbon  for us.

By that time, the neighborhood was a few years old and some of the originals had moved away.

We newbies kind of did our own thing.

I wrapped my lamppost in garland and lights.

I put a different bow on each year.

I try but I can't ever do the same thing every year.

I coordinate my ribbon with what is going on in the house.

This year I have been loving all things plaid so of course I tied a plaid bow for the gas light

 and the wreath on my front door.

 So cute during the day

and

at

night.

Not all the lamps are lit any more. 

I would love to start a campaign to fix them.
My husband would if he had the time.

The lantern welcomes us.

Did Jesus have a lantern in the stable where he was born?

I imagine one hanging on a peg of the stable wall.

A light shining in the darkness.

Sprinkled with light,

Katie  
Linking with,
French Country Cottage

Wreaths on the Banister

I am trying to finish up my Christmas posts.
I understand that some of the bloggers are suspending their posts in light of Friday's tragedy. 
In my heart I feel that many of us need the distraction from our national sadness and that the children slain wouldn't want us to halt Christmas. 
My thoughts and prayers continue to be with those families. I know for them there is no distraction possible. 

I had one of my moms hug me today and thank me for loving the students in my class. 
She is a police officer and I am so thankful for her service!
Any of us in the education field and 
those first responders can only begin to imagine what they all went through in Newtown.
Heros every single one!  

Now on to my post.

When we bought the house 20 years ago, I was thrilled to have a house with stairs. 

I will get back to you on how I feel about them after my knees give out, but that is still a way down the road. 
I hope!

We closed on the house in August and I couldn't wait for the first Christmas morning photo op.

All three of the kids on the stairs in their p.j's would be  just too cute. I carried on the tradition for years. 

They wouldn't let me take them after a while, but I managed to get this one of my youngest a few years ago.

The ones of them when they were teenagers are just too funny.

 I am pretty sure that through most of the teenage years they had just gone to sleep only to have Bill and I wake them up soon after to open gifts.

 Pay back for all those sleepless nights they put us through.

 Anyway...

I couldn't wait to drape the banister in faux garlands and bows.

You know..

 those faux garlands that cost about $2.99 at the craft store? The ones that shed all over the place?

I couldn't wait to play with those.

:)

This year I did something different.

I hung simple wreaths with white bows instead.

 I saw this in the pottery Barn Catalog last Christmas and on Pinterest. 

 The ribbon was a huge bolt from the thrift store. 
Nothing fancy. 

I plan on painting the banisters over Christmas break.

 I can just pop off the wreaths and paint.

I think they look so cute and simple. 
I got these for $3.99 each at Michaels. 

Of course until a year ago, I had a bunch in the attic that I could have used.

The kids don't sleep at the house anymore on Christmas Eve, so no more photo ops.

But.
Plenty of wonderful memories.
Memories I am holding a little tighter today.
  Sprinkled with wreaths,

Katie
Linking with,
Metamorphosis Monday  
Tuesday's Treasures  
Nifty Thrifty Thursday  
Wow Us Wednesday