Getting Ready for Christmas

The house is finally all decorated for Christmas and the boys are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus. Here are some pictures of how we got to today!

Below is Jason and the boys, after he grew his beard out for the month following his knee surgery. He had to shave to go back to work just as he finally got used to it. It makes him look so much older.

Our Christmas season officially began on the first of December when the boys could open their Advent calendar from Nana and Granddad (a yearly tradition - thanks!). This year it's a Lego calendar and Jack is having the best time finding the days and then putting each of the figures together. He can't wait to get downstairs each morning to see what he gets to pull out next.

Ethan couldn't really be bothered yet (I have a feeling he'll be a whole lot more interested next year) but Wyatt wants everything that his brothers have. Unfortunately, Wyatt puts EVERYTHING into his mouth (the only one of the three who does/did) so we have the calendar up on the kitchen counter so he can't get to it.

The picture below is one by Jack that I just had to include, as he really does have a good photography eye. Hopefully he'll turn out like Auntie Jake and take great photos!

We decorated our tree on Monday and it was all Jack could think about all day. He basically decorated it by himself. Jason put the lights on and I put the little ornaments on the top of the tree but Jack did just about everything else himself. And he loved every minute of it.

Wyatt found the ornaments and had a great time chasing them across the floor (the ball ornaments are all plastic after the boys broke so many last year) and then trying to put it into his mouth.

So far no one has really show much interest in the tree. Wyatt likes to touch the needles when I'm filling up the water and he's sitting next to me and Ethan points to it and says something every time we walk by it but that's about all the interest they've shown in it.

We tried to get Ethan in this photo with Jack and Wyatt but he kept crawling away. I couldn't get him to sit still next to the others so I had to settle for just the two....

Then we did us four....

Then one on one....

And I couldn't resist having Jason get photos of Wyatt and Ethan hugging and kissing. So sweet to each other!

I got one of those mesh fruit holders for babies and have started giving Wyatt part of a banana for a snack. He LOVES it and it occupies him for quite awhile.

Ethan did some coloring with his OT this last week and then he and Jack sat and colored on their own for awhile after Shirley left. Ethan was doing a fabulous job!

Our Elf on the Shelf arrived Thursday afternoon at the front door. Jack was very curious about our new little friend.

Jack named him Jingle James and every day he watches the boys from a new location in the house and then reports back to Santa every night how they behaved. So far, he's been a hit for Jack. The other two could really care less...

The rest of these photos are just some of my Willow House items and how I've decorated around the house with them.

The house just looks so festive that I wanted to share....

I love these metal ornaments hanging from the railing. It makes the steps looks so festive!

Ever since I've started selling the Willow House products I've become much more interested in decorating the house and I feel that I've got a much better eye for detail now. I really have been enjoying finding the perfect spot and use for everything.

I've been collecting Nutcrackers for a few years now and I love how they are starting to look all together. This year I added the two military nutcrackers in honor of Jason. One is an officer and the other is in his fatigues. I love them!

It's been fun having two fireplaces to decorate. I've made the one in the great room (where we put up our Christmas tree) the more formal of the two and the one one in the keeping room (with the TV) more fun and casual. I love looking for a few items each year to add to the look. I hope you enjoy seeing the results!