Christmas Decorating - Keepin' It Real Edition

This time last week my floors were nicely swept, there was not a speck of dust anywhere, my kitchen counter was empty, the laundry bin was empty and I sat on the comfy couch victorious over another successful Thanksgiving and the deep clean that preceded the feast.  What a difference a few days make. Once the Thanksgiving dishes were put away and the Christmas decorations were brought up the mess quickly escalated. It was hard for me to function in domestic chaos made worse by the coughing/sore throat/fever bug that came through our house. We were all sick and weary and not in prime shape to finish a very big task around here that is Christmas decorating.  So we have decided to downsize the decorating for the time being. We are skipping the live tree (as of today's decision, it may still change last minute) and just sticking to our 5ft. fake tree.  That means less decoration to put out and put away.  I am up for that kind of Christmas this year, simple, no frills.  Well okay, some frill but not ALL the normal frill. Just this year.  Because despite all my complaining about clutter I love Christmas.  I love a festive home. I love every piece of decoration we have, most of them were thoughtfully acquired either by inheritance or purposely purchased.  They have meaning and I am not about to bury all those memories in the name of minimalism.  Not yet.  Maybe when I'm eighty.

And as usual, I have pictures to share. Those of you with OCD tendencies may now walk away from your computers :-)

if it's a surface it will be filled with stuff

mirrors needed to be hung

the ugly before the pretty

but this, the Advent wreath, brings peace in the midst of clutter - that middle candle was from a program in our parish called ADORE, a family adoration night

the kids Advent calendar that reveals a different Scripture passage each day

I shouldn't be complaining, my kids do most of the decorating

the oldest two decorated outdoors

I have yet to finish this altar/mantel

each year we get a special ornament for one another, this one is mine

this one is my husband's

this one is for the baseball playing boy

my husband's Santa collection on the piano

saving the best for last - an empty manger

And now you know why I will never be a Christmas minimalist.