Christmas Party!

Picture overload ahead! We had our Housewarming/Christmas Party last weekend and although the weather wasn’t ideal, we still had a lot of fun and a great turnout! Thanks again everyone SO much for coming!

 

Just Peaky

I forgot to add these the the Christmas decoration post, but wanted to be sure to tell you, ladders are scary! Be careful. The end.

Can I just say what a beautiful day it was that day? Yeah, the sky really was that blue!

 

Someone looks thrilled!

David did the parts that could be reached with the 20 foot ladder, but I got the pleasure of climbing the big daddy 30 footer because he may or may not have been over the weight limit.

It was SO terrifying once you’re up there!

Hello down there!

Thankfully we both lived. However, next year I’m not above hiring someone with one of those lift thingies. Yikes.

A Holly Jolly Christmas Tour

Well, Christmas this year rounds out the last “first” for holidays in the new house. I guess technically there’s still the New Year’s holiday left but that doesn’t involve decorating so it doesn’t count.

Needless to say, we had fun decorating the house for our first Christmas in it. David was in charge of the exterior, and I got the inside. Actually, some of it was fun. Climbing 28’ up a ladder (my job) to light the peaks and hang the wreath was not fun. It was freaking scary. And that one time when the lights kept falling off the house in a domino fashion, well that wasn’t fun either. David did 98% of the exterior, but I was lucky enough to get the 2% scariest parts because of ladder weight limits.

So I guess it wasn’t all that fun after all but it’s fun now that it’s done!

I just love the extra cozy factor that Christmas lights inside the house add. I will miss them when they come down in February ;-)

Before we get started, can I get you any more egg nog? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere, leave you for dead?

Ok then! Sit back, relax, and enjoy the 250 strands of lights, 100 bulbs per strand, for a grand total of 25,000 imported Italian twinkle lights!

Please disregard the poor lighting on most of these. I was furiously snapping before the Christmas party!

 

 

I made the bow out of wired ribbon from Sam’s. I love it!

DIY Santa Canvas

Stockings // Target

Jingle Bells and red beads always look like Christmas.

The thing I’m probably most giddy about on the inside of the house is my chalk board wall. I did it up for Christmas, and I’m obsessed. The pictures don’t do it justice. In person it feels like a massive piece of art that makes such a statement in the dining room. It took me less than two hours but I was slow and meticulous and just enjoyed the process. Tip #1: Use a level when drawing your design. Tip#2: Reference a font(s) you like and take your time. Just sketch it out little by little and it’ll be awesome. Tip#3: Use plain Crayola chalk. I get a damp washcloth/paper towel and roll the end of the chalk on it. I used to dip it in water but have since just gotten it damp. Works like a charm.

 

You last saw my ‘J’ in blue and white stripes. I love changing it for the season with some spray paint.

Now bundle up because we’re heading outside!

The camper lives in the backyard usually.

A friend of ours gifted these deer to us this year. I love them!

This wreath is huge and one of my favorite things.

The famous inflatable. Poor Mary is struggling to stay upright and our sheep is threatening to jump. But David had to have it up! And of course Jesus is the reason for the season. I really want one of the white wood manger scenes. One step at a time!

I couldn’t get my tripod set this low and was too lazy to grab a brick, but this one came out kind of fun.

Alright folks, that’s it for the Jolly James Christmas Tour 2013. I’ll be back soon (hopefully) with pictures from our Christmas Party last weekend!