Friday, November 14, 2008

Whew! I think I'm finally just about done with the indoor Christmas decorating!

Christmas decorating so soon, you say? Well, yeah. A) It's what I do, and B) It was either get it done now or risk not getting it done at all. Our schedule is packed this year. My in-laws will be arriving today and leaving Monday. My best friend from Florida will be here Sunday and is leaving Friday. I'm also leaving Friday (a week from today) to visit my dad in OKC for a couple of days. The weekend after that, my daughter-in-law and brand new granddaughter will be flying in from Okinawa for a 2 day layover before they fly to Florida to visit her family and friends for a couple of weeks. Then, the weekend after that, my son will arrive for a three week visit and the weekend after he arrives, my daughter-in-law and brand new granddaughter will be flying back here for 2 weeks with us. About 5 days after they arrive, my oldest granddaughter will be flying in for a 9 day visit over Christmas. Oh, and did I mention my best friend will be back here sometime around December 8th - FOR GOOD!! Yep, she's moving here!! Can you believe it? My partner-in-crime and I will be together again - at long last. ha! We've been living in different states for about 4 years now so we've got lots of crime to catch up on. lol So, as you can see, we're a little pressed for time this year so the decorations had to go up now. Here's what we've done:
This is a view from the living room into the kitchen. Looks chaotic, doesn't it? See that little Santa head on the wall? That belonged to my Grandma McBride. I love that thing. It's looking so old and ratty, but it's one of my favorite things. Here's a view of the fireplace.
This picture combines quite a few of my newer ornaments that I love so much. There's the spider box (you can barely see the spider on the far left) that my junior high school/high school friend Penny made for me last year. There's the Irish woodland elf we got up in South Dakota this summer. There's the Sydney the Wonder Dog ornament that my daughter-in-law got us a couple of years ago and there's one of the glass multi-colored Avon ornaments Aunt Sandi gave us last year.

Did you guys have these sort of elf ornaments when you were kids? We had 2 of them...my sister and I both loved them. Years ago, we found some like this one and bought a couple each. They bring back great childhood memories.
Here's some of our nutcrackers - including the one from Sophie (it's the one smack-dab in the middle).
Here's the bookshelves with the "village" on top. That village is a pain in the you-know-what to set up. I don't have a big enough surface anywhere else to put the darn thing so it has to go on top of the bookshelves. That means a lot of up and down on the ladder just to get it done. But Randey loves it, so it's worth it.
This is our little "believe" corner. The lamp is one my sister had gotten me years ago and the "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" under the cloche is a Jim Shore that we got up in South Dakota.
So see? I have been busy, even if I haven't been on the 'net talking about it! And speaking of busy, I guess I'd better go get dressed, fix my hair, make the bed, empty the dishwasher, balance the checkbook and get ready for the in-laws arrival. Hopefully, they won't arrive until after I go pick up my daughter at the car dealership where she's taking her car for repairs. And after I make a pit-stop at Wal-Mart for those 400 last minute items I have on the list. And after I get the dog gates set up. And after....well, you get the picture. Gotta go! Lots of stuff to do and not much time to do them in.
P.S. I know some of you are breathing a sigh of relief that the political posts are over, but....well...not so fast. I've still got plenty more to say. Stay tuned, eh? lol

21 comments:

  1. I got tired just reading this post!

    Your decorations look great. Did you do your tree yet?

    Take a little time for yourself too. BTW - congrats on the weight loss. You're almost there! I'm still struggling - doing a month or two of Slim Fast to get some of this flab moving off.

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  2. OH IT LOOKS SO PRETTY! I cant wait to decorate...we have Thanksgiving at our home and put the tree up (now that we use an artificial one) ..we spend the day eating and decorating, its alot of fun

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  3. Wow, Kari! You are going to be so busy that I can only hope that you find a moment or two for yourself every single day. How much fun is it that your best friend is moving back? How scary is it for Randey? LOL!

    Yay for seeing that precious new granddaughter for the very first time! Hope that we get some updated pics. ;>

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  4. I'm laughing because we DID have one of the elf ornaments. My Mom would put it in some sort of table arrangement when we were kids so we could look at it while we ate. I haven't thought about that in ages! Your decorations are amazing!! I'll bet you're relieved to have it all up. Now you can enjoy all the company you're expecting. How great that your friend is moving back. I don't know what I'd do if my PIC (partner in crime) moved away.

    Congrats on the weight loss success! I'm hanging in there but it's a very slow process this time around.

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  5. Hi Kari,

    My goodness I am tired just looking at all of your work. It looks great! Maddie helped me get all of my decorations out yesterday but they are still lying on the basement floor. She's just loving everything about it this year and it makes it so much fun. Oh my goodness I am so excited for you and everything you have going on and how much weight you have lost. I am still hanging in there with these ten extra pounds but need to get my butt in gear before the holidays take me out completely. LOL Have a great weekend!

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  6. I am exhausted just reading about your schedule!! I am not even sure if I will decorate this year. IT is usually a highlight for me but with a house for sale the priorities shift and all I can think of is decorating is more work and I have enough right now. Instead, I might just enjoy looking at your decorations!
    Sue

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  7. We've been meeting ourselves coming and going for a couple weeks.

    We're trying to get the decorating finished before Thanksgiving, because we're going to the lake for that week. I think I have it down to just a few things, for this year. Still three and perhaps four trees. Bought more ribbon today, to add to my stash. It's something we both enjoy and after the year we have had and one that never seems to end, we are taking this chance to do that which makes us very happy!

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  8. It all looks so beautiful...I want to wait til Thanksgiving so Uncle Wallace won't have a conniption fit, I'm holding on!!! And you and Susan together again after all these years...I'm putting out the apb two days after the arrival...I'm sure I'll need to! Wow, feels good to use my cop words...apb, bolo...freeze!!! lol
    hugs
    Aunt Sandi

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  9. I forgot to tell you that kidnapping, which is a federal offense, does not overlook Granny Status, so don't make me have to come over there! Take lots of pictures to share, please! And hugs for the kids...all of them...
    love to all
    Aunt Sandi

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  10. I'm loving this I hope many people share their decorations and you are smart so now you can just treasure the visits..!!I hope its wonderfull sandy

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  11. I'm so jealous that you have your decor done! I have a tree up in the living room--just the tree--no ornaments or such. And, all my Halloween stuff is sitting in the dining BESIDE the storage boxes, waiting to be put back in the barn.

    Well, I am determined now to keep up with Kari-tomorrow!

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  12. It looks beautiful!!! You should link up with boomama's christmas tour in December!

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  13. Wow, sweet girl, YOU HAVE BEEN BUSY! I love that you get to have christmas out for so long. And, for the record, I am never tired of your posts! Although we do think more a like than different, hearing different points of view on issues helps me be more open minded and flexible in my thinking. I NEED YOU!

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  14. I love it and can't wait to see it in person!!!

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  15. Kari!

    Everything looks WONDERFUL! I wish I had mine done already! I still have a lot of work a head of me! LOL!

    Mr. Mister has company coming after Thanksgiving so I want to have it all done before then. We'll see how that goes! LOL!

    You are going to be one busy girl! I am so happy that your best friend is moving back! I can just imagine all the "trouble" you two will be getting into together! ROFL!

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  16. GORGEOUS! Oh you have me itching to make the hubby climb up and get everything down. You know, technically there is no thanksgiving over here (the day we normally decorate) so I could start at any time :-)

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  17. Wow you have been busy and it looks wonderful...I'll be looking forward to some more political post. Enjoy all of your company

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  18. You need one of these for your collection
    http://www.collectiblestoday.com/ct/product/prdid-1602609001.jsp?cm_ven=Shopping&cm_cat=Gifts&cm_pla=Direct&cm_ite=1602609001-Steinbach%20Star%20Wars%20Darth%20Vader%20Collectible%20Nutcracker

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  19. Your decorations are all so pretty!! Have a wonderful week.
    Blessings,
    Sandy

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  20. Oh.My.Word Kari!! I am so very very very jealous!! I'm dreading getting started and you're already finished. You go girl!! It all looks wonderful!

    Hugs!
    Kat

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  21. Christmas is so pretty at your house! Really really pretty!

    Mine won't look quiiiiiiiite that good!

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