Open House 2017

I've been  really busy decorating for Christmas the last couple of weeks. 

 I wanted to share those decorations in a blog post so I can look back and remember in years to come. 

I asked a sweet lady from church to make some swags for outside.  

They turned out beautifully.  

One for the mailbox.

One for the lamppost. I think they look so pretty! 

Our tree and our mantle.....

The kids helped decorate the tree. It is a night we look forward to every year. 

Last Sunday was a beautiful day and evening.

Our choir presented their Christmas Worship Experience and it was a very meaningful event.

After that, Ken and I hosted an Open House.  

There were three tables of food.  Two in my kitchen.  One is in the picture below with my chalkboard and a swag that I made to go on top. 

 The ladies of our church brought food for our open house.

What a wonderful group of ladies - we had an abundance of good food and no one went home hungry. 

 Table number three was in our dining room. 

 In our living area, I added some Christmas ornaments to make this little trough more festive. 

I added a ribbon to this pretty candle.  

I love plaid anything.  I love this ribbon that I got at Home Goods.

I love using items in my decor that have been handed down.

This year, I have a Santa on my hearth from Ken's mom, an afghan and a tree skirt made by my grandmother, and we always put out this Nativity set that belonged to Ken's grandmother.   I also have several things that my Mom has made for me.  

The top of my TV cabinet.  My little nativity, Christmas trees and Reindeer make things cheery. 

 I use this lantern on my hearth all year long, but for Christmas I added some festive items.

Ornaments, stars, pine cones, and the Santa from my mother in law.

 Downstairs in the playroom, I added a box of greenery and red Christmas balls.

I think it turned out well.

 Some greenery on top of the piano. 

My Mom did a Santa theme a few years ago at her house, and since we both have a C as our last initial, she passed it on to us.

This year, it has found a home in our play room.

 It was so pretty outside the night of our open house.  

I love all of the pictures of the front porch decor from that evening.

You can see my Granny's afghan on the bench out front. And my Mom made me the wreath that hangs out there. 

My mother in law made the  pillows that have joy and noel on them.  

I bought 11 of these lanterns for Allie's Sweet 16 party.  

I love how they look out on my porch for Christmas!

On one side of my front door, I have this chalkboard, and these lanterns.  

 On the other side of the door stands this pencil tree that we added to our front porch this year.

The tree skirt is the one I mentioned about that my Granny made.  I love it so much,

One last look of my entryway.  

Our Open House turned out great and I am so excited to have everything decorated for Christmas.  

Thank you so much to each lady who made food for us.

And thank you to each and every person who came and visited the parsonage last Sunday. 

Ken and I were honored to have you visit the place that you all provide for us to call home.