How the Grinch decorated for Christmas...

I've been in such a Bah-Humbug kind of mood for the past several months for absolutely no reason. My family is healthy and happy, I have a HUGE surprise planned for Peanuts 11th birthday {I CANNOT wait to share it with you on the 21st!}, my sister will be here in 12 days, I can afford to put presents under the tree for my children so I guess what I really need is a good old fashion kick in the ass for being so negative!

I finally finished decorating my house yesterday which has really helped to lift my spirits and put me in the Christmas mood. My Christmas cards will be in the mail tomorrow, out of state boxes will be mailed tomorrow or Thursday and I'm going shopping Friday night with some of my best girlfriends to hopefully finish the rest of my shopping. Now if my sweet husband would only get some lights on the outside everything will be complete!

Here's a look inside...Before I let you look around my house you need to know that I have a not so secret love for Santa.

The trees...

The main tree is 12' tall and has been the cause of much stress this year. I find the extra fuses they give to be a joke since I have yet to replace a fuse and have that be the solution to the problem. I ended up removing the lights from an entire section of tree and restringing it, that was a huge pain and caused me to use several very nonChristmasy words! The lights on the other sections were out here and there so I opted to string new lights on top of the broken ones and put the wire cutters away. I see a new tree in my future!

This is my favorite ornament. Every year when I pull it from the box I say a prayer with goosebumps, tears and a heart full of gratitude for such an amazing Savior!

I also have a tree in the formal room. It is half the size as the other one and very classic with just red and gold glass ornaments. I love seeing it shine through the front door!

The round coffee table is one of the first things you see when you walk in the front door. It is full of whimsical trees, a bowl of ornaments and the book that the girls and I have read every Christmas Eve together on it.

The Santas...

The Santa that started it all is on the shelf in the powder bath. He is older than I am and belonged to my parents when they were newlyweds and now he's the first thing I pull out of the box each year. Hopefully he will one day go to whichever one of my girls inherits my love for Santa!

I love this gentle face and soft colors.

I'm not happy with the dining room table but don't know what to do to make it any better {I'll happily take suggestions}. Pictures from our Christmas cards over the last 9 years are on the shelf in the dining room.

Santas guard the advent boxes

Each girl has an advent box, which is getting harder and harder to fill with inexpensive items!

and the doors!

They're in the bathrooms...

...watching from above...

...and sitting on the tables.

The family tree is decorated with Santa ornaments. This is my favorite, I just love his crooked glasses, he looks like a true disheveled, exhausted Santa!

This is my absolutely favorite Santa, a gift from my in-laws.

The details are just incredible and his hands look so real {color is off, sorry}.

And his eyes! I cannot tell you how much they look like my Pop-Paws! I don't walk past him without thinking of that awesome man!

Odd n' Ends

Babe's Nativity scene, a gift from my parents and the true reason of the season!

Holiday plates and napkins are a must!

I participated in a Christmas swap 3 years ago and was given this beautiful BELIEVE!

BELIEVE ornaments hang from the greenery on the stairs.

As soon as I pick up tags the presents I wrapped today while catching up on Grey's Anatomy and Private practice will go under the tree!

It's finally Christmas here, my favorite time of the year, and now I can sit back, relax and enjoy Christmas with my family!

Just in case you're wondering...there's 17 shopping days left!