Sunday, December 20, 2009

Merry Christmas!

This is our white Christmas.  Since it never snows where we live, I have to compensate by having Jay line the roof with icicle lights and the walk with twinkling snowflakes.




















Come inside today & stay a while.  Look at my sweet little nativity scene.
I refer to this arrangement as the "all-munchkins-are-fast-asleep" arrangement.    


When all the munchkins are awake and unleashed upon the world, the donkey is usually being toted around inside Bex's mouth, and Bug will cram the rest of the poor dears into a haphazard grouping around baby Jesus "so they can see Him". 

I learned how to make the sheet music pinwheels from Lemonade Makin' Mama.  Crafty.





















These are my Nana's ornaments.  They are very old.


I love them dearly.



And this year I cried a little while I put them up.



























Some of them bring back such memories.


























Bug helped us decorate.  The word "helped" really is such a strong word.  Let me rephrase that and say she was an entertaining presence while Jay and I decorated. 

























Bug is 3.  She has 3 angel ornaments, which she adores.


Bex and Dee are 1.  They each have been started on their own series of ornaments.

Nutcrackers for Bex, snowmen for Dee.

I have my favorites too.  An egg ornament made for me when I was very young by my Aunt Kathy.


Many of you were not with me last Christmas.  Now seems like a fine time to direct you back to the debacle of Christmas tree past.  Here is this year's finished tree, and I'll have you know, it never even came close to the garage door.  (Of course, I wasn't the one transporting the tree this year.  But geez, do we have to get bogged down in the details of it all?)

Anyway, to anyone reading this, I hope all of your homes are cozy and bright this year.  I hope they are filled with immeasurable joy and the kind of laughter that makes your sides hurt.  I hope you have warm drinks and toasty eveings by a fireplace.  I hope you are surrounded with family, friends and lots of hugs. 

But most of all, I hope you have the joy of knowing that a savior made his way to earth on Christmas.  I hope you know He came not for the righteous, but for the sinners.  I hope you know He came for you.  What a joyful thing indeed.

Merry Christmas!

20 comments:

Unknown said...

Merry Christmas to you as well!!! Once again great photos. I love the antique ornaments. You will have your Nana with you always. Here's to a great 2010!

Lois Christensen said...

Love the pictures! The ornaments are beautiful and so is the outside! Hope you have a great week!

Flat Creek Farm said...

Beautiful... inside and out! And a truly beautiful post too. Those pinwheels are waaaay crafty and cute. Great job! -Tammy

Unknown said...

I loved the decorations and the nativity pieces and how they are sleeping. I guess you have to be creative with twins, right? :)

I also have ornaments that are very old and they are very meaningful and special to me.

Will you get the kids an ornament each year? I do that even now for mine...an ornament a year.

Have a wonderful holiday season.

teamkyte said...

Beautiful! I love your outdoor lights as well - very lovely!

~from my front porch in the mountains~ said...

What a beautiful post. Thank you!
And your home looks awesome :)
Christmas with kids must be so very wonderful!
God Bless, Misha

Christina said...

This is a beautiful post in so many ways. Your kids are so precious...that big girl of yours looks like an angel!
Your house looks great! We didn't do lights outside this year, but we did manage a tree. :) I thought I might rearrange some things once the kids were done helping put ornaments on, but then I decided to leave it. Why should I move things? They are sweet to want to make it pretty their own way.
Enjoy your memories that have been made and the ones you will be making this year!

Catherine Anne said...

It just looks beautiful!!!

Jana said...

how lovely! I like that they all have their own style of ornaments to collect, and that you have Nanas up too, thats what makes for special trees. your fiasco last year made me giggle, sounds like something we would definitely do...including the spelled out word. I hope you have a lovely Christmas morning next to the beautiful tree!

Dana said...

Simply beautiful! The tree, the nativity, the "helper", the house, the ornaments,the sentiment, our Savior... simply beautiful! Merry Christmas dear Bentham family, we love you!

Unknown said...

He did and it is a very joyful thing indeed!

May your family's Christmas be overfilled with Joyousness!! Blessings to you this Christmas.

~Andrea~

Your decorations are beautiful!I cry every year when I put out special things that came from my Grandma but I wouldn't have it any other way.

monica said...

Merry Christmas to you also! Your tree and your home is beautiful! How cool highlighting your favorite ornaments and having ornaments passed down from your grandmother!

CottageGirl said...

Oh Elle,
What lovely ornaments from your grandmother. To think that she treasured those for so many years and now you have them. What a wonderful connection!
Your tree is beautiful and I love the way you've chosen an ornament them for each of your babies. Terrific idea!
Blessing to you, my dear at this most holy time.

Unknown said...

That was lovely!
Such a nice look at your beautiful Christmas! Merry Christmas to you and your family as well! :)

PS Your nativity makes me smile, especially about the kids messing with it. Classic.

Debbie said...

Love the Santa ornaments!

Muthering Heights said...

That IS a joyful thing!!!! :D

You house looks lovely!!

Meghan said...

Hugs to you, my dear friend! Love you!! And Merry Christmas!

Buckeroomama said...

I love your tree and all its lovely ornaments. :)

I wish you a most blessed Christmas wtih your family.

Christina said...

As the day gets closer, I just wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas!

Susan said...

Beautiful decorations, Elle! I know those ornaments of your Nana's mean a great deal to you.

I hope you and your family are blessed with peace, love and laughter this Christmas...Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

((hugs))
Susan