First, some pics of the outside decorations. Of course, I HAD to take pictures with the blanket of snow on the ground...it makes it all so much prettier. Probably not the best angle for the decorations, but pretty nonetheless. We have a pretty big yard so directly in front of the house (decorated with icicle lights and a garland wrapped door - I LOVE pretty doors!), you see the Santa scene with the elves decorating the tree and wrapping presents.
Then, off to the side of our house, we have several deer set up (you know back in the 'forest').
And on the opposite side of our yard, we have this nativity scene with the "Jesus Lives" sign. This is my favorite.
Now, on to the inside... THe Christmas tree comes first of course. White lights only and each year I try to do a different color...this year is silver and white. But really our tree is filled with special ornaments that each have some sort of sentimental value to one of us. As I said before, Brooke (and now Brenna) gets a Keepsake ornament each year, plus any others people give her (she has a ton already!). I have all mine from when I was a kid growing up, Brad has some, and we have a few from our lives together. I think it makes our tree (and especially decorating it) so much more special to see and remember all the ornaments and who/what they are from/for. It's also great to be getting so many ornaments that Brooke is making now from the last couple years! 
And the stockings were hung by the chimney with care....
These stockings are new this year. I finally broke down and ordered some for the whole family. Up until this year, we all had mismatched stockings. Not anymore! And I really do like these knit stockings! Even more than I thought I would. Oh...and no, we didn't get one for Bailey...he still has his cheapie 'dog' stocking hanging off to the side. The envelope in the middle is where Santa's letter goes by the way. And on top of the mantle is my collection of Santas. 
And last, but definitely not least! The village. I have been 'collecting' for some years now. I think my first piece was a church in 2000. A couple years now I have not bought any new pieces as we're out of room! As you can tell. Brad had to actually build something for a place to put it all out. It's a source of much time putting it up and some arguments and frustration, but after it's done, it's also a source of great enjoyment for the whole family. 
And finally, we have a very pretty nativity scene set up out of reach of tiny little hands. But I decided instead to take a picture of Brooke's own nativity. We got this for her a couple years ago so she could have one of her very own to play with. I LOVE it because it's not too childish looking, but is definitely appropriate for tiny hands. Anyway, the reason I took a picture of hers, is because I especially liked how she placed the pieces. Isn't this a much more appopriate way of setting up the Nativity scene? Instead of how we typically do it?
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