Anyways, it’s become a tradition in the Hawley house to spend the Friday after Thanksgiving ignoring the frantic Black Friday shoppers & transforming our house into a winter wonderland; this year was no different. We got our tree & decorated the entire house on Black Friday. I just LOVE to wake up a little extra early in the mornings, when the world is still quiet & the house is still dark, to sip my coffee in front of the lighted Christmas tree. Such peace fills the season & it brings me such delight to take time each day to make sure I’m focusing on what matters most, celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior.
I love this nativity scene. There is corresponding scripture for each piece. 
Here is the mantle. This was the first year that I made my own garland. I think I did pretty well for a first-timer. Clearly I was on a bird kick when I was making it though. 
Aren't the his and hers ice skating stockings so cute?
Aren't the his and hers ice skating stockings so cute?
The coffee table. It's hard to see, but there are snowflake crystal votives on each side of the bowl filled with red Christmas balls.
The dining room table
This little Santa helps us countdown to Christmas, but no matter how many times I put the little candy cane on the correct day, I always seem to find it in his mouth later. hmmmmmm, no wonder Santa is a little on the chunky side.
I got these snowflakes, but I can't figure out where to hang them. I'm open for suggestions. I tried to hang them in the living room, but even standing on the bar stool I couldn't reach the 15 ft ceilings. I thought about putting them outside, but they are so glittery and pretty that I'm concerned they will be ruined. So my last idea was here, but I don't like them here.....they are not symmetrical. Again, I'm taking suggestions.
Here is part of the living room.
Do you see our "fire"? "They don't have white Christmases in Houston" :-)
Everyone loves Christmas sweets, right?!
Our Tree :-)
Two other trees that I will tell you about in a later post.
Can you tell that we're ready for Christmas? We are!
