Fighting over socks...

Last Saturday I hosted the Christmas party for my Thursday night Ladies Bible Study group. I have mentioned this group several times... they are very special to me. It is really hard to believe I have been in this group for 1.5 years. They are all like sisters to me!

We had a great time eating yummy food and chatting. Poor Brad... he hung round to take some pictures and then the estrogen overload became too much so he hid upstairs in his office. 

You give the boy a camera...

After we were all stuffed, we got down to business ... a White Elephant exchange for festive holiday socks! Who doesn't love a pair of cozy Christmas socks?!

After the first gifts were open, some people began to instigate "stealing" (I am looking at YOU Kelly). With the peer pressure on and the word "STEAL" being yelled, folks gave in and a heated fight for festive socks began!!

Brad: "I am not sure what to think about a Bible Study group yelling the word STEAL!!"

Juanita TRYING to hide her gift.

After all the gifts had been exchanged (stolen) we all put on your new socks! Brad came down to be our photographer.

Wow... some one really needs to shave!!

Wait - those are Brad's legs! How did he get Sara's socks??

I REALLY wish this picture had come out better - it is such a great group of ladies!! Thank you all for being such a ray of light in my life.

Front L to R: Amanda & Teresa. Back L to R: Juanita, Kristen, Mary, Laura, Sara, Kelly & me!

The Griswolds...

A couple of weeks ago, the exterior Christmas decorating began. Every day I came home from work to something new...

DAY ONE:

The tree, gifts and wreath are my only design contribution to this whole thing!

DAY TWO:

The bushes are now lit up.

A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER:

Now the lawn ornaments...

And white lights bordering the yard.

THE NEXT DAY:

Front bushes

White lights around the rest of the yard and lights along the fence.

THE FINAL PRODUCT:

It takes a village...

If you know my husband, you know that he loves to decorate for Christmas... inside the house and out. One of his hobbies over the years has been to collect pieces of a collection called "St Nicholas Square". I only saw some of while we were engaged last Christmas. Being our first Christmas married and living the same home, I have now been able to watch the tedious process he goes through to create the ultimate Christmas village. 

To help him pull it off, he has all the structures cataloged and listed on a spreadsheet. There are approximately 60 structures ranging from churches, to coffee shops to a tavern and Grandma's house. There are also 100 or more extras like people, cars, lamp posts, trees and even a tiny Christmas tree lot. I just stood by and let him work while I took pictures... for 3 days. 

It all began with the red boxes taking over our home...

Kitchen

Upstairs hallway

Guest bathroom

Guest bedroom

Brad wondering why I am following him around taking pictures

Then he had to unpack all of them....

The kitchen became a staging area.

Then began the set-up process... except Samson heard something outside and it had to be checked out first!

Okay... all is safe, let the village set up begin!

As with everything new in our house, it must first be inspected by Zoe.

Now time to accessorize...

 Final product with the lights off...

Yes- that is Santa and reindeer flying above the village...