On the Fourth Day of Christmas. . .

Remember this post? Well, my chance to see inside the coveted Farrell House has finally come.  I learned recently that the house actually did sell, much to my chagrin.  And the lady who purchased it is doing a major renovation.  But despite that, she decided to take part in the Holiday Home Tour this year.

Happy, happy me. . .  or at least until I actually entered.  Then it was envious, envious me!  Oh, how I love that house!  The charm.  The molding.  The history.  The porches! Sigh. . . and all that for a partially renovated 95 year old home.

I got so wrapped up in breathing in the atmosphere that I nearly forgot to take any pictures.

Then I pulled myself together and snapped a few quick ones in rooms that weren't too crowded.

They don't really do it justice, and she made a few choices I would not have. . .

but over all the house was lovely.  Just lovely. . .

There were also three other houses, one built in 1928 two blocks from the Farrell House, which was charming;

one newer home built in the arts and crafts style in 2006;

 and a mcmansion over looking the 19th green--impressive, but not my kind of breathtaking.

As a bonus, the Farrell House was decorated by four designers--one of which was the owner of Camas Antiques--and several of my (and Lisa's) pillows were included in the master bedroom decor.

But what I'm really excited about is seeing the home in the spring when the new owner hosts an open house to show off her reno--which I hope she lets me photograph.  And of course I'll share.

Movie of the night: Farewell Kris Kringle. I give it an 8.

On the Third Day of Christmas

For months I have been anticipating this day.  First Friday in Camas is filled with fun things to do, but the December First Friday is always the Hometown Holiday Celebration with a tree lighting ceremony, and Santa, and shops open late and other fun stuff.  I planned on it all week and when Friday rolled around I kept wondering what it was I was supposed to be remembering.

Around 6:00pm I remembered.  Then we rushed over to Camas.

We missed the lighting of the tree, but there was plenty of fun to be had.

(Hannah didn't want her picture taken for some reason. . .)

Signe and I sat in on story time while Rob waited in line to see Santa.

(had I realized we were going to see Santa when we left the house I might have done something about their outfits. . . but this really is more accurate anyway)

We stopped by my booth at Camas Antiques and were thrilled to see a twin bed Lisa and I made over displayed in the window.

We milled about in the street with the crowds, listening to local school bands and kids choirs singing Christmas music.  It was pretty magical.    Next year I will put it on my phone with an alarm.  Perhaps then I will not forget!

As the night came to an end, the wind picked up and made it feel a little like winter. . . so we stopped off at Panera Bread for a little something to warm us up.

Movie of the night: The Santa Suit. I give it a 6 (Mostly because it had Santa magic in it--I go for less magic of the Santa variety, but this one was pretty good despite that).

On the Second Day of Christmas. . .

We (and by we I really mostly mean me) finished decorating our family room.  We are decorating in increments and will hopefully have the place done before the week is out.  I started decking out my mantel a couple days ago and blogged about it over at House of White.  But my plan was to get flowers for the ironstone.  Which I did today.  I am liking the change from my usual red,white and silver decor.

I can't resist a little red though, so I have some in my living room still. . . which is half decorated, and largely empty since we moved the living room furniture into the family room (during my blogging hiatus we returned Addy to the spring rescue after discovering it was him that was giving me constant hives--but before he left he destroyed our family room couches and gnawed up the legs of the table and chairs in the kitchen).

(Half decorated tree.)

So we have a new kitchen table and chairs, but have yet to agree on family room furniture.

(paperwhites starting to bloom)

Here's hoping we get the rest of the decorations up before the season is over!

Movie of the night: A Dad for Christmas.  I give it a 7.

On the First Day of Christmas. . .

We started our December onslaught of Christmas cheer with a little sweetness.  I had a meeting at my house with 12 ladies expecting refreshments so I figured we would kill two birds with one stone.  We made cookies together.  Of course I didn't take pictures of the process until it was all over and everyone had gone, so this picture is the leftovers!

The nice thing about having an eleven year old baking in the kitchen is she doesn't really need my help.  Hannah made the Sugar Cookies and I made the Cranberry Pecan Cookies (They are actually Cranberry Walnut but I had pecans) and Signe snitched dough and frosting, and helped me sprinkle.  And truthfully, it was a full kitchen because we had two extras, of course.  Jacob helped Hannah and Noah kept exclaiming: "Gross! I saw you eat some cookie dough!"  His policing was mostly to ensure no one got more than him, I'm pretty sure.

Rob got home late after a flight got cancelled, but when he got home we watched: The Town Christmas Forgot.  I give it 6.

It Must Be a Holiday. . .

Clearly I only post on holidays and major event days at this point.  But hopefully I will catch up and get my act together--because it's time for. . .

Although, it should probably be called the 30 days of Christmas because we got started a little early. . . as usual.

Tomorrow is the official first day of the 25 Days of Christmas, but let me catch you up on our head start.

The Saturday after Thanksgiving (which I cooked myself for the four of us since our trip home got snowed out--well the four of us plus two neighbor boys), the four of us (plus one, as usual--this time it was Noah) headed to our favorite tree farm.  

We like it because it has a petting zoo. . .

And a cool tree cart to haul our tree in from the north forty. . .

And other fun things like hay rides and free hot chocolate and candy canes.

I love it because it has such a pretty setting.

I especially love the old oak trees in the center of all those evergreens.

In case you get lost there are lots of signs posted about to keep you informed. . .

This year we found our tree in record time.  Maybe less than ten minutes (not counting the time we spent with the animals) And we all had to pose with the tree. . .

(This was our first choice but we decided it wasn't tall enough--but I spotted a perfect one about three trees down the row.)

(See? Perfect! Signe approved!)

(Rob--devising a plan of attack)

(Me--holding the tree while said attack took place)

We were glad we had the cart for the long haul back to the barn. . .

We spent more time waiting in line to have our tree shaken free of debris and then again to pay.  

But the kids and I kept ourselves occupied while we waited for Rob to shake and load the tree. . .

I really could have spent more time with that old barn and those two gorgeous models. . .

But we had to head home with our wreath and our tree to decided how we would deck it out this year.  And it only took me until today . . . of course I have a little more work to do, but I think it is coming along nicely.

And in case you were wondering (though why you would I can't imagine) we will see how many Christmas movies we can cram in--it's a tradition. Though I have yet to actually make one a day, the dvr already has a dozen options recorded.  We have already watched three,  though the only title I can remember (which is why I like to document them) is the one we watched Sunday: November Christmas. It was a Hallmark and I give it a 9.

Happy Holidays!

What are your Christmas Traditions?