Christmas is near . . .

So Christmas is quickly approaching and I find myself checking my lists and making sure I have everything I need! I should have it all, but there are a couple small things I'm going to have to pick up here in the next day or 2. After that I'm just going to enjoy the house with trees, decor, and Christmas smells in the air! My dad will be getting home Tuesday and then that will complete having our family all together!

I did a little something different with some of the Christmas cards I received this year. I have never quite found a way I liked to display my cards. I would either set them up along the kitchen counter or put them on the fridge. But this year I did this down the pantry hall . . .

I still have more cards, so I'm either going to have to make my ribbon longer or add a 3rd one in the middle. We'll see. But I liked displaying them this way for a change.

Friday night I went with Mike to do some last shopping for his family. We did that then went to dinner, we took a pic before we left . . .

Oh and here is a glimpse of our main tree in the Dining room (in color) . . .

I'll get some better pics of it this week. I also need to post pics of the tree in the den/breakfast room area. I'll do that this week too. A couple more pics from the weekend . . .

Mike has had to work like crazy this past week and the next few days will be even worse I'm afraid. He works for Fed-Ex (the head quarters is here in Memphis for those of you who don't know) and of course this time of year is just SO busy!! He is responsible for doing paperwork, evaluating and overseeing that the planes get out and also has to make sure the planes are not loaded over capacity - quite stressful at times. I'm just ready for things to slow down for him. He's always exhausted by the time Christmas comes, but I'm praying somehow he will be able to find some time to rest!

I hope all of you have enjoyed the holidays so far. I think it is easy for all of us to get wrapped up in the gift giving and even receiving, I know I am guilty of it. But I hope that as this week goes on, we all take a moment to reflect on the real reason of Christmas and look at the gifts we already have: homes, jobs, family and so much more!