This Christmas is not like all the rest of the Chrismases I have experienced in the past. This Christmas is extra special because THIS Christmas, I get to spend the joyous season with my sweetheart, my one and only, my wonderful husband AUSTIN!!! :) We were so excited to start the Christmas season together, our first one ever, as well as our first Christmas as a married couple, that we pulled out those decorations bright and early--well, nice and early, anyways. :) This is what our apartment looked like the Monday night of Family Home Evening, November 29, 2010. We were all a-bustle with trying to make our new little home ready to welcome the season of happiness and giving!
Here is Austin, my sweet husband, decorating our very own first Christmas tree! Hooray! We were SO happy!!! :) Austin wanted to decorate with white ornaments in remembrance of the fruits of the gospel given to us by Christ the Lord, so here is the work in progress. :)
Right before this, Austin asked me, "Am I doing this right?" He had never put garland on a Christmas tree before! I happily assured him he was doing a great job. :) What a wonderful tree-decorater he is! The garland just makes our Christmas tree look so cheerful! I'm glad that I got it last year when all the Christmas items went on sale. :)
Austin's dad makes beautiful Christmas stockings for everyone in the family. Since Austin loves his snowman stocking, and I like snowmen too, we got matching Mr. and Mrs. Snowmen stockings this year to hang on our "mantle". :) Hopefully Santa will find us in our new apartment! :)
I made a wreath for the fall holidays a while back, which gave me the idea to make a Christmas wreath, too! When Austin and I were at the store picking out things to decorate our home with for Christmas, I managed to snag some pretty ribbon, red jingle bells (originally on a door hanging decoration), and some beautiful and sparkly (fake) poinsetta flowers! Twist and twine these into a $4.50 pine wreath from Hobby Lobby, and *woila!* you get a cheery Christmas wreath! This was so fun, and makes it especially Chrismas-y over here. :)
This little tree brings back happy memories of decorating for Christmas at college. Momma sent this to me my freshman year at BYU-Idaho, and it has been with me ever since! If you make the picture bigger, you might be able to see that instead of hanging the nativity ornaments, I have arranged them around the tree like a regular nativity.
And here is my wonderful (early) Christmas present from Austin this year. A nativity set of our very own to display! And thanks to the beautiful furniture from a kind friend, we even have a fancy coffee table to display it on! I LOVE this nativity. Austin and I looked and looked for something that wasn't too expensive, but had all the pieces we were looking for. Austin especially likes that baby Jesus comes out of his manger, because the people in France have a tradition of waiting to put baby Jesus in the manger until Christmas eve to celebrate His birth. :)
This pretty poinsetta couldn't be left out! Momma and Daddy gave it to Austin and I to display in our home after the Carrollton Community Nativity display was over. We love it!!!! Thank you, Momma and Daddy!
I just love this Nativity so much, Austin wanted to take my picture with it. Nativity sets are so beautiful because they glorify the reason that we celebrate this season...and the reason that we can be joyful. Even with all the excitement of gifts and decorating and baking, the joy of the Christmas season really comes down to one of the most important events this world has ever seen--the birth of a Savior to redeem mankind. I can only imagine the joy of that first Chrismas, when the angels proclaimed the birth of a newborn child who would someday save us all, and allow us the chance to return to our Father in Heaven someday.
And lastly I wanted to show the beautiful piano that is my pride and joy, sporting its holiday decorations. Between the Merry Christmas blocks is the absolute first nativity I have received--I got it last year at Christmas, from my best friend, Leah. :) Thank you!
Merry Christmas to all! I hope that you are enjoying the Christmas season, and the true reason for its happy celebration!!! :)
Here is some more of Austin and I's wonderful Christmas Resort at our own little home! :) Here is the completed Christmas tree--and it even has a few presents under there already! :)
This is what I look at everyday...a Christmas wonderland!!! :) I believe that the Santa blanket on the chair came from a wonderful Momma last year! :)
This is another retainer from my BYU-Idaho years...Santa night light! :) He just looks so cheerful, I try and turn on the night light for a little bit each night.
Since Austin likes the Tree of Life represented in our home, this tree is another (smaller) representation, complete with beautiful white and silver ornaments and little lights! :) We turn this on every night without fail along with the big Christmas tree, and my BYU-I little mini Christmas tree. :) The Christmas carols book and little framed picture are from my Momma, as well as the lovely Merry Christmas linen! :) Thank you!
Along with the cute, official stockings that Austin hung, here are some more Christmas stockings we decided to hang up. They are from the Christmases that Austin sent me presents from Colorado...I'm so glad that this year we get to wake up to Christmas morning together and enjoy the happiness that Christmas morning always brings!!! :)
This is the first of some close-ups of the fun Christmas decorations we have on the piano. The "Merry Christmas" blocks and the nativity on the far right are from my sweet mother-in-law, and this is the Nativity that Leah gave me last year. Austin and I are so blessed!!! :)
This is a Nativity set we got for our wedding this past June. We love it, especially the shepherd on the bottom...and the fact that it's a music box playing the tune of "O Little Town of Bethlehem."
Here is a jolly Santa Claus that currently holds our yummy candy canes...however, at the rate I'm eating these candy canes, I'm betting they don't last all the way till Christmas! :)
This this basket is a exceptional favorite in our household! Every time Austin and I had gone Christmas shopping for Nativities this year, we ALWAYS happened to pass marvelous-smelling cinnamon-scented pinecones. Finally, one time at Wal-Mart Austin turned to me and asked sheepishly-"Melissa, you know those pinecones that smell so good?" I looked at him in surprise and said yes, which led to his inquiry, "Do you think we could get some?" At this I officially had to tell him how sweet he was for even asking, and that OF COURSE we could get some, because after all it was the Christmas season! :) We were both so happy, we went through ALL the bags of scented pinecones, and settled for the one perfect bag--then went home and promptly put them into a basket to add to our decorations! :) Now every time we walk past them, we can smell anew that wondeful smell that we both love! :)
Now, the other day Austin came home with this beauty--if you look close you can see the leaves are more pinkish, with beautiful sparkles all over them. WOW, was I ever surprised! :) I love flowers, and this was a special treat for him to bring me some! :) Apparently his work had handed out these poinsettas to everyone at work. While all his fellow employees had quickly settled them on their desks, Austin had thought to himself, "I bet Love would be so happy to have these brightening up our home. I think I will take them to her instead of leaving them here at work." Isn't that so sweet? I think he is my personal guardian angel, because he is so good to me. I love you sweetie! :)
Here is a top shot of that beautiful poinsetta. Now we have two beautiful bundles of poinsettas! :) "'Tis the season to be jolly...." Merry Christmas, everyone! Christmas day will soon be upon us!!! :) 
