change of seasons

It was not my typical "day after Thanksgiving" this year. I, for once, slept in! Once I woke up at 6:30, I decided to leisurely drive over to Michael's with my 25% off coupon in hand and see what all the fuss was about. Was it worth it! I picked up this pink gem for Avery's room...originally priced $39.99...I paid $9! I could hardly wait to get it home, set up, and lit in her bedroom window.She took to the decorating responsibilities immediately. She chose the tourquoise and silver bulbs (bless her vintage little heart). She was so focused on each bulb hanging perfectly. It was quite a sight to see, until she finally got a little too aggressive and the whole thing toppled over, breaking quite a few of the little beauties it had once adorned. It was a lesson for both her and I...oops!On to my favorite piece to decorate... the mantle. Good bye Fall... (and wow this picture really magnifies the evidence of my little "oops I forgot to check the flue the first time I lit a fire, and the whole house filled with smoke" incident from two weeks ago. Yikes!So we have had these simple stockings from Target for 4 years now. And every year I look at them and think, "Wow, those are really boring". So I took matters into my own hands this year, as well as a bottle of Elmer's glue. I embellished the stockings with some ric rac and pom pom trim and ....Whaaaa lah! Dusan says that look like Cinco de Mayo stockings. Was that supposed to be a compliment? They are much cuter in person.After studying Country Living magazine, I decided to go with a vintage vibe this year. Lots of pink metallics, and lime green. I even cut my own white felt icicles. I picked up these two cuties at Marshall's on clearance. A closer look at the mantle tree. While Avery was occupied decorating her tree, I hustled to get the mantle all finished up. I wanted it to be finished when Dusan and the boys got home from running around at Biola. When they walked in Hunter said, "Wow, mom its really pretty!". Davin was concerned with which "D" stocking was going to be his. Dusan walked in and said, "WoW! It looks just like the displays at SEARS!". Now I'm not sure where you are from, but I had a hard time taking that as a compliment, even though in his mind he was trying to say he loved it. If teaching ever happens to fall through, I know where to apply. ;)