So sleepy, but not letting myself take a nap.

Thanksgiving was a success!  It feels weird posting pictures and talking about thanksgiving because it seems like it was forever ago. My brother came Wednesday evening and I was hoping to be cut from work that evening but wasnt, he he hung around the house, ate lots of food, and watched netflix.  I got home at midnight and he was still awake so we chatted for a few minutes, but I had a hard night at work and was super exhausted so I went to bed nearly immeaditely.  I was up at 8am on thursday to start prepping for the big mean, pick up the house, and get ready for my parents arrival! My parents got here around 11 I believe and we just hung out, chatted, played on our computers and phones till 5 when we ate.  Amber and Joe, Steve and Kathy all came over and we ate lots of wonderful food.  I have decided I love hosting! 

I just laid a place of wrapping paper down and wrote on it with chalk.  It was so pinteresty, haha.  The cats were super scared of my brother and having so many people at the house. They spent the evening locked in the bedroom (the empty one with no bed to pee on) with their cat box, cat tower, food and water. 

Paul thought we should bathe the cats, since they were sleeping in their litter box (ew I know) when my brother was here because they thought he was so scary.  They have never had a problem with him before so I am not sure what their problem was. Poor kitties were scared of the bath, but they were super submissive and just dangled in our hands for the most part.  

I started decorating for Christmas the Monday after Thanksgiving.  Paul and I both had the day off, we made coffee and had leftover cranberry crumb cake from thankgiving for breakfast.  The Christmas music was blasting while Paul fiddled around and I decorated the tree and the house. (Paul isn't super into decorating but at least he was there to keep me company!). I was so glad I had most of the Christmas presents wrapped and bought because last year the cats thought the tree skirt was really fun to play with.  This year there was no time that the tree was free of presents long enough to tangle up in the tree skirt.  

I love our tree, we got it online at home depot with free shipping to our door for way cheaper than I ever see things in the store.  (I am sure they have this tree in the store I just didn't want to transport it and accidentally buy the wrong one!). 

My constant crafting made for quite the mess in the craft room.  It was definitely ready for some tlc!   See that dog and angel?  My cat's brought those all the way upstairs to the bedrooms as "presents" for us the day after we decorated.  Silly things. 

I re decorated the guest room.  I had to switch up the furniture because I had gotten that tea table (on the right, it's kinda hard to see) and the school chair on the left from my grandparents when they moved to assisted living.  I still want to do something more above the left side because it looks kinda bare but at least I have a new banner.  (banners are seriously my new addiction). 

The decorations just don't stop!  I got this new ornament in the mail.  I had been wanting it ever since my favorite etsy shop pen and paint (which I know I have mentioned like 3 times) listed it.  I love everything in her shop.  I had just spent a bunch of money there and was like, no I don't need an ornament.  Then Paul talked me into buying it and I couldn't be happier.  It says I love tea on it! Her packaging is the best too! 

I made a little template on publisher to make the "Be merry and Bright" banner and love how it turned out.  It was the perfect Christmasy addition to that bare wall! 

Banners everywhere!  My stocking my grandma made for me when I was a wee little one, the outside tree, and the mantle all showing a little bit of Christmas love. 

I had bought this little Christmas tree last year for like 3 or 4 dollars and can't remember how I decorated it, but this year I made a little washi tape bunting while Paul and I were watching tv one evening! 

I got a leaf hog (online from amazon) on black friday.  This thing is magical.  I had been wanting one for a long time but not wanting to pay full price.  I have already cleaned up [almost] all the leaves in the backyard in the fraction of the time it would have taken me without this handy little machine.  it sucks them up and puts them in a bag  (not attached in the picture).  

Two more prints from Pen and Pain etsy shop.  My house is surrounded with her stuff now and I love it all!  There is also a give away going on for that little peg people nativity scene down there and I can't tell you how much I want to win!  I would buy one from her if she sold them! 

And that my friends is the end.  I am off to go drink some more tea (my fourth cup in like 3 hours) and read a book.  Hope you are having a wonderful weekend and getting some rest!  Can't wait to hear about all the happenings. :)