We have had fun decorating Nuestra Casa for Christmas this year. We are having an extra special gift this Christmas…..we will have family at our home! Emily, Sean, Soren, and Sebastian are flying in from Georgia the day after Christmas. And Owen, Mila, and Hannah are driving down from Spokane, Washington in early January.
Dan put up our Snow Village.
Years ago, when Dad Graybill said he was not going to put up his dear Snow Village any longer because he was too old to go into the attic to retrieve all of the houses and people, Dan didn’t say anything. Instead, he just started traveling to Leisure World every Thanksgiving. He would visit Mom and Dad and crawl up into the attic to get all of the Snow Village pieces for Dad so he could set it up. Dad really loved his Snow Village.
Isn’t Dan incredibly sweet to do this?
Dan has always loved his Snow Village, and so did his children. Now I get to enjoy watching him deciding which houses and people to display each year.
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He even has fun untangling dozens of cords that go to all the little bulbs that light up the whole village. |
He plugged in the lights, and suddenly we had a winter wonderland snow village in our home!
When my children were young they always loved setting up our snow village before Christmas. They would play with all the little figures for hours. In fact, they had painted several of the snow village buildings and given hem to me as Christmas gifts. Here is a photo from 2010 of Marina and Stella setting up this old family snow village in my home on Whidbey Island.
After lovingly watching Dan put up our snow village this Christmas, I got busy and put up many more Christmas decorations. The angel on top of the wine rack is the angel that my children took turns putting on top of the Christmas tree when they were children. Next to the angel is one of the stockings that I sewed years ago for my children, their grandfather, and baby grandchildren.
Our Christmas tree!
Ok, I know you can’t find our tree in the picture above. I’ll give you a hint….it’s on the table.
Yes, our tree is awfully small, but it is the tree that Dan and I bought at Goodwill in Mesa when we were on our first road trip. And only a small tree would fit on the table in our truck/camper. Through the years we have become VERY attached to our Christmas tree.
The cloth on the table is the Christmas tree skirt that I quilted when my children were just toddlers. So our tiny tree has a full sized tree skirt.
Since our tree is too small for our ornaments, I hung them on ribbons across our living room and dining room windows. I have also been hanging our Christmas stockings and cards on the ribbons.
Here is another of our Goodwill purchases that we used on all eight of our Christmases that we spent in our truck/camper. We treasure this cheap little snowman. That and our tiny tree bring back many memories for us.
This Santa Claus was Grandpa Vernon Burt’s. It is very old. My children enjoyed it every Christmas. We always think of Grandpa with fondness when we see this old Santa.
Dan put one of our Snow village churches next to the statue of
Cantinflas who I decorated with a Santa hat. Cantinflas is is a popular icon throughout Latin America and Spain. He is considered the most widely-accomplished Mexican comedian.
This is our Christmas display in our china cabinet. Marina made the tree ornament and gave it to me for a Christmas gift when she was 2 years old, in 2007. The scene of Bethlehem was a trivet that belonged to Mom and Dad Graybill. I bought the Lladro Madonna figurine for myself in 1978 when Rachelle, my oldest daughter, was born a few days before Christmas.
In our bedroom we set up a scene from our Roadtrip days—our camper, with us dancing in the desert….and of course going out to dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant, Serrano’s!
Wrapping gifts for our family:
Now we have presents “under” our tree!
A few days ago flowers were left at our door (since we don’t have a chimney at Nuestra Casa) by a jolly Santa—for real, he was dressed like Santa.
Thank you Santa. And Bill, Kathy, and Tonia!
Twas the night before Christmas…..
We’re all ready for Santa and his eight tiny reindeer…and we’re definitely ready for some grandchildren!
This 1950’s vintage Santa and reindeer was one that Dan had kept from his Vintage Toys business. We have never used it before. He will put it in our yard every Christmas. And it will soon be another of the items that we treasure and will create more fond Christmas memories.
Welcome dear family and friends to our home……and have a Very Merry Christmas!
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