It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Our house has been fully decorated for awhile now. I took pictures as I decorated...and pretty much change things around daily. I can't help it! I am very excited to get to sit around and enjoy it for the next week!

When you walk in our front door you are greeted by "Merry Chistmas Y'all!"


Matt and I had a big battle in November. I wanted a 9 ft white lighted slim tree for our dining room. To hang bronze, brown, and gold ornaments on. Have you priced them lately? Well, HE WON. No tree again this year. I compromised by hanging a few ornaments from the light fixture. I'm actually sort of glad that we didn't get the tree, THIS YEAR. :)





Next up, Matt's Plantation themed office. We had another battle with his office tree. I wanted to adorn it with feathers, moss, and antlers. He didn't want me to spend a dime on it. So, I used some burlap that I had out in the garage to make a tree skirt and garland. I love that little tree....but still can't wait to add more to it next year.



On the way to living room you will see our manger that we got at one of our wedding showers.


This is under our sofa table.


Our living room is done in mostly lime and red. I didn't plan it. It just turned out that way. Most of the ornaments we picked out when we were firt married were those colors. Then we've added a few ornaments each year. Now we specifically look for those colored ornaments. (I take the most crooked pictures..haha)









We got our stockings this year!! We love them!



I got these at the dollar store last year and didn't know what I would do with them. I thought of this one day and think it looks fun. The lighted present was a gift from my husband after years of searching for them. Now they are at every store it seems.



I think this little country tree is cute! You see it when you walk in from the garage.



Our breakfast room is candy cane themed. I just found the cutest piece to match this room at a store yesterday. I'm hoping it will go on sale after Christmas.




We have a few plates in our kitchen. The Happy Birthday Jesus was a gift from my mama last year. Matt got me the light platter for Christmas a few years ago....it matches our Christmas collection. I made the ornament plate at a pottery place.





We have the cutest reversable placemats and napkin rings from my mama. I haven't had a chance to set the table yet this year.


We've had a little silver and black tree in our room since our first married Christmas. We got all of the ornaments for it for a steal. I love lighting it when I'm getting ready or when we're snuggling in bed on cold nights.



We have these towels hanging in our bathroom. My side is the nice side...and messy side. :)


One entire side of the house is neglegted. We have a few seasonal towels in one bathroom and a candle filled with silver and gold ornaments in our hallway, but other than that....no Christmas decorations in either room. Sorry guests! :)



We have a tree in our bonus room. It will really be for our kids one day. FULL of homemade ornaments we hope! I have a few cute ornaments from my students that I plan on hanging today though. We might put a few that we made as kids on there too. We have a little Nutcracker collection upstairs too. If you know me then you know how special the Nutcracker is to me and my family.




Outside, we have wreaths with red bows on every window. We have this giant oranment on our front door. I would love to decorate the front porch with garland, lighted trees, and other festive items. I hope to get to that next year.



We keep all of our Christmas cards in a jar. I love opening it and going through them all. But nothing beats going to the mailbox, opening the card and adding it to the rest. I can't wait to start making Christmas cards!




I think that is the grand tour of our little south GA house...nestled under the pines, oaks, spanish moss, and surrounded by Plantations.

I'll end this post with a few pictures of the best Christmas present ever. Matt surprised me with Blakely 4 years ago.



Merry Christmas Y'all!!!

Love,
Matt, Nicole, and Blakely Whelan

Another year older, another year flying by!

Yesterday was party day at school! It was my birthday and our Christmas party all thrown into one! I opened Christmas and birthday presents at school. It was a fun, but busy day. I got several cute gifts from my Secret Santa this week. Turns out it is my good friend, Melissa. It seems like she gets me every year!


Here is what the class tree looked like...haha! Overloaded with ornaments. My kids decorated it, of course.


I was overwhelmed by all of the sweet words and gifts that my co-workers showered with me. The same goes for family and friends. I'm so grateful for another year to fulfill God's purpose...my purpose to lift His Name high! My kids were also so precious wishing me happy birthday and singing to me. I got a charcoal gray scarf from them that I LOVE.

My sweet Blakely and I.


I spent my birthday night with my hubby! And brother!



Perfect!!

My cake!



Today was the perfect work day! It was rainy and I wore my pajamas to school. I also had a gingerbread latte from Starbucks.

Wing A kindergarten teachers (minus one that has been sick all week).


We went to a Christmas concert at the high school, then our kids watched The Polar Express. Our administration watched the kids so we could have time to take down decorations, clean up, etc. I definitely packed up my December box and got everything ready for January..and cleaned like crazy. I feel so ahead of the game now.



Tonight we are watching Eclipse in the Pickin' Shed. We had taco night at home. I am still in my pajamas. haha!


I am so glad to be on Christmas Vacation!! Pictures of my decorations, my favorite ornaments, and favorite traditions coming this weekend. We also have our Sunday School Christmas Party! WOO HOO FRIDAY!!

I got so caught up in the stress of things yesterday. Then this played in my cd player. Pretty much set me straight.

We get so caught up in all of it
Business and relationships
100 mile an hour lives
And it's this time of year
And everybody's here
It seems the last thing on your mind

You'd say that today holds something special
Something holy and not superficial
So here's to Jesus Christ who saved our lives
It's something we all try to ignore
And put a wreath up on your door
So here's something you should know that is for sure
Christmas must be something more!

Lunch out, Meetings, and Parties

I really wanted to link up with Kelly and the Nester to share my Christmas decorations. I have already taken the pictures...but I just haven't found the time to upload ALL of my pics. So instead, I'll post about a few random things.

The flu has hit my classroom...big time. Basically half of my class has been at school for two days. I really don't want to get it!!

We got cute new monogrammed scarves from our administration this year. Everyone looks so colorful wearing them.

I got to leave campus for lunch today with my friend, Robin. She took me out for a pre-birthday lunch to The Scoop downtown. So fun!



I got home from school and finished preparing chicken pot pie for a couple in our sunday school class that just had a little boy a few weeks ago. We also sent over blue bell ice cream and cobbler. Heart food for a freezing south ga night.

I missed my JSL Christmas party tonight, and instead attended our school board meeting. I will try my best to be at every one from now on. They are very interesting. Matt dropped off an appetizer and my gift for my boy by Kevin's gunroom so I wouldn't be late to my meeting. I had a hard time figuring out what an 11 year old boy would want, but ended up getting him a basketball.


Here I am with my sweet hubby tonight. He is the hardest working man that I know. I am blessed to call him my husband and so thankful for him.


And here we are before our neighbors Christmas party on Sunday night. We had a really good time, but our walk over wasn't pleasant at all.


I'm hoping to catch up on some rest tonight and find a way to warm up. I have sooo much to get done these next few days...but am resting in the knowledge that HE who is FAITHFUL will get me through EVERYTHING! I hope that everyone has the best day tomorrow!

Psalm 109:26
Help me, LORD my God; save me according to your unfailing love.

Tis the season to be jolly...

Fa la la la la la la la la! Matt had to work today and I just woke up from a little nap. It is so cold and windy out, and I have the Christmas music on inside and my trees are all lit up. I am thankful to be safe and warm tonight. And for some time at home. Let me recap last week. I know I have a lot of catching up to do on this blog. And I will, soon. What's been going on in the Whelan household?

We had our first party of the season. Matt's office party. We had a good time and got to take home one of the centerpieces.




I finished most conferences and started on these. Ornaments galore. The flu also hit my classroom this week.



We got a twin bed. We have needed one in this room for a while now.


Matt attempted bow tying. Oh my!


We had friends here this weekend and my heart is full. I feel refreshed and ready to take on these last 5 days of school before our winter break!!

Friday night we went to Victorian Christmas downtown. We ate dinner outside under space heaters and next to a fire pit. Most of us had shrimp and grits. SO good! We tried fried oreos...also good! We chatted in our pj's and laughed, laughed, laughed!






Saturday I fixed brunch for everyone. Then we ate and got ready and left for Tallahassee. We shopped ALL over, ate at the Olive Garden, and made a Starbucks run for our late night drive home. We never got to bake like we wanted to. We were supposed to have a baking extravaganza. Oh well. We laughed, cried, and shopped until we dropped.






We also found some $1.50 purchases!


Tonight I'm going to walk over for our next door neighbors yearly Christmas Party...they will be up really late...and we can't hang that late on a Sunday night, but it will be fun for a little bit. Then I'm going to lay out my clothes for the week. PJ's for Friday! Take a nice hot bath, work on my Bible Study, add a few scores to my matrix, then watch a Christmas movie with my husband.

Galations 1:3
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

YOU

LORD, are my hiding place.


Those lyrics are so powerful to me. They literally bring tears to my eyes everytime that I sing them. I sang it over and over tonight. I even made Matt sing with me twice (he said no to any more times after that) HA! :).

Here is my favorite picture that I took at Christmas at the Center today. :)


I'm praying for a great week! I should have some time in between Christmas parties and conferences to play catch up on my blog. :) I know it will be super cold too! PERFECT DECEMBER WEATHER!

Fantastically Festive Event

I have been busy all week long decorating, making centerpieces, and being involved in all things CHRISTMAS!

The Junior Service League planned a new event here in our town...Christmas at the Center. Friday night we had a preview gala, then this morning was breakfast with Santa. We have cute vendors selling awesome items in the Mistletoe Market, a lifesized gingerbread house for kids to decorate in Peppermint Place, plus ornament making. There are lots of sweet treats and coffe in the Candy Cane Cafe, etc. etc. etc.!! My favorite thing so far has been the shopping and the performances. The Nutcracker by South Ga Ballet was amazing Friday night. Here are a few pics of our event so far.



I have so many more to share later though!! Tomorrow there is a Teddy Bear Tea, and Scrooge will be performed! I'll be there with bells on! :)

We are relaxing at home tonight. Well, since about 7pm. It is much needed. We grilled out and have been listening to our new favorite band. The Band Perry.

I think we're going to turn on the Christmas tree lights and watch our first Christmas movie of the season!!