I go all out. I adore decorating for the holidays. I have two big trees (the product of Hubby and I having our own households when we met), one is more modern with blue, silver and white decorations and the other is more of a Victorian theme with really old fashioned, antique looking ornaments. Each of the kids has their own small tree that they get to decorate. It allows them to feel like they get to help without me sacrificing my best ornaments to little, distracted fingers.
![whistle :whistle:](https://www.paganjourneys.com/Smileys/funsmileys/whistle.gif)
The plan is to have them collect an ornament or two each year and then they would have a tree and decorations to take with them when they are old enough to get their own place.
I also have garland that I put up on the fireplace and along the railing, but with lights (I LOVE lights). Instead of putting anything on the fireplace to hold the stockings, I tie them around the railing to the basement stairs (which is between where my trees are) using ribbon. The animals have their stockings on one side and the rest of the family has theirs on the other. I also collect nutcrackers and those line the stairs. Mixed in amongst all the other decorations are little nic-nacs that my mom passed to me from my childhood.
Outdoors is a light fest. We found some amazing LED icicle lights that look like real, dripping icicles. We have those hanging from all the peaks and gutters. I also have lighted garland around the garage and windows. All the bushes have lights on them in clusters of color. The bushes in front of the dinning room are blue this year and the ones in front of the office are green. Our big Maple tree in the front yard is red. There are a few little bitty trees along the driveway and I have a couple of bigger trees next to my window on the porch.
Sadly, most people that come by our house don't see all of our pretty decorations. They are distracted by our neighbors, the Griswolds (for those that don't know... the movie "Christmas Vacation" may give you a hint).
![laughfit :laughfit:](https://www.paganjourneys.com/Smileys/funsmileys/laughfit.gif)