Happy December

Happy December!  I hope you all are enjoying this month so far!  It's definitely one of my favorite months of the year.  We've had some pretty great weather so far, and took full advantage last Saturday.  

My hubby and I spent Saturday at the Christmas tree farm driving around trying to find the perfect tree!  There were a few false starts, but we eventually found it! And here it is, our 2012 family tree:

You can't really tell from the picture, but the main colors on the tree are red and gold.  I've got a few more pics of some of our other decorations:

Gerald, aka Jerry the Giraffe is a festive guy

Sam the Snowman likes to greet visitors

Tree in the den, with all our sentimental ornaments, complete with candy canes, of course!

Trees in the dining room.  I really wanted these for the fireplace, but they didn't work out.

Table settings

Our stockings... one more will be added next year!

   As you can tell, I love decorating!  It drives Mark crazy how much I want to spend on decorations, but he obliges me, because I really don't spend money on myself!

Is anyone sick of Christmas music yet?  I can never get tired of hearing "Jingle Bells" or "Here Comes Santa Claus".  I literally listen to the same music from the beginning of November until Christmas day.  Again, another thing that drives my hubby crazy, but he indulges me.  I have a few favorite albums, ranging from classics like Nat King Cole to popular artists like Michael Buble.  I love Amy Grant's holiday album, and you can NEVER go wrong with Kenny G!  We've got the NOW! That's What I Call Christmas album too, but my favorite playlist is one I've built up over the years.  Here are some of my favorites from that list:

Baby it's Cold Outside - Zooey Deschanel and Leon Redbone (Elf soundtrack)

Grownup Christmas Wish - Kelly Clarkson

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear - Sixpence None the Richer (Grey's Anatomy, Season 2)

The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late) - The Chipmunk's 

Do You Hear What I Hear - Carrie Underwood

I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

Run Run Rudolph - Chuck Berry (Home Alone soundtrack)

Christmas Canon - Trans Siberian Orchestra

Mistletoe - Colby Caillat

Winter Song - Sara Bareilles

Mele Kalikimaka (Hawaiian Christmas Song) - Bing Crosby 

The Chanukah Song - Adam Sandler

You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch - How the Grinch Stole Christmas soundtrack

Last Christmas - Glee cast (way better than the Wham version)    

I am partial to Christmas Canon, since it's the song I walked down the aisle to at our wedding.  As soon as I heard it, I knew that was going to be the song.  But in general, I love my playlist; there are lots of great songs I've stumbled upon over the years and added to, and every year, I look forward to finding new ones to add.