Christmas Time is Here...

The bright colourful lights, the tinsel and ribbon, the bustling crowds in every mall, the big man in the red suit jingling his bells, the scent of peppermint, gingerbread and vanilla, the music, and just the majestic aura that fills the air.

Our little Ava admiring her Christmas Tree.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

I get beyond titillated this time of year. 

I wasn't named Carol for nothing. My Grandfather actually named me this because of his love for this wonderful season and Christmas Carols.

I don't want to sound cliche, but there is something about this time of year that brings a joy to my soul and brings out my inner child.

Usually around the last week of November, we start decorating our home for the Holidays.

If it was up to me, I would start right after Halloween. You can say I'm a tad cuckoo for Christmas.

This is our first home as a family and also the first year we host our annual Family Christmas Eve Bash, or what we call Nochebuena (Good Night). 

Our Noche Buena gathering is usually filled with lots and lots of food (potluck), games, music, and we have one member of our family that dresses up as Santa Clause and come midnight (sometimes earlier if that   kids can't stay up that long), starts handing out the presents.

We also have Secret Santa Gift exchange amongst the adults that we do prior to the children opening their gifts.

Traditional food we have is a large Honeyed Ham (marinated in honey, pineapple and sweet cherries), Lechon (Pig -- usually a whole one), Pancit (noodles with veggies & shredded chicken), Adobo (Meat stew), sweet Spaghetti, lumpia (spring rolls), Fruit Salad (variety of fruits in a creamy sweet sauce) and lots of desserts! Including my favourites Ube Halaya (Purple Yam Jam) and Maja Blanca (Coconut Pudding), amongst many others.

Oh, I am just salivating talking about all the amazing food we have during Christmas Eve.

If you ever see into our Noche buena parties, you'll see how amazingly fun, festive and warm it usually is.
We have a small but mighty family here. A lot of other relatives are spread throughout the world. 

Anyway, back to what I was initially suppose to be writing about, Christmas decorating! :)

Our Christmas Tree is up as well as the the garland on our fireplace and staircase, and just last weekend, Ty put up the Christmas lights outside. We still have to add a few more details outside but we're almost done the decor!

I compiled all the great pics I took with my phone of our Tree (and other decor) and made a little video. I don't know about you but I can just stare at my Christmas tree forever. I literally wanted to bring my comforter and pillow down one night and sleep next to to it. Ha! 

Don't worry, I'm not crazy I promise. I'm just a lover of beautiful things. :)

Do you have your Christmas decor up already?
If you don't celebrate Christmas, what traditional decor do you have up during this time of year?