Making Home... Autumn Decorations

Our 4 1/2 yod, Ann, reminds me very  much of myself.  She is always trying to run the show, make sure everyone's okay, and goes around "mother henning" everyone.  She is in a big hurry to grow up and have a home, family, and ministry (she desperately wants to teach Sunday School) of her own. 

Just like me as a little girl. Well... now I've grown up (at least the calendar says so) and do

you know what one of the best parts about being grown up is???   Making Home! 

It's not pretend anymore, it's real! And boy do I LOVE it!

I love autumn and all the cozyiness and warm feelings it brings.

Here's a glimpse of our home during the fall season.

(Disclaimer-----

my home does NOT always look this good,

so don't you go leaving my blog feeling bad about your house! 

We're probably all in the same boat on this! ha!ha!)

 

It is so windy here in The Dalles that my porch decorating is minimal.

The first Autumn that we lived here, I decorated with about 20 cornstalks and some pumpkins.  When I got home later in the day, every single cornstalk was blown to smithereens all around the neighborhood.  The pumpkins stayed put though ;)

  This is the entryway table. 

Mostly I use it to keep my purse/diaper bag and keys.

We also have several coat hooks to keep coats, ergo, backpacks and such up and off the floor.

Kitchen rug, it is soft and squishy and so comfortable to stand on.

On top of the TV shelf.

Little corner area in the dining room.

Our neighbor supplied us with pears again this year.

This side table is one of my favorite peices of furniture.

When I'm hosting, I love to use it for beverages, table service, dessert and/or entree.

I also use this table for folding laundry!

The center of our home... the Family Meal Table.

In the middle is our napkin holder which also holds our family Bible devotion book. 

Daddy reads from it most every night while we eat and then gives a quiz. Mommy says the "application". 

We often do Mad Libs at the table too, which we keep in the napkin holder.  It is very funny! 

Almost a year ago, we also incorporated a talking stick that David made at school while studying Indians.  We found that on nights when everyone is trying to talk over each other, that we need to bring out the talking stick so everyone gets their turn.  It's a fun little tradition and makes it so everyone feels heard.

Also, do you see the leaf garland on the hutch?  It lights up and it looks so pretty in the evening. 

The family has come to expect it every year!

I wish I would've taken pictures at the Corps (Church) too. 

The Fellowship Hall is nicely decorated with paper decorations on the walls thanks to our Youth Pastor.

I've been using kind of "mismatched" Autumn colored tablecloths and table-runners to give it a grandmother's-home feeling. 

In the Chapel, I used some gold, greenish, reddish leafy vines on the Holiness Table, Piano and Organ. 

Also some simple fall colored flower arrangements.

We will go whole hog decorating when it comes time for our Annual Harvest Festival in a couple weeks.  Watch out!