First snowfall and holiday love

I can't imagine a better way to welcome the month of December than with a light snowfall.  I woke this morning to an inch or so of snow on the ground and huge, slowly falling snowflakes.  The first snowfall of the year is always something I treasure and this morning I sat here with a steaming cup of coffee and just watched as it came tumbling down.

I love all the seasons, but there is always just something spectacular about winter that I love (I know, I'm one of the few that actually love winter).  Maybe it's being cuddled up with the ones you love inside a cozy house, all the baking and yummy food that comes with the season, snowboarding, ice skating, sledding or just the feel good feeling of the holidays.  Whatever the reason, I love this time of year.

One of my favorite things to do to welcome winter is getting everything decorated for Christmas.  We spent the day after Thanksgiving pulling everything out of the garage and decorating the house.  We've slowly been building our ornament collection over the years.  We've started the tradition of buying an ornament every time we go on vacation.  It's always a great trip down memory lane when hanging the ornaments on the tree.  I love looking at each one and having a memory or person associated with it.

These are the same bells that we had at our wedding.
Each table had a set of them hanging off
a chair.

The gingerbread man is one that my sister
made years ago in school.

Our wonderful friend's bought us this as a
wedding gift.  They're now getting
married this summer. :)

Saying"hi" in the reflection.

Ryan's manly ornament

Forever ornament from Angie after our engagement.

The moose from our trip where we
got engaged.

See what I mean about wanting to cuddle
up with those you love?

Do you love or hate winter?  Is there anything in particular that you are looking forward to this holiday season/wintertime?