It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Something strange happened.  Perhaps because this is our first year in our first house.  Well, for whatever reason, I caught the holiday decorating bug.  It's our first year actually attempting some holiday cheer and I thought I was doing a pretty good job, but as I looked through the pictures I snapped, they all seem to be missing something...

The banister...

...looks rather dull.  I'd like to hang some ornaments throughout, but my cat would inevitably knock them down and the dog would inevitably eat them up.  Hmph.

Our front door...

...needs more lights!!  

An inside door...

... is actually in my opinion properly outfitted with a simple hanging Santa-Star creature made by my very crafty mother.

And my piece de resistance...

... my mantle, inspired by an idea in Real Simple, I think could use a couple of small wreaths hanging from the wall above.

Well, I'm already counting down the days until all this Christmas stuff is marked down so I can scoop up some great bargains and ensure a plentiful decorating spree next year.  I tried to snap a picture of my neighbor's outside display - think Clark Griswold - but alas it didn't come out.

I just have two words for them, though: game on.  I'm talking lighted reindeer, crazy lights, the whole nine yards.  Watch out for Xmas 2009.

Until then, enjoy this shot of our state's capital - next to my new place of work: