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ALL THE TRIMMINGS
(Opposite) Puryear begins to decorate the interior of the home the weekend after
Thanksgiving. Guests who enter the living room face a fireplace with photos of the kids —
Jordan, 9, Miles, 7, and Sydney, 4 — set above the mantel, and everyone’s stockings hanging below.
“This is where all the action happens Christmas Day,” says Puryear. That includes having all five
family members dress in identical pajamas resembling everything from onesies to Santa suits.
The tradition of families dressing identically has become so popular, she says that she has to
order outfits in October. A tin sphere filled with acorns rests on the table in front of the fire.
(Above) The tree bears ornaments with sentimental value to the kids. Puryear plays host to her
parents and her two sisters and their families, all from Florida, every year; the red stockings on the wall are for the family of one of her sisters.
The decorative “towns,” including replicas of churches, town halls and ice skating rinks, have been handed down from Puryear’s mother-in-law.
The banister, which on the first floor is flanked by a stack of “fake” presents, is decorated all the way to the third floor.
MONTCLAIR MAGAZINE HOLIDAY 2019
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