Monday, December 17, 2007

Merry Christmas From Our Home To Yours!



Christmas Tour of Homes
Thanks BooMama for hosting our Christmas tour of homes!
Last year I peeked in the "windows" of everyone else doing the Christmas bloggy tour, but this year I am so excited to join in! Come on in and see some of my favorite areas of our home.

Welcome to our home! This is the little stretchable


snowman who greets you.


If the girls have been here he is much taller,


as they love to pull him out to his full height.


Part of Daddy's miniature village,
and this is his favorite piece... reminds him of the cabin where we spend Christmas.

I love the poinsettia because Rusty's students grew
them for him to give the teachers as gifts. My
Dad always brought poinsettias home for my Mom
and me, and I love that Rusty is continuing that tradition
with our girls.


The Santa Room where we hang
the stockings... we use the fireplace
too often to hang them on the mantel!


This hangs on the french door in the breakfast room.
My favorite Christmas decoration.

Seeing these vintage ornaments by the fireplace

always makes me happy.



I just love this little corner with my favorite rooster.
Dining Room Christmas Tree. I love this tree because it holds all the "pretty" ornaments I bought as a newlywed craving a "picture perfect" tree. Now my favorite tree is the one in the living room that holds all the sentimental ornaments. But this one still holds a special place in my heart.
Garland on the stairs. I've done this as long as we've lived in this house, and every year say I am changing it, but here it is again!
A few of Daddy's santas on display. The girls decorated this room completely by themselves this year, hallelujah! I am hoping this is a trend that will spread throughout the house next year!
I give Rusty one of these Santa's each year. I love that I received my Papa's Bible after he passed away a few years ago, and keep it on display year round as a reminder of what our family is grounded in. I miss Papa, but seeing his Bible thrills my heart, and he always loved Christmas, so it seems appropriate that the Santas are with it for awhile each year.

Thie dining room with ornaments hanging from the chandelier. The table is missing some decorations, because I had cleared the table for a buffet Friday night...
A closeup of the dining room tree... I love the lights shining through the glass ornaments.
The leftovers from making this...
Love making the gingerbread house. Not so much fun cleaning royal icing off every surface of my kitchen. Love eating the leftover candy.

The tree in our family room that holds 21 years of treasured memories. I turn the lights on when I wake up, and turn them off when I go to bed, enjoying every minute I can. Sitting by the fireplace and doing my Bible study with the tree on is one of my favorite things in life.

The most important decoration in our home... the one that shows what we are really celebrating. We add to this collection each year, and the girls love to move the pieces around. I was thrilled to see how they have arranged every figurine and animal to be focused on the sweet, baby Jesus.

Hope that is where your focus is as well, this blessed season.


Merry Christmas!

Thanks for stopping by!

39 comments:

Robin said...

I miss being able to look at my tree all day so I just keep the lights on from the moment we put the tree up until we take it down.

It all looks beautiful!!!

Jenny said...

I loved seeing your house at Christmas time! It's so fun to get a peek at how people decorate. You have some neat traditions with your family. That's what makes Christmas so special. Thanks for posting. You've inspired me to go take some pictures myself! Hopefully, I can post some today. By the way, I LOVE the paint color in your dining room. Gorgeous!

Meredith said...

Everything is beautiful! I love that you keep your papa's Bible out all year-very special. Thanks for sharing these lovely pictures-Merry Christmas!

Hootin Anni said...

what an impressive gingerbread home...all your decor is lovely.

Mine's posted. I have two versions.

A thumbnail short version
and
a
slide show long version.

Joanne@ Blessed... said...

Your home is beautiful.Your vintage ornaments in the basket are adorable. They would be one of my favorites too. I loved the idea of sitting by the lit Christmas tree to do your Bible study...I am going to do that as soon as I take my son to school and come back home.

Blessings, Joanne

ellen b. said...

Kelly, I loved touring your home. I love the colors and feel of it. Blessings on you and yours this Christmas!

bj said...

thanks so much for the tour of your lovely home. have a wonderful Christmas.

Jenni said...

Your home is beautiful and cozy and I LOVE the gingerbread house! TFS!

Jessica said...

Your home is so beautiful and I love your trees! So pretty! I hope you have a great Christmas with your family!

Unknown said...

Hi, I met you at the craft Bazaar on the Cape in October and bought your gorgeous cards. Your home is lovely and your decorations are wonderful. Have a Merry Christmas, Karen

Lindsey said...

Beautiful family, Beautiful home. Thanks for inviting me in! Merry Christmas!

Jess said...

Your trees are beautiful.

Unknown said...

Your home is beautiful!!!!!

Southern Heart said...

Absolutely beautiful! What a warm, welcoming setting! And, I love your tree and gingerbread house...definitely should be in a magazine!

Merry Christmas,

Andrea

Susie Q said...

Your home is just lovely...so warm and welcoming! You have that special touch!

I love your paint and wall covering treatments too by the way! : )

Thank you for sharing it with me!

Hugs,
Sue

ginny said...

I love your trees. Your home looks beautiful and inviting!

Val R said...

Stunning tour!

You mirror many of the things I do...dining room tree with 'formal decorations' and family room tree for memories...I too cherish the memory tree more now! I also get up and turn on the Christmas lights first thing and they burn until we go to bed! If I am running a bit late one morning, the little guy (20 mos now) lets me know! He sure is enjoying Christmas this year...oh to see things new through the eyes of a child!

Thanks for the tour!
Merry Christmas!!!

His Doorkeeper said...

Your home is just lovely! Thanks for opening it for us to see. Blessings to you and your family!

It's a Mom Thing said...

Great house and great trees. I like them both. Your home is so festive and beautiful!

Carrie said...

Your home is delightful. You have many lovely decorations and you display them well. Thanks for sharing,
Carrie @ Oak Rise Cottage

Brittani's Holding Little Hands said...

Your house looks great and I love the black and white photos of your girls. Maybe you could come help us bake a ginger bread house as pretty as yours next year:)

Kim said...

Enjoyed my visit. Merry Christmas!

Kelly @ Love Well said...

Those vintage ornaments are gorgeous. What a treasure chest.

And your dining room tree? Stunning. I understand your preference for the sentimental tree in the other room, seeing as I've always had so many personal ornaments I've never even attempted a tree worthy of Martha Stewart.

But still -- that tree! What a delight.

(So happy to have found your blog, by the way. I can't believe it's taken me so long. You're bookmarked!)

Unknown said...

I love your banister and everything looks lovely!!! fabulous decorations!

Unknown said...

Beautiful trees. I love that you keep your Papa's bible on display.

Thanks for sharing.

Merry Christmas to you and yours from Northern Ireland.

Jessica said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog! I LOVE the frames on your dining room wall! I may have to copy that idea! I also adore the black and white photos above your stockings!

Unknown said...

Wonderful gingerbread house - looks good enough to eat (oh wait...) Have a very Merry Christmas and thanks for sharing.

Chrissie said...

Your home is beautful and yummy! Thanks for the tour - and thanks for stopping by today! I love the basket of ornaments - very cool! :)
God bless you and yours - Merry Christmas!
Chrissie

Phillips Family said...

Your home is so beautiful...I especially love the dining room tree!

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas! Gorgeous trees! I don't blame you for wanting the tree lit all the time. I like that you have lots of personal touches too.

Mercy's Maid said...

Your tree is perfect!

Kelly said...

So pretty! I love your dining room tree!

Musings of a Housewife said...

Everything is beautiful!! Merry Christmas.

Cherdecor said...

I love your dining room tree. Thank you for inviting us in to view all your Christmas decorations. Everything looks so beautiful, warm and festive.

Nise' said...

Your decorations are beautiful. I love the idea of having a "pretty" tree and one for the sentimental ornaments. Merry Christmas.

Anonymous said...

Everything is so pretty! Thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas!

Anonymous said...

i think your favorite corner is my favorite one too! merry christmas!

OhhMy Gifts & Things said...

Very pretty. Merry Christmas!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing! It all looks very pretty!