Sunday, December 13, 2009

My Christmas Tour!

I am so not ready for Christmas.... this is going to be a wild week of preparation around here. I have cards to design & order & address, baking to do, gifts to buy, presents to wrap, packages to mail, and more! BUT I have been enjoying our decorations for two weeks, now. My husband and children insist upon having our tree up Thanksgiving weekend. So far this Christmas season I have been a total "Mary" and just basking in the glow of the Christmas tree lights! This week, however, I am going to have to kick into "Martha" mode and tackle the Christmas To Do List! In the meantime, come on in... I will show you around!



Here is our Christmas tree in the family room. I use our formal living room as my office area and part of my workshop, so all of our life happens in this family room and the kitchen! I cannot capture the beauty and magic of our Christmas decor in photographs... but really, they are so lovely in person! (And if you click on the image below, it will enlarge, and you can see one of my favorite things, there on the wall. It is a Mary Engelbreit pie plate that says "Bless this Home". It was a gift from my sweet friend Robin from Colorado... one of my best friends ever!!! I get to think of her everytime I see it!)

I always start my tree decorating with white lights, white beads and white bows. (I have actually tied the same bows on my tree every year for 20 years!) I then add a lot of dark red and some gold ball ornaments. After those basics are completed, out come the assorted ornaments. This year, I let the kids complete the tree decorating. Since we have enough ornaments for two trees, it is quite full of pretty pretties. Many are very bunched together, on top of each other, even. But, you know what? I love it! It is so not perfect, but it is our best tree ever. And I love that the kids made it that way.

When my mother retired, she became a quilter. For my birthday in 2000 her 8th quilt was this beautiful tree skirt she made for me (I love that she labels all her quilts!). I am proud to have it under my tree. And, we do see it for much of the Christmas season... especially these last few, leaner years!




Here is a peek at a few of my favorite ornaments. This one is my very, very favorite, and is from my childhood tree. My mother said it was a gift from my German babysitter, Frau Grau, when I was three years old! We were living in Germany at the time, and my brother was a baby. It is a teeny, tiny Nativity. We always loved that a little tree light would fit into the little hole in the back to have light fall on baby Jesus! Yes, this ornament is almost as old as I am.



I found these little papa and mama bear dolls at a sweet little shop one year, long ago. I have always loved them. I put them in a prominent spot to signify Gil & I. Right next to them, is an ornament commemorating our first Christmas together! I met Gil on New Year's Eve 1995... In 1996 we had our first date, got married, celebrated our first Christmas, and then on December 28th, welcomed Zachary into the world! It was a very good year.

We rearranged the family room to make room for the tree. The kitchen table is over to the right, in front of that window.

And here is a view from the kitchen! I just love my Nesterfied garland on the mantle! I used the same garland last year, too!

Again, I cannot even begin to capture it's beauty, but it is two garlands put together, with white lights and other greenery stuffed in. I have fake poinsettias and feathers in the two corners. I love adding bows, too!

This year, I took other relics from my childhood and added them to the garland... I have these old cookie cutters that are so beautiful. Last year I had the bright idea to use them as ornaments on our tree. But this year I thought it would be more fun to highlight the collection all in one place and put them on the garland!

Here is my last stop on the tour today... a happy little corner of my kitchen counter! I am just loving that in addition to celebrating Christ and His glorious birth, Christmas is an opportunity to reflect on family memories. Merry Christmas!



Christmas Tour of Homes with The Nester


I am so excited to particpate in The Nester's Christmas Tour of homes! Click on her button above to see more "tour" homes and Christmas ideas.

33 comments:

Decor To Adore said...

Hi, I will come back by and check to see if your photos are listed later.

Our home is having an old fashioned handmade Christmas this year. I hope you will stop by.

Unknown said...

What a BEAUTIFUL home! I love the Christmas tree painting on your kitchen counter.

Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Debra Howard said...

I enjoyed your adorable home and Christmas decorations.
Debbie

Melanie said...

Terri, everything looks beautiful & I especially enjoyed hearing about all of the sweet memories your decorations bring to mind...Christmas is a wonderful time of year!

Funny in My Mind said...

Love the garland and the cookie cutter idea! Well done!

Haley said...

Your home is lovely! I love that garland over the fireplace!

Jenny said...

Your home looks so BEAUTIFUL!!!! Love the garland! Merry Christmas to you and your sweet family!

Laryssa Herbert said...

You've done such a great job on your mantle. Beautiful!

Thanks for showing us around.
Merry Christmas!

Bethany @ Our 4 Sons Plus 1...Super Cute Girly Girl said...

Your home looks beautiful!!

Unknown said...

Your tree and the garland on the mantle are so pretty! Have a wonderful Christmas!

K Mommy said...

Love your decorations. I had to chuckle when I read your first few sentences...our church just finished up Joanna Weaver's "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World". Very good Bible study and it's funny how God uses day to day things to remind us to be "Marys". I too have been slow in getting my decorations up.

Angie Holden said...

I love your tree skirt -- that is such a blessing! And the use of the cookie cutters -- very very cute!! Great job!

Marianne said...

I love your overstuffed tree! And I am totally envious of your Nesterlike garland! It is beautiful.

Dena Pickle said...

Everything is just lovely. I really like the garland on the mantel, it is very full.

dena

ThreeGirlyGirls said...

Ok I found your blog too! :) I love your mantel! SOOOO pretty!! Great job!!

sweetjeanette said...

Stopping by on the blog party tour! It's all so lovely!!! Thank you for inviting us into your home.


Christmas Goodies Recipe Exchange

Jodi Nelson said...

Love the photo of the tree and fireplace in the background. Beautiful tree and garland.

Brandie said...

Stopping by from the Nester...Love the blog and all of your decorations. Thanks for sharing!

Viki said...

That was such a cute idea to put the cookie cutters on the garland. It looks great.

Richella Parham said...

Terri, everything looks lovely and so Christmasy! Enjoy this season with your family. Good luck being Martha. . . glad you're mostly being Mary these days.

Connie said...

You and your creativity are truly INSPIRING, Terri! Makes me want to drop by for some tea and conversation!!!

Ruth said...

I love it all. Such great pictures. Your fireplace looks especially beautiful. Thank you for sharing your Christmas home with us.

Ruth

Irene said...

So very welcoming and real! Have a Merry Christmas!

Rachel said...

I love your tree skirt! How special that your mom made it for you!

Marla Taviano said...

Beautiful!

Courtney said...

Beautiful decorations. I love your mantle!

Becky @ Our Sweet Peas said...

The decor looks great and I love the bright red. We currently do burgundy but all that RED is very tempting. Thanks for sharing the beauty with blogland! :) Have a Merry Christmas!

Ashley said...

I really like your mantle. And the close up of the copper-looking cookie cutter put a huge smile on my face!

Gail said...

I love your decorating. Now that my children are grown, I don't do as much decorating, but that is how I did it when they were small.
I have a tiny little nativity ornament just like yours. My mother gave it to me about 30 years ago. I'm thinking she may have bought on her one trip to Europe about that time. Fortunately, I can still ask her.
Thanks for your tour.
Merry Christmas.

Anonymous said...

I love what you did with your cookie cutters. That would have been better than what I did with mine! I put them on the wall with little nails. Now I will have to fill those all in the new year. Or maybe I will just keep them up all year! I am stopping in from Nester's Place. To see my tour click on the 'Christmas 2009' Tag on in the left sidebar!

Totallyscrappy said...

I love cookie cutters on a tree!

Campbell Jane said...

Love the Christmas Spirit & decorations in your home. You are welcome to stop by my blog to view my home.
Happy Holidays & Many Blessings
Campbelljane

Anonymous said...

Your tree is so pretty and I love that your mom made the tree skirt. Makes it so much more special to have decorations from the heart. Merry Christmas!

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