Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Because I'm much better at decorating for Christmas than I am for Halloween

Over at the Mormon Mommy Blogs, they're doing a "Holiday Home Tour" - everyone posts pictures of their house to create envy ideas. Well, sign me up for needless guilt and stress!

This is The Tree. It probably looks like everyone else's. Except I'm thinking that it's in desperate need of some gold scarvy-thingies, flung artistically here and there. Maybe next year. If they're on sale.

Surprisingly, Da Boyz have left the presents alone. Somehow the threat of disembowelment has worked well.

This is our front room. It's not all that Christmas-y. But I've been meaning to post it to show off my awesome ceiling that had me limping for a week. Plus the woodworking we had done. (Your home teacher should be a carpenter, too.)

That big blue ugly thing over the piano will be a beautiful mosaic of the temple someday. You know, when I have "time." Later.

Easiest, cheapest Christmas decor: wrap your existing pictures.

Although I think I'm going to change the wrapping paper to green. The silver isn't working for me.

This is my project this year; it will hang over the piano (replacing the big blue ugly future mosaic) once Michael's receives shipment of the "r's" and "t's." Why are they ALWAYS OUT OF SOMETHING? (I don't know why this picture is posting sideways, despite my having flipped it three times. I didn't invent blogger.com. Unfortunately.)


I like my kiddies.

This is the advent calendar that my awesome sister-in-law made us for our first Christmas. An identical one hangs in my in-law's house, and it wouldn't be Christmas without it. That big yellow puffball to the right is a camel, okaaaaaaaaaaay?

This kind of garland-y centerpiece stuff is all over my house. Garland. Gold berries. Gold spray stuff. Green apples. White doves. You have to buy those doves in packs of eight, and I put them to good use.

Sheepies are important to us. My Man's family have been sheep farmers for eons. Except for him. He's in finance. Sorry.


I'm proud of this. It took a long time to wire together. Probably longer than it would have taken you. (Look! Green grass behind the door! And a ball.)


Who needs a fireplace? We have a gorgeous buffet table that we got for free in Brazil. It is my favorite thing ever. (And dude, I know there's only four stockings for the five people in our family. I've been meaning to buy Mr. Squishy one ....)


The garland is hung with all of our sentimental-type ornaments. (I wanted a pretty tree, but didn't have the heart to throw away our many trinkets. This is a compromise.)

This ornament was brought to the Americas from England by my great-grandmother.

The snowman is from my kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Seuss. Much to our chagrin, she wasn't married to the Dr. If she was, she wouldn't be teaching a bunch of snotty five-year-olds.

But my favorite ever ever is this one:

My mom's ward gave them out a while back. It was MomLady's idea OF COURSE. Though she had Brother Nethercott paint it, because Brother Nethercott is a flippin' genius.

And of course, our Christmas village. Me likey ye olde church.

Belonging to the true church, of course.

I like the ice skater.
And the Wal-mart makes me laugh.

21 comments:

HeatherKitts said...

Hahaha, the Wal-Mart put me over the edge :) What kind of Christmas village IS this? :) I LOVE your 'special' ornaments...we should probably do something similar. We currently leave them on the tree and every night I have nightmares about the tree crashing to the floor and smashing all of our memory keepers. I think I need to relax. Whew. Oh, I missed you at the reunion. I talked to some mutual friends (Kelly and Amber) and raved about your blog :)

Kristina P. said...

Your house is amazing! Love the tree.

I want an advent calendar.

Tamra Watson said...

That camel does look like a poofy ball of yellow...LOL...I can't believe I attempted to make you guys something crafty...BUT...I'm glad you're using it :)

Erin said...

You have a lot of fun things! I will try not to be too envious.

Wonder Woman said...

too cute! I love your traditional advent calendar. We need one. Love the 3 wreaths, too. (TOTALLY jealous of grass and ball. We are SNOWED IN for the 2nd day up here.)

Your house is gorgeous!

Lara Neves said...

Loving the Gospel in a nutshell ornament! Perfect!

And, I had three stockings until this year, when I finally bought two more. Oops...

Brittany Ann said...

Your house looks beautiful! I love it. I love your Christmas village, I would love to have one, but it will take me decades to get one piece by piece.

Unknown said...

Stopped by for the tour...
your house is just gorgeous- I have no where to hang my stockings, so I really love how gorgeous your buffet looks! Now...I need a buffet.....
love your blog!

Momtothreebabies said...

WOW!!! Talk about envy, hehehe ;) your home is beautiful and you are darn talented!!!!! I loved it! Thanks so much for the tour!
Merry Christmas!
JL
momtothreebabies.blogspot.com

Lynnae said...

Beautiful! Using the lovely buffet as a 'fireplace' is great. That's basically how I decorate the ten ton piano in my living room. Long ago we hung our stockings on eye screws that were put in the underside of a table.
The village is darling, I love the church. And I'm glad you showed the ceiling. It looks great and it's hard work. Good Job!

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

The Walmart made me giggle too. Hee hee.

You have a lovely home and your warmth is reflected in it! I would so do a home tour here if my husband hadn't been running the place for the last three months...

Mommadj5 said...

Love it - you have done a great job sweetie!! The house looks beautiful and you will only add to it over the years!! So where is the pic of the wreath on the door????????

Mommadj5 said...

Oh - I forgot - Can I put in an "order" for one of those Peace with the kiddies wall hangings? In an eggplant or gold frame? I KNOW you drew those kids and I LOVE IT!!! Want one!!!! :-)

Caroline C. Bingham said...

And what's even WORSE is that Michael's doesn't let you order online. It's like they want to inconvenience people.

House looks great!

Rachel Sue said...

Love, love, love the wreath! So awesome. I think you should come decorate my house for me. . .

Jocelyn Christensen said...

Your "true" old church was too cute! and I love the tour of your sentimental fave ornaments!

And what a beautiful home you have! Just lovely...thanks for sharing.

I'd love to heap some of that holiday stress on me with a virtual house tour of my own, but instead, I'll just direct you to our Christmas book activities I do daily with the kiddos...

fun...low stress...
http://beinglds.blogspot.com

Jocelyn Christensen said...

Oh and your Peace On Ea__h project is awesome! Did you draw those people? Very sweet. And yes, Michael's is always out of one letter or another! :)

Stepper the Mighty said...

Ohmahgoodness - your house fills me with envy AND ideas.

But the very very best part of the whole extremely delightful post?

The modification of the Christmas village church to make it the *true* church.

Brilliant.

Katy said...

LOVE it. :)

Stephanie said...

WOW! Your house is amazing. Your blog is amazing. YOU are amazing!

CAN'T WAIT!!!!

Harmony said...

I loved that post a bijillion times over. It made me very very happy and it made me miss you and made me want to come over right now.