Christmas Tour of Homes

I am joining The Nester's Christmas Tour of Homes. Welcome!

Our foyer

My husband gives me a piece of the Dicken's Christmas Village each year.Our kitchen

Our Christmas cards: we hang them on the pantry door and are reminded to pray for our friends and family

I used a lot of my usual decorating pieces with a sprig of evergreen or holly.

I love my simple "Merry Christmas" garland (paper and ribbon).

We have eaten by candlelight several dinners this season. I figure the candlelight will add a little beauty to my frozen Stoffer's meals lately! :)

I sold tassels this year for extra spending money. I let the boys each pick one to keep. This was Jaybird's choice.

Our school room

Norman Rockwell and Tchiakovsky have been our artist and composer for the month. Their masterpieces have enriched our holiday spirit!

We also ordered Ann Voskamp's Jesse tree this year for advent. Her words paint beautiful pictures for us of the beauty and glory of our Savior's birth!

Each day we tear off a link

This is Toot's favorite tassel. The cupcake hangs right above the stash...

Leftovers from making gingerbread houses.

Under that green tablecloth are shelves with our messy school stuff.

Family room

Our accent colors are green, brown and red. So the pillows and wall decor match nicely during the Christmas season.

I bought one of these small berry wreaths for the inside of the family room windows. They were in the dollar isle at Target after Christmas last year.

My favorite spot to enjoy on a little table by the window.

We hope your house is filled with love, faith, and laughter this season!

Merry Christmas!

Building traditions

We hosted the second annual Gingerbread house contest with our friends. I use the word contest loosely, as there is no judge. We all talk a big game, and then in the end agree that the other family did the best job. It's great fun.

After a big mexican-themed meal together we got our creative juices flowing. Sweet James actually designed "blue prints" for their house. We, on the other hand, took a full 10 minutes to do anything. We had nothing planned in advance this year.

All in all, it was wonderful to host our closest friends and have an excuse to spend an evening together, even if our gingerbread house building skills seem to be getting worse instead of better!

Our friends' house

They left a section open in the back for furnishings. This little table and chairs with food was my favorite!

And ours

We are blessed to share friendship, faith, and many good memories with this amazing family of 5!

The boys' not-so-subtle hints

The kids and I are all a little ga-ga over babies these days. The boys REALLY want another brother. So far the Lord is not opening a door. But a mama (and 2 boys) can dream!

*Pictured above: The boys place this book...just so...so as not to be missed by us.

Celebrating with friends

Have regular hours for work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will be delightful, old age will bring few regrets, and life will become a beautiful success.

::Louisa May Alcott::

The Hammonds drop by on Sunday and shared goodies that we made.

The children sang at church on Sunday.


We missed Lydie's performance (because we were in the atrium talking!), so precious Mr. Staley sang an "encore" with Lydie and her friend Katie in their Sunday school classroom.

"Away in a Manger..."
Fun chit-chat with my discipleship group on Sunday.

We enjoyed cookies and play time with our homeschool group at my friend Tammy's house last night. (Too bad the caroling was rained out!)

What a busy, fun week we have had already...and it's just beginning! Lots of work, lots of play, lots of memories.

This morning

my younger son gave me this apple. Then he smiled and quietly whispered in my ear,

"For the GREAT teacher."

I wonder if he knew that those 4 words and a piece of fruit would give me a frozen in time moment? I wonder if he knew that I was struggling just a little with sadness and doubt? What a blessing these young, brilliant, energized souls are to me! I am so satisfied to spend my days with them!

The Christmas Jubilee

Today was our Women's Ministries' Christmas event. We were offered two art classes, lunch, and shopping at our own bazaar afterwards. I participated by decorating the luncheon tables and selling my tassels in the bazaar. I also had time to take half of a watercolor class. I have been itching to learn from Mrs. Porter for years. Finally I had the chance, and it was a blast! I am not sure if I like the patience and forethought that is required for watercolor painting. My personality is better suited for oils. Mistakes can be covered, and I like the thicker texture of the paint. But all in all, these creative outlets served me well. I feel relaxed and refreshed, mentally, that is.

I chose a whimsical candy theme. Gumballs, gumdrops, cookies, gummy bears, candy canes, bells, ribbon, and wrapped presents were used. Our tables are huge and the event was in the gym with tall ceilings. It is hard to find anything that covers the entire table, especially on a tight budget. But once the ladies had their food and drinks on the table it was fine. I always find myself using sticks in different ways each year for heighth in the centerpieces (as well as for affordability). I've spray painted them so many different colors over the years. This year I used them to make gumdrop trees.

My tassel table was thrown together last minute.

I sold about half of my stash. I plan to use the rest as Christmas presents. I really enjoyed making these tassels! I think I have found a new hobby. This was a fun party to kick-off the season!

Walk through Bethlehem

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

You represent so much to us:

Family togethernessHands stretched out to heaven. The wood of the cross.

The evergreen color- life and growth found in Jesus.

Life and celebration.

The mess you have made beautiful.

The Light of the World who lived among us!

It's Christmas time! We are ready to celebrate!!

Thanksgiving

We are so thankful for Papa, Uncle Ben, and Aunt Kim saving the day. Our Mimi had to be hospitalized after several cases of bronchitus aggravated her asthma. She was so broken-hearted! But Papa did a great job carrying on. We had a beautiful, home-cooked meal. And he did a great job making sure the kids knew the history behind Thanksgiving. We had some relaxing, wonderful family time.

Birthdays

My niece and I have birthdays just a little over a week apart. We were able to all be together to celebrate her party at lunch and mine at dinner one day last week. My niece's party gave us our first experience with The American Girl store and bistro. Wow, did we LOVE it! (And Lydie fell in love with the blond Bitty Baby twins.) And then that night we feasted on fondue at The Melting Pot. Good times with family!
My niece Greyce, Lydie, My niece Anna, and her friend

At one end of the store you can bring your American Girl dolls to the "salon" for a new hairdo or to have her ears pierced. I thought it was adorable, my husband rolled his eyes.Lydie also loves Kit. I could see my girl in an outfit like this one.

Too cute!

The boys had to make fun of all the pinkness and girl stuff. Here's their best girly impressions. They did comment after lunch that they were glad they "had to come" because the food was really good. A way to a man's heart...

The boys were right, and they attended to every detail.

My Daddy is a cutie.

And the Grandmoms were having fun, too.

Lydie wanted to buy a doll so badly. But we just had a date with her for lunch and left her behind to enjoy dinner with another sweet girl. (So beware if you "borrow" a doll for lunch. My girl's slobber could be all over it.)

Happy birthday, Anna, you cute thing!

Here's to another year!