Holiday Home Tour
Monday, December 07, 2009
I'm very excited about Christmas this year. First of all, I'm in MY OWN HOUSE. This alone causes my heart to burst forth from my chest because I can finally purchase decorations that actually FIT and HAVE A SPOT. (Because as anyone will tell you, stupid things like "Where will we put the Christmas tree?" totally come into play when purchasing a house.) Anyways, WELCOME TO MY HOME.
This is my Christmas tree. Note, there are presents (still wrapped!) under the tree. This is a Christmas miracle. We do inspect them every day to see if any new ones have popped up, and to make sure that the one that was there yesterday is, in fact, still there.
This is my favorite ornament on the tree. I have a thing for Santa Claus ornaments. Especially cute fluffy ones. One day, I hope to have an entire Christmas tree, dedicated just to Santa. Of course, this also means that one day I hope to have more than one Christmas tree. Ideally, I would have six. SIX. One for each member of my family. And then people could decorate (or not) their own tree, however they see fit.
I did bring this little guy home with me the other day. He was so cute and cheap and is just the right size for my shortlings. But mostly, he was prelit. This makes him the most delightful of all the Christmas trees, because he requires nothing. Not even decorations, because he's just so cute in his natural, artificial glory.
Do you think this is what the homebuilders had in mind when designing my kitchen area? I do. No fireplace? No problem! We can put a faux mantle counter in the kitchen!
And the bells. Everyone has a jingle bell because of The Polar Express. Plus, they're really fun to wear.
This is the new nativity that I bought...
At Lowe's....
Don't you always find the things you like best in the most unexpected places?
Also, you should know that this nativity is ONE SOLID PIECE.
I only mention this because Taylor has a personal vendetta against my other nativity and has taken to hiding baby Jesus in various places around the house.
And this is the kiss-tletoe.
Alright, FINE, mistletoe.
It is hung in the exactly perfect place.
The kids keep "tricking" me and daddy to meet under the mistletoe. It goes a little something like this:
"MOM! I need you to stand RIGHT HERE and DON'T MOVE! IT'S A SECRET!"
"DAD! MOM CAN'T MOVE! SHE NEEDS YOUR HELP!"
Followed by, "DAD! YOU FOUND MOM UNDER THE KISS-TLETOE! NOW YOU HAVE TO KISS HER!!! ON THE LIPS!!!"
And then scandal ensues because kissing on the lips is very, VERY scandalous to certain short people that live in my home.
This picture is mostly to show you my clean floor and yellow walls. There just *happens* to also be Christmas decorations in there.
And this picture goes on the holiday home tour because A) it's THEIR home and B) they are wearing the most festive of green shirts. It also shows my mom that little growth spurt of Thaddeus' I was talking about. See how he's OBVIOUSLY taller than Blayne now?
This is my Christmas tree. Note, there are presents (still wrapped!) under the tree. This is a Christmas miracle. We do inspect them every day to see if any new ones have popped up, and to make sure that the one that was there yesterday is, in fact, still there.
This is my favorite ornament on the tree. I have a thing for Santa Claus ornaments. Especially cute fluffy ones. One day, I hope to have an entire Christmas tree, dedicated just to Santa. Of course, this also means that one day I hope to have more than one Christmas tree. Ideally, I would have six. SIX. One for each member of my family. And then people could decorate (or not) their own tree, however they see fit.
I did bring this little guy home with me the other day. He was so cute and cheap and is just the right size for my shortlings. But mostly, he was prelit. This makes him the most delightful of all the Christmas trees, because he requires nothing. Not even decorations, because he's just so cute in his natural, artificial glory. 
I have finally found a use for this weird counter thing.
STOCKING MANTLE THINGAMAJIG.
Do you think this is what the homebuilders had in mind when designing my kitchen area? I do. No fireplace? No problem! We can put a faux mantle counter in the kitchen!
And the bells. Everyone has a jingle bell because of The Polar Express. Plus, they're really fun to wear.
This is the new nativity that I bought...
At Lowe's....
Don't you always find the things you like best in the most unexpected places?
Also, you should know that this nativity is ONE SOLID PIECE.
I only mention this because Taylor has a personal vendetta against my other nativity and has taken to hiding baby Jesus in various places around the house.
Alright, FINE, mistletoe.
It is hung in the exactly perfect place.
The kids keep "tricking" me and daddy to meet under the mistletoe. It goes a little something like this:
"MOM! I need you to stand RIGHT HERE and DON'T MOVE! IT'S A SECRET!"
"DAD! MOM CAN'T MOVE! SHE NEEDS YOUR HELP!"
Followed by, "DAD! YOU FOUND MOM UNDER THE KISS-TLETOE! NOW YOU HAVE TO KISS HER!!! ON THE LIPS!!!"
And then scandal ensues because kissing on the lips is very, VERY scandalous to certain short people that live in my home.
This picture is mostly to show you my clean floor and yellow walls. There just *happens* to also be Christmas decorations in there.
And this picture goes on the holiday home tour because A) it's THEIR home and B) they are wearing the most festive of green shirts. It also shows my mom that little growth spurt of Thaddeus' I was talking about. See how he's OBVIOUSLY taller than Blayne now? 
And that wraps it up. Wishing you the snowiest of days,
-----
{home touring links}
December 7, 2009 7:11 AM
It all looks wonderful -- especially the four cute elves.
December 7, 2009 8:18 AM
cute house, I have to say my house is not as festive as yours
December 7, 2009 11:02 AM
soo cute!!! your kids are adorable and congrats on your very own home!! i am enjoying looking at all the homes decorated for christmas!
love, jl
momtothreebabies.blogspot.com
December 7, 2009 11:11 AM
I love your new place!
And the shortlings. :) The interaction between Danny and Taylor in the pic makes me smile.
December 7, 2009 12:03 PM
Awww I love the kissletoe kids :) They are so cute! Your home looks lovely-so warm and festive. Congrats on your first Christmas there. So exciting!
December 7, 2009 1:02 PM
I love the idea of a tree for each member of your family! I have a penchant for Santa ornaments, too. This year I put them on a wreath.
December 7, 2009 4:57 PM
You have a lovely home! And what a cute blog post idea which I am now plotting to steal...
December 7, 2009 5:11 PM
Beautiful! Congratulations on having your own home to display your lovely Christmas decorations. The kids are pretty adorable too!
December 7, 2009 5:22 PM
They are rather cute elves, aren't they?
December 7, 2009 5:23 PM
Kimberly, it's not stealing. Technically, it's a meme. I think that's pretty much the opposite of stealing.
December 7, 2009 5:39 PM
More than anything else, I'm in love with your floors.
December 7, 2009 7:01 PM
i know ive already commented, but you came and visited my blog, so i wanted to let you know that the grand paper chain we made? it was from sugardoodle.net-- its called the advent paper chain or something like that, they have it all printer ready for ya! of course i got all old fashioned and made it on construction paper ;)
momtothreebabies.blogspot.com
jl
December 7, 2009 7:01 PM
. . . and your walls. . . and all the space between them. . .
But back to the decorations. I'm impressed with the willingness to hand off the little Christmas tree. We have one too, and I tried that last year. Not going to happen again.
I think I have control issues. . .
December 7, 2009 7:45 PM
Well if you have to have issues, the control kinds are the best kind to have.
December 7, 2009 10:21 PM
i REALLY need to decorate....
December 8, 2009 12:21 AM
It looks very sweet! And your kiddos are darling.
December 8, 2009 7:03 PM
It all looks so lovely ☺.
I am totally impressed that your presents are still wrapped so nicely.
I like fluffy Santa ornaments, too. I also like your adorable little prelit tree.
I like your idea about having a tree for everyone to decorate.
You always make me laugh. I like your humor...like when you say things like, "Alright, FINE, mistletoe."
December 8, 2009 8:31 PM
I fully intend to buy however many artificial trees I see on December 26.
December 8, 2009 8:36 PM
I cannot believe you were able to keep the kids standing next to each other on the stairs long enough the get a pic. I can't get two in the same frame.
December 8, 2009 8:38 PM
Oh, Nicole. That's one out of over a hundred pictures. So seriously. I take lots and lots and hope one turns out semi-decent.
My expectations: they are low.
December 8, 2009 10:59 PM
Your house is absolutely darling, and so are your kids!
I just love the colors, the Christmas stockings, AND the kissletoe.
heehee
=)
December 9, 2009 2:24 AM
Aw. Looks so warm and cozy. You're tree makes me smile ... simple and beautiful. So did the kissletow thing. Gush.
December 9, 2009 5:50 PM
Beautiful house! And I love yellow walls.
December 14, 2009 12:08 AM
I adore the kisstletoe. What adorable children you have. I love that they scheme to get mommy and daddy to kiss. so perfect.
December 18, 2009 4:56 AM
Very cute elves!
December 18, 2009 6:44 AM
Lovely tree! And the kiss-letoe is very funny. I like the idea of the one-piece Nativity. My girls keep rearranging ours which inevitably leads to a shepherd getting dropped and me needing to get the krazy glue out. Which is never a good thing.
December 18, 2009 7:50 AM
Very adorable--HOW does it look Pottery Barn perfect with 4 kids??? The kissing story is funny stuff--little kids think they're SO clever, don't they?
December 18, 2009 7:51 AM
I love it! And children are the very best decorations at Christmas!
December 18, 2009 10:10 AM
Your children are precious! And that mistletoe story will be one I am sure your family will tell again and again.
December 18, 2009 10:35 AM
Love the elves...and the beautiful yellow walls!
December 18, 2009 11:43 AM
I would love to have more than one tree! I was distracted from your decorations by your beautiful wood floor. That is the prettiest floor I've ever seen.
December 18, 2009 12:54 PM
The Nativity is adorable! I may need to get one as my COLLEGE AGE daughters still hide the baby Jesus!
December 18, 2009 1:22 PM
Your house is so pretty. And what a great place for the stockings!
December 18, 2009 3:38 PM
adorable! It's all picture perfect :)
December 19, 2009 10:15 AM
Your house looks like it belongs in a magazine. It's adorable! (As our your children!)
December 20, 2009 12:07 AM
I love the mistletoe!