December 14, 2010

Christmas Tour 2010

Unlike the last 2 years, I decided to not participate in the blog world Christmas tours. So for my loyal readers (all 5 of you!), here is a brief tour. Most of my Christmas decorating is similar to last year's, so if you want a more in-depth view, you can catch last year's tour here.

This is our tree for the year. I did the ribbon garland last year, and I could never decide if I liked how it looked or not. I think our star tree topper might be celebrating it's last Christmas on our tree :( My parents bought the topper way back in the 70's as a young married couple, and I took it with me to college and beyond. I have so many memories of sitting in a darkened room watching the lights twinkle on and off.

For a change this year, most of our presents are wrapped similarly to the two variations seen below:

the red ribbon going across reads, "Jesus is the Gift"

I really like the color-coordinated look of our presents this year. Since the ribbon is easy to save, I might do this again next year...

DH and I have differing opinions on how many ornaments can go onto a tree. I prefer to have an overloaded tree that fairly creaks under the weight of ornaments. DH prefers to showcase special ornaments. So he decorates the tree to his liking, and I push him to add "just a few more" ;)
The ornaments seen above are some of my wooden ornaments that I collect that didn't make it onto the tree this year. I know it's not a great way to display them, but it is interesting to dig through the bowl and see what you find. I've determined that next year I am having a tree in the kitchen for my wooden ornaments.

Our mantle. I decided to keep things simple on the mantle this year. I love how other people fill apothecary jars with seasonal items, but I never feel as though I pull it off successfully myself.
On a (somewhat) related note, a great invention would be lighted garland that runs off of batteries. I HATE having visible cords!

Our entertainment unit. The "Jesus is the Gift" sign is a bit small for the space, but I wanted it to have a key focal point. So above the TV it went ;)

I made the signs that flank the entertainment unit one morning after deciding that the audio piers needed more height. To see how I made the signs, you can read about it here.

Some day, I would love to have some "real" signs from Red Letter Words.

This year, we are using Ann Voskamp's Jesse Tree devotional. Her free book comes with printable ornaments, which is great for someone who can't draw :D If you are looking for a Jesse Tree devotional that has weight for child and adult alike, I highly recommend the book.

Unlike years past, I didn't get out my Christmas village this year. BB is not too happy about that. I must admit that the village made decorating the table in our front hallway easier.

But the village's absence does allow me to highlight some of my favorite ornaments.

I bought this mini village (and the buildings you will see on the piano) on clearance from Target last year.
The doorway between the hallway and the schoolroom.

This is BB's Peanuts (as in Charlie Brown) tree. You will see some better pictures of this tree in an upcoming post. Prior to this year, BB had his tree in his room. But after super-gluing 5 ornaments last year, we got smart and moved the tree this year :D

These are the other buildings that I bought at Target last year. In between the buildings is a snow family figurine that DH bought me a few years ago, and a nativity set that I had in my room as a child.
I just love lighted buildings.

We kept the decor the same outside this year with the exception of a wooden nativity. We bought this set a few months ago at a local craft fair. One of the things that I look forward to at Christmastime is driving around to see the lights, but for us, I wanted things simple.

After all, this is what Christmas is all about.

3 comments:

  1. I love your presents, Heather. I enjoy wrapping, but I'm never sure how to make it all come together with the paper and ribbon, etc. I love how your presents look simple, but pretty, too. I also love your outdoor nativity!!

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  2. 1. They DO sell battery-operated lit garlands. I'm sorry I can't recall where, but they do exist.

    2. You already have wrapped gifts under the tree? Wow, you're ahead of me! (I've always wanted to do the coordinated paper - like Martha Stewart - but then I get into which paper suits whose personality, and it all falls apart.)

    3. Are any of your wooden ornaments the Steinbach ones?

    4. I LOVE the glittery buildings you got from Target.

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  3. I'm with you about the tree -- overloaded is best! ;) I love how you've kept the focus on the One who matters. Merriest of Christmases to you.

    Soli Deo Gloria
    GG

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