Friday, December 12, 2008

Don't mind taking your shoes off....come right in......

This blog I know about invited her readers to do a Christmas open house via their blog. My friend Rose did it and I think it's a great idea. Esp. fun if you like to get ideas from others and just plain like to be snoopy. In a good way of course. By no means is our home a Pottery Barn showroom...I'm just very simple in my decor. So without further disclaimers.....

Welcome to my open house...I baked some cookies and put some coffee on, So hope you have a good imagination......Because really I can't give them to you over the Internet. However I am doing a giveaway..so keep reading and there will be more details to follow.
Views from our front lawn. The snow was flying this morning...I was so happy that things may get covered up with a fresh blanket of snow. Hey, if it's going to be cold, it might as well white. And really don't you want a "White Christmas"?





Sorry for the tree in the way....I didn't think the husband would like it if I chopped it down for a blog picture.



Come on in.....







This is the foyer table, you would see when you first come in. Those are real gifts, if you were curious.




This is the gingerbread house our family made a couple of weeks ago. Every year it gets more and more fun to do projects like this. Isabella (8) & Jack (6) can actually sit for more than 3 minutes on a project and like to see it through to the end. FUN!! However little sticky hands Suzy (2) has been pulling candy off of the corner of Ginger's home...can you see where the indentations of the circles are on the frosting? Oh well.

Our tree of course....and mantle. I didn't realize until after I took the picture that there is a white wooden "W" sitting on the ledge of the mantle. That would be William's work....He likes to balance it on the edge of the woodwork. Just to have his mark on the living room I guess. This used to be in his room....however I guess he feels it adds a nice touch.



The mantle was always a dream of mine to decorate. I would see other mantles decorated in full, and think how fun it would be. However this year....I have grown bored with the normal things I put on it...and decided to scale it down. I went with some things I had in my Christmas storage. It's simplistic, but mostly I am happy with it. It would be a nice compliment to add lights....but that would require getting in the car and driving to town. And clearly I'm just to busy on the computer to do that kind of running around.


Here is the "W" decorator and sticky hands candy thief doing a side job modeling gig for me.

Excited to see the snow falling this morning.



Our nativity rests in our oldest child's bedroom, well because she asked. I like to mix things up around here you could say. What??? Don't you have your nativity in your bedroom????


Looking into Isabella's room you would see this...

And while some have Shepherd's keeping watch by night...we have horses. All the happy horses watching over Bethlehem.





Perhaps my favorite view of our Christmas decorations is in our kitchen. I absolutely love getting the mail everyday during December in hopes of getting a Christmas card from friends and family that I can add to our collection. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. Seeing pictures of families we don't see as often and some that we do see on a regular basis.



I simply tack up a long piece of thick gross grain ribbon and use mini clothes pins to attach the cards. The mini clothes pins I purchased from Walmart several years ago. I got this idea from Lorie Y. about 6 years ago, after visiting her home during the holidays. She is one of those girls that every time you leave her house you go home and try to duplicate what's she's created. She is inspiring.


So thanks for stopping by. I want to encourage your thoughts and comments...So just leave me a comment and I will randomly pick a winner to win some homemade Christmas cookies with some coffee. You don't have to be a blogger or google subscriber. You can comment under anonymous but you will have to leave your name and a way I can reach you if you win. If I know you in real life you can just leave your name.
Good luck!
P.S. Come on Elsie tell me your thoughts......Don't you want to try to win some cookies & coffee? :)
Quote of the day:
This is my 4 year old singing along with the radio....
William: "Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rocks... Hey mom, those guys are really telling the truth Jingle Bell does rock. And it pleases the Lord."
Wow, was that an interesting comment.

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Heather Ann, you make me giggle. I love your house and you always inspire me when I leave. What a beautiful home you have decorated for CHristmas. Love ya. Crystal K.

amy said...

such a lovely home! i have yet to master the art of truly decorating for christmas. of course, i've only been a stay at home mom for two days, so maybe i'll figure it out soon. :-) i have mastered the art of eating homemade cookies and drinking coffee, however! if you pick me, you can just give the prize to my parents, who are coming to ohio for christmas.
happy holidays!

amy eversole fox

Anonymous said...

Did you say cookies and coffee? It doesn't get much better then that! Your home looks beautiful.

Darla

Christina said...

So I just wantd to tell you that I love the name of your blog and every time it is highlighted on my Google Reader I get excited because I know that I will get to see fun pictures, read interesting stories and quotes, and there might even be a giveaway! :)

The decorations are lovely and the house looks so clean. I am totally going to put up are tree soon...but this week has been pretty much like spring cleaning in December and so the house looks a bit like a clutter tornado went through parts of it. Ah, we have too much stuff. The happy news is that we have been decluttering and have made our load lighter by about a dumpster load.

I think I am rambling...and all to win cookies :)

Merry Christmas Heather!

Anonymous said...

I really liked this blog sister! Showing your decorations, but yet giving ideas to others! Great pictures! By the way, will I EVER win anything on your blog? Hint~Hint~Hint! :o)

Cindy said...

Love the idea to display the cards! I always put mine in a basket by the fireplace, but really don't like that I can't see them ... I'm gonna try this one! If I would've been on the ball and already sent my cards, we might've seen our faces on your blog. :) Soon, very soon ...

RosyRose said...

Hey Heather-good job! I love your house! And I had to LOL at Williams quote...It pleases the Lord indeed! I love your simplicity! Thanks for letting me peek in today:)
Oh, and free cookies. Don't bother to send them you can just bring them tomorrow night:)

Anonymous said...

hey sister am i still eligible for TEA and cookies? have you picked yet? i am finally internet accessible again. so expect to hear from me OFTEN!! i loved the tour. i only think that may be you should have used have a holly jolly CHRISTmas or deck the halls with baughs of holly,sp?< well you get the drift, give all my love,hugs, kisses especially that tallest kid of yours DLG--love melissa gail

Ashton said...

What a neat idea!!!

Maria said...

beautiful home. now i will be on the lookout for your house when i am in town:)
did that sound like a stalker comment?

Stacey said...

LOVE you home Heather! So cute!

Julie said...

You have a beautiful home! Everything looks great! Yum, homemade cookies: I made some Christmas cut-outs earlier this week and they lasted THREE DAYS! Sigh. :) Next time, I'm hiding them.

sherri said...

What a fun idea! I always love getting a peak into your beautiful cozy home and ALWAYS leave with a few inspirations. Loved seeing all the beautiful gifts all wrapped up under the tree...I'm actually doing the same thing as I type. :)

Good to talk with you on the phone today!

Kim said...

Looks so pretty Heather! Can't wait to decorate again next year...And cookies sound great!

Sarah said...

i love your house, it is so beautiful.

Melanie said...

Your home looks beautiful. Loved the horses around the tree. Very fun.

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful home you have ... so inviting!

GeonHui's Bakery said...

Beautiful home! I love the tree in Isabella's room and how you have your Christmas cards on display!

Brittany said...

What a beautiful home you have and how lucky that it is snowing there! It never snows in Texas and the rare occaisons that it does are few and far between!

Wendy said...

I love how you display your Christmas cards; I usually just tape them to the open doorway frame and have to keep re-sticking them 'cause they fall frequently. Beautiful decorations! Thanks for having me over!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for showing us your beautiful home! I had to smile when I saw all the little horses! Cute! Merry Christmas!
-Kim

Amanda said...

Love your home! It's beautiful. I love the Christmas card idea! Merry Christmas to you and your family!

BECKY said...

Pretty tree and home!! Love the pic of the kids in front of the tree!! Blessings to you and yours, Becky

Oh and the cookies were great!! ;)

Heather said...

You did a great job with your decorating!

Keetha Broyles said...

Oh girl, I'm so excited - - - WE'RE NEIGHBORS!!! Well, I don't know if you live across the street or not, but we're in the SAME STATE for goodness sakes!!!! I'm in Marion.

I love your house. It is so cottage-esque with that cedar shake siding, the limestone front, and the porch. Really nice.

You have decorated it with flair and festivity.

Merry Christmas and thanks for inviting us in.