Today is the big day: BooMama‘s 2008 Christmas Tour of Homes! In which many, many bloggers share pictures of their holiday decor and then ignore all the baking and wrapping and shopping they should be doing in order to virtually visit everyone’s homes. Sounds like a perfect day to me! So come on in, have a cup of coffee (with Peppermint Mocha creamer, of course) and let me show you around.
First, you’ll be happy to know that I had some snow ordered especially for you. The outside lights are pretty on their own, but they look so much more festive when the lawn is coated with that wintry white delight. The view from our street (you can catch a glimpse of our tree through the window):
Now, it’s cold out there, so let’s move quickly into the house.
There’s something you should know about my indoor Christmas decorating: I have a 2-year-old. In other words, I’ve kept things simple and at least 2.5 feet off the ground this year. It’s much easier than battling with L. during the weeks leading up to Christmas. Constant toddler battles can suck the excitement right out of the house. But let’s move on to the few things I did do.
First, the tree. My son, C. (10), and I decorated the tree about a week ago. Here he is helping:
And here’s the finished product:
Well, I suppose I should clarify and say that it was supposed to be the finished product. Since the day that particular picture was taken, many of the ornaments hung toward the bottom of the tree have been moved up, as L. (2) proved unable to resist their sparkly, jingly, throwable-ness whenever I was not in the room to enforce the rules. Thus, there are still some (very sturdy) ornaments toward the bottom, but there’s a section about 15 inches high that is far more bare than it was in this picture.
Every year, I buy each of the boys one ornament that becomes part of their personal collection. I try to make them relevant to the boys’ interests or activities that year. This year’s ornaments are:
For C., this Ford pickup truck, since he is completely and utterly into all things vehicular right now.
For L., a Fisher Price Little People Barn. He thoroughly enjoys his Little People toys and his imaginative play has really bloomed in recent months.
Next stop: the mantel. I keep things pretty simple here. A garland with lights and ornaments, our stockings, and a house-shaped tealight-burning thing to hide the outlet right above the mantel shelf.
Finally, the nativity, which resides on the dining room table. I just set it up last night, but I guarantee you that by Christmas, it will not be arranged like this. Little fingers (and maybe big ones, too) like to rearrange and re-enact.
There are a few Christmasy knick-knacks scattered around (all a good 3 feet from the floor), but that covers the primary decorations. Thanks so much for stopping by. Before you go, please have a Cranberry Pecan Tassie. It’s the one cookie I make each and every year, because I like them so much.
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 3-ounce package cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 egg
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Dash salt
- 1/3 cup finely chopped cranberries
- 3 tablespoons chopped pecans
- For pastry, in a mixing bowl beat the butter and cream cheese until combined. Stir in the flour. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator for 1 hour, if desired.
- Shape the dough into 24 balls; place in ungreased 1-1/2-inch muffin pans. Press dough evenly against bottom and up sides of each muffin cup.
- For the filling, in a mixing bowl beat together the egg, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt just until smooth. Stir in cranberries and pecans. Spoon filling into the pastry-lined muffin cups.
- Bake tassies in a 325 degree F oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until pastry is golden brown. Cool in pans on wire racks. Remove from pans by running a knife around the edges. Store in airtight container. Makes 24 tassies.
Click on over to BooMama’s place to visit all the other homes on the Christmas Tour. And from the Callapidder House to yours: Have a very Merry Christmas!
Ooooh I have the same Nativity set and LOVE it! (But I didn’t put it in my post. Oh well.)
I LOVE the Fisher Price barn ornament. I’ve never seen their ornaments but that is too cute. Where did you find it?
Thanks for sharing. Your home is lovely!
Everything is just beautiful! I’m jealous – I haven’t even thought about decorating yet.
As for the ornaments – we had wooden ones on the bottom of our tree – at first because of the kids and then because of the pets.
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!
cjh
I love the Little People barn. Adorable! And I want to know how many of C.’s 10 ornaments are vehicular in nature?
As we were hanging ornaments this year, I realized that I dropped the ball on buying some over the years.
Your house is so beautiful and elegant! I love it.
So nice! We did some very creative decorating this year as well
Love the pictures! Wow you did get some snow. My sister in law said she got snow too but at her place it did not stay, looks like you got more then her.
I am drooling over the Willow Tree set, I am going to look for one in the after Christmas sales.
Thx for sharing your beautiful Christmas decorations.
First, thanks for ordering snow! Goodness knows we won’t see any where I live for Christmas!
I love your nativity – my sister has the same one and has to keep it high up on a shelf, because she also has a two-year old son and last year at least one Shepherd felt the wrath of a toddler. This year, she’s trying to keep the entire thing intact!
I also enjoyed your simple outside decorations that accent your home so perfectly. You’ve really done a beautiful job on your home! Thanks for sharing! (I can’t wait to try your cookies!)
Is your house always that clean? Because I think I’m jealous now!
Beautiful, by the way!
Oh, your home and decorations are just wonderful Katrina! I love those ornaments and I sooooo want that Willow Tree nativity. It’s just gorgeous and I hope you all enjoy it, even the little ones who like to move things
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Beautiful decor! Where did you find the farm ornament? That was one of my favorite toys as a child and I would love to find one for my tree.
Pam
Lovely! Mike has a Ford Ranger C. may be interested in – LOL! A classic, mind you. And sigh – Tassie anything has always been one cookie I just can’t master. They never fail to stick IN the pan – which as you know, is not the right idea.
I guess I really should drag out some decorations – ha!
that little barn ornament is the cutest thing ever!
Every year I ogle everyone’s Willow Tree Nativity. I should just put it on my list!!
I’m going to echo several others and say that I love the barn ornament! Too cute!
I also have a 2 year old who is unable to resist the tree. He’s left most of the ornaments alone, but he’s magnetically attracted to the few cheapy balls on the tree so I need to move those up.
And I also buy the boys (DH included) a special ornament every year. I buy the “Baby’s X Christmas” ornaments up until their 5th, so this year the 2 year old got his 3rd Christmas ornament and my 5 year old is getting Buzz Lightyear. I get the car series for DH. I wrap the boxes though and put them in their stockings, so we don’t actually hang the new ornaments until the following year. Maybe I should change that (it’s how my mom did it) and let the kids start picking out their own ornaments… Food for thought.
Anyway, thanks for sharing your beautiful home and decorations!
I love your tree and nativity. Thanks for sharing. Have a Merry Christmas.
Wow, all of your decorations are beautiful! I love your stockings, did you make them?
Everything looks great! I love the special ornaments for the boys. Thanks for sharing
Love your Christmas tree – - – and the BEST ornament of all is standing right in front of it!!!
Also – - – your nativity is one of my favorites I’ve EVER seen. Is it made by Willow? The figures look rather like the Willow angels.
Merry Christmas!
Well, that last post that showed for you in my bloglines was you tweaking your site. Imagine my surprise to find out from someone else’s site you had been posting all along.
Your home is lovely, even with the “toddler adjustments”. LOL. C. did a lovely job on the tree.
Now I’m off to unsubscribe you and resubscribe. Hopefully that fixes it.
Your home is beautiful, your son handsome, and that nativity set makes me green. I’ve been posting about Christmas all month. Please come visit when you can.
Thanks for sharing your home! Your tree is beautiful.
Best wishes to you and your family during this Christmas season.
“sparkly, jingly, throwable-ness” Christmas in the eyes of a two year old–I love it!
Your home looks beautiful! Merry Christmas!!!