Home for the Holidays

Welcome to my home for the Holidays. I'm so glad you braved the 17+ inches of snow, on top of what we already had. It's bound to be a very white Christmas around here; that's for sure. Well, come in; come in!

The cheapy wreath I beefed up last year with some ornaments, berries, and extra greenery pics hangs on the door to the garage.

The stockings are hung on the staircase with care (because we don't have a mantle).

I made some Pear Cinnamon Cider (Trader Joes). Would you like some?

It's steeping with mulling spices...all ready for your visit. (Hint: Wait until the day after Christmas; then stock up on this stuff when it's only a couple of bucks.)

Candle glow love!

My table centerpiece, complete with the lazy person's no sew table runner. (Don'tcha just love the view of the O2 concentrator in the background? I'm so thankful we haven't needed to use it for a little while, but it's there if we do!)

(Yes, my dining room is our homeschool room, hence the maps and spelling lists on the walls.) I'm keeping my eyes open for the perfect tray to hold the centerpiece, but I haven't found the right one yet.

Cutie patootie snowman, resting against a bowl filled with yummy candy cane and cherry cordial kisses.

The kitty who followed me around on this tour, trying to get in every. single. picture.

(Pine Hutch - wedding gift made by my father-in-law. It will be getting a facelift, hopefully in the new year.)

The loverly martini glasses I found at Home Goods last year.

Crystal bowl filled with Dollar Store ornaments. That little bear is made out of a gumball and frosting. My husband brought him home from a shopping trip back when I was on bedrest with the twins...if that tells you how many years we've had that little guy.

Kissing angels that belonged to my husband's Grandma. She gave them to us a couple of years ago, and the girls love them. And, that's more greenery I beefed up last year.

Doesn't the leftover look cute in my pottery wall vase?

The girls love making seasonal posters. Here is their Christmas one.

A few more of my snowmen topping the homeschool bookshelf. My dad made the welded one many years ago, and I love it.

Christmas cactus, not blooming yet. Maybe it'll bloom between Valentines Day and Easter again this year. That's what it did last year anyway.

My Dollar Store homemade hurricanes filled with Dollar Store ball ornaments.

One of my husband's favorite decorations from his childhood. My mother-in-law passed it on to us a few years ago.

The paper chain has Bible verses on it. Each day, kind of like an Advent calendar, we take one off and read the verse.

Nativity. I found the golden trees while thrifting on Black Friday last year.

The little crystal-ly rock with the star on top was an Elise touch.

The tree:

We don't have a fancy themed tree. Ours is very much a family tree filled with family ornaments, many handmade, some new, some vintage. I think it's fun and whimsical.

Here is an ornament I found last year on sale...

Mark made the mitten yesterday.

Our very first Christmas ornament. A good friend of ours (Cindee) made it.

The tree topper is an angel crocheted by Mark's Grandma.

Leah was so excited that this was her year to put the angel on top!

Mark's Grandpa painted this ornament.

Made for me by someone I used to work with back in college.

Mark's Aunt made this snowman. I *love* him!

S'MORES!

In all her splendor...

This nativity was given to us by one of Lily's homecare nurses, and I think it's one of the girls' favorite Christmas decorations. They absolutely LOVE it! (Elise even asked if we could keep it out all year long.)

And, this little hat can be found somewhere every year. This year, it's keeping the octopus warm.

I hope you've enjoyed your tour of our patchwork abode. Come again soon!

Linked to Nester's 2010 Christmas Tour of Homes