Sunday, December 14, 2008

Howdy from Texas at Christmas

Hats off to BooMama for doing a little Christmas Tour of Homes, or else I'm not sure we'd even have our trees up. I'm sure it is a sin, but decorating for Christmas is not one of my favorite things to do. During the first 5 years of our marriage...before kids...I think we only decorated twice. And we must have hosted parties those years or something, or else I wouldn't have gone to all the trouble.

It is so much work to put up and take down, but since we have little ones I would never think of skipping it...party or no party. I usually like to get it up early so we really have time to enjoy our labor, but this year a little excursion to Disney World has really thrown me off. I am blaming our tardiness on that and the fact that this year we put up 3 trees.

3 trees for someone who doesn't like decorating. Thank God my husband does. The number of trees is partly my in-laws' fault too. They are the kind that always like to change things up...constantly rearranging furniture and the like...I love that about them. They'll get a skinny tall tree one year and a short chubby tree the next...decide they don't like it...and voila...we inherit a new tree. That is how we got two of ours.

The third one we got on a whim this year...we decorated so late that when we got back from Disney, Calloways had any type-any size tree on sale for $50. We ended up with an 8 foot Noble Fir with its tips flocked for $50. Full price was $180. Yee haw!

Here is the fat chubby inherited one that we put in the girls' playroom. It has multicolored lights and random ornaments from our childhood and ones they've received too.

Each year I buy them a special ornament specific to something they've done that year and also a photo ornament. I love to see how much they've changed from year to year. Jade was just 6 months old last year. Lily loves her ballerina ornament she got right after her first dance recital last December. Jade hasn't done much yet...she basically claims a few "I was born" ornaments.



In our formal living room we have the hand-me-down tall skinny tree. We've done this one in all silver and glass with white lights for years.


I love how the frosted glass balls glow.


After one little incident, this little stinker will probably remember it as the "NO!" tree.



We decided to do a Texas theme on the live tree. We later realized that the flocked tips didn't really fit into our theme...I was wearing flip flops and short sleeves when I photographed it today...but nonetheless we love it. We did red, white and blue lights and topped it with a red cowboy hat and lasso rope.

The garland is also rope and there are plenty of little bandannas, stars, and pine cones...straight from the Piney Woods of E. Texas.



Here are pics of two of my favorite nativities. One of Jerry's uncles adds to them for us annually. Lily loves to play with them and act out the story of our Lord's birth. Did we do an okay job with the super glue? Hint. Hint. Uncle Howard, Lily needs a Fisher Price Nativity Set.


Hope y'all have a wonderful Christmas!

37 comments:

Carrie said...

LOVE the cowboy hat at the top of the tree! It's awesome! I will have to remember that.

phillips phamily said...

Your live tree is so fun!!! How do you manage to keep it alive in Texas?

Jackie said...

I am so stealing your idea of a photo ornament every year...that makes so much sense and is the best idea I've heard in awhile! I will have to backtrack a few years to get caught up, but I just love it.

Wow...I am super impressed with your huge real tree. Amazing deal! For someone that doesn't like to decorate, you sure did a great job.

Angela said...

Oh, my GOSH. I totally love the cowboy tree! A hat as a tree topper? GREAT idea. And, you can always send your in-laws hand me down trees over here. I want more! =^) Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment.

jennwa said...

I also love the cowboy hat on the top of the tree.
You have a great home and a beautiful daughter.

Merry Christmas!!!

Tiffany said...

Now THAT'S a TREE! We moved to the NW last year from Texas and that tree just gets me all teary eyed! Fabulous pics, beautiful house and thank you for sharing! Merry Christmas and stop on over for a visit sometime. Be sure to bring a brisket! :)

Anonymous said...

From a fellow Texan :-) I loved it all, just beautiful. Thanks for having us all over.

Carolina Mama said...

We love real trees too! Yours is pretty and we do have the same tradition of the photo ornaments. They're the best! Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Everything is lovely! I too do the "buy the ornaments" each year for my children. (even though they've all grown up!) I've usually tried to find the same ornament (varying) but in each color of their birthstones (red, green, blue). It makes it easier to know who's is who! Thanks for the tour of your home! Merry Christmas!

Sara@iSass said...

That has to be the SWEETEST tree ever! COwboy hat and rope and stars! Giddy UP! I loved it, wish I could just come over and stare at it and look at all the treasures on it! Thank you for sharing.
PS I lovr the willow tree nativities, they are my favorite.

Kristen said...

LOVE the Texas tree with the cowboy hat!

One More Equals Four said...

Love the trees, especially the cowboy tree, too cute. Thanks for sharing!

Dena said...

I love all of your trees...beautiful! And I am so envious that you are in short sleeves. :)

Cyndi said...

All your trees are beautiful, and I love that you captured the moment of the ornament accident. Thanks for showing us around.

Christina said...

at least you have a tree up! we have never put a tree up in 6 years. but the outside of our house is all lit up! does that count :) we figure next year we will have to put one up.

Heather said...

I love all of your different trees. Your girls are adorable!

Ashley said...

All of my roots are in Texas, so I loved this tour! Everything is so beautiful...including your family! Come see me at my house (blog)!

Melodie Norman Haas said...

For someone who isn't that fond of decorating it looks great :) Even though I am not partial myself to western/texas style the tree is awesome :)Thanks for sharing!

jennifer said...

i love your nativity sets. beautiful.

R said...

love it all! you may not be started shopping, but we just put our tree up last night, so you're ahead of me there! :0)

one of our trees is a Texas tree, too. well, i guess it's more Tex-Mex. (Husby is of the Hispanic persuasion.) it's all bandanas, bluebonnets, chili peppers, boots, raffia, and the "star" on top is a star-shaped pinata suspended from the ceiling with fishing wire. :0) oh--and the tree skirt is a Mexican "sarape" (blanket).

merry Christmas to you!

Jamie said...

I'm impressed! Your trees look great...all 3 of them!

Keetha Broyles said...

Thanks for sharing your home with us - - - Merry Christmas!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing your home with us!

Merry Christmas!

Brooke said...

Love, love, love that Texas tree. Yee Haw!! :)

Stonefox said...

Kerry, I love your family photo on your sidebar! That is just beautiful! And the picture of the broken bulb being swept up looks awfully familiar!

Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting. We are in China (I don't post that on my blog for security reasons). I love to hear about people's involvement in missions!

Anne said...

The trees are so pretty, especially the frosted glass balls... Merry Christmas!

Becky said...

It all looks great! As a fellow Texas, I like the Texas tree! :o)
Blessings!

jill said...

Your lovely holiday home is warm and inviting. Thanks for sharing ... Merry Christmas!

Carrie said...

that lil stinker sure is a cute one! my husband would LOVE the TX tree, i'll have to show him when he gets home.

riTa Koch said...

Yeah! First one I looked at tends to be a late-decorater like me!
Thank you for sharing your Christmas stories and home!

branch1017 said...

I received the Christmas card yesterday and so enjoyed seeing your family. I saw the blog space and had to check it out at work today. I have read from July to December, I can not get enough. I think about Jerry all the time. He was such an awesome young man and a true leader in our Youth and Church. I never forget sharing at Operation Uplift about dating and how he found the perfect gift in you. I will also never forget Jerry and Mike dressing in matching suits and singing, When God Ran. It is still so special to me.

Have a great Christmas season.
P.S. Andrew is a Jr. at DBU in Elementary Education and Brooke will be attending Mary Hardin_Baylor next year majoring in nursing.

Growin' With It said...

a texas tree with a cowboy hat...so cute! and i love the idea to buy an ornament that reminds them of something significant that year. great idea!

Wilson Family said...

Haha you funny. Sorry I didn't even think about the fact that you might read my blog. Well, I guess Miss Suzanne should be impressed with Lily, not my mischievious little boy!LOL
See you tomorrow. Are you going to come to the Christmas party?

Kerry said...

I enjoyed your pictures of Christmas at your house! Always fun to peak into others worlds :-) Found your blog through... not sure now... audreycaroline one way or another :-)

I've enjoyed browsing - and following your signature link. Trying to do one I like :-)

Eli's Lids said...

Found your blog while blog hopping.
I love the idea of a themed tree! And that shot of your little one crying is awesome. Great nativity! I really want the new willow tree one.
http://elislids.blogspot.com/

Moriah @ Please Pass the Salt said...

Yeah, I've seen my fare share of broken ornament glass in the dustpan already this year! Glad to see I'm not alone!

Alana said...

hahaha! I remember the days of sweeping up broken ornaments. I think it has been a couple of years now since we've had an incident ;-)

Looks like you guys had a great time at Disney! Sorry I've been such a stranger...hope you are well!

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