Dec 17, 2007

Welcome, Welcome!


How fun is this? Another Bloggy Tour of Homes put on by Boomama which you are sure to enjoy immensely. I was a little late getting to the Christmas decorations this year, but they are now up in all their sparkle and shine.


Let's start with the front door. Their is only so much you can do with a rent house plain white door. I tried to make the most of it.
How about meeting the family? Okay, here is Dad(Skip), Me(Susie), Son(Seth), Daughter 1(Ashley), and our baby, daughter 2(Annie). This picture was taken downtown a few weeks ago. Skip took a pic of me with the kids and then I took one of him alone. Isn't Photoshop awesome!

Here is where most of the Christmas decor is found. As you walk in the front door and look to your left, you see the Christmas tree and the makeshift mantle. Pretty clever, huh? I love my simple centerpiece of Christmas balls in a hurricane. I've used it for a couple of years now, so I need to check out everyone else's ideas this year.


My MIL is always teaching me to incorporate my Christmas treasures into my own everyday setup. We worked together on the entertainment center. I love Christmas pictures of the kids, so you see them everywhere.

In the pic above, I forgot to remove someone's coke cup. Well, at least it's a Christmas paper cup.


This is just a table that I think is so cute with a few more Christmas items. It would be perfect for a nativity. Hint! Hint! It's just a shame I don't have my own set yet.


Since our fireplace has no mantle, I think it is perfect for a spray of Christmas beauty.

Lastly, what is a house full of decorations, if you don't have people over to enjoy it all with you? This is Skip's cast of "It's a Wonderful Life" watching "It's a Wonderful Life" while preparing for their live radio broadcast of "It's a Wonderful Life". Let's just say Gina(playing Mary) makes the BEST rum cake I have ever tasted. Dee-lish!



Here are two pics from my Mom's family Christmas we were honored to have at our home this past Saturday. A few family members are busy writing names for a drawing for gifts. This is so cool. Our families bring small gifts and we buy chances to win a gift. All the money we raise goes to a needy family in town. This year we raised quite a bit for an abandoned elderly couple in town with no family, no home, and no food. We started doing this three years ago, and it is now a new family tradition. I love it!!!



Skip took this panoramic view so I could remember that even though this year has been so hard financially, and our house is not my dream house, there was love all around me. God has truly blessed us this year!



Thanks for stopping by everyone! Grab some cookies and coffee on the way out. Merry Christmas!












22 comments:

Julie said...

Merry Christmas, Susie!

I think your front door looks splendid! You've done a great job with your new place...it looks very Christmasy!

I like how you focused in on being surrounded by people & love. Without either of those, Christmas wouldn't be very merry.

The Glow Girls said...

All very beautiful, girl. I'm impressed. I did so little this year with my leg. Your house looks great. You did a awesome job!!!
Merry Christmas!!!! You are right Family and friends is what makes Christmas what it is. Love you tons!!

Donnetta said...

I think you did a beautiful job decorating your new place!!

And the family picture is great! Especially considering it sounds like it is 2 pictures blended into 1. WOW! You'd never know!

Jess said...

What a beautiful home and beautiful family.

Jan said...

Beautiful home...beautiful family. Thanks for inviting us!

Hootin Anni said...

everything is so festive.

My holiday slide show tour is THIS WAY

Unknown said...

your home looks beautiful, thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Your home looks so warm and welcoming.
Merry Christmas.

Sunny said...

Very beautiful!! And I love the idea of "buying" chances to win gifts and the proceeds go to a family in need!

Unknown said...

Thank you for the tour. A beautiful family, a gorgeous home decorated so lovely for the holiday...what more could you ask for? Have a very Merry Christmas, Karen

ellen b. said...

Thank you for a lovely tour and all those photos of loved ones gathered round! Blessings...

Southern Heart said...

You have such a lovely, festive home, and a beautiful family!

Merry Christmas,

Andrea

annette said...

Love your home and traditions and beautiful family. I wished I knew Photoshop to get everyone in a picture for the Christmas card. Merry Christmas.

DA Wagners said...

Love your Christmas decor! You did a wonderful job! I think it is so fun to make a big deal of holidays . . . especially Christmas!!! Your family looks beautiful! Your kids are growing up!

Denise said...

Susie,
Your home looks so sweet, even though it's not your dream home! I have a hurrican that I put round ornaments in also! I also use that hurricane for candy cirn in October, red hots at Valentines, plastic eggs at Easter, oh well you get the picture! I've gotten lots of use out of that thing!!!!

Anonymous said...

You have a beautiful home and family :-) Have a wonderful and blessed Christmas.
Jamie Lea
http://www.xanga.com/homeschoolingthem

Ruth said...

beautiful home and beautiful family!

Joyful Days said...

That looks like the place everyone loves to visit & I can see why!

Susanne said...

Very inviting Susie! And I never would have recognized the coke cup for what it was. LOL!

Kathy b said...

You did a great job decorating your new home. I liked all the photos of family too.

Barb said...

Your whole house looks so warm and inviting, Susie. You've really settled in, haven't you? I love your front door. It looks like mine. LOL

I know you must hear this all the time, but Ashley is the spitting image of you.

Merry Christmas to you and Skip and the kids. And the tradition you started, helping someone in such need, is awesome.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing! Happy New Year!