Monday, December 16, 2013

Christmas House Tour 2013 - Part 2

Christmas is a week away! I am ready but my how time flies.The older two mini-pearls have finals this week. Is that supposed to make them appreciate the break that much more or make them so tired they don't care? Either way, they are working hard and Sweet Pea has two basketball games and we won't talk about trying to have some semblance of a social life.

Yesterday, I made good on a promise. We only have big blow-out birthday parties for the mini-pearls every other year now that they are all a bit older. Don't worry, a big deal is made of their days and they are properly feted and loved on, but not the all out beating, I mean, party with all of their peers. Mr. Pearl and I took ten, ten year old boys to play laser tag and brought them back to the house for pizza and cake. I promised Sport that we would celebrate his October birthday before the end of the year. I barely got that one in! For those of you not feeling like "mother of the year" that should make you feel better. Two months late is better than never, right? Hallelujah! Pass the Tylenol!

My pictures from this year's holiday decor aren't that great, but you can get the point and maybe imagine yourself with a cup of tea and some conversation with yours truly and then they seem much better! The house is festive though, but I keep fighting the urge to head to the store for more ribbons and garland. The mantle isn't just right and the tree is missing something. At least, that is what the voice in my head is saying. I am going to keep fighting that urge. The reason for the season isn't ribbons and garlands, it is the birth of our Savior and I am so blessed to be able to freely celebrate it! My wish for each of you is that you too remember why we have Christmas and that you are surrounded by those you hold dear and full of love!

I wanted to add a shot of Sweet Pea. Don't tell her you saw this, but since she won't let me take any pics of her, I am sneaking this one in! Her school did their annual presentation of A Dicken's of a Christmas. Sweet Pea played the part of the Ghost of Christmas Past. She was quite good and (pardon my momma moment) quite lovely on the stage. The shot below is of her and Scrooge. 
Bravo Sweet Pea!



Now for the tour, I used my good camera for these pictures, but my small lens is broken, so everything is a little up close and personal. This is our big tree in the family room; full of the kiddos homemade ornaments, my childhood ornaments, the children's annual ornaments that I will gift to them one day and lots of love.






The living room is a little more formal with a smaller tree and a few pieces of our Christmas village nestled beneath it, a feather tree and our Nativities.




This festive bowl is really saving ornaments from the ornament graveyard. These are broken but still spreading Christmas cheer!





The kitchen really shines at Christmas. The citrus green is so festive! Here is our hot cocoa station.





Love came down at Christmas
Love all lovely, love divine
Love was born at Christmas
Stars and angels gave the sign

Worship we the Godhead
Love incarnate, love divine
Worship we our Jesus
But wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token
Love shall be yours and love be mine
Love to God and to all men
Love for plea and gift and sign

-Traditional

Merry!

Krissy



Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Christmas House Tour 2013 - part 1

Merry,Merry All! We are thawing out from Icemageddon 2013 and I am finally going to post pictures of our home dressed in her holiday finery. Looking at all of the blogs out there, I feel a little inadequate at times, as I don't change my decor each year and don't tell my children, but I don't even pull out all of my decorations anymore. I like to call it "mixing it up", that way things seem new after a break of a year or two! I hope that I can be an encouragement to someone. It is okay to scale down on the decor and do less and concentrate on the true meaning of the season. You and your family will all be better for it! I would also like to add that my decorations would not have been possible without the help of my amazing elf - Mr. Pearl! He never complains about bringing down countless boxes from the attic, even if I only use one item in the box!

I can't make a post and not put in a few ICE pics! Growing-up in Texas, these are few and far between!



Don't ask me why Sport had his fake gun out. It was too precious not to show!


Ok, where is Sweet Pea you ask? Apparently it isn't cool to be photographed by your mom in the ice when you are in 7th grade, so, no pics of the princess. And that's all I have to say about that!















Stay warm my friends!

Krissy