This is real-life, friends. Please notice the drooping garland, random golf clubs, & the pizza boxes on the kitchen table where we’re using the formal dining room chairs because oh yeah, I sold our kitchen chairs & haven’t replaced them yet. Also the Matchbox cars, strategically placed to ensure that my kid’s first real words to anyone in public will be “DAMN IT ALL TO HELL.”
& so begins the week of yuletide cheer!
This year, we scaled back to simplicity in almost every aspect of Christmas.
Gone were any colored lights & we decorated our tree with white twinkles. I traded out elaborate garlands that strung along the mantle & banisters for a simple, fresh-looking garland tied with cream grosgrain ribbons. A simple vine wreath hangs on our front door, but we decided against lights in the bushes or candles in the windows. With our home on the market for sale, we have tried to incorporate the season in a classy, simple way.
My favorite decoration is from DaySpring – the nativity candle holders. At night, they give off the most beautiful glow.
My Willow Tree nativity, a gift over several Christmases from Doug. (as always, it is perched on top of the bar.)
A little sass on the tree, reminding us to keep our bedroom spicy. Also reminding us that if we’re not careful, that can lead to the gal on the far right of the picture. Yep, she’s knocked up as a nod to 2009 when I was pregnant with Harrison.
Our Christmas countdown that hangs on the wall. Harry is still a little too young to enjoy it, but I’m not!
A look back at 2009 & 2010…amazing how my taste has changed & grown over the years, but this year of simplicity is my favorite.
We were kicked out of the house this morning for a house showing (a showing! a showing!), so we decided to take the little guy to see the fat man.
Last weekend, Santa was in our small town with sleigh rides & cocoa, but between showings & nap schedules & work, there was no way we could make it. Bummer, because we had to wait in line 30 minutes today. Harrison did an awesome job of being patient, even if he was a little nervous.
Momma waited with him, too.
Come on, Momma! oh, be still my heart. Those eyes get me every time.
oh. Wait. You mean I have to actually go see that guy? You mean I’m NEXT?! (I secretly love it when he grabs onto my legs. I just think it’s so darn cute.)
It’s better when Daddy sits with me.
Apparently he asked for a car & a choo-choo train. I think Santa can handle those.
Harry & I are currently having the most fun today – he’s in an awesome mood & even though he didn’t nap, we’ve put together puzzles (he’s moving on to interlocking, which is blowing my mind) & pretending to talk to Santa on an old cell phone. Minus the five minutes after I discovered that he ripped apart his “Where’s Spot?” book, toddlerhood is so baller today. Plans tonight include family movie night, where we whip up a pizza for dinner & cookies for dessert.
Thanks to Duncan Hines for sponsoring my writing. There’s no limit to the baking possibilities, so grab your favorite Duncan Hines mix and Comstock or Wilderness fruit fillings and Bake On! www.duncanhines.com.
’tis the season, my friends. THE SEASON OF TACKY SWEATER PARTIES.
Starting in 2008 with my girlfriends from the-message-board-that-shall-not-be-named (Lord Boardamort? ::snort::), I host a Tacky Sweater/Cookie Exchange party at my house one night in December. We call dibs on appetizers, I supply the Two Buck Chuck, & the house is lit with twinkle lights & laughter. My sweater is pink with a fur collar, but that probably does not suprise you at this point.
The first year, it was so unseasonably warm that we threw open the windows & turned on the air conditioning. Girls from Charlotte & Wilmington came & we uncorked numerous bottles of wine & laughed at how Pami mixed up baking powder with baking soda. (note? the two are NOT the same) Girls wore feather boas & for an entire year, I cleaned up green & red tinsel from Lacey & Amanda’s “belts.”
oh, my. So many to choose from!
In our typical tradition, we hit up the Home Depot for a $30 Christmas tree, armed & ready to pull out tree after tree for inspection. Despite the fact that I was still in a skirt & heels from our morning photoshoot & Harrison had long casted off his sweater in favor of his undershirt. Not that I could blame him – the South sees it’s fair share of weird weather & hitting 75 degrees at the end of November definitely counts as a “COME ON!” with a fist shake to the skies.
What is usually done with wool coats & hot chocolate was celebrated with short sleeves & iced tea. Typical Harrison, he took this task very seriously. We pulled out tree after tree as he would cast off with a “no” & finally settle with an “ohhh, yeah!”
I’m hoping to catch that “oh, yeah!” on video one day. While Doug paid & tied the tree to the top of the car, Harrison & I checked out the other trees. & then I flat-out died because TINY TREES, y’all. TINY TREES FOR BABIES.
Maybe next year I’ll stick a little cash away so Harry can have his own wee live tree in the playroom. Until then, we’ll just hope we can get the lights & ornaments up on the big one we bought before Christmas Eve.
So now the big question – real or fake? & is your tree decorated yet?
 |
 |
