Some of my Christmas favorites ~
I’ve had this tray longer than I’ve had my children; it’s been a part of Christmas for close to 20 years! I love Lisi Martin’s artwork. It’s exquisite and whimsical and rivals Mary Engelbreit for my affections. Tray now dented and dirty, I look forward to looking at Apple Girl’s freckled cheeks and winsome expression every year. And I love those boots!
Two of my babies made these handprint wreathes in kindergarten; I so wish I had had the foresight to realize that “one day” I’d wish I had made one for my third child who didn’t have this same teacher. Today is “one day” (every Christmas is).
Call me a mother–you can have your fancy porcelain or Fontanini or Willow Tree sets–this nativity set made by my youngest swells my heart every time I unpack it; all that’s left of the angel is his heart-shaped wings, propped up behind Mary and Joseph. Maybe that’s why they’re all grinning.
These are my three most special ornaments, hand-beaded by my mother (who died when I was nine). They’re well-worn, but I see them as Velveteen Rabbits–loved almost to pieces.
We always get a live tree, and this year’s might be our fattest ever! This is the only shot I’ve taken, and you’re seeing just over half of it. My eye is immediately drawn to the hand-made ornaments. While I think they’re pretty, themed trees aren’t for me–there are “pieces” of friends and family all over our tree, and when I hang each ornament, it’s like a little visit from someone I love :).
Thanks for visiting and I do hope you’ll subscribe in a reader (or via email) to make it easy to meet again!!
oh girl – sorry to hear of the laptop trauma.
But that little girl sure is sweet as the apple she offers. 🙂
I just did one pic this year. MY trimmings are all the same as last year – and with my double mastitis going on, I just had to make it a quick post.
I’ll come back! Come visit me at my house (blog)!
What a wonderful tour, thanks for having us.
We can all relate to compute woes – no worries. 🙂
I agree that personalized trees are so special, and I love all the personalized touches from your children as well. Thanks for sharing!
Very pretty!!! I love your basket with all the Christmas books! I did the Boomama tour too! So fun!
-sandy toes
I love this tour. I have just started our collection of Christmas books, now that my children are old enough to be really fascinated with the stories…I look forward to having a basket full one day.
Love your tree and the nativity set. Home made is so much more valuable!
I’m a faithful Pensieve subscriber. 😉
Everything looks wonderful! I love fat trees and we have a basket of books. I love reading to my boys from them! Thanks for sharing!
-Kim
Beautiful decorations! My mother in law is into the fairies. And I have one of the hand print wreaths that I hang each year from my kids also.
Love your tree. Thanks for allowing me to view your Christmas decorations.
So cute, Robin. LOVE the tree.
your tree is amazing! i’ve never seen a real tree like that! and i love the nativity set, that is priceless.
Hey Lady! Can’t wait to see you again in Feb.
Your tree is gorgeous!!
Drew brought home a painted hand print Christmas tree from preschool last week… wreaths are a great idea, too; never thought of that!
(Not that I’m into finger painting with young children, mind you, I leave that to the teachers.)
Lovely home. My favorite is your sweet nativity scene.
Kathy b
Hi You,
Guess what?? That Apple Girl has been one of my favorites for years!
And your fat tree rocks! Now I want to see the other half please.
Love, love, love the basket of books! Of course. My favorite children’s Christmas book is “Star Mother’s Youngest Child.”
All these beautiful pics and what stands out to me? Your curtains! They’re gorgeous! Did you have them custom made?
Everything looks sooo nice!!!
🙂 Neato. Love that little nativity. Come enter your link on our linky!
http://homeschoolblogawards.com/2008/12/december-give-away-and-swap-reminder/
Oh, I love the handprint wreaths! I must remember to do that with my baby. The flowerpot nativity is precious – I agree that Mary and Joseph don’t seem to miss the angel too much! 😉 Great tree – I love overloaded trees. I’m off to subscribe to your blog now!
Your tree is just so beautiful I can’t describe it! ! !
I have never been on your site before but will definitely be back again!
Thanks much!
So joyful! Thank you for letting us in! Merry Christmas.
I love your basket with all the books! This is my first time here but I’ll be back. Great blog.
I subscribed via google reader.
Love Love Love the tree! I to have some very special beaded ornaments. My tree is a trip down memory lane. Ornaments pass down or ones my children made. Every year it is like welcoming an old friend.
I have the Apple Girl print from my childhood, displayed for Christmas in my entryway! How about that…
I love your homey touches, and agree about the themed trees. The little child-made nativity is so cute I want to make one with my own kiddos.
Thank you for the hospitality!
What if we already subscribed for a year or so, do we enter?!?!
I’m with you on both the nativity (whatever adorable teacher helped your child make that deserves huge praise and recognition, how sweet!!) and the tree. I can’t handle themed trees, they are for department stores, they lack personality. Christmas is about remembering loved ones, not coordinating colors!!
I may have to join this tour, our tree is beautiful this year.
What fun and beautiful memories. Thanks for sharing!
What wonderful precious memories and stories you have in your decor! We have the Christmas book pile going in our home too!
THose fairies are adorable!!! THank you for sharing!
blessings
mary
I love your tree! All the colorful and well-loved ornaments makes me think of the family tree we had growing up. These days, my mom still has a family tree, but her big tree is all fancy – color-coordinated and all. I like her philosophy that there’s room for both kinds of decorating! Thanks for sharing your glimpses!
I love your basket of books. I have a basket of Christmas themed stuffed animals that comes out every year, but I would prefer a basket of books. Oh well, both some day… great pix!
wow! that tree is incredible!!!
That apple girl is darling! I’m not familiar with that artist so thanks for the link. Love your tree! Our main tree isn’t color coordinated either – just filled with lots of different ornanments.
Manuela
Everything is beautiful! I love the basket of Christmas books. I’m taking a break from teaching elementary school while our son is little, so I have a huge collection of books that I’ve bought over the years! What a great idea!
By the way, I have a pot of your easy chicken noodle soup in my crockpot right now! We’ve been under the weather, and it’s the soup that sounded the best to me as we all try to get our annoying coughs to shoo! 🙂
The hand-wreathes and nativity scene are so cute:). Merry Christmas!
I too love your little flower pot nativity. Caroline over at Big Mama’s place made a set too – – – did your children do that together?
Merry Christmas!
lovely. Merry Christmas!
Thanks for sharing! I love the nativity set.
Love the decor…thanks for sharing. My favorite are all your handmade items….nothing better than that!
Hey sis! The tour was a real treat. The tree is fabulous! You’ll have to shoot me a pic of the whole thing. I smiled at all the homemade decorations thru the house…can’t wait for the little man to have some creative teachers, too. Ok, so I can wait. So what is this? We have made the blog 2 times in a year? Who knew 2008 was going to be blog worthy for the ‘lil sis with David and the sursie? Nice. Can’t wait to see you and your crew soon.
Thanks for sharing your lovely holiday home. The beaded ornaments bring back wonderful memories of my Mom … I remember all the empty egg cartons with each section filled with the beads of the ornament she was currently creating. Wishing you a Merry Christmas!
Your home is beautiful, Robin. Thanks for sharing these glimpses with us. My post is going up this morning . . . quite late, I know. 🙂
Your fat Christmas tree is beautiful! I also–as a mother–love the nativity. Thanks for joining my blog party and giving us the tour! -Julia 🙂
I love these home tours – your decor is lovely! That nativity…so sweet! I love that baby Jesus is a bead of a head in a mini-flower pot. 🙂
Very beautiful and what a gorgeous tray… Lovely!
I love the “sliver” of lime green wall behind the Christmas Tree!!! The tree is beautiful! Can’t wait to see you guys for Christmas!
I LOVE the clay pot nativity! My kids would enjoy making those!
Wow! Your tree is AMAZING! I love your Fairy Santas too. My Mom collects them and they are all so unique! Merry Christmas!
love the kid’s nativity and your tree is gorgeous.
Beautiful, Robin. I love the nativity your kids made. So sweet!
Your decorations are so pretty.
I hope you’ll visit my blog soon. I’ve had giveaway’s every Friday in December.
Thanks Robin! I LOVED your pictures and your sweet commentary! Have a blessed Christmas!! Love, Kelly
what a lovely holiday escape for me to visit your home. thanks! loved seeing your warm and bright touches of Christmas!
blessings…lylah
It’s so fun to visit so many people’s houses – and not even have to leave my house to do it. (It’s raining here!)
Those ornaments your mother beaded are so special. Heirlooms like those and the wreaths made my your children make Christmas decorating extra nice.
Thanks for having me.
I love all the homemade decorations. And those funny fairy elves. Y’done good! All fun and festive-like!
Merry Christmas from She Lives!
Love everything! Thanks for sharing!
It’s been a while since I’ve been by here. Everything looks so beautiful. And I love all the homemade things by your children.
Did someone make that CUTE tile for you with the ornament on it, because THAT is awesome.
Merry CHRISTmas.
I subscribe. I always love reading your updates!
Gorgeous tree! Love the story about your nativity; I can’t wait until my young ones can do crafts like that! Have a wonderful Christmas with your family and thanks for sharing.
Thank you for the tour – I also love handmade ornaments and gifts and fun things made by children. I love your tree – growing up we always had a fat one that took up most of the living room. 🙂