Hey, internets – welcome to the 2008 Christmas Tour of Homes!
I’ll go ahead and confess to y’all that I panicked a little bit last week when I realized that this tour-o-homes business was on the horizon and, HELLO, MY HOUSE LOOKS JUST LIKE IT ALWAYS DOES AT CHRISTMAS, OH SWEET MERCY THE PRESSURE.
But then I remembered that there are a few little traditions that I’ve never shared with you, and as you can imagine my relief was palpable.
First, though, let’s look at all the stuff that looks just like last year!
THIS MUST BE SO EXCITING!
And with lights!
Oh, we are very fancy. And once again I can take absolutely no credit at all for my tree, because Mama decorated every single bit of it. Thankfully she didn’t take any tree-related tumbles this year, though the decorating was briefly interrupted by a pesky stomach virus. Obviously she rebounded and finished the task at hand remarkably well.
As always I decorated the bar in our living room. For those of you who aren’t familiar with why there’s a bar in our living room, here’s the gist: our house was built in 1974, and apparently early-70s homeowners felt it was imperative that beverage service be located within ten feet of the television. For whatever reason I get a kick out of the fact that the wet bar now boasts garland, lights, Christmas stockings, and a one-armed monkey stocking hanger.
See? That’s our one-armed monkey stocking hanger. The monkey used to have two arms, but then he tied up with a certain two year-old a few years ago, and the two year-old won. The monkey still does an absolutely beautiful job holding a stocking, though, and I smile every single time I walk past him.
(He’s also completely broken in two at the waist, so it stands to reason that he could use some encouragement.)
Our Christmas card tree – which is a 6 1/2 foot tree that we got for free and now use to display Christmas cards in the playroom – is one of my favorite traditions. It brings me untold delight, especially around December 24th when it’s chock-full-o-cards.
And, as always, I LURVE me a festive table.
For the last several years I’ve put my parents’ aluminum Christmas tree (from way back in ye olden 60s) in our little boy’s room. He loves it because it’s shiny (it’s also very lean-y) and because we put Mickey Mouse lights on it. All the ornaments on this tree are from my childhood – my brother’s elves, my sister’s carolers, my handmade stuff from Sunday School and kindergarten – and it’s so much fun to see how much the little man enjoys it.
And another fun thing in his room? This giant stocking hanging from a curtain rod.
In the past I’ve always done garland and lights outside our front door, but this year I wanted to do something a little more simple because, well, I just wanted to do something a little more simple, AS IS MY PREROGATIVE AS A FEMALE, OH THANK YOU. So I found this cool iron container at TJ Maxx for $9.99, and I filled it with some pieces of a shrub that’s in our backyard.
And just to clarify for all you gardener people, I believe that the Latin name of the greenery I used is shrubae in our backyardae.
Be sure to look for it in your favorite horticulture journals.
The container tends to clang against the front door when people walk in or leave, so it also works as a bell. Who knew my $9.99 would provide me with a container for greenery and an entry notification system? I’m completely undeserving of such good fortune.
Finally, when we were visiting my brother and sister-in-law last weekend, I was totally captivated by the Nativity scene they have in their foyer – and I took a picture of it just for y’all. Because I love how every single creature in the stable is looking at the manger and anticipating the arrival of Jesus.
May the same be true of us, sweet friends.
Thanks so much for joining in the fun today – I hope you have a great time touring and commenting and visiting and whathaveyou. Remember, as I’ve said before, this is a marathon, not a sprint, so PACE YOURSELVES, PEOPLE. Drink lots of water, eat lots of protein, and please, as always, no wagering.
Oh, I kid. But y’all make this so much fun, and I am grateful.
Four quick things before I go:
- It would be great if you’d leave a comment when you visit the blogs that are participating in the Tour. Even a short comment can encourage someone so much!
- Here’s a refresher on Christmas Tour guidelines.
- Everyone who leaves a comment is eligible to win a very special door prize from Engraved Euniques. I’ll draw for the prize this Friday, December 19.
- Please make sure to leave a link for YOUR POST’S SPECIFIC URL, NOT THE GENERAL URL OF YOUR BLOG.
Merry Christmas, y’all!
I’m all decked and ready to go! Bring on the tinsel and eggnog!
Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!
Oh I can’t wait to see all the wonderful homes!!! THis is so much fun!! THank you for all your work getting this together! I did a Mr. Linky 1 time and it took me all day to get it to work!!!!
blessings
mary
Just beautiful! And I love your Christmas Card Tree! Thanks for doing this. It will be fun!!!
LOVING blue feathers!
Girl, your home is beautiful as always. I heart TJ Maxx!!!
Thanks again for hosting this, you’re such a blessing.
Sue
Boo Mama, Thanks for hosting this tour!
I’m looking forward to seeing everyone’s beautiful homes!
I love your home, I borrowed your idea for the Christmas card tree last year :-) Thanks for hosting this, I love seeing everyone’s homes.
Have a wonderful and blessed Christmas.
Love your shrubae! Love your post. Thanks for hosting. The Nativity is wonderful…
Beautiful decorations- I am so impressed that you have a tablescape AND a small child. That is quite an accomplishment! Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Boo Family.I’m glad that you Mama didn’t take a tumble this year.
This is so much fun! Thanks so much!
We love it- so beautiful! We are so excited about a fun giveaway in honor of women we are having as well, and a Christmas one coming up!
So excited to see all the homes!
blessings,
kari & kijsa
I just love the warmth your home exudes. The soft lights and the beautiful nativity…all say Merry Christmas, Boomama. Thanks for hosting, and by the way, your Latin is very similiar to what we call “road-sidia” for the beautiful wildflowers we pick beside the road. Blessed Christmas!
I feel like I’m at one of those secret sales where all the women are fighting each other to get the best stuff! How fun to stay up and try to see what place we can get!
Now I need to go back and read your post. Hate me.
Beautiful decorations- I am so impressed that you have a tablescape AND a small child. That is quite an accomplishment! Merry Christmas!
Love your home…so fun and festive. Love the Christmas card tree. What a wonderful tradtion. And…is that Heritage Hall dinnerware? I have it, too, if it is!
Thank you for doing this awesome tour. So excited to participate this year!
Blessings & Hugs!
Those fabulous feather trees on your dining room table and your Christmas card tree will be my guiding inspirations as I shop all the post-Christmas sales. Thanks so much for doing this! I’m a first-timer and having been looking forward to this for WEEKS :)
Boo- your house is most lovely.
I especially love that little silver tree! How fun.
And the anticipation in the stable- amazing. Truth.
I just LOVE the idea of a Christmas card tree.
Great….now I have one more thing to add to my to-do list.
Thanks for hosting this Boo Mama.
Merry Christmas
Beautiful! I used shrubae backyardae in my decor as well. Thanks for hosting the tour. It’s my first year and I have been chomping at the bit!
OK, this must be some crazy wild home tour. I signed on, got the #1 spot and did a happy dance, and looked again and I was #14!! There must have been a bunch of us at the same time. Can’t wait to go nosing around in everyone’s homes!
Thanks for doing this. :)
Kelly
I love your Christmas card tree and your dining room table!
I love this tour – it’s SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO very fun – thank you for hosting every year!!!!
Merry Christmas Sophie and Sophie’s family!
Love the Christmas Card tree! What a wonderful idea! Will have to do that.
Thanks for hosting and Merry Christmas to you and your family! Blessings on you and yours.
Thank you for hosting the tour…it’s always lots of fun! Your home is festive with lots of great Christmas touches!
~Kelli
This is so much fun – thanks for hosting again this year!
I love your festive table, the christmas card tree and the one-armed monkey the most. : )
I smiled REALLY big when I saw your brother and SIL’s nativity because my mother has the same figurines. At leat I know the angel and the wisemen and some of the animals are the same for sure.
Merry Christmas!!
Thanks for the tour! I enjoyed seeing your home and I am a loyal reader of your blog. Merry CHRISTmas Boo Mama. =)
Oh my-so many tours to go on and you just posted! Wow!
Your home looks very lovely and festive. My son, now 22, loved a tree in his room. I have the box in his room now, waiting for his arrival home from PSU.
Merry Christmas!
I was so excited you were hosting this again this year. What a lovely home you have. Thank you so much for sharing your home with us…but more so…Thank you for sharing your life with us. I am richer for it!
God bless and take good care …
I loved doing this and can’t wait to tour everyone’s homes! :o)
Your home is lovely BooMama! Thank you kindly for hosting the Christmas tour.
Thanks for hosting this! How fun!
Merry Christmas BooMama!
-Kim
TOTALLY LOL-ed over your “shrubae in our backyardae.”
And the whole explanation as to the bar in the living room. ;D Great fun.
Thanks for hosting and Merry Christmas!
Wow! Look at all the people who have lined up already, and here I thought I was showing up early! Can’t wait to see what everyone has to show us. Thanks for hosting the tour! -Julia :-)
Thanks for hosting. This was fun!
Your tree is just beautiful and I love the silver tree in your son’s room.
Thanks for being a great hostess. Blessings to you and a very Merry Christmas.
LOVE the giant stocking – our kids would have great expectations of it being filled, right where it hangs!
As always thanks for linking us all up, and I hope if you get a moment (cause there are so many of those to spare at this time of year) that you manage to pop over and see me in Northern Ireland. Thanks to the wonder of the internet, you won’t even suffer jet lag or suffer the joys of airport security!
Christmas Greetings to you and yours at this special time of the year.
Okay, honestly? My first thought upon glimpsing your tree was about your mama under it. Tickled that you mentioned it.
I, too, love the blue feathers.
And I’m SURE I would be begged for an aluminum tree if Drew saw that picture of Howard’s room. So it’ll just be our little secret, mkay?
That one-armed monkey is awesome. The arm broke on my Willow Tree Angel of Happiness, and I kept asking my husband to fix it. He kept forgetting, so one day I fixed it myself, I did, and I love it even more now because, ya’ll, I FIXED MY OWN ANGEL OF HAPPINESS. That’s some deep symbolism there. Not sure if the monkey is symbolic, but he’s still cute.
Oh, I am so excited. I got to visit each blog last year…and this year I get to join the fun. Christmas blessings to you and your family!
Mama is a tree decorating genius.
And I must find me some feather trees. Because they are fab.
Thanks so much for hosting again this year. This is my third year participating. I love your table and that HUGE stocking…and most of all your nativity. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
I love the feather trees on your table, and the silver tinsel tree!
Thanks for hosting this fun party.
Shannon
I just have to say: I can not believe how many people are up so late at night – me included. I was having a hot flash and couldn’t sleep – so I thought I would get a jump start on the link thing. This is amazing! I’ve never seen anything like it! I’m cooling off a little, so…Good night, everyone… :-)
Thank you for hosting such a great party. I can’t wait to visit all the lovely homes.
Your home is lovely. I am right there with you anticipating the arrival of Jesus!! Thank you.
My goodness!! 78 people in twenty minutes?!?!?! Wow!!
My favorite things are…
the monkey
the blue trees on the dining room table
the vintage tree in your son’s room
the huge stocking hanging from the window (my mom has one slightly smaller from when I was born. My b’day is Dec 22nd so the nurses brought me to her in a big red stocking)
and my most favorite thing is the nativity…If I only put one thing out it would be our nativity. There is just something special about the baby Jesus. Or baybee Jesus as my family says :)
I can’t wait to see everyone’s decorations! Thank you for hosting this lovely event!
Thanks for the tour! Your tree topper is beautiful and I love the card tree. So clever!
Your one-armed monkey just stole my heart. He’d make me smile every time I’d walk by too.
Thank you SO MUCH for hosting this, BooMama…as evidenced by the rush of linkage at midnight, it was a much-anticipated event!