Monday, December 15, 2008

Christmas Tour of Homes 2008

BooMamaChristmasTour

Welcome to my home, old friends and new!


This is a very special Christmas for the Jones family because we are in a new home this year. When I first saw this house, which I could never have imagined living in in a million years, it was right after the holidays and the previous owner still had it decorated for Christmas. It was absolutely adorable. I'm sure I will never achieve her heights of cuteness as long as I live. But it's fun to see all of your old stuff on a new canvas, right?

Here's my living room in Christmas mode.


This fireplace, which is operated by remote control (can I get an amen?), is probably what sold me on this home. I love that I have a mantle for stockings and can actually light a fire at any time with no work whatsoever. This is nice in Houston because oftentimes you want a fire at 7 a.m. when it's 50 degrees, but not so much at 11 a.m. when it's back up to 75.



You can see the fun stockings I bought for Curtis and myself the first year we were married. I think they came from Hallmark. Soon we will have some that match Jackson's and they will all go on the mantle together. My favorite thing on the mantle is the picture in the center. It was a wedding gift from Travis and Angela Cottrell and it has my favorite name of God on it - Redeemer.


I got this from a co-worker a few years ago. I love it so much!


Here is our lovely toddler-proof Christmas tree with all the breakable ornaments up top.


This is the tree topper Jackson made at MDO last year. If I weren't almost 8 months pregnant I might go get a real one for us. We'll see if I can give it up next year.


This is one of the two live wreaths that my husband let me get after I agreed that we could get a $35 Christmas tree. Score! I have been meaning to buy some nicer ribbon for it. Oh well, just keepin' it real, folks.


I found these shatterproof ornament balls at Target. My toddler, Jackson, is exercising a ton of self control each day not to bounce bounce bounce! them around the house.


This is the little advent train that sits on our dining room table. This has been tons of fun every night. I meant to go all out in my dining room this year (seeing as how it's the first time I've had a dining room), but that will have to wait for next year's Christmas tour.


I put all my Santa things in this basket. (Don't worry, that candle never gets lit.) You can see Jackson's amazing stocking on the right, which was made by one of my sweet blog readers. Thank you, Cinde!


Our Willow Tree nativity. I really need to buy the rest of the pieces. Can you tell I'm bad about putting things off?


My Lladro nativity, given to me by my grandmother.


Another nativity that my mom passed down to me. And that's the Baby Jesus my son made at Mother's Day Out.


Well, what do you know! My amaryllis bloomed for you today!


Jackson pointed at it this morning and said, "Mommy, the flower grow!"




Thanks for stopping by today! Would you like a candy cane for the road?


Merry Christmas to you from the Jones family!

82 comments:

Patty said...

Your home is beautiful! I am in strong like with your red couch. It looks so comfy and red is a favorite color of mine.

I liked your Noel on the fireplace and your candlesticks. Where did you get those?

I especially liked your family picture. What a sweet family and just think, next year your daughter will be in the picture. :)

Merry Christmas!

Ashli said...

I love the red couches! One of your nativity scenes looks a like like the one I posted.

I also love the vintage looking sign hanging from you mantle. Gorgious!

My daughter has strep throat last week, too.
Hope your Mom is all better!

petrii said...

Oh my stars ~~ that advent train is soooooo cute!! And what a beautiful BLOOMING Amarylis!!!

I LOVE your Nativities!!

Merry CHRISTmas,
Dawn

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas Jones Fam!

Marla Taviano said...

Oh my word. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. All of it. All of you. Love the wreaths. Love the angel. And the sock-Jesus.

Merry, merry Christmas, Amanda!!

Amy Beth @ Ministry So Fabulous! said...

Um, VERY cute. I still love the sock-Jesus the best.

Jenna said...

Amanda, it all looks fabulous!

I definitely think you are giving the previous owner a run for her money!

And that family picture is about the most gorgeous thing I have ever seen.

Merry Christmas!!

Danielle (Life with the Hewitt Family) said...

I love your RED couch and your nativity scenes. Great Tour...Merry Christmas!

Holly said...

My favorite part Amanda is "Mommy the flower grow." I love to see little ones discover! Precious, precious boy! May he always be thrilled to see things grow.

And what a beautiful home. May God bless it and give you special and wonderful memories in it!

Love,
Holly

Kiki said...

You're too cute! I love the Willow tree nativity, I'm hoping to get it on sale after Christmas, is that bad?!

And I love the wreaths!

Anonymous said...

Amanda,

Yay! Another "red couch" person...maybe we should start our own society. You know? Like the "Red Hat Society?" :) I kid.

I loved seeing your decorations. For some reason I've been obsessed with finding a cool clear vase and putting ornaments in it. To see how darling it looks in your home makes me want to run right back out to Target this very minute.

And I have to have a nativity. Your's are so beautiful. The only one I have is about the size of a greeting card and I got it at Dollar Tree...um, well, it is sweet and all. But I think I need to graduate to something a little nicer. The sock Baby Jesus cracks me up still and I think it looks precious where it is.

Oh, and that print by the Cottrells? Well, knowing Angela I'm not surprised that it has "Redeemer" on the front. Angela has a heart for His Name and His Word like no one I know, with one exception...Beth Moore.

Anyway, thanks for the tour! Hope you are having a great day!

Blessings,
Dori

Anonymous said...

P.S. Don't let Patty kid you...she would opt for the ORANGE couch over a red one every single time!!

La Familia Garcia said...

What a cute angel on top! I love your nativity sets! Great decorating! You have a beatiful family!

Kim Gannon said...

Sweet Amanda, Your home is beautiful! How fun to be enjoying Christmas in a new home. We've been in ours a little over a year but last year we weren't totally unpacked and set up and we were going to my folks so I am enjoying this year much more. Merry Christmas Sweet Girl!

Smelling Coffee said...

It looks beautiful! Thanks for sharing with us. I especially love your live wreaths - they were well worth the $!

Kelly said...

Amanda - your house is just beautiful!!! And I love that picture of your family!!!! And the one in your profile!!! Ya'll are so beautiful - I can't wait to see the pretty little girl ya'll are going to add.

Lina said...

Sweet, adorable, festive...and I have a fireplace like yours in my new house and I LOVE IT. Easy breezy fire atmosphere...perfect for California too! Merry Christmas to you and your darling family!

Heather said...

OH my word how I LOVE live wreaths! It looks so pretty!! I also your nativity sets! Your home is so pretty, I enjoyed the tour. Merry Christmas!!

Jennifer said...

looks great! i have red furniture too! Merry Christmas!

Debbie said...

Thanks for sharing. Your home is beautiful!

Lindsee said...

I am loving the Christmas decor and we also own the "Merry Christmas" hanging thing thanks to the Nutcracker Market! :)

However, my favorite is still the sock baby Jesus. Do you think Jackson could make another?! :) Oh, oh, I kid!

Merry Christmas to your sweet fam!

Lindsee

P.S. This is just a last minute reminder to anyone who see's this that I am doing a giveaway on my blog that ends tonight! :) Amanda, I'll stop doing that after today!

Holly said...

I love, love, love your red couches!!

Rachel said...

beautiful! Especially for a girl 8 months PREGNANT!! Two gold stars! Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Such a cute little home Amanda! The fireplace is just adorable! The whole liveing room is fantastic! Love your red curtains! We are fireplace free in our house and that is cause for much consternation with the four year old. Love your Nativities! I don't have the WT nativity, but I do have a WT plaque with the Holy Family that I just love. This year I even bought the ornament to match it! And then promptly forgot to add them to my Tour of Homes post! Thanks for sharing!

The Johnsons said...

You have a beautiful Christmas home! I love your two stockings! Isn't the tour fun?! Merry Christmas!

Erica said...

Gorgeous, girl! You did a great job...impressive really, especially being 9 months pregnant.
I love your home as well. I can't wait to find a home with a fireplace and mantle. That will be a first for us!

Ashley said...

Thanks for letting us visit your home! It's beautiful! I love these tours! So much fun! Come visit my home! I have the same NOEL stocking holders, but since we don't have a mantle at this house, they are back up in the attic. :(

Kelli said...

Your house is BEAUTIFUL! I LOVE LOVE your Lladro nativity scene!

Wow a remote control fire place has to be about the most amazing thing EVER! I am not sure I even know those existed. PERFECT - for this crazy Houston days that change temperatures in an instant!

Nancy Mon said...

Thanks for the tour Amanda. Merry Christmas!

Meg said...

I love your live wreaths! & Your red couch is very festive!
Thanks for opening your home!!!

Patty said...

Okay, I have to defend myself heehee...my sweet friend Dori is right, I would take an orange and white couch for my office because I am a HUGE University of Tennessee fan. I have my own club for U.T. fans. Lol.. I do love your red couch and I love Dori's red couch, too!

Jessie said...

Very pretty Amanda...its so neat that each piece has a story behind it - that's what I love about decorating for christmas. I may have to put on a home tour myself - just so I can have our keepsakes recorded for posterity sake.

And I love amaryllis...they bring about another special christmas memory for me - yours is beautiful.

Becca said...

Adorable! Your fireplace is my favorite! What a great family pic! Ya'll are so stinkin' cute!

Toknowhim said...

Your fireplace is beautiful...
Thanks for sharing your home with us.
Oh, I wanted you to know that Jackson's nativity inspired me, and so I going to do the same activity with my Pre-K class. I couldn't find any square plates for the base of the manger, so I comprised with some circle ones :)

Blessings and love the family pic...
Kim

dena norton said...

well, since you invited new friends and old, i thought i'd drop a quick little hello from an old, old friend!

Merry Christmas to your home!
love,
dena (reagan) norton

Missy said...

Amanda - I love your precious house and all the decorations! Jackson's baby Jesus priceless, and I would LOVE a candy cane right now. :) Especially after eating white chili. ha ha
MERRY CHRISTMAS FRIEND!

Momma-of-5 said...

Thanks for the tour! I love it!

Cathy said...

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing and Merry Christmas to you and yours!!

Tanya said...

Thanks for sharing. That is a very good-looking $35 tree!!

Jessica said...

And Merry Christmas to you and your sweet family! I so enjoy reading your blog and seeing pics of little Jackson. Your home looks lovely and I LOVE the Advent train! Too cute!

Holly Mathis Interiors said...

amanda, it all looks so nice..congratulations on your new home.. where did you get that boxwood wreath.i love it!

www.hollymathisinteriors.com

Big Mama said...

Every time I see that baby Jesus it makes me smile!

Melinda said...

Everything looks beautiful...so homey! Love, love the family pic!

Thanks for sharing your home with us!

Merry Christmas!
Melinda

Fran said...

I love seeing the couches. I love the black door and wreath. love the Christmas tree. Love the train. Love every bit of it Amanda. My dining room has NOTHING in it. This is our 1st year in our new house too and I couldn't figure out what to do, so therefore....nada.

Merry Christmas, friend!! this will be a very special one.
Love,
Fran

Tara said...

Amanda,
Your house is just beautiful and so "Christmassy," especially with the gorgeous red couches. It doesn't even look like a toddler lives there!

And I love the family picture- You don't look pregnant one bit! But so exciting that next year, a little girl will be in it!

Merry Christmas!!!!

Kristen said...

What a beautiful home! So fun to see where yall "do" life! Love the family pic!

The Laughlin Family said...

You have a lovely home. I enjoyed the tour. Thank you for sharing. Merry Christmas!

debra parker said...

The red couches... FUN.

I also noticed that I have the same green ball scented thingies [on your mantle]. Do you not love my terminology??

Merry Christmas Friend.

Joanne@ Blessed... said...

What a lovely home you have, so warm and inviting. I am quite impressed that at eight months pregnant you can even reach the tree top! But oh, I have to say that your tree topper, the one that your son made you, is the greatest decoration you have out by far.

As a mom of four myself, I have had a couple of paper angel treetops too!

Thanks for letting us stop by.

Merry Christmas

Unknown said...

Your home is absolutely beautiful. I love the red furniture... The tree is so fun - I went to my brother's house on Sunday where my nephew celebrated his second birthday. They have all breakable, collectable ornaments near the top of the tree as well. Ben had ornaments (three) that were near the bottom but he kept taking them off and carrying them saying "My Pumpkin, My Pumpkin."

I liked your NOEL stocking holders and the Merry Christmas on a chain. It is absolutely beautiful. Your collection of Nativities captures my heart as I have my very own... Even a Willow Tree set missing the Magi just like yours. ;o)

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my tour today. I'm so blessed to have seen your fresh wreathes. We did fresh pine garland a couple of years ago that nearly drove my husband nutsy cookoo!

Hubs is an awfully good sport most days. Thanks for sharing - Jackson's angel and baby Jesus are absolutely the most adorable ornaments in your reportoire. I think I misspelled that but it is late!

Be blessed and Merry Christmas... I think I will have a candy cane.

Bev Brandon @ The Fray said...

You guys look so happy in your family picture! May His Presence be all over you this Christmas! Redeemed and Real and Restful!

katiegfromtennessee said...

I LOVE your pictures, Little Momma, and the captions were fun to read. I like your Redeemer picture, and the keeping it real wreath. The smiling sock Jesus makes me very happy, and the advent train is interesting...I'm uncultured, what is advent??

katiegfromtennessee

barbara head said...

This is the greatest Christmas card I have gotten. Your home is so beautiful and your family is even better. Merry Christmas!!! We sold our house, moved very quickly into a rent house and are building a new house for next summer. Therefore, I have done nothing for Christmas! Thank you very much that I can get my Christmas joy from my children's homes and from friends like ya'll.

The Curtis Crew said...

Amanda,
I've been reading your blog for a while and really enjoy it. I love Jackson's antics as I have a 2-1/2 year old who absolutely will not go to the potty. She is my third child and you'd think I'd have it down by now, but obviously not. I just thought I knew what strong-willed was until she came along! Lots of fun, but some days are oh so hard. We had one such day yesterday and I thought I could have been a great example on James Dobson's radio show as she's screaming over and over in the car, "I want it! I want it! I want it!" and I stuck to my guns.

I really like your Advent train. I've been looking at some of the Advent sets at Target, but I'm curious about one thing...what goes in the drawers or the behind the doors? I've not every done an Advent set, but I assume that something's supposed to in them and all the sets at Target are empty.

Can you help?

Blessings!
Melissa

fuzzytop said...

Hi Amanda,

I love nativity sets, and expecially the Willow Tree nativity... I've been wanting to get one, but haven't yet. Perhaps I'll find one on sale after Christmas!

Hugs,
Adrienne

cindy gatewood said...

Amanda...I'm Kristen's mom and
we met at Allison's house in
College Station. I love reading your blog and getting to know more about you through Kristen. What a
small world it is!
Your family is precious....

Cindy

Janelle and Ella said...

Your house looks beautiful!!

C:M:W said...

so cute... and I like the new couch arrangement!!!!

Unknown said...

Wow! Your house looks amazing, Amanda. You did a great job on your mantle, and I love the red curtains! How fun to see the Reedemer picture again. It's perfect for Christmas. Hadn't thought about that. I should send you pics of my house at this very moment-ha! You would die! Not exactly tour ready. :o) Maybe by the time the Boo's come for New Years, I'll have the laundry out of the dining room! Have a restful and fun Christmas! Hugs and Kisses!!!
Ang

Spicy Magnolia said...

Thanks, Amanda, for sharing your home with us! I love the real, live wreaths that you got. And a definite 'amen', sister, to the fireplace! We have one that comes on with the flick of a switch, and I absolutely LOVE it, especially on these perfectly cold winter days. :) I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

Suzi K said...

Amanda tour house looks stunning! I love the advent train!!! And your tree is beautiful!! Those family pictures turned out so good!

Audrey and Company said...

Thanks for the tour. Your home looks lovely and so festive. I love the family photo too!

Erin said...

The live wreath is gorgeous! Merry Christmas!

RosyRose said...

Hey Amanda..Thank you for the tour. Your home is lovely! I LOVE those wreaths your kind sir let you add on to the tab!
What a lovely home! Merry Christmas!

Nise' said...

You will not replace that handmade angel tree topper, trust me! I have a nice store bought one and still use the one my son (21) made in elementary school. Love those bulbs from Target! Thank you for the tour of your lovely home!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the beautiful tour! I love the stories with each picture! The stories made everything special to see! Merry Christmas!

jennyhope said...

Please tell me your house wasn't this clean before you took the pics or I might get under a load of condemnation.

bethany said...

Love the angel on top of your tree!! :)
I really can't believe how brave you are to have glass things displayed-things that I think are high enough, Jakson somehow gets up there and inevitably breaks them!!

creative gal said...

Your home is beautiful! I love the decorations!! I have the Willow Tree Nativity and have purchased a piece/year. . . Last year I didn't purchase a new portion as I had two broken feet (guess I was a little tied up! :0) LOL. So, I splurged this year and bought two more sets. Now, I need to really splurge and buy the stable. :o) Hugs from NC and wishes for a Merry Christmas!

Totallyscrappy said...

The "Merry Christmas" garland hanging from the mantle is lovely. Thanks for inviting me in. I will have a candy cane.
Come on over when you get a moment!

melanie said...

i love seeing all your decorations! i'm asking for that willow tree nativity this year... i love it!
your family picture is so good! what a sweet family! can't wait to see a little princess added to it next year!

MamaCass said...

Oh Amanda the house looks wonderful!!! I love all of your nativity scenes. I love it all! Merry Christmas friend!

MamaCass said...

And I love your new family picture too!!!

Michelle said...

I love how you decorated! :) i am need of some major counseling for decorating for christmas. I for sure am going to find some nativity scenes after Christmas for next year. love the picture...glad that Jackson cooperated! :)

Kelly @ Sufficient Grace Ministries said...

What a beautiful home. And a lovely blog. Thanks so much for sharing. Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year to You!

Lora said...

Oh, I'm so glad you shared the wreaths with us!
And the new family picture is nice.

Unknown said...

thanks so much for having us :-) i love your decorations -- and all those nativity scenes especially!

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous! Your house is just adorable!

The sock Baby Jesus is still my fave!

Sturgy Fam said...

We just love the tree topper!
Too cute!!!

Van said...

I so enjoy decorating and seeing othes' talents at work. Thanks for letting us into your home.

Unknown said...

Merry Christmas! I love all of your nativity sets and the advent calendar/train.

Thanks for showing us around! : )

Tara G. said...

So lovely and tastefully done!