A Tender Tennesee Christmas

Is the only Christmas for me...at least it was this year!! We absolutely loved spending Christmas down in Nashville with my sister and her family. The twins loved chasing their cousins around and we were sad to return to a quiet(er) house today. What great memories we have though and here are just a few pics from our trip.

My Godson and nephew, Sam

My beautiful sis and Jackson The boys

The stairs provided great entertainment :)

Football!!

We love Mimi!

Lilly

Uncle Bo and Thomas

Christmas morning-waiting to run down and open presents

Opening Emma Kate's stocking

EK's first baby doll!

Forget the presents, where are the cheerios??

Jackson was more interested in the dog :)

Two cuties

Sweet Charlotte
Thomas

Knees and Toes

I just love singing songs with the twins...they usually look at me like I am nuts since they still can't sing along or do the motions. But this week, I got a little response from Jackson (as in, someone is actually listening and paying attention!) and I just had to share. Here is our rendition of "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes." We haven't quite grasped the first part of the song- we can only do knees and toes but it's a start :) And I love how Emma Kate is just peeking around the corner watching her brother- so sweet!

Creative Decorating

As most of you know, I did NOT get the amazing eye for design or decorating that my sister, Sarah got (be sure to check out her awesome blog here for tips and design ideas). In fact, if you like anything about my home's style, you can probably guess that it is because my sister (or mom who also has an amazing eye for all things beautiful) has kindly offered her help in making my home look so...well, homey!! Anyways, I decided to take a stab at a few simple Christmas decorating ideas I found in House Beautiful and Martha Stewart and although it's not much...it's a start!
First, I saw this darling idea in a Martha Stewart magazine a few years back where you fill glass jars with different types of holiday candy and use it as your kitchen decor. Super cute, classic, and simple.

My only problem was that after only being out ONE day (yes, one day...), almost half the jar of mint M&Ms were gone. I wonder who was to blame?? Perhaps Emma Kate and Jackson??!!

Then another idea I got from some magazine was to hang your stockings a little differently. Jono made a good point that he was nervous using our regular hangers (heavy brass hangers and two crazy-busy twins who like to pull on everything = trouble in the making- and possibly a major injury!). So we used this burlap/twine cord and attached it at both ends of the mantle. Then we just used clothespins to hang the actual stockings. And walah!

The burlap twine cord also ties in with a burlap table cloth I have from Ballard Designs (thanks to my sis BTW). And while this isn't perfect and I wish I could find some cuter clips, it will do for this year and is still pretty cute!

What creative decorating ideas do you have? Or any posts about decorating? I am always looking for ideas to steal, err...I mean borrow :)