Saturday, December 19, 2009

I Give To You..........

Whoville Tree... II

Okay, let me say it, before you even think it..."She should be ashamed of herself!" But let me explain. We've had this monster tree for several years now, so it has definitely paid for itself by now. Last year I was just too lazy to get this "beast" out of storage, so I glorified-up our 6ft. tree instead when I did the "Whoville I".

But then, after Christmas everything I'd used on the 6 footer, went on sale. Most of it 75% off. So I stocked up and dreamed of Christmas 2009 when I would dust off the "beast" and really do it up right.
Above, a fun "explosion" of peppermint happiness!

Do the rest of you lie on the floor to get the perfect photo, or am I the only weirdo???
I KNEW IT... I am the only weirdo!!! Hee-hee! : )


I just finished making our 2009 Christmas Collage to send out and thought I'd share some pics from past collages.
Little cousins acting out the Nativity, 2007.


Some pics from this year's collage, below.



Christmas always makes me nostalgic. See my beautiful blonde daughter, above? This is also her, below. You young mommies try to remember that your little ones are little for such a short time. Proof below... : )
I hope each of you are enjoying this wonderful Christmas Season.

Mary Lou

44 comments:

Unknown said...

OH MY!!! What a beautiful tree. I know that was an incredible amout of work. I hope your family appreciates it, I know it takes alot of time to get something this perfect. Not to mention all the time you spent shopping. What great savings you got.

Merry Christmas to you and your family. Hugs...Tracy

Anonymous said...

You are an amazing decorator. Your tree is lovely. I have visited one other blog where she admitted to lying on the floor to take a pic!!!!

Sweet collage pictures also. Merry Christmas Mary Lou.

vivian said...

sweet family pics.. Yes they are little for such a short time. I was just thinking yesterday that I miss the days when thye used to go out and play in the snow.. and the fun and excietment on christmas morning. theres still fun and excietment.. but you know its a different kind. anyways..
LOVE your whoville tree! that would fit in beautifully here!
have a great sunday!
hugs
vivian

Scrap for Joy said...

I love that you never do anything half way! This is a true masterpiece Mary Lou! It's always great to see pics of your family and even the peek of the scrapbook page from years past. They don't stay little for long and when they live out of state and you don't see them for Christmas, you really miss them. I wish you Blessings and Peace at Christmas!
Joyce

Lorraine said...

The tree is beautiful. I don't think it is odd to lay on the floor to get the perfect picture.

Keetha Broyles said...

I love your Whoville tree and se no reason whatsoever that you should be ashamed! None.

Merry Christmas!

Victoria said...

Oh wow, I love the tree!!! It is beautiful.

I cannot believe you found the beautiful church at Target! Thanks for letting me know...I am going to get Christina to check and see if ours has any since she lives close to it!

Anonymous said...

We all have our weirdo moment...some more than others! LOL

Love the tree! The topper is the best!

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

Your tree is gorgeous and HAPPY to look at as well! GRRRRRRRRREAT JOB! I truly enjoyed all the photos...and you ARE the only weirdo who shoots the photo from laying on the ground.
In years past, I have looked up at the lights from laying on the ground, but never shot a photo. ;)

The nostalgic photos always tug at my heart, but the one of your blonde daughter when she was little made me tear up.

God bless you for all you do and the way you keep your family close! You are as much a blessing as you are blessed. xo

Celestial Charms said...

Such a beautifully decorated tree. I adore the peppermint tree topper. That is the icing on the cake. I don't lie down beneath my tree to get the best photo angle, but I do lie down there just to stare up at all the lights and bling. Savoring a magical moment, I suppose. So your not crazy. I still can't get over how lovely your tree looks :)
Maureen

Celestial Charms said...

Forgot to mention....charming family photos, all.
Maureen

Sue @ Not the Good Scissors! said...

You have motivated me to get out there the day after Christmas to get the decorating bargains. Your tree is fantastic. I too have a monster tree and each year I get less and less motivated to decorate it. Maybe I just need to decorate it differently.

Your tree is amazing.
Hugs, Sue

GardenOfDaisies said...

You tree is so beautiful! You have great ceiling height so you need that nice big tree to fill the space! :-)
I love the pictures of your children acting out the nativity story. I remember doing that with my sisters and cousins when we were children.

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

~sigh~ Your tree is FABULOUS!!! Ugh! I'm SOOOOOOOO jealous. My tree needs a SERIOUS makeover and I'm inspired now to get rid of everything currently on it and do something over the top for next year. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the burst on the top! Did you make that or find it somewhere?

Anyway, well done on the tree and your family pix are adorable as well! Merry Christmas!

Darlene said...

I LOVE your huge Whoville tree. It is GORGEOUS!!! I just LOVE those toppers like that. This year I put some of the crazy glittered stuff on top of my tree. All of your ornaments are just beautiful.

I think the picture collage is wonderful. What fun to look back at some memories. Oh, I do know how fast children grow.....I had Lexi at an older age and I just CAN'T believe how big she already is. It seems like she was JUST a baby!!!!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend.♥

Anne said...

Oh, the Beast! That is the most fabulous fat-daddy tree I have ever seen! That's where those ornaments were meant to go!

My kids LOOOOOOOOOOOVE your tree! Luke just read The Grinch at school, so he totally got it. 'Wanted to know if he was going to come and steal your tree though... :0)

Christy said...

That tree is amazing!! I'm assuming you have to use a ladder to decorate the top, so for that I say you are definitely brave :)
Love your style!

Anne said...

I LOVE your tree...especially the tree topper!!!

Diva Kreszl said...

your tree is just beautiful!!! I have been known to get down on the floor for a good pic!

Anonymous said...

Whoville 2 is FABULOUS!!!!

Anonymous said...

Your family and tree look beautiful.

Willow

GARAGE SALE GAL said...

LOVE your tree!! Love the red, green and white.You ahve the perfect spot for it. It's lovely.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Deb :)

Simply Jessabells said...

The tree is so awesome. I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas. Thank you so much for all the inspiration. I look forward to seeing more in the following year.

Your friend in blogland,
Jessica

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Beautiful tree!! I have to admit - No, I don't get on the floor to take a photo. Why?? Because I would not be able to get back up!!!! :-)

Busy Bee Suz said...

I adore your tree!!!! I know have tree envy. :)
Love the family pictures...yes, they grow up fast and it hurts my head to think of it!!!!

RACHELLE said...

we have the same tradition of acting out the nativity! I look forward to it every year and the kids are so sweet as they participate.

Your tree is WOW!

i love love love the theme!!!!

BEAUTIMUS!

you've got talent a plenty!

shell

GrandmaBev said...

Your tree is beautiful and I loved all the wonderful pictures of your family. May this be a wonderfu Christmas for you.

Unknown said...

love your tree.. mishelle

Unknown said...

It's all about Peppermint play time. I can just imagine you down on the floor, snapping pictures top side! Yes, I would do the same thing, with three dogs licking my nose while I tried this upside down adventure. Beautiful home, tree, and children and more children...I noted the beauty of it all. May your heart be content and merry in the beauiful season.

Free Art Printables said...

I LOVE your tree! IT looks fabulously Christmas! I love that dresser in the background too!

Cathy said...

M.L. That is one of the most gorgeous trees I've ever seen. I adore the Whoville-type ornaments. "The Grinch" is one of my all time favorite movies.

Those funky pink and white ornaments that are spread out like fireworks are awesome. I bought some this year and they had silver mercury glass curly things on the ends. I HAD to have them. I'm not sure I bought them all, but I should have.

Have a wonderful Christmas and enjoy that stunning tree.

xo Cathy

Unknown said...

Mary Lou! A Macy's Department Store Tree! This is what my bare little tree hopes to become. I see I need springs and sproings coming out from every angle. Oh, if my family thought my Scottie tree was "weird", wait until next year! I can't wait to see what you have in store for our next holiday. I have had the most fun visiting this year! Elizabeth

Mimi Sue said...

Gorgeous tree. It is big! Love it all, the colors, the polka dots, everything. Those pics are so priceless. They grow up too fast. Have a wonderful, peaceful, joyous Christmas my dear. Mimi

Molly Anne said...

LOVE the tree! Swirly and twirly and whimsy and delight brings me a smile this cold rainy night. Good grief I can't stop rhyming today. :)
And a photo collage is a fun idea!

Janean said...

Christy, all of it (including the nativity) is amazing!!!! Thanks for sharing.

Mimi said...

HI Marylou!!!!
I LOVE your WHO VILLE TREE!!!! I also love that shot from laying on the ground!!!! I have taken pics from that angle just not of my tree!!!!! It came out beautiful!!!I almost cried looking at that collage of your little blonde curly hair daughter, don't they grow up so fast??? And we take so many things for granted don't we??? I treasure my time with family and friends everyday!!! I have an Aunt on a vent right at this moment fighting for her life, my cousin is only 24 and if something were to happen to her Mom --Christmas would never be the same for her. Please Pray for my Aunt Penny. I loved all the pics of your sweet grand babies and cute kids of yours!!!! The Nativity play is adorable!!!! I want to do that!!!! How sweet!!!!
Oh my dear friend, Have a Very Merry Christmas with the ones you love and I wish you a Blessed and Happy Healthy New Year!!!!!
hugs and love,
jamie

Jen Kershner said...

Your trees are fantastic! I will have to show my little one because she is obsessed with the Whos!

marmielu said...

Laying on the floor! Now that's a great idea! I got up on a ladder once to get a good shot, but I'll have to remember the floor.
Your tree looks very fun! I discovered this year that I need another tree, so will be on the hunt for a small-ish artificial one. We've been collecting year ornaments for almost 30 years now, and plus my parents' ornaments adds up to a lot.
Have a very Merry Christmas, ML!!
Mary Lou

Lallee said...

The tree is gorgeous! I love the colors, and the top is just so perfect. I had visions of myself getting on the floor to take pics, and all I could see in my mind was my dogs running over to lick my face.....thinking that could be the ONLY reason I was down there. LOL

The nativity scenes are just too precious for words. Family is the best part of Christmas.

Auntie Cake said...

What a FANTASTIC tree! It really must have taken you a long time to decorate it so beautifully. And I really enjoyed your nativity with the kiddos. We act out the nativity story each Christmas Eve with all our cousins, and it is so fun to look back on all the pictures. My kids are 16, 14, 13 and 9 and they still look forward to acting the story out with their cousins. They won't admit it, but they do!

Take care and enjoy the Christmas Season with your sweet family.
Kate

Christina said...

Love your pictures. The tree is just amazing--and yes, I will do anything including laying on the floor to get the shot I want. : )

Thanks for the heads up on the glitter churches at Target and the fact that they were on sale. I was able to get her the larger silver one. She is very excited.

Nerm said...

Your tree is fantastic! So packed with goodies. Looks awesome. Where do you find all that energy?
LOL Your family is so cute, thanks for sharing the nativity photos. Precious. Nerm

Unknown said...

MORE Whoville goodness! I love the "explosion of peppermint happiness" as you put it! It's great!

You are not the only one who lays down on the floor to take a photo. Sometimes I have to go out onto my patio to get the right light for my lace photos and I have to contort my body into very strange (and sometimes painful, LOL) positions to get just the "right" photo! I swear...my neighbor...he thinks I'm nutz! LOL! :)

Macey said...

The only reason I don't lie on the floor for the perfect picture is because I couldn't get back up!
I think of how fast my babies grow every day. It makes me sad. :(