I thought I’d shared a holiday-decorating tour every year since 2007, but I can’t find any posts except the 2007 tour and the 2008 tour. Maybe I’m losing my marbles. Or maybe the grinchternet stole my Christmas pictures. Regardless of what happened to 2009 and 2010 (black hole? alien abduction? government conspiracy?), I am most pleased to invite you inside for a look at this year’s decor. I showed you the tree a few weeks ago. Today, let’s start with a closer look at a few of the ornaments.

My husband’s aunt sent the kids a package last year. In it were a few gourds, some paint and a “sample” that she’d painted herself. This dude was Poppy’s finished product.

On the other side of the tree is one of my favorite ornaments: Space Ghost. He shoots peppermint-flavored laser beams of holiday joy and also peace on Earth.

I mentioned awhile back that I was having a hard time with our mantel, because it isn’t your traditional mantel. It’s three mantels that span the fireplace wall. I love it, but it also vexes me a little bit.

Yep, that’s a faux-fire in the fireplace. It was left by the previous owners. I will probably get rid of it at some point, but for now the kids really like it. To the left of the fireplace is a basket filled with holiday books and a few snowmen to help prop them up. The stockings are from Pottery Barn; I laughed out loud when I pulled the enormous “Mom & Dad” one out of the box.

This is our first Christmas in our house, but I’ve mostly resisted the urge to buy new holiday decorations. I’m holding out for the after-Christmas clearance sales. This green guy is a new addition, though:

He’s a planter and a music box. How could I resist?

We also decorated a little bit in the basement this year. Because we have a basement! And a small artificial tree! It seemed meant to be.

I’m linking this up with The Nesting Place’s tour of homes, which is a good place to check out other people’s Christmas decor. I am very nosy about interesting in the way other people deck out their homes, so I’ll be browsing through lots of posts over the next few days.