Not exactly a Pottery Barn Christmas

Every year I get the Pottery Barn holiday catalog. As I browse through the perfectly decorated trees in varying shades of blue and silver with matching ornaments, ever so simple yet elegant table centerpieces and matching holiday comforters, I just sigh.

Don't get me wrong. I love decorating for Christmas. But my decor is definitely not suitable for the pages of a glossy magazine.

Let's start with the tree. I let the boys hang the ornaments. They have not mastered the art of spacing them out and a single branch may hold three to five ornaments. The ornaments also move around from one day to the next, and new ones appear. Like this:

I find unusual objects in the Christmas tree...like a yardstick,

LEGOs (this was a big space ship, but by the time I took this picture, just a few LEGO bricks remained),

Bendaroos,

and a sock.

I also find festive handmade decorations taped on doors, cabinets and walls throughout the house.

We call this one "mean Santa."

A LEGO candle stands next to our small kitchen Christmas tree. It IS safer than a real candle.

A countdown Santa with an interesting arrow pointing to the wall outlet. A warning, maybe?

A winter penguin with no eyes taped to the banister stairs.

And my favorite wood snowman, now inside a red box with tiny candy cane stickers on the side.

I make fun of it all, but I like my hodge podge, mismatched, willy-nilly decor. It makes me laugh. Every day there is something new. And I know sooner rather than later, I'll be able to decorate however I wish, and yardsticks and Bendaroos will not be part of my festive decor.

But I have a feeling "mean Santa" will somehow show his face every year and become an important part of our holiday decor.