Yes, they are older and brown-toned, had them forever. I pack them away in actual cotton. That Mary is so exquisite, I look at her a lot each year. Truly a Madonna iconic look. She has both hands raised slightly as if in surprise and praise. I so wanted the wise men but they have always been quite pricey on Ebay. I do have a cow, lamb, rooster and I think a camel, water boy, milk maid and a piper in addition to the cherub and angel. I wish I could find more camels with my wise men. Oh, and I'd like a King Herod to roast! Just kidding. But I do love the Fontanini pieces and wish I could have gotten the larger size but they really are so hard to find and they didn't carry them at my Macy's (back then it was Sanger-Harris or Titches). They are lovely to look at and so graceful. My favorite piece is that fat Baby Jesus with his little arms outstretched. My very favorite Christmas carol is and always has been "Away In A Manger" and he just speaks that song to look at him.

But your Nativity is the most fabulous thing I've seen in a long, long time. Reminds me of that fabulous one in Italy? or Spain?!!!

Oh, I was so glad to find that old Ideal Baby Jesus! I wanted him for years and finally got one! He's very very very special to me - like I always had him.

Just got the way for Santa Claus cleared in the hobby room. Moved two big dolls and a box Raggedy Ann came in and the little dolly is ready for Santa to hitch a ride on it. He's too heavy to carry or scoot on the floor so he has to ride all the way down the hall, through the kitchen and into the den or living room. His Santa sack is all ready, too. Found a little white-headed toddler doll in bluefooted jammies back there I used to use in Christmas Eve scenes. I think he will come out this year, too, for Christmas. He's an old Cititoy doll about 25" tall, open mouth, very surprised look on his face as if he really did just catch sight of one of Santa's boots as he whooshes up the fireplace.

My sister knows I love Christmas so much she even had a South African teddy bear artist friend of her make me a jointed teddy-bear style Christmas mouse one year! She made him of the finest, thinnest of mohair and the most expensive, tissue thin pale pinkish ultrasuede for his paws, tail and big ears. Only thing is she had her make him white instead of pale gray, as most Christmas mice on the Hallmark cards and in cartoons are. hehe. He looks more like a lab mouse! So of course I named him Algernon as in Flowers For Algernon. He came in a sweet Santa Mouse suit and a sweet note from the artist. Jilly loved Algernon - was always trying to get him and did once. But she just carried him by the ear to her bed. Found a wet-eared white mouse in her little bed later! Tibbe doesn't seem that interested in Algernon. He's all about the big Santa Claus and highly suspicious of him.

My little Elf on the Shelf sure is smiling big tonight. He's so cute.

Went on Ebay and bought a donkey for my Nativity. Got my eye on a set of the 3 Kings mounted on their camels and a beautiful blonde angel in pink. Never saw her before.

Big Santa Claus arrived this morning and is standing in my den beside Shirley Temple and a lifesize Nipper, the RCA dog, is watching them. Santa has his big bag and even brought some wrapped presents with him!

(I am nearly dead from hauling that big thing and all his stuff down here, refreshing his fur, Santa Suit, doing his wig, beard, reseating his replacement head and the Santa Hat, putting his glasses on, finding his pipe, his mittens, getting The Elf on the Shelf positioned on the shelf beside him and then cleaning the floor and getting a shower/makeup/hair. Now it's time for some breakfast and a nap! I'm exhausted!) Tibbe is barking his head off!!!)

Santa Claus, Shirley Temple Doll, Hermann Teddy Bear, Shelf Elf and the Toy Soldier
 

Here is a picture. I need to work on their head positioning so they are both looking at the same point and bring the Toy Soldier out some so you can see him. That little golden herald trumpet he is holding will automatically raise up with his arms, the mouthpiece touching his lips at appropriate times when his music is playing. He plays many Christmas Carols and they sound like mandolin music or something. A very pretty sound, strong and resonant. The Hermann teddy was a Christmas present from me to me one year in the '80's.

Now all we need is a Christmas Tree. :xmastree1:

Should I get a green, pink or white Christmas Tree to look best with this group? I wish I could get my tree out of the garage storage. It's covered with about 500 candy ornaments plus multicolored lights. Shirley would look so good next to it. :candyc1::santa::candyc1::santa::candyc1:

Too cute!

I would get a green tree just to stick with the classic color. I think it would really set off the Shirley doll.

I probably will as I am a traditionalist but this year as so much is different and I can't really enjoy all the Christmas things because of this hip, I may get quirky and go pink or white just this once in my life.

I was looking on Treetopia yesterday and they have this absolutely fabulous huge pink tree with actual pink lights, was $298.00, now $98.00, it said. It is way beyond my physical limits to decorate so I'll have to get a much smaller one this year. With Danny working out of town this year and unable to help, my ex unable to help due to his injured shoulder(in a sling - he's one-armed now and sorry for himself) and Tibbe being the lazy butt that he is and not pitching in AT ALL to help(;)), it's up to me!!! I thought my pretty fiber-optic tree was the answer and it was just gorgeous but I couldn't get over those cloudy ornaments and the faint old appearance of it so it's going back. They are due to pick it up today - finally. Tomorrow I hope to get my pre-lit tree, a few dcorations for respectability and up it will go. Won't be much but I'll be happy to have a year where I don't kill myself overdoing the tree and decorating for a change. Then just finish my shopping, wrap and I'm ready. We're doing potluck for Christmas dinner. No telling what we'll wind up eating....hehehe. I could go for some of little Kevin's cheese pizza maybe! Ever since seeing Home Alone, pizza is now forever associated with Christmas to me!

Are you all decorated or still working at it?

Got a new tree and put it up last night. Sigh. Several lights on one strand are out and replacing them doesn't help. Other lights on that plug are fine! But all the lights on one limb and part of another are out. It's a good thing I didn't go ahead and decorate it last night!!!

Kim, I was watching "Home Alone" last evening and saw what I think might be a Nativity of the 70" Fontanini figures in the two church scenes, now that I know they do the lifesize figures. Those things are thousands of dollars each, $7,500 and up!!! Do you think that Nativity Kevin hides in and then later on Christmas Eve we see in that second church scene is all Fontanini's?

What colour tree did you end up going with?

Bummer about the lights...especially on something new! Did you get them fixed/replaced yet, so you can start decorating?

Got the first thing I came to a 6 1/2 foot prelit green one. Set up and bending all those branches out in all directions took forever! I lit each section as I came to it but just didn't notice there were a few out until I lit it today. Ugh! My second tree this year and not a perfect one among them. No, with Tibbe's dental today, I didn't do anything about it today but discover the lights out. I'm going to call the 1-800 help number to see if they think it could be a fuse in the plug or something. It is so pretty with all those lights, I almost hate to start covering it with ornaments and block them, even a little. I got a whole box full or new red ornaments to go on it. It's lights are multicolored, feared all white or clear ones would make it too bright as it is very near the TV. Can't believe I've gotten 2 bad trees in a row.

Good eye, Jeanie! It sure is the 70" Fontanini. I've only seen one set in person at Disneyworld's Hollywood Studios. It was so beautiful. I could have stood there all day gazing at it. After I started putting my 5" set up at our church, I was sad to not have a set for my home. I started a 12" set, and it is so pretty, but now that we have downsized homes, it's very large, and there really isn't anyplace to display it. I really need to get it out for the grandchildren and find a special place for it this year. Did you see the picture of my grandson putting Jesus in the manger? We'll let our granddaughter put Jesus in the one at home. I'm looking for ideas. Where do you display your 7.5 set? Anyone else have any ideas?

Oh no, you sure have had tree troubles this year! I hope the company will exchange it for you. They best do it soon too. Time is a tickin', and Christmas will be here soon. Poor Shirley needs a tree to hang her pretty new ornaments on, and Tibbe knows Santa won't come until the tree is up. ;)

I'm so far behind on getting ready. This is our first Christmas in our house (we moved in back in June) and it's really our first Christmas out of my mother's house in 5 years. We moved in with her back in 2007 after living in Maryland from 2001 - 2007.

Anyway, long story "shortened"...I am starting from scratch this year with the decorations. So, it'll probably be a minimalist scene around here. We are getting our tree (real..always real trees for me) on Saturday. I can't wait to see Mandie's reaction to it! I'm also taking her to PetSmart to get her Santa Paws pic made.

Her big brother will settle for some scene I can concoct around the tree and snap a pic fast of him. (he absolutely hates cameras...you aim one at him and he's barking like crazy and trying to jump up at you lol).

Merry Christmas everyone!! I am really looking forward to it this year...even if it will be minimalist. (I plan on hitting those after Christmas sales for decorations on the 26th, though! hehe)

Terri- can't wait for you to share pictures with us. I'm sure the house will be beautiful.

I definitely will post some pics, Kim :)
BTW, when I lived in Maryland..it was in a small town called Ashton. It was right between Columbia and Olney. I loved it up there!

Kim, I've seen Home Alone multiple times but until your post about your lovely Nativity, I never knew of the other sizes larger than 12" until I went to the Fontanini website. Oh, what work they do. Gorgeous artwork. I love the old and new figures!!! Then I saw those lovely 70" and was just blown away. Wow!!! I would love to see a Nativity of those in person! I wonder if the Disney set was used for Home Alone or they just purchased a set for the movie and then the director or somebody got it! That's lot of $$$.

I did see all of the pictures!!! That was so darling to see him placing the Baby Jesus. My Danny used to like to do that when he was small. Such memories.

I usually display my Nativity under the tree the last week before Christmas and until then, on a table, coffee table, the hutch or the ledge between the kitchen and the den. My Ebay older Fontanini donkey came yesterday! I am pining for a set of the older, brownish Magi mounted on their walking camels!!! A tad pricey! I've looked for them in summer on Ebay 2 or 3 times but the Magi sets usually aren't sold summers that I have looked. I guess those savvy sellers know they can get more if they just wait to sell closer to Christmas. Those 12" figures are perfectly lovely but are large and I imagine a set with Magi and shepherds, angels, a piper or tradesman included with some animals would take up a big chunk of space. You might just set up a special table in the center of the living room for a set as special as that!!! It would warrant it!

Even minimalist Christmas decorating is fun. I used to go way overboard and decorate the entire house - all rooms throughout - and then found out the dusting and packing away all of that wasn't so much fun in January and it took forever so now I keep my decorating confined to one room and possibly a little in the living room and okay, a thing or two for the baths and door wreaths.

I can't wait to see your pictures!!!

Growing up, one of my bestfriend's dad owned a hobby shop. One place he displayed his trains at home was in a guest bedroom. He built two tables (with folding legs) that stradled a full/queen size bed and the two tables locked together underneath with a latches, to make one big flat surface for his tracks to be set up on. When the tables were folded up, they were stored under the bed.

Boy, I'd have loved to see that. I have always been fascinated by toy trains and the large sets with villages, etc.

We had a little Christmas Miracle I think! I walked over to my new Christmas tree with some of the lights out on one branch and pulled out one of the lights that was not burning. More lights went out when I detached it, though it says on the box and instructions that additional lights won't go out when one light is out! Anyway, I replaced that bulb with one of the extras and on all the lights came - even the ones that had been out - those 6 or so that wouldn't light!!! I swear they are all burning. I got a flashlight and looked all around in the limbs and couldn't see any bulbs out! I think we had a little "miracle" (haha) and I think my second rate little tree is not going to have to go back to the store. I still may call the store manager and see if I can bring it back for another after Christmas just in case it has a short or something, IDK. But it seems I have this little memory flitting around that I've had trees before that one certain bulb being out did control the strand or part of a strand if it were an anchor bulb or something like that - that there was one bulb in a strand that controlled the strand or something. I may just be dreaming that and "misremembering" all that but anyway, we'll see. I did go ahead and put the red ornaments on it yesterday after those bulbs all seem to light. It looks very nice now. Very bright - sure glad I didn't get all white or all clear lights on it. I think I'd have to wear sunglasses. It puts out a lot of light for just a 6.5 foot little tree.

Well, our tree got delayed until this coming Friday night (boo lol). But, I did take Mandie to get her very first Santa pic done today..see below.

I'm so happy that you got your lights on! Lights are like the best part! :D

Even getting it then, you'll have plenty of time to really enjoy it. Lots of time left until after New Years and that's how long most of them are up! I used to want my tree down ASAP as Christmas was over and I was always kind of sad seeing it. My sister said she likes the week after Christmas better than any week December as the stress and rush of the Christmas holidays is over, the pressure is off and you can just sit back and enjoy the decorations, the pretty tree and the expectations of NYE, etc. They even still watched Christmas movies that week so I started leaving mine up, too and now really enjoy that after-glow of Christmas even longer. I can't wait to see yours! Got to put that tree picture up soon as you can after it's up!

Oh, Mandie looks darling in that picture. What a precious little sober face! Don't you know they wonder, just like little children, what in the world that strange-looking man in red in the big chair is or why he is so different-looking? And we give them to him! I love the expressions of children and dogs handed over to Santa's!!!! LOL. Some of those looks are priceless!

I'm very familiar with the area. We lived in Howard County for 25 years before moving to Baltimore County a couple years ago. Come visit us sometime! Oh, and I'm sure your decorating will be lovely!

What a great idea! I like Jeanie's table idea too. I need to decide something soon.

We finally got the tree up (a small one) and a wreath on the door. That's as good as it's going to get this year. We'll have Christmas with the children and grandchildren on Friday the 21st when our grand daughter arrives from West Virginia. We leave the next day to go back to Florida, so there is no sense in getting much more out, since no one will be home. Oh, and we did find Ideal baby Jesus. He had to be set out. It's not Christmas without him. :D

I agree with your daughter. That week between Christmas and New Year's is the best. Mandie was shaking from the time we walked into the store, but I hope it will help her..she's not used to going places. And, on the 21st, I'm taking her to the "better" Santa.

:thumbup: Love your last sentence :)

Yes, since I finally got my Ideal Baby Jesus, the decorations and all in the room finally look complete. I wanted that little doll for so long but just never saw one anywhere or any doll show, antique mall or anyplace. Finally, it dawned on me I could find one on Ebay but the times I looked before, he wasn't for sale. Last year there were about three at the time I was looking and right after I got mine, another popped up on Ebay that included the whole set with the backdrop, etc., for about the same money! Still, glad I missed that one as I would have never used that old background and box, etc., as I am not that kind of collector. But he is so cute and yet has that wonderful look for old, traditional and classic religious art of old. He looks right at home under the tree.

With my sternum injury, I've hesitated to get out my Fontanini Nativity as it is in a large drum under a heavy table I have to move to get to it. It will hurt to get it out but I have to this week. I miss seeing it!

Did you post his pic last year?

Here's little baby Jesus by Ideal. Was it '58 he was produced? He's old. First saw his picture in a doll collector book back in the '80's and started to look for him but no finding him until last year on Ebay. Once or twice I saw him listed in an old collector's newspaper pre-internet but by the time my letter got to them, he was sold. Every time I would look on Ebay, no soap. Finally, last November I think it was, I found him. Now he fits right in with Shirley, who I wanted for so long and my big Santa. I never thought I would have a full-sized, authentic elfish-50's looking Santa but finally when I got that old Santa head, it all started. Then, last year, I also found my Elf On The Shelf!!!

Last night I was watching "Rudolph", "Yes, Virginia", "Elf On The Shelf" and there was my tree with the gold star on top, Shirley standing beside it in her pink party dress, Baby Jesus, Elf on the Shelf, Santa Claus and some presents and it was like a dream come true.

Today when I went to pick up a prescription and get my walk in, I bought a big pink Teddy Bear to sit under the tree, too! I will get a picture posted a little later. That pink teddy is so cute that the store could have sold 2 or 3 more as I was carrying him around in it, kept getting stoppe asking where I found him. He was the only one though. I saw this big shelf of mostly huge teddies up high and among them I spied a smaller pink top of a head and ears. A guy got out the ladder, climbed up and got him down for me. Oh, he's so cute! And so pink! Looks like a Sugar Plum. He looks so whimsical sitting under the tree.

Anyway, all I need to do is move that table, open the old tin drum and get out my Nativity this weekend and I'm all set except for wrapping presents.

Betty, do you have both of your Shirleys standing next to your tree?

:xmastree1::xmascand::santa::grinningelf::candyc1: