Virtual Christmas Open House
As most of you already know I love Christmas. One of my favorite things to do during Christmas is entertain people in our home.
For the past 6 years we’ve always had a Christmas open house where we’ve invited our ENTIRE church over. Generally, we would open our house for a week from 6:00-9:00 and try to facilitate as many people through as possible. It was a great way for people to meet others in the church as well as an opportunity for us to get a few minutes to personally wish everyone a Merry Christmas.
Last year we really pushed our luck as our neighborhood was not real happy with all the traffic and parking problems this created (I don’t blame them. I’m sure I wouldn’t be happy about not getting into my driveway either). Then when Cross Point grew in additional 68% this year we knew there was just no practical way to have everyone over again this year.
So I’m bummed, but we’re having a handful of smaller parties this year. However, I promised everyone I would give you a video tour of all the decorations. So here’s part one which covers the outside decorations and later this week I’ll share part two with you which walks you through the inside.
I pray you guys are having a great Christmas so far!
[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/2529174]
So what are you doing this year to celebrate Christmas with friends and family?
the pastor at our church in Texas used to invite all the families that had had a new baby within the year over. We went the year we had our last. It was very cool to get to see where he lived and that he lived much like the rest of us – except for the giganto shower with 4 heads! That had us all talking!!
It really was a cool thing. He had to do it on several nights based on the month your baby was born so they didn’t overwhelm the neighborhood.
I love the outside decorations! That is one of my favorite parts of Christmas! Can’t wait to see the inside.
My hubby and I are driving to Branson, MO to have his families Christmas get-together this weekend. We all meet and rent a house and just shop, eat and visit. It is always relaxing and a great time to be with family.
Your home is beautiful – all you’re missing is the 12-inch blanket of snow and the -15 wind chill we have here. Can’t wait to see the inside. (But I’m with Brandi on “single digit inflatables”).
Your home is so beautiful… It’s getting some spirit it me now.
It’s working!!
Thanks for sharing your home and family. It brings life. For us it is all about giving. Followed up by sharing family together.
Merry Christmas from Texas!
Your house looks like a castle or something…I’m in awe.
It all looks very festive with the inflatables and all.
We’re going to church with the family and then have dinner.
Greg and I will be working the 3 Christmas Eve services at CP, then loading up the kids and the car to leave immediately after the last service and drive 7 hours to his parents’ house in Missouri. We’ll spend a couple of days there and then drive another 6 hours or so to my parents’ house in Illinois for a few days.
@juliepersinger, You think we can talk Greg into doing a Christmas light show on the front of my house?
Thanks for letting us see all of your outdoor decorations! I love the way you get so excited about your inflatables!
Love the Christmas lights and love love love the way Gage talks. So precious. My husband and I will drive to the Syracuse NY area to spend Christmas with our family and friends for about 6 days! We are very excited as we are “new” transplants to the south!
Very nice. I’m with Brandi also – single digit inflatables. I’m still watching the penguin. What am I looking for again?
Very nice! Rough year around here…the tree is up, the lights are on, the outside lights are up but not turned on and that is as far as I’ve gotten! My girls are supposed to do the next step of putting their ornaments up…I’m not waiting too much longer!
Merry Christmas, Wilson family!!!
Off to Colorado with Sam’s family. Hitting the slopes – seeing a bunch of old friends from California (that now live in Colorado Springs) – can’t wait!
Our Christmas Miracle – Sam is OFF for 4 days and will get to meet is out there from the 22nd to the 26th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That is AWESOME! It’s so wonderful to see the joy in your boys faces! Your home truly is decked out!
This will be our first Christmas without our kids so it’s a little different this year not quite sure what that’s going to look like but one thing will stay the same Christmas eve service and, my husband will go surfing Christmas morning
Merry Christmas to you and your precious family!
j
That’s real nice, Clark!
Pete and Brandi and boys, I’m smiling from ear to ear…thank you. (goes without saying but your home is beautiful and welcoming)
we’re doing an ‘experiment’ this year will let you know how it turns out….
Your house is so nice! They don’t make homes like that where I am from! Thanks for the tour,can’t wait to see the inside.
We are doing what we always do and will do this Christmas. Waking up as a family- that includes my parents, sisters and there familys, brother, and then us of course. We have never done it any other way, then just family time and good food.
Can’t wait!
I have loved your open houses in the past, but I had a feeling that after the large turn out last year that you may not be able to continue. Maybe next year you could just rent out the Loveless Barn decorate it and throw one huge party there
What a fun post
. This weekend I want to try to find ALL the houses in our area that have big Christmas displays so we can drive through and ohhhh and ahhh over them. I LOVE all the Christmas decorations. One of my friends has Santa on a motorcycle in her yard and the other night I saw polar bears fishing. TOO fun 
WOW! I understand that you have kids but I think YOU are the biggest kid of all!!
I am getting you a gift card to home depot so you can get ever MORE decorations on clearance! LOL. Way to be a cool Dad and instill the Spirit of Christmas in your children.
@Jennifer Dillingham, Now that’s a great idea!
Oh, Pete. Your poor neighbors! I’m looking at their houses in the video and they’re all so quiet and neat – and then ka-pow! your house is all lit up like Times Square.
Well you could do a multi open house. One night you could host folks with the last name starting with A-E, F-J, etc. But that still could be too much. I like @jenndillingham’s idea of renting the barn.
We are trying to spend time with family but it might not work out this year.
Yeah, I’m a little worried about you and those inflatables, man. But seriously, I think I saw Baby Jesus in that glowing orb thing, too. Either that or the 70′s are starting to catch up to me.
Merry Christmas Pastor Pete, Brandi and Kids from She Lives!
Your home is so beautiful. Love the inflatable’s. I say you can never have too many outdoor inflatables, it’s just so mezmerizing. Your home is lovely and I think we need to enter it into some magazine as best decorated home for Christmas. Yep.
We will be spending time with our grown children and grandchildren Christmas eve. There’s so much excitment in the air, kids opening up their presents from grandma and grandpa. I look forward to it every year.
“that’s interesting”
hahahaha!!!!!!
Ok….I’m cracking up at Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus inside that flashing light mailbox thing.
And, its so cool that you were able to have the church over. I love that! Enjoy the Christmas season Wilson family. We will be with family and friends OFTEN beginning this weekend. Ho ho ho!
@Steve, I noticed the same thing about Pete’s neighbors. It seemed Pete’s house may have stuck out a bit. Pete you don’t have one of them thar cement ponds in the back yard do ya?
That was so fantastic… you are definitely like an excited little kid at Christmas! (and I think Gage may be trying to take over hosting duties before you know it…)
The scary part: I kind started seeing the images of the Nativity in the ball on Santa’s mailbox…
Merry Christmas ho ho ho right back at ya!
We are having everyone to our house for Christmas Dinner and such.
Of course Christmas Eve Service at church.
For a little additional fun and festivities a Martini and Mistletoe Party the weekend before with neighbors…am I allowed to say that here?
video is not available it says…:-(
I just told Bo this afternoon how I missed this-this year, but I totally understand its not practical anymore.Thanks for the tour!
It’s our year to have the Bill’s Children, so we always try to create a tradition. Love the house Pete, Did Brande do all the decorating. PS> By the way 4 days smoke free. Merry Christmas Wilson Family you inspire us all.
Thanks for sharing Pete.
We’re hoping to make it through the holidays with a smile on our face. We have a family reunion smack in the middle. They’re like airplane landings………any you make it through are good ones.
Merry Christmas
Hmm, everyone saw Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus in the flashing light but you didn’t??!! Great video and I can’t wait for part 2. My husband refuses to put lights up outside but the inside is decorated and we have a fake tree this year.
For the 2nd year in a row, I’ll be hosting the “family get together” which will take place on Sunday the 21st because of out of state family. It’s weird to have no where to go on Christmas but I guess I should be happy I had 46 years of it? Although when friends heard we would be home they immediately invited us to their house for christmas afternoon.
@Gina, that is awesome. 4 days. Way to go!
Well, that is SUPER! I love me some Christmas!
On a side note, just wanted to tell you how excited I am for you to get to know the Bergstroms. They are some of our best friends and you will be blessed to know them!
Blessings to you and your family this Christmas!!
To be honest, I’ll probably not do much. We never do. As you can tell my family isn’t much for christma.
Dude…I just want you to know my wife is hating you right now. She is insanely jealous of your lights. She may kill you at the CHristmas Eve service. Beware! Have a great week,
Your home is lovely and your boys are just too cute