Upon visiting the Dooley family in Conway, two things become perfectly clear: One, the family loves one another, and second, they share an enthusiasm for holiday decorating.
Perhaps a family’s love and decorating is not that unique, but the surface has only been scratched. Bart, Wendy, and Holly Dooley live with their mother Nina in a six-bedroom house. Their sister, Jo (formally a Dooley) married Kason Smith and moved into the house. The married couple lives in an apartment-type setting and the whole family agrees the situation couldn’t be better. Sadly, the family members lost their patriarch unexpectedly to illness, but many of their family traditions are done in his honor. Jo’s twin sister is the only family member who doesn’t live with the family.
Bart explains how the family moved one by one from Jonesboro to Conway; he attended the University of Central Arkansas. Wendy and Holly followed in their brother’s footsteps and moved to Central Arkansas. The twins followed suit and soon after Nina retired from 38 years of teaching to be with her kids. When asked what it’s like to live together, they all looked at one another and chimed, “Awesome.”
The Dooley family grew up in Rector, Ark., a small town outside of Jonesboro. “We were our own best friends in the summer,” Bart said. “We [shared] a love crafts and music.” Wendy added that they lived “out in the country,” and credited their genuine affection for one another to their upbringing. Close quarters brought them together and similar interests have kept them together.
Being able to work together and create holiday decorations represent the pinnacle of family enjoyment for the Dooley family. Wendy said decorating their home for the holidays “runs in their blood.” She then shared the story about her grandmother who lived in Michigan during the Great Depression. Their grandparents had to leave everything in Michigan and move to Arkansas. “All they had in their car were Christmas decorations, a record player, and clothes,” she recalled. Those items were what they used to rebuild their lives in Arkansas. “We grew up with [our grandparents] decorating the house,” said Wendy.
Christmas decorating at the Dooleys starts promptly on November 1st. That’s when all of the Halloween decorations are taken down and the house becomes a winter wonderland. Wendy explained the early start, “We have to have everything done by Thanksgiving,” she said. The Dooley home becomes the perfect place for family to meet for the holidays. “Our home becomes a bed and breakfast during the month of December.”
Although the actual execution of the planning starts at the beginning of November, the family is busy throughout the year making and buying decorations. They also have been known to take out their phone and take a picture of a good decorating idea. “We shop all year long,” said Bart. They decorate the kitchen in a candy theme, so it’s an unspoken rule that if they see any gingerbread decorations that are “really cute,” they have to buy it. The family also gets inspired when they travel to Branson and Silver Dollar City.
Locally, they regularly frequent The Kitchen Store, Ye Olde Daisy Shop, Hobby Lobby, Hallmark, Tipton Hurst, and of course, The Christmas Store. A few unlikely candidates include ACE Hardware stores and the Cracker Barrel. Holly joked that they should own stock in Hallmark. Bart said that when she whips out her Gold Hallmark card at the store, they treat her like a queen! At this remark, the whole family laughed and Holly beamed a royal smile.
Each room in the Dooley house has a theme. The music room has a blue theme because according to Holly, “We love how it looks from the street.” She is referring to the blue and silver tree that glows with twinkling lights and can be seen from passing cars. Each Dooley family member has their own collection of ornaments and decoration theme. For example, Nina’s room is decorated with angels. “Because I’m an angel,” the mother of five said. The room again erupted in laughter and love. Jo and Kason brought a rotating tree to the mix, which added a new challenge. “We had to make sure all of the sides were decorated,” said Jo with a smile.
Before one of the Dooleys buys any decoration, whether it is for Halloween, Easter, the Fourth of July, or Christmas, they usually ask themselves if they could make it first. For instance, Martha Stewart was selling the same black, glittery chandelier they have in their kitchen for $150. “We made it for around four dollars,” said Jo. The chandelier was part of the Halloween decorations, so was the all-black tree in the family room. The Dooleys actually incorporate the unusually colored tree into their Christmas decorations. One year Nina used peacock feathers to add a festive flair to the decorations.
Outside their home, a nativity scene belonging to their grandmother decorates the lawn. Holly estimated that they hang about 5,000 lights, “We try to add something new every year,” she said. With that many lights, Wendy admitted that they have had “all kinds of adventures,” such as blown fuses. Holly said once all the lights went out in the front yard before guests were expected for a big Christmas party.
Obviously, the Dooleys have a special gift and a unique family dynamic. Yet, they are quick to give advice to novice decorators. “Do it as a family, it means a lot more,” said Wendy. Bart added, “Don’t be scared of a theme tree. Start a theme and it will evolve.” Holly said it’s important not to get wrapped up in making the decorations perfect, but instead to “have fun.” Wendy said the family makes cookies and listens to the 1,900 Christmas songs they’ve downloaded. “Make it a party,” she said. Christmas music is actually enjoyed prior to Nov. 1. Sometimes one of the family members enjoys ‘Oh Holy Night’ in July or ‘Carol of the Bells’ in September.
Once people have followed the Dooley’s steps to start decorating, there is one sure way to know you are doing it right, “You are always covered in glitter,” Bart said.
When the family is not decorating or designing, they sing together. Bart said they would sing anywhere. The family is singing at Dazzle Days and has even recorded two CDs in Nashville.
Whether the siblings sing, create, or decorate with their mother, they are motivated by tradition and a shared love of family. And if they had to leave their lovely home tomorrow, no doubt the holiday decorations, loaded iPod, and family memories would accompany their journey.