Nestled quietly amongst the tree-covered lots and winding streets of beautiful Richland Hills subdivision, you discover the lovely home of Todd and Janie Childress of Conway.  The Childress home, which was entirely planned and designed by Todd, is located at 66 Richland Hills Drive.  This magnificent house is tastefully decorated with traditional Christmas hues of red, green, and gold as colorful plaid ribbons and bows accent garland at various focal points throughout the residence. 
Once inside the home, you immediately sense the importance of family.  Todd, Janie, and the couple’s four children gather in the living room to help explain their favorite Christmas traditions.    “We do Christmas up big,” Janie proclaims with excitement!  The children, giggly with anticipation of the coming holiday season, take turns expressing what they like best about Christmas.  From a Christmas Eve brunch to “the scarf game,” the Childress family is steeped with holiday traditions.  Ellie and Gracie take turns describing the game as one where they don mittens, gloves, scarves and other winter attire and then try to open a Christmas package that have been excessively secured with strong tape.   The person who is finally able to succeed in opening the package wins the gift found inside. 
Todd and Janie have known each other for a long time. They became friends in 9th grade, dated on and off during high school, reunited in college at UALR, and finally married in 1992.  They lived in Maine for three years and in Tennessee for nine years before moving to Conway.  Shortly after Nicholas was born, Janie decided that it was time to live near their families.  Todd Childress is a pilot for Fed-Ex, and Janie states that her job is keeping up with the busy schedules of their four very active children: Ellie, age 12; Abigayle, age 11; Gracie, age 9; and Nicholas, age 6.
In the entranceway of the home, the foyer table is draped with a stunning garland intertwined with plaid ribbon, while a set of reindeer gracefully stand in the midst of the greenery. Janie acknowledges that the holiday decorations in their home are the creation of Todd’s mother, Peggy Dolittle of Little Rock.  A swag of greenery and pine cones topped with a dazzling red, green, and gold plaid bow flanks the staircase banister. The dining room is illuminated by an impressive candlelight chandelier. Garland, twinkle lights, and bronze filigree ribbon adorn the family china cabinet.  An exquisite arrangement of white hydrangeas and candles, in stemmed clear glass globes, adorn the tabletop.
 Stepping into the family’s living room, the holiday motif is continued as the fireplace mantel is flanked by copious garland laced with clear twinkle lights and red, green, and gold plaid ribbon.  Other accents include candles contained in hurricane globes and a festive, oversized matching plaid bow at midpoint.   A side table, also found in the living room, holds the children’s favorite decoration: a wooden nativity scene.  Janie reveals that “the baby Jesus goes missing a lot.”  With a puzzled look on my face, she enlightens me, “The children like it so much, they take the baby Jesus with them.”  Gracie proclaims, “The baby Jesus wrapped in cloth is just so cute.”  Mrs. Childress explains, “I usually find the baby Jesus in one of the children’s rooms.” One of the family’s favorite Christmas Eve traditions is when they all gather in front of the fireplace to hear the Christmas story read aloud from the Bible by one of the children. Gracie hopes that this year is her year to read the story. 
The family’s traditional Christmas tree, decorated by Janie and the children, is filled with whimsical ornaments from their extensive travels.  Janie declares, “We have everything on that tree from a Santa on a motorcycle and airplanes to pictures of the children.”  “It’s just a real traditional tree.”  The most unique ornament on the tree is an Eiffel Tower Janie bought while in Paris. Janie’s dream is to one day take the entire family to Paris.   New ornaments for the tree this year are those purchased during the family’s travels: a red Mickey Mouse head from Disney World, a beach scene with palm trees from Carillon Beach, FL, and a Mt. Vernon ornament from Washington D.C.  Janie’s favorite ornaments are those made with the children’s pictures, she lovingly insists, while Abigayle’s favorite is a pink hair dryer ornament given to her by her Grammy.
 “Christmas is our big holiday, it’s a big deal.”  “Getting together with family,” Janie adds “that’s what’s important.”  Todd reveals, “From Thanksgiving to Christmas, our calendar is filled with one party after another.”  “It’s fun!” the children declare.