White House Christmas 2011: Check Out the Decorations! (PHOTOS)

Welcome to the White House!

I don't know about you, but I've always been fascinated by the whole White House Christmas decorating extravaganza that occurs on Pennsylvania Avenue this time of year. Maybe it's always fascinating to see how the President and First Family decorate for the holidays or maybe it's every mother's fantasy to have a decorating staff who just, you know, make rooms and rooms of holiday magic happen while you bake a batch of cookies. In any case, I was super stoked to, thanks to HGTV, get a Sneak Peek inside the 2011 Christmas White House.

Let's take a look at some of the magic that the White House staff, as well as 130 volunteer "Christmas elves," pulled off this year.

This year, First Lady Michelle Obama chose "Shine, Give, Share" as the White House Christmas decor theme, celebrating the countless ways to lift up those around us. This December, the White House has 37 Christmas trees and more than 10,000 ornaments.

Let's take a look:

How gorgeous is the east visitors' entrance to the White House? Plush green wreaths, garland, and trees decorated in simple silver ornaments make for such a clean and wintry splendor. More than 85,000 visitors will tour the White House this Christmas. Aren't you glad you get to take a peek without even standing in line? You're welcome.

The eight large windows in the East Colonnade are usually decorated with enormous wreaths. This year, in honor of the First Lady's theme, artists used recycled paper to bring new holiday spirit to the space. Absolutely beautiful! And so eco-chic-oh!

The Christmas tree for the Blue Room arrives by horse-drawn carriage. That sure beats standing in line with your cranky kids at the Home Depot tree lot.

First Dog Bo is on hand to welcome the arrival of the Blue Room Christmas tree. Such a good dog, Bo!

First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia (so tall now!!!) and Sasha greet the White House Christmas Tree. Hello, tree! The 19-foot balsam fir was grown on a farm in Wisconsin. God knows where mine came from ...

Check out the 400-pound Gingerbread White House! The white chocolate windows are attached with, you guessed it, melted white chocolate. And this might make you feel extra lame about your kit gingerbread shack, but some of the windows are even transparent, so you can peek into tiny versions of the State Dining Room, Red Room, Green Room and East Room. What???!!! Eat your heart out, Martha Stewart.

First Lady Michelle Obama and her team of White House Chefs (be still my heart ... a TEAM of chefs) decorate Christmas cookies with children of active duty military personnel.

Five First Dog replicas (that's right), all made from different materials, can be found throughout the White House this year. This life-size replica Bo in the Library (pictured above) is made out of trash bags.

This year's Gold Star tree is totally amazing, designed to honor the service men and women who have fallen while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Each of the ornaments on the Blue Room tree is dedicated to a military family.

Another precious ornament.

The Green Room looks holiday lovely. Do I spy another decoration made of recycled materials?

Christmas in the Red Room. How cute is the "cranberry tree" in the striped urn on the center table? I'll take two!

Was that as good for you as it was for me? I hope so! To enjoy more of HGTV’s coverage of the White House Christmas 2011 with Designer Genevieve Gorder, tune in on Sunday, December 11, at 8 p.m. ET/PT for the one-hour special.

What do you like most about this year's Christmas White House?

Images via HGTV