Party Time!

Friday, Dec 19 was our annual party. It started right after we got married when I decided I didn't want to plate a bunch of treats and have to go deliver them. It seemed so much easier and more fun to invite people over and just eat the treats at our house. So every year since 2003 (except 2020) I have hosted a Christmas party for our closest friends. In some places we didn't really have friends so we used it as a way to make new ones or serve our ward leadership. I used to do pretty much the same thing every year but now that we have lived here for almost 17 years, I've had to get more creative. I still make pretty much the same food with maybe one new something every year because it is fun to have tradition but also to spice things up a bit. We always have two games and then our gift exchange. I have done Family Feud, the newlywed game, minute to win it, all sorts of singing/music games including a lip sync battle one year, bunco, Jeopardy and then board games that I make Christmassy like Outburst, Eye to Eye and Pictionary. 

This year I decided to go for the Price is Right. I've toyed with doing it before but always decided against it because it would be too much work and I was right--so much work! But it was totally fun and worth it. It was basically six games in one and required a lot of products and prizes and I had to do a lot of research on the games so I could choose ones that I could make work here at home. Then I had to teach them all to Josh since he was hosting and I was the announcer. So all day Thursday I spent baking then Friday I cleaned and Josh and I baked a lot more and then we organized all of the games (lucky it was his Friday off) . Everyone we invited came (which really is two more than we can really fit but it worked) and everyone was nice and I think they had fun and felt our love and appreciation for their friendship, since that is our ultimate goal. It is my Christmas gift to my friends and so I'm always happy when people seem happy and are excited to come. It is a lot of work but we had a good time and didn't close up shop until about midnight. Curtis was finishing his science fair project and then watched a movie. Lily, Emma and Brandon went over to the Grondels to babysit and then hang out together but they were out late and I probably should have made Brandon stay home and get to bed but I didn't. 

and thank you Michelle for the pictures! 

 

Saturday Brandon had a basketball game and then I went over to church to help decorate and then I went home and made rolls and Brandon made a dessert and Noreen had asked me to help with music last minute so I put together a play list for dinner and then we went to our ward Christmas party. The cord I needed for the music was missing so I played the piano through a lot of dinner before McKenzie brought in her blue tooth speaker and we got the music going that way. There was a cute nativity and some music and it was a nice evening. I miss being in charge but I don't miss all of the work. I think our party last year was so fun and went so well and there is just a thrill to throwing a great event that I do miss but our RS presidency did very well with the time and resources they had and I'm grateful for their effort. 

Sunday was our ward Christmas program and all six of us participated somehow. Emma and Brandon (and all my piano students) played prelude music, Lily led the singing, Curtis prepared the sacrament, I sang in the choir and Josh presided over the meeting. It all went well and I was grateful Debby helped me catch up in choir since I missed the last rehearsal and it was fun to sing again--I was either leading or playing the piano for the past five or six years so I appreciated being able to sing again. We spent the rest of the day driving around and dropping off cookies to members or our ward who are home bound or have other health challenges. Hopefully we helped spread some Christmas cheer and love and Curtis got in some good driving time. We stopped by the Rays for hot chocolate and then home for a quick dinner and then Josh had temple recommend interviews and when he got home we watched a Christmas movie and I breathed a big sigh of relief. All of my obligations to others were pretty much taken care of and the following week I could just focus on my family.