Christmas Parties #2-5

Oh yes, we are very popular. We are all over the Christmas party scene this year. Seriously, we are very blessed to have such wonderful friends (that love to party).

Tanya and Daylan had a Christmas party and "Yankee gift swap." Our gift contributions were a little on the boring side (I didn't have much time to put something together so I wrapped up a new toothbrush and toothpaste... it's useful). The Candrians won a head-scratcher and a ham sandwich...the winners by far. Our girls got so sugared up at the party; Ruby did not go to sleep until midnight. Very fun.

Our neighbors had a party on Saturday. It was the most perfectly picturesque Christmas party I have ever been to. The snow was falling silently outside as if we were in a giant snow globe. The home was beautifully decorated, and everyone looked festively elegant in sweaters and cords. We sang Christmas carols and tasted all kinds of Christmas goodies. The kids joined in for the caroling by shaking maracas and banging cymbals. Alli and Ruby especially loved the giant bowls of candy left within their reach. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures, so you will have to imagine it.

The next party was at the church. The kids made reindeer antlers. Alli made some for the whole family. Alli found a sticky red circle to be her nose. The Bishop and his counselors read an updated version of "The Night Before Christmas." Ruby tried to steal the spotlight. She didn't have to try very hard with those pink boots on.

After the church party, Alli and Ruby went home with our friends, and Andy and I drove down to Beverly in a crazy snowstorm for another party with Andy's work friends. Mike and Amanda hosted a fabulous dinner party. Amanda performed on her piano. We sat by a cozy fireplace and talked while Mike and Amanda made dinner for us. They (especially Mike) really get into cooking. Mike caramelized onions for hours to make the French onion soup. It was delicious! They also served veal, homemade gnocchi and green beans. A-Mazing! Missy made a blueberry cobbler to top it all off. By then I felt like I needed to loosen my belt. Dinner conversation was lively, punctuated by reggae Christmas songs. It was really an unforgettable evening.

We left the party around midnight, and the snowstorm was still raging. The roads were terrible. We watched a car enter the highway, cross all the lanes of traffic, and do a 360 spin... and no one hit him! On our way back to our friends' house, the road was blocked by a car facing perpendicular to the road. Andy stopped to help, and our friend Greg came out to help too (he and his wife were watching our girls). A rear-wheel drive sports car really should not be out in the snow...ever! The driver wasn't going anywhere. Andy and Greg pushed him about half a block to an open parking spot and then they shoved the car in, sliding it sideways.

We were glad to get home around 2am. And we were even more glad to go to bed.