Happy New Year! We have safely and happily entered into 2012! Hope you have too! Looking back over my Christmas photos, I saw that there were huge gaps. Usually the gaps were when I was cooking - which was quite often. But I did get a few shots of the completed tables, and they sure were worth all of the hard work. You know you work for 2 or 3 days and then everybody gobbles it up in 40 minutes! This year I was smart and made sure we had leftovers to last a few days! Because once I had reached Christmas Day- KITCHEN CLOSED!
I made the pecan pie- yummy! The cake was store bought and I added the holly from our yard. It is a tradition that Don goes out and cuts me lots of greenery a day or so before Christmas. Then I put it everywhere! That little church was my Grandmother Mottie's! I would not want to collect a "village" like she did, but it reminds me of her, and John Stephen loves to peep in the lit up windows. I am so glad that I ended up with it!
Here is my table before dinner for 16 of Don's family! It was so much fun to host everyone this year. I love to set the table and plan my menu. The Christmas tree in the background was round two of decorating after John Stephen knocked over the first version! It was tied to the wall in two places so we don't know how he did it! But, I usually do lots of colored lights and glass ornaments. After the catastrophe many of my ornaments were broken and the lights had fallen off. Rather than risk another mishap with the rest of my favorite decorations, I went to Walmart and bought $8 worth of white plastic snowflakes. Then I just put any gold, silver, or white UNBREAKABLE ornaments on and we had a reinvented tree! I have to admit that it did look a little more "on trend" to have the simpler, all white tree, but I still like my colored stuff!
Here's the SPREAD! It tasted good,too! Beef Tenderloin, Scalloped Potatoes, Glazed Carrots, and Symphony Spinach! YUMMY! I set up the serving table in my kitchen- it could have used some decor- flowers or votives or something...Maybe next year!
Here is the scene at my sister's house! With all of these kids the presents get out of hand! Her house was GORGEOUS!
Here are the Christmas Cousins!
Stephanie decorated the table with a Gingerbread Train that she and my nephew made! It was so unique, and the kids loved it! She used coconut for the snow! Stealing that idea next year!
Christmas Eve was at Stephanie's house she had incredible food! Here they are cutting the rib roast! I've always wanted to have one on the Christmas menu! Love the little hats!
And, last but not least- Here is the Thanksgiving table at my Mom's! It was very pretty, and the food was excellent! That is Wilson helping put the final touches on! The painting over the fireplace is of cotton on my family's farm. We commissioned it for Mom's birthday one year.
Here are two of my favorite boys on the way to see Santa! It was a fun day!
John Stephen loved the train!
And finally, the Christmas play at church. Sydney is the tall angel! I didn't get a bunch of good pics of the kids with their gifts because I was cooking Christmas lunch. And, as luck would have it, our dishwasher broke a few days before Christmas! SO, we handwashed a LOT OF DISHES! The bright side is that since I was handwashing anyway, I went ahead and used all of the silver and china and crystal that I might have been tempted to leave in the cabinet! But, if you aren't going to use it for Christmas- then when are you going to use it?!! Right?!
I'll be back soon with lots of news! John Stephen has started school! And I am starting a new job in the morning! Very exciting! The prospect of a paycheck has inspired me to do a little online shopping!! So, until next time! Happy New Year!
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