Holiday Prep

We are gearing up for hosting Christmas 2012.  The new house has provided us with so many new party options and we are anxious to share our space with family.  As the out-of-towner family members pack their suitcases, we are packing other things like the fridge and fresh linens in the guest room.  We are expecting 7 people to share in the festivities from Rick's side and then you can throw in 4 more people from my side.  Plus the 4 of us.  

That makes for lots of meals for lots of people.  Was I up for the challenge?  Oh yes!  I love showing love with food.  After revising the menu lots of times, a few big trips to Costco and Kroger, and the puzzling together of where everything can be stored in the meantime...we are stocked.  

I wanted to make as much food ahead of time so I can enjoy more family time.  This week prior to the visit is filled with making soups, dips and bases to complex recipes.  Okay, I am type-A, I admit.  The soups were put into crock-pot containers so they can be transferred to the heat like *magic*.  My freezer is so packed that the shelf was starting to sag.  Hence, the blocks (from my kids' stash) to hold them up:

And where will we eat all this yummy food?  At our *new* Ethan Allen table.  Fortunately, our dining and kitchen table came in before the crowds, but alas the dining chairs did not.  Oh well.  I guess we will have to pull those questionable IKEA chairs out for one more year.  Sorry folks.  But come back next year and we will have fancy chairs.  I promise.  

And napkins are all set for the 15 person Christmas meal. 

(Again, Type-A)

Howie is over-the-top-giddy with the preparations... he takes first place in regards to increased heart rate and inability to calm himself.  He loves making things and our advent calendar activities have been extra fun as we throw in some crafts for making our house a special place to visit.  One things we did was make salt-star ornaments as we talked about the Star of Bethlehem.  Each person coming to visit is represented with a stamped letter from their first name....

 The bottom line: We are excited to see family and celebrate the birth of Christ with them.  We are so grateful for the abundance that God has given to us that we are able to host in this way.  

So family... pack your bags and get here safely.  We can't wait to see you!