First Annual Christmas Drop-In

This weekend we hosted a Christmas Drop-In party.  I have always wanted to have this type of party where we can invite our friends, family, neighbours, and co-workers to stop by for some holiday cheer and general merriment.  We are finally in a house that works for this kind of entertaining.  We invited a lot of people, and I think it was a success.  People started arriving at 2:30, and we had a full house for several hours.

Our drink list. Mostly people drank wine and beer, but the scotch had a big dent in it by the end of the night.

I rented wine glasses so people wouldn't have to drink wine out of plastic cups.  It was fairly cheap, and almost all of them were used so it turned out to be a good idea.

 

Goodies spread out on the kitchen island.

Vegetables and dip

Meat cheese and crackers

Shrimp butter and oat cakes.  My grandmother used to make this shrimp butter and my grandfather would make the oat cakes. 

 

We also had meatballs in the slow cooker (although they kind of got lost since they weren't on the island with everything else).  After people started arriving we made some sausage rolls, and some egg rolls, pot stickers, etc.

 

Table laden with sweets 

Sugar cookies and rum balls

An assortment of treats, including a few gluten free things.  My mom sent the fruit cake and rum balls, Dave's mom made the almond crescents and peanut butter balls, and I made the rest.

Vanilla Bean Cake

Peppermint Mocha Cake

 

Our guest book.  I had also prepared some Christmas related trivia sheets and a word search, just in case people needed some entertainment, but they weren't needed.

This guy was ready to party in his "decoration" (fancy) shirt.  A lot of kids were here and they had a great time playing in the basement and helping themselves to cookies.

 

 

It was so wonderful to visit with family and friends, especially those we don't see too often, and to meet our new neighbours.  I'm using our guest book as a study guide so I can remember everyone's names.  People were also so generous to bring us a little gift, we have lots of wine and sweets to hold us through to the new year, and also some other "hostess" gifts.  It was very helpful having Dave's parents here to help out.  They poured drinks, replenished the food, and made great conversation to welcome our guests.  We enjoyed having people in to wish them a Merry Christmas!