Annual MacDonald Family Drop-In

On Saturday we hosted our annual Christmas party for friends and neighbours.  We had to miss last year because our house renovations were just finishing up, it was nice to welcome everyone back this year. 

House is ready for visitors.  I am pleased to say that no one spilled anything on the white couch and rug!

Guest book.

Sweets table - this year I made sugar cookies, gingerbread men, almond cherry icebox cookies, chocolate mint icebox cookies, ginger chocolate shortbread, and Rice Krispies.  Dave's mom made peanut butter balls and coconut macaroons with candied cherries.  We also had chocolate bark from Costco.

I made candied nuts and ginger almonds.

We moved the couch in the backroom to create a bit more space.

Most people have beer, wine, or soda water, but a few people had some mixed drinks.

E found the fireplace setting on Netflix.

Q told his friends to bring their mini-sticks to play hockey in the basement. 

A few treats downstairs for the kids.

The kitchen island has the savoury food - meat, cheese, crackers, olives, hummus, vegetables, and shrimp butter and oat cakes.  I made a few batches of these meatballs and made some hot appetizers later on.

This year we made up extra trays of sweets and the meat and cheese to have them ready to go when we needed to replenish. That worked better than coming through with the containers of cookies and other food and filling up the existing trays. 

A few photos while we waited for our guests to arrive.

Mini-stick hockey was a success.

Just a few kids watching a movie.

We had above 80 people come and go throughout the afternoon and into the evening.  We missed a few people that couldn't make it this year, but we also welcomed some new friends. 

The next morning came early when we had to get to church for 9:00.  It was pageant Sunday and there was an early dress rehearsal.  I dropped the boys off and then went to pick up Tim Horton's breakfast before going back for choir.  Dave and his parents came for 10:30.  

E was Joseph this year, this is him dreaming and being visited by the angel.

Q had three parts - first a traveller.  His line of "I'll fetch the donkey" got some laughs.

Joseph, Mary and donkey setting out on their journey.  Q was also an innkeeper with no rooms available. 

And then a shepherd.  He did well at all three. 

The kids did a great job!

I wore this headscarf since the choir was supposed to be "people of Bethlehem'.