HOLIDAYS.....GATHERING #1 (12/12)

This year, 2009, we hosted the annual Christmas get-together at our house.

Joey & Esther had it last year..and we did it for..3? years prior to that.

First time in our "new" house though.

This year's menu was made up of breakfast burritos and their trappings.

Getting ready..

Guests arriving..

Table #2 is set..

We had 18 people total. 

I tried the two tables in the dining room..and while they did fit, it would have been pretty squishy.

So we rearranged the kitchen a bit to accomodate table #2.

Some of the buffet.

Table #1

Dessert table.

Time for presents! 

This year was also different in that area. 

We still chose names like we did last year, but instead of buying gifts (cept for the kids), we

did a modified "white elephant." 

We gave things that were around the house..it made it more interesting to watch and see what

everyone got..and gave.

Michael has a new bike helmet!

Zachary got a hat that matches the one Eric got for his birthday.

It was a bit small..has to be re-made though.

Eric decided everyone needed help opening their gifts.

Carina, once again, did not really get into the whole gift-opening thing.

Nena got a baby banana tree from Jamie & Donny...

these things get HUGE!!

Someone broke the rules of the gift exchange..but Mike made out with a new shirt. 

He says it is very warm..

:)

After gifts and some people left and some people went to go hunting.. those who stayed made gingerbread houses.

A first time for everyone.

I was going to make all the ingredients etc..but

after looking at recipes, I decided it was too much work for too many people with having to do food and all that too...

This was NOT a neat project.

 I probably still have icing splattered around the kitchen.

I looked at this picture, and thought, wow! Sherilyn you have hairy arms!

And then realized, they're Joe's arms!!

Ha Ha!

It took several tries to get the icing consistency right..

Yup, messy project.

They're starting to look like houses now..

Yay, I thought I had a picture of all of the finished products.

But either I reased it or it disappeared.

Anyway, that was get-together numero uno.

Stay tuned for more to come.