Christmas dinner...#1

We had an awesome family Christmas dinner on Saturday with J's family. 

I baked the cookies, brownies and lemon bars on Thursday. That was a tiresome task and I wish I had planned it better but with JOE being sick and both J and I being run down, there was just no time to do them prior. 

Dinner with the family was a success.

We started with appetizers. Bacon wrapped shrimp with raspberry mustard vinaigrette dressing, pepperdew peppers & mozzarella, and cheese crisps. All very yummy!

Here is our table setting. I used Christmas crackers for our seating arrangement. We also popped the crackers before dinner. It was a fun activity. We used to have these as kids so it was nice to be able to do this with our family. 

We also had a menu of the evenings delights :-). 

Then it was time for dinner. I made the green beans, pork roast and roasted chicken while J's mom made the asian cole slaw and her very yummy mac & cheese.

Then it was time for desserts. I made a pineapple upside down cake the day of and we had it with the cookies, brownies and lemon bars.

Then it was time to open up our presents. JOE scored BIG TIME!!! That girl is very much loved!

She got a Disney car from her uncle, lots of clothes and books and some ornaments from her grammy and g-dad and toys from us. She isn't even done opening her birthday presents yet so now she has more stuff to play with. She was VERY happy!

We had unseasonably warm weather on Saturday and JOE absolutely REFUSED to be changed into her Christmas dinner dress so I let her wear what she already had on which was apparently comfortable.

J did great with my presents! He got me my first pair of Ugg boots! I wanted them in Sangria since I have other colored boots. I LOVE LOVE them! I also got an Idiomatic expressions books (ha ha ha J!). I guess I never get them right so he got me a dictionary so I know how to say them. Whatever! Like I always tell him, "communication is the act of saying something to someone and being understood. It doesn't matter if it isn't said right as long as you catch my drift!" 

He also got me a 16GB eye-fi card (it is by far THE COOLEST thing for a camera!). I don't have to hook up my camera when I am out and about. It automatically sends my pictures to my mobile device via wi-fi. SCORE!!!

J included some google gift cards for my smartphone and a mobile phone charger so I can charge my phone on the go without having to find an outlet and my favorite flavored coffees (yup...coffee is my needed elixir for a busy mom!) AND a lightweight Samsonite backpack for traveling. I guess I have been nice this year ;-).

J's brother gave us a dinner and movie gift card and and his parents gave us a gift card to use for any household item. I am undecided between getting much needed cooking pots and an ottoman for our family room (we had to get rid of the glass top table we had due to JOE being a little too excited with the sound of the remote on the glass). Decisions...decisions.

J also made out well. He got some Timberland boots, a couple of ties, a dress shirt, a pair of boxers (his gag gift...I always find a pair that says something with meaning), his favorite gummy bears, a Redskins calendar for his office wall, a new Phillips alarm clock that also allows him to charge his ipod (he's REALLY been needing a new one!), a car charger, a bluetooth device and some Omaha steaks (my hubby loves good food!). I think he loves his presents.

Yesterday, we attended a holiday party at another one of our neighbor's. We had a great time but had to leave early because JOE just would not stay still! She was all over the place and we spent the time trying to stop her from running into someone. Who said a walking baby was fun? Gosh! I am burning calories chasing her around!

It was a very fun weekend and I am ready for round 2 of Christmas festivities with my family. 

Have a safe and fun Christmas. Wherever you are and whatever you do, remember that JESUS is the reason for the season!