The Bash

 

Well, last night was Saturday, December 23, the night of the much anticipated Christmas birthday bash. As was expected, it turned out to be nothing but spectacular. 

The family showed up in all their glory, in pajamas of all styles. Choices of breakfast foods galore were spread out along the kitchen island. Laughter was heard from all corners of the home. The love we all share for each other was abundant. It was a wonderful night. 

As usual, my daughter Marina brought her cooking skills to the table so to speak. The charcuterie board was filled with cheeses, crackers, pickles, olives, and even a "loaf" of cream cheese coated with crushed cranberries invited guests to feast. Chips, dips, fresh fruit, doughnuts and even crushed peppermint gave a Christmas appeal to a jar of pretzels. There was peppermint bark and chocolate bark with slivered almonds. The doughnut tree Marina made was fun, festive, and delicious. 

But all of this wasn't enough for my middle daughter. She topped it all off with sausage in patty and link form, bacon, fresh hash brown potatoes cooked to perfection, homemade biscuits, sausage gravy, scrambled eggs, pancakes, French toast and syrups. Nobody would or could possibly leave the party hungry. The hit of the affair was those hashbrowns. They were so good!

Since Terry and I are diabetic, my granddaughter does not eat sugar and there are a couple of people in the group who are gluten free, Marina presented plenty of those options too. All was delicious, filling, and quite satisfying. 

Then came the gifts and oh my! Gifts there were! Sugar free candies, a vase with the big guy's face smiling out at the admirer, filled with roses, carnations and other decor, fuzzy socks, a hood that is put over your head and onto your shoulders, pajamas, a DVD of the movie, "Murder on the Orient Express." I also received three Dutch ovens, a heated throw, banana nut bread candle, and candy galore. 

Once again, the family spoiled me rotten. They are such wonderful people and I truly love them all dearly. I also received a box of Russel Stover's candy and a diary with a pen. Awesome night with all the company I kept. 

The fur babies were even decked out for the occasion, like Bruce in his elf costume. He didn't seem to mind at all. 

Charley Girl, donning her flannel pajamas, stopped to say hello to Mallory and Hayden. 

A little later, Charley made her way over to Dawn and Andy for a quick hello and a good scratch on the head. 

Somehow Nova sweet talked her way onto the couch to attach herself to Mallory. She was quite proud of her bold actions.  

The doughnut Christmas tree was being attacked by the time dinner was ready. We couldn't help it. Put it on the table and they will come. 

Marina even laid out little pats of butter for the French toast and the pancakes arriving soon. Three people, including me, thought they were eggs when on our plates and took a bite. A mouthful of butter does not make the medicine go down. It almost made dinner come up. Love butter but wow, nasty. 

In typical Marina form, the house looked beautiful. 

We had a fire going in the fireplace, music playing on the TV, bringing it all together. 

Our chef stayed in the kitchen for a while, serving up all the delicious treats she fed us. She even skewered grapes and put a strawberry on top to look like Santa's hat. They were adorable!

The French toast came with nuts too and were a hit! Light and fluffy biscuits, slathered with sausage gravy! We were in food heaven! All of us walked away so stuffed that we couldn't breathe. It was nap time. 

Tabletop decorations of reindeer were atop greenery Marina had brought from outside. It smelled wonderful and was beautiful too. 

The tree was amazing. All of the decor brought a beautiful homestyle Christmas that was inviting to fruition. It looked like something out of a Home and Garden magazine. 

Scrambled eggs were being made and we were beginning to drool over the array of food Marina was preparing. 

For dessert she had all the candies laying around, plus the doughnut tree, and of course, our hot chocolate bar, with three kinds of hot cocoa, chocolate chips, candy, syrups, cherries, sprinkles, tea, whipped cream, and of course, syrups of varying flavors because there just wasn't enough chocolate. 

Kylee, Cam, and a few others ventured into the 32 degree weather to chat and sit under the infrared heaters lining the roof of the deck. 

A nice hot cup of cocoa took away some of the chill. 

I went back inside, where the warmth of the house was welcome and the glow of the candles really made things feel much more comfortable. 

Excuse the blurred photo, but my oldest daughter, Dawn, walked into the house with a necklace that was lit up, a snowman hat and her pajamas under a coat with a heater in it. I was impressed. 

Zyrah got a doll as a gift from Aunt Marina for Christmas. She loved it. 

We sat back and watched as Zyrah played with her doll. She was enjoying it so much!

My brother Mike was enjoying the show on TV and the relaxing atmosphere of the night. 

Our initial idea included a murder mystery game. Brandy brought the game but it seemed as though it would take some time to play and some people had to leave. We made plans to host a game night after New Year's Eve to play the game. Since we've been hoping to play it for almost a year now, we chose to have a designated night to play that game over dinner and have nothing else in the works to deter us from experiencing the game itself. I cannot wait!

My adorable Santa vase filled with flowers and sugar free suckers. 

Roses, carnations, red ornaments, suckers and green flowers make this arrangement so cute!

Fuzzy gingerbread socks to keep my feet cozy warm. 

I LOVE candles! My granddaughter Kylee made sure to fill that order this year!

Peppermint Oreos from Euphoria Chocolates. Um, might I say, "Yum?"

More 'jamas! Can't go wrong there!

The beautiful knitted scarf that goes over your head and around your shoulders. I will be using this during the cold weather (like now). So pretty in color and in design. I can't wait to wear it under my jean jacket or a coat of some kind. 

My beautiful heated throw! I will be using this until it drops dead of exhaustion. Perfect wrap over my lap and around my legs while I work during the day!

One of my Dutch ovens. 

My two-pack of Dutch ovens. Oh, yeah. Bread will be baked. Casseroles and soups will become a reality. My bread baking desires will be fulfilled.

Marina and Brandy were saying I could take one of their gifts back since I don't need three Dutch ovens, but who can't use three Dutch ovens? I mean, really. I'm keeping them all. 

Candy galore came out of the bags last night. I will have munchies for the next eight months. Plus the Oreos and I received a box of chocolates from Mallory as well. I won't have to spend money on sweets for a long time to come. I'm sure my sweet man will help me eat it up though. 

It's raining candy and I'm okay with that. 

I have visions of spending a night on the couch with my adorable sweet man, underneath the warmth of the heated throw, a bowl of candy and popcorn at our side, while watching this movie. Oh, yeah. That, my friends, is the perfect winter night to me. It doesn't get better than that. 

Hayden picked out this beautiful diary with a matching pen. I love it!

Another birthday passes and once again I feel immersed in a sea of love. My family brings to close the day with laughs, love, and joy. That unmatched joy of being loved and loving in return. This year I have a husband, daughter, and grandson added to the mix, completing the picture of love I have in my life. I truly am blessed. 

Christmas Eve Day, December 24, 2023

Mallory and Hayden came by and we exchanged gifts. Terry and I gave Mallory a family ring, with a birthstone representing her, Hayden, her deceased mom, and then her dad. Pretty ring and she seemed to love it. 

We gave Hayden a dome covered snitch that is also a lamp. A snitch is from the Harry Potter series, from the game they played at school. His eyes lit up when he saw what it was. We were so happy to see that he genuinely liked it. 

Mallory gave her dad and I some movies, including the Harry Potter entire set of movies for me. I love that series and so does she, so now a Harry Potter movie day is inevitable! Popcorn, all the candy I got, plus the nice toasty warm heating throw. It's a plan!

Mallory found Terry and me the most unique gift. She was in an antique store in search for a gift for someone else when she ran across a pair of giraffes. One is female with long eyelashes and the other is a male. Their necks are intertwined, their faces touching. It's the most unique, beautiful, statuesque gift I have ever seen. She did very well in choosing that for us. It is a special gift that is going up on the bookshelf when it's built. Yes, we are procrastinating still. Hey, don't judge. 

The giraffes can also be pulled apart. But they are meant to be together, as Terry and I are, so there they will remain. 

Two bromeliad plants were given to me by my daughter, Brandy too. I love them! I have put them in a southern exposure window to get whatever light they can get without meeting the claws of one Mister Kit Kat. 

The camera wanted to pick up the screen behind the plant so I do apologize for the lousy photo, but here it is. Brandy is into propagation of her plants and has learned how to create many plants! The babies are having babies. Her plants are beautiful and well cared for in any regard, but she's running out of room, to say the least. I love my new plants and hope they will do very well. So far, so good. Over the past three days this little one has shot up a bit. It's hopeful. 

Christmas morning falls upon us tomorrow and my heart is filled with joy. My family has created an amazing birthday and Christmas celebration for us all, simply by being there, present and happy. We shared more laughter, love, feelings of joy, and plenty of precious memories once again. The thought that Mallory, Hayden, and Terry joined us this year is such a blessing. I love my family and they me, making me one of the richest, most blessed people on earth. I'm not sure what I did to deserve such a wonderful group of people in my life but for this, I am truly grateful. 

Until our post next weekend, may you all have a truly blessed and wonderful Christmas, filled with love and joy as we feel daily in the Macrae household. Hugs to all and many happy holiday wishes. May peace and happiness bless your home and family. 

Merry Christmas!