A Holly Jolly Christmas [Eve]

Merry Christmas from the Younger-Monson-Allen’s! And Malcolm!

After a bit of relaxing with Lillian, the Christmas Cat…

…I had a few nibbles of treats to tide my hunger…

A bourbon ball tasting with my mom (still can’t decide whose I prefer!)

A piece of Christmas tree cookie

A bite of pumpkin fudge

Around 5PM we put out some cheeses + homemade cheese straws for cocktail hour

I had a taste of each cheese and a cheese straw ….

Instead of alcohol, Karen and I made mocktails with soda and bitters, which might as well had vodka in them because they were so refreshing and delish!

For a light dinner in preparation for church and our Christmas Eve Party, I made a huge spinach salad with chickpeas, lots of veggies and raisins for some nourishment!

Everyone had a little to tide us until our 9PM party

Church was all carols and candles!

When we returned home, we set up the party

Only to have half a table leaf collapse sending shrimp and cocktail sauce everywhere!! Sniff! Luckily iit was mostly salvageable with a little rinsing

The meatballs were a big hit

Rudy the Reindeer enjoyed quite a few shrimp

So fun that Larbs’ Matt‘s family could join us this year!!

Malcom, Matt‘s friend from high school, joined us for the evening and was feeling a little tipsy!!

Eggnog roasting on an open fire. I only had a bit and gave the rest to Matt, but what I did drink was very bourbon and delish! [I would like to know why HFCS is a necessary ingredient for egg nog??!]

During the party I had 2 small glasses of wine

And two plates of goodies. Just enough to be satisfied and not too full.

We are now singing carols around the piano and I must join in!!!