This was our twelfth annual Christmas party. It started years ago with taking a few friends to see Bethesda’s Living Christmas Tree and then coming back to our house for snacks. Over time it grew to taking fifty+ people to the tree, and trying to coordinate everything so that the food was ready when we all reached our house. The snacks became more elaborate, and the tree lost its director and became rather dull, so it has developed into simply a food and fellowship extravaganza–our gift to friends and family, and a delight for us!
We scaled way back a couple of years due to traveling and having babies, but this year we were back in full force with nearly 100 guests. Our record attendance is 110, and we were hoping to top that this year, but a last minute snow kept several folks at home. Nevertheless we were thrilled beyond measure and abundantly blessed by each and every face that came through the door! Even the ten people that I’d never before met!
We start baking several days ahead. Nathan is in charge of sweets, and I’m in charge of savory.
Every member of the family gets to help!
In this picture you can hardly tell that we are undergoing a major remodel! There used to be a wall here. As you can see across the top, Nathan did a bit of decorating on the exposed header. ha! 
Raspberry Cheese Spread
Reuben appetizers
Brie with pesto, sundried tomatoes, and pine nuts
Crab cheesecake, Nacho cheesecake, and Warm Bacon cheesecake!
These little mice that Nathan and the girls made were the stars of the evening! 
Of course he had an entire spread of homemade candies and cookies, so we set them up on our “still being remodeled” front porch!
Twenty pounds of fudge in various flavors, 200+ handmade truffles in all flavors, 300+ cookies, rock candy, etc, etc, etc. 
It was a very, very good evening! There was so much more that isn’t pictured here. We had such a good time as a family putting this together. The best part was the nearly 100 smiling faces! We are blessed–blessed indeed!
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