Last night at church, our Women's Committee held a Ladies' Night Out. I decided to host a table. The theme was "Around the Christmas Tree". Each hostess was in charge of setting her table and decorating it according to this theme. It was so fun to see everyone's take on the same theme. I was so glad to break out my antique dinnerware that collects dust most of the year! The hostess also invites women to sit at her table for the evening. At my table, I had Aunt Connie, Aunt Lisa, Lynette, Mom, Nancy, Ryanne, and Jackie. We had a great time, and I am so happy that everyone could make it!
A few people at my table were actually listening to the speaker! -and a few (maybe one) was hiding behind me! -and a few got cut out of the picture! Ha But other than that, this is our whole table!
A picture of my table before dinner
My centerpiece was a Pomander Pyramid. I took grapefruit and studded them with cloves. Then, I stacked them and added glittered greens (courtesy of dad!) I LOVED it, and I think that it turned out really well! It was so fragrant, too!
Another cool thing was that some of the men of the church served us. They all wore white shirts with bowties. How cute! I snapped a picture of Dad!
and a picture of him in action. What a very gracious server!
The food was fabulous!
The menu:
Cranberry-Orange Salad
Christmas Tree Crouton
Creme Brie Stuffed Chicken Breast
Cranberry Orange Sauce
Christmas Rice Pilaf
Roasted Asparagus
Rolls with Christmas Butter
Cream Puff Trees
I took a picture of the Creme puff trees. Yummo!
Mom-enjoying her 'tree'!!
There were demonstrations on how to make cinnamon scented pinecones and how to make a Cream puff Christmas Tree as well as how to make Christmas Rice and Butter (I helped make all of the food, and the butter was SO cute. We spiced butter and then molded it into Christmas trees with candy molds. Then we sprinkled them with sanding sugar and put them on plates. Adorable!)
There was also a craft! We made Christmas Crackers! Jackie, putting her cracker to good use!
Tiffany forgot her camera, so she asked to borrow mine. I didn't realize that she didn't get a close-up of hers. It was SO adorable. The colors were teal and black, and it was so modern. So Tiffany!!
There was music, and I sang in a group a song called "Good News of Great Joy". It was a great program. I am so glad that my church does something like this.
The decorations in the gym were awesome!! There were about 50 Christmas trees set up and lit (probably not exaggerating). It was sooo pretty in the gym. After everything was over, we decided to take some pictures, using some of the trees as a backdrop, and since we all looked so drop-dead gorgeous!!
Nancy and me
Jackie, Me, and Ryanne
I have no explanation for what we are doing here!!
John stopped in to drop off Gwyneth, so I snagged him for a picture since he was so dressed up!!
I figured out how Ryanne's kids have such GREAT pictures from studios. She was standing behind Nancy making faces!! And she is good at it (: I mean, look at John's smile! Ryanne-I am bringing you along with me whenever I take my kids' pictures!
Jackie spotted the castoff Creme Puff Christmas tree that was used for the demonstration. And she STOLE some of the puffs. I took this picture for photo evidence!!
One more shot of the centerpiece! I couldn't resist!
The message was given by a woman named Sue Vanderweir. She is a sweet lady, and she read the book The Three Trees to us using Power Point. You can click
here to read the story (there aren't any pictures) It was so neat, and her message was based on that. What a fun evening! I'm glad I could share!
Before we open presents, we always read the Christmas Story. The True Christmas story from Luke. This year, we decided to read a Children's Book that paraphrases the story, but seemed to hold Hutch's attention a little better. Then, the kids tore in. 
She warmed up, and before long was digging in too. We thought she looked funny without a bow in her hair, so we added one (: 
After a quick game or two on the Wii, we were heading out to Christmas #3....
We stayed until late, and then we drove around Rockford when we got home for a little while looking at Christmas lights.
On the way home from school, he 'accidentally found' his ticket in his slipper. Huh? Sometimes I wonder about that kid! (;
Last night at church, we had our Christmas Program. Our family sang Away in A Manger all together (minus Gwyneth). Haydn had the idea for all of us to sing awhile back, and he talked his dad into doing it! It's amazing what a kid can get his dad to do (: Hutch, on the other hand, was a little harder to convince. He can sing, but he doesn't like to sing in front of people- not even us, usually. I finally bribed Hutch about a week ago, telling him that if he sang I'd get him ice cream. We never discussed it further, so I thought he had forgotten. He cooperated so well, stood in front of everyone and sang every word of all three verses! After church, my mom told him that he did a great job. He looked right at me and said, "Now can I get ice cream?!!!!" We headed to McDonalds for ice cream in sub-zero weather! It's amazing what a kid can get his MOM to do (:
My favorite is Hulk Hogan leading the pack with "Black Cowboy Boots" the bear riding on his back! (Haydn inherited Hulkster from Korrey- and he loves to wrestle with him!!!) 
Back L to R: Amber, Denise, Linda, Sheri, Kathy and Chris
"There is no remedy for love but to love more" -Henry David Thoreau
I Corinthians 13:4-7
I figured out how Ryanne's kids have such GREAT pictures from studios. She was standing behind Nancy making faces!! And she is good at it (: I mean, look at John's smile! Ryanne-I am bringing you along with me whenever I take my kids' pictures!
I'm sure he'd LOVE to sell you one! 
Tonight we actually decorated the tree. That was no small task! We use all glass bulbs, and I refuse to decorate only the top half or build a fence around my tree so the little ones won't bother it! John and I were guessing how many times the tree is going to fall over this year!
