Christmas and New Year’s

We celebrate Christmas with my family on the Sunday after Christmas, so this year it was the day before New Year’s Eve, which meant celebrating just continued from one holiday right into the next holiday. Bob and I made it a nice extra long weekend to allow time for us to really enjoy our time with family and friends. My family started the Christmas celebration with a wonderful meal. Bob was able to capture a picture of all of us at the table.

Mom added a bit of Christmas decoration to her kitchen by hanging a small wreath, which I think is actually a candle ring, above the stove.

I think she really wanted her wreath featured on the blog, because she made sure to point it out. I guess after I posted her leaves in the crock, she realized she is at risk for me taking pictures and posting, so this time she chose what she wanted me to share. 🙂 I am gladly sharing, because I like how it looked. And, it shows off the backsplash tile that Kristel and I installed for Mom last year.

After our delicious meal, we all shared in some gift giving. We added some fun to it, and made whoever was the first to find a present with their name on it, then got to find a present for the next person. We did that until we all had a present in hand.

Then, it was the big decision of who got to open first!! The kids were very anxious, but everyone was patient and shared in the fun and spirit of the season of giving.

There were also some treats to enjoy throughout the day. Aniyah had gotten a cake pop maker for Christmas, so we got to sample her delicious and adorable creations. The kids then had some fun playing one of the new games, Hedbandz.

They all look so cute with their hedbandz on…and they are no dummies, they tried to cheat and ask to see the picture I took of them so that they would know what they were. Each kid didn’t know what was on their head and had to ask questions to narrow down what they might be until they could guess what they were. It was quite entertaining.

Christmas with my family was a wonderful day!

The next day was New Year’s Eve. I ventured out to Target to do some shopping…I had a gift card burning a hole in my pocket! I lucked out and all the Christmas decor was 70% off. I was looking at the Christmas decor for two reasons – one to see if there would be anything I could use in my house for next year, and two for anything I could use for New Year’s decorations. I’ve never actually decorated for New Year’s before, but we were having neighbors/friends to our house that evening. I didn’t want to take all my Christmas decorations down, but I did want to add some New Year’s decor. The evening was to be a progressive evening, so everyone was coming to our house for cocktails and appetizers before moving on to the next house for dinner. So, I added a few touches of New Year’s to the basement bar and dining area.

I set up the bar with part of the appetizer buffet, more food was brought by our guests. I took the pictures early, so I didn’t forget once everyone arrived.

For the bar decorations, I used glass containers that I had. I bought some silver and gold bead garland and the tinsel at Target. I used gold ornaments that I had and put them in the one glass with the beads. The other glass just has the tinsel layered in it. And, the apothecary jar in the back has silver and gold painted pine cones that I had, and was using in my Christmas decor. I found the New Year’s printable on Pinterest (although I can’t seem to find my original pin of it now). I just printed it on plain paper and slipped it in a frame I had – it’s actually a frame that normally has our wedding picture in it, but it matched the colors so I borrowed it for the evening.

This was the table in the basement. We didn’t actually ever sit at it, but it provided nice ambiance. I had the mercury glass candle holders – they are from Target too, I just bought them before Christmas.

For the centerpiece, I used a rectangular white serving dish. It was in the Christmas clearance at Target, so I got it cheap, and I know I will use it over and over. The center candle holder was another one of my Target purchases that day. I had the two little candleholders; they are normally on the shelves in the basement. I just added the tinsel and some silver and gold ornaments and called it done. I’m glad I decorated, because both of the other houses we went to that evening had very festive New Year’s decorations. Here is all of us enjoying our cocktails and appetizers – Bob was the photographer again, so he’s the only one missing from the picture.