Ye Olde Christmas Soiree

Although Ted doesn't look thrilled, (it's just a blinking moment)

we were very happy to

be invited to celebrate the season with our British friends,

Allison and Graham Drinkwater.

We talked in the spring of having an American Idol finale party, but all

our boys had baseball games that night! Tragedy!

All the more tragic because they have a 100 inch TV

in their media room. No lie.

These are the promised 'mince meat pies' that they made.

We brought a spicy, veggie chili and a walnut, mandarin & red leaf salad.

They also served spring rolls, spinach and cheese rolls, wassail, and other hot appetizers. These are their two boys: Michael (14) and Ben (11). They love to play football, soccer, or baseball with our kids (or any kids). We have had fun in sports with them as well as a recent outing of bowling. They are great young men and we enjoy spending time with them. Here is Maddie ALL grins at the chocolate fountain! We had fruit, marshmellows and donut holes (Ben's idea I think). ill and David, Allison's parents (next to Maddie) have invited us to see & tour western England, Bath and Bristol, whenever we are able. Now that is an invitation that is very hard to resist! This spring might the time with our saved up Marriott Reward points! We introduced them (and the other guests) to our favorite Christmas game. We first played in about 2001 in NH at the annual Lahr Christmas party. You use a wrapping paper tube (ours is taped here as it was breaking, which is inevitable). The more people the better. Everyone sits in a circle, picks a unique Christmas name: Frosty, Mrs. Claus, Betty Lou Who, Grinch, Alvin, George Bailey, Hermie the Dentist, Fred Claus, Scott Calvin, Polar Express, Yukon Cornelius, Scrooge, Marley, Tiny Tim...you get the idea.

Then everyone repeats their name around the circle a few times as all try to remember at least some of the names. The guy in the middle with the tube asks someone to start off the game by calling out someone else's name. "Scrooge!" and he/she who is "It" have to look for Scrooge and try to hit him/her (on the knees usually) with the tube BEFORE Scrooge can say another name, "Cindy Lou Who!" ... and then "It" looks for Cindy Lou Who and tries to hit her knees before she can say..."Mrs. Claus" and around and around it goes. Slowly at first, but as everyone remembers each others' names, the "It" person will be flying around the circle, possibly hitting the wrong person. Whoever gets hit before saying a new name, moves to the middle to be "It."

There is a lot of laughter, hollaring, and 'name-calling' -- this game has never been boring with any group we have played with. Young and old enjoy it. I might venture to say it is the life of the party. And some nicknames stick...there is a guy in NH that we still affectionately call, "Gumdrop" and another who really fit the name, "Winter Warlock"...

Final goodbyes and crazy faces by Ben, Maddie, and Nick!