North Pole Party

Leslie (L) and Stephanie (R)

Our sweet friend/daughter Leslie hosted a fun North Pole Party for the family over the weekend.  It was originally scheduled for Saturday but we kind of got snowed out. (I think, Leslie, you overdid it slightly on the snow part of your decorations!) So finally, Sunday evening, we were able to gather at her home and enjoy her tremendous hospitality and really great cooking for a sweet evening of celebration.

A few candies, some frosting and a whole lot of graham crackers glued together into the shape of little cottages made for a great evening for all the little ones (with a little help from their parents):

For other photos, including some of the finished products click HERE

After the house construction was completed, and each precious project was stored away in a special box Leslie provided, it was time for some serious eating - even if we were kind of all stuffed from the candy and treats ...

 

...we sat down to a yummy meal with homemade pizza ...

....and Sausage, Lentil and Kale Soup with spinach on the top (Martha Stewart recipe, Leslie Harms chef skills)

Leslie used a turkey sausage and the soup was absolutely perfect for a snowy deep freeze evening in December.  (I have to admit, if I had to select a soup based on name only, this would not have been it, but after tasting it .... wonderful!  Must try it myself!)

The adults enjoyed visiting around the table while the kids hunkered down to watch Polar Express.

It was a wonderful evening. As always, those who couldn't make it were missed.  But we had a fun time.

One other thing happened over the weekend that has not happened in a long time at our house:

We put up a Christmas tree - in the middle of all the construction mess and craziness.  And out came treasured ornaments I haven't seen for many years, including some of Dan's because he's going to be with us this year.   I love the reminders about where our focus should be during this beautiful time of year.   Christ taught so much about how to care for each other.  I want to personally focus on trying to do more of that this Christmas season.  And with the shopping pretty close to finished, I may even be able to spend some time doing that.