Bowl Party & Christmas Before Chuch

We traditionally like to have family over once during the Christmas season. Now, I said once, and that is precisely what I mean. I have a tendency to turn into a raving lunatic when it comes to having people over. I don't know why this happens to me, but it does. Probably because I'm still too busy trying to impress people - with a clean house and good food. I know, I know, I've got my priorities all mixed up - be patient with me, I'm a work in progress. And, my in-laws are probably the most undemanding people I know in terms of caring how my house looks and how the food works out.  Anyhow, we've chosen the Boise State bowl game the last two years because it's right before Christmas, and this year ran similarily. We actually had some fun preparing all the yummy appetizers and enjoyed sharing it with family. Unfortunately the game was not so much fun - James had to leave for work halfway through and I had to pick Allegra up from Nutcracker and literally missed the last nail-biting minutes of the game (Boise State ended up winning by two points, yay!). Ah well - better luck next year!

Our spread included assorted Christmas cookies and candies, pinecone shaped cheese spread (super cute and I will totally do that again - it's a cheese spread with whole unblanched almonds layered to look like a pinecone trimmed with rosemary "boughs"), eggnog dip with fresh fruit and pound cake, ham, cheese, and olive picks, cocktail weiners in sauce, ghetto dip (velveeta, no bean chili, and green chilis - delightfully tacky, if I do say so myself), and chips and salsa.

 

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This year presented us with a "dressing up" dilemma. The kids had their Sunday School program two weeks before Christmas. So, should they wear their Christmas clothes for that, or for Sunday the 23rd? I stressed out about this at the beginning of the month, but as activities started to gather steam, it started mattering less and less. In the end, they wore their Christmas clothes for the Sunday School program and James and I wore our Christmas clothes for the following Sunday. (((sigh))) Some day I will grow out of being overdramatic, right? 

Mom and kids

Just the kids - not a bad picture, but Colin was the one being difficult that day.  There's always one...

Dad and the kids (yes, Allegra is totally make-upped up, as she went straight from church to a performance of The Nutcracker - and no, we normally don't allow our 10 year olds to wear makeup)

Is That Wrong?

Usually we invite everybody over to our house on Christmas Eve, but we also like to host Boise State football parties, so this season we were met with a dilemma. Do we do the regular Christmas Eve thing, or invite everyone over for the bowl game two days earlier? BSU won. I think that might be bad. But what's done is done. We were all decked out in our blue and orange gear and enjoyed a smallish appetizer spread. The kids only peek in on the game, but somehow they manage to amuse themselves. Although she's not in the picture, even Elle was decked out.

Well Done!

Boise State Broncos, that is. The Fiesta Bowl was a close game, down to the very last seconds. I knew it could easily go either way - the teams were very well matched. The defense really played some outstanding football. I think being the "underdog" really helped motivate the team. All the focus was on TCU and how they could compete with any team in the nation and how they might have been robbed of a run for the national championship. I'd wager that that was discussed many times by the Bronco team during the break between the end of season and the Fiesta Bowl. Gosh, the older I get the more I love football. I always grew up identifying Sunday as church-n-football day, so it's not like it's new to me. And I remember how thrilling the Badger Rose Bowl and Packers Super Bowl were. But it makes it extra special to be able to root for Boise State as alumni. James and I dream about some day being able to buy season tickets and tailgate and follow the team around - of course this won't happen til the kids are grown and gone because tickets are expensive LOL. It's kind of a bummer that the season is over (til next year!) - maybe the Packers will do well in the playoffs and we can enjoy football for a few more weeks.