Since we just got back from a 2 week trip from Europe, John could not take off for Christmas and could only come for a long weekend so we decided to celebrate early with the kids and grandkids. It was held last Saturday at our Florida home.
We now have 12 grandchildren after the arrival of the youngest one last week, Watson Sage. Except for the oldest, AJ, who is 15 years old, all the others are still pretty young so I got some Christmas paper plates too for them to use. For the adults, we used Old Britain Castles Christmas plates.
I cooked and baked everything so was I ever so relieved when I was setting the last food on the table.
I baked the night before and cooked the morning of the party. We had a lunch buffet.
I placed a green MacKenzie Childs plate charger under every dish just to catch any food drippings and to protect the table since I did not use a table cloth.
I did not have any Christmas decorations here prior to my arrival on Dec. 10, but I found a few from Publix while I was grocery shopping, and also bought some from the Dollar Store, Kohl's and Homegoods. Those Christmas trees on the centerpiece were from Publix.
I baked some chocolate chip and raisin oatmeal cookies and found the star shaped chocolates from HG. I used the Old Britain Castle Christmas Tree salad plates for desserts. The kids used the small paper plates.
I brought the pierced Christmas table runner from our Natchez home. I originally bought it from Belize during one of our Caribbean travels.
John could only join us for a long weekend. He is already back home working but I am staying until the 28th. I did not want to leave him alone at Christmas but there is so much to do here and he said he scheduled surgery cases on Christmas eve so he will be busy anyway.
The weather was so nice, low 80's, sunny and breezy so we all ate on the back porch.
This is the first time we got all the children and grandchildren together under one roof and they were so happy to play together. We see them every now and then and they come for a visit but never together until this past weekend.
After lunch, my youngest daughter Tina had them decorating cookies.
Here is everybody minus John and me. We would have taken one with us too but it was a real challenge keeping the little ones together for a photo.
So we just took one with the kids and their spouses. Of course some of the grandkids ran to join their parents, lol. One was sick so he could not join us.
All the 12 grandkids below.
It was hard work but definitely a special day. Thank you for stopping by. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous and safe New Year!!!
Linking with these gracious hostesses. (Thanks y'all!!)
Make it Pretty Monday
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/
The Scoop (Tuesday)
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/
The Scoop (Tuesday)
Marty's Inspire Me Tuesday
Kathy's A Return To Loveliness
One More Time Eventshttp://www.onemoretimeevents.com
Paula's What's It Wed
Centerpiece Wed
Kathleen's Let's Dish
Tablescape Thursday
31 comments:
The perfect hostess and set-up with the whole family in tow?! Sheer bliss!
Wow - You did have a house full. Pretty table and the food looks yummy.
Goodness your family just keeps growing! They are all so cute though. Looks like you are enjoying your Florida house and being near the kids.
How wonderful, Christine, to be blessed by all of those precious ones! And the food and the table looked wonderful!
xo
Sheila
Oh Chris, you are such a wonderful mother, Mil and grand...LOOK AT THIS FEAST you prepared for your lovely family, I'm so hungry just looking at this! Adorable bunch of grands you both have. Blessings.
FABBY
I love it all Christine. Absolutely wonderful Christmas celebration!
What a beautiful family! I am so glad all your family could be together. Your husband is so sweet to have you stay for the family Christmas Day in Florida. You certainly cooked and baked a wonderful meal! Have a great Christmas!
Pam
What a beautiful and lovng family, Christine. I'm sure they appreciated all the wonderful food that you prepared. It's so nice that you could all be together. Merry Christmas!
What a wonderful Christmas celebration for you. All of those wonderful, beautifully rambunctious little ones running about. Your table looks marvelous loaded down with all of that wonderful food. Thank you for sharing, I loved seeing the grand babies and the family together. Happy times!!
It must have been a fun time with all those adorable little grandkids...they are so much fun anticipating Christmas morning.
The food looks wonderful, as always!
Merry Christmas, Christine.
Looks like so much fun with all the kids! Great memories and as always, you are the perfect hostess! Merry Christmas, Hugs and blessings, Cindy
You did all of that cooking and baking??!??!!! I BOW to you, oh Queen of Christmas entertaining!!! Wow, Christine! That was a LOT of work! And you set it all up so nicely, too!
I just love it that your family is so close! It's a wonderful thing when you're able to just sit back and look at all the love that beget love right there before your very eyes!
I wish you and your beautiful, big family the very merriest Christmas!!!
What a lovely table and an awesome spread of food.
Merry Christmas to you and your family, wishing you all things wonderful in 2014! Love, Debby
I can't believe you have 12 grandchildren! I'm having trouble buying Christmas for 5 grandchildren! Beautiful family, Christine. Your food and décor look so pretty, and how wonderful to be able to eat Christmas dinner outside! laurie
Back gain, Christine, to ogle your table. I think you are going to be hooking up with Kathleen so I am visiting everyone who has commented while I wait on Mr. Linky.
I cannot get over that amazing spread! Girl, you cooked yourself silly! I would be I traction after all of that. You did great with that and the decor! xoxoxox
The table looks wonderful. but it's the food that kept me scrolling back to see more. I'm hungry. I mean, I'm really hungry after looking at your post.
Merry Christmas
Looks like you were hard at work. How wonderful for you to have all your grandkids in one place.
Merry Christmas
What a wonderful celebration! I can't imagine being able to eat Cmas dinner outside. You did a lot of work! It all looks wonderful!
Great pic of all the kids.
Thanks for linking to Let's Dish!
Christine,
You always throw such impressively beautiful parties!!!
Lovely family!
Merry Christmas!
Poppy
Christine - I could hardly look at your table for enjoying all of the photos of your beautiful family. What an exciting Christmas to have all of them together. We have such a small family and we cannot get together, until after Christmas this year! I guess I had better get back to "business"! Your table is wonderful and the food looks amazing. I shop at Publix all of the time and have not seen any of those fabulous trees. Love your dinner and salad plates and I think you idea about paper plates for the children is really smart. Merry Christmas to your entire family - thanks for sharing them in this post!
Wonderful meal and table for a beautiful family! Merry Christmas to you and your family!!!
Merry Christmas Ate Xine & Kuya John with the kids and beautiful grandkids.
Graciousness... love the apos posing. Priceless po. Just wishing to jump between you all there and giggle with the kids.
Yeah! I guess, this is our trademark. Cooking & baking from scratch. However, I won't have a big celebration sa Pasko. I will wait until New Year coz this is my turn to gather my cousins and their respective families. 4 po kami dito kaya, invite ang isa in every year. So, stress po within 3 yrs.
Have a blessed Christmas you and your loveones, Ate.
God Bless & greetings from D´Box.
/CC girl
Give me the 80's! We have been so cold. You did a great job starting with no Christmas decor! I love your plates too. How fun to have all the little ones there. Sorry to hear you will be separated for Christmas but how great to get hubby away for just a little bit! Have a wonderful Christmas dear!
12 grandchildren and you even got them all in one picture. We have only 5 and I can't get them all together! You always put out such a spread. I hope all those who you prepare for appreciate your tireless effort.
You have a beautiful family, Christine! And adorable grandkids Congratulations on your new bundle of joy! Love your gorgeous holiday buffet table.....delicious spread! I love your Old Britain Castle Christmas plates....so pretty! Happy Holidays! Hugs, Poppy
What a wonderful family celebration, Christine!!! You are truly blessed to be surrounded by all your loved ones.
You truly are the "hostess with the mostest" I don't think I could do that cooking & set up all by myself.
Your entire table looked lovely & I especially loved seeing your Old Britain Castles Christmas plates. Beautiful!!
Merry Christmas to you & yours.
fondly,
Rett
p.s. Who the heck would want to have surgery on Christmas Eve????
As beautiful as your table setting is, the real beauty is that gorgeous family. Love all the pics!
Congrats on such a beautiful family.
Oh, goodness…..I love the buffet table! I know you are enjoying the grandkids in Florida. How much *fun*
I love the tartan plaid and swirly plates in the next post, too. I would have never thought to put the two together, but they look great together!
Merry Christmas, Sweet Friend!
xo,
RJ
You set a high standard for preparing a Christmas buffet. This is glorious! Your buffet table looks so festive, and I love the Johnson Brothers plates. Thanks for inviting us for a peek and Merry Christmas! Cherry Kay
Christine, no one sets a buffet table like you do! You've got it down to a science! I can't get over all the work you did by yourself! Everything looks wonderful!
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