A Merry Grinchmas Celebration.

As I sit by the fire late Christmas evening – basking in the warmth and glow of a wonderful Christmas holiday spent over the past week or so with many of those I love most, I feel so grateful.  The house is quiet, except for the dishwasher running, the fire crackling, and a holiday movie playing in the background.

I’m feeling peaceful and content.

There is nothing like the excitement leading up to Christmas, and I loved hosting three dinner parties three days in a row (and that’s not counting one the weekend before).  But there is also something very special too about the days that follow Christmas….

The calm afterglow…  The snuggling in…  The nesting…  Looking at pictures… Smiling at the memories.

Movies, books, leftovers, jammies…

Today, I want to share a fun party we had this past Saturday, the eve of Christmas eve, with our McHendy family.

My bestie, Jill and I decided we wanted to surprise our families with a theme, so we created a McHendy Grinchmas Celebration.

A Happy Whoville feast –

complete with Roast Beast (Beef Tenderloin),

Who Mash (Mashed Potatoes),

Grinch Greens (Sauteed Fresh Green Beans with garlic),

and Cindy Lou Who Salad (Crisp Greens, Tart Pomegranate Seeds, Crunchy Pecans, and Creamy Goat Cheese).

This feast was preceded by some fun appetizers earlier in the day, including Grinchy Green Deviled Eggs,

Grinch Santa Hats,

and a Tortilla Wrap Christmas Tree.

And it was followed by a tiered tray of Grinchmas Cookies,

and plenty of other sweet treats.

Each guest received a little favor bucket that included a green ornament with a tiny red heart and lime green and red candies,

as well as a Grinch beanie hat (which we all wore for a fun family photo – with the exception of hubby who wore a full furry Grinch onesie!)

The games planned took a different twist than intended, but ended up being just as fun!

There were sleigh rides and races,

I Spy the Who Hash,

and boxed games around the cleared dinner table.

Guests of honor

adorned the powder room and office doors.

And as we ate and played and talked and laughed and cried, we celebrated being family in every true, authentic sense of the word.  And we reminded ourselves that “Merry Christmas doesn’t come from the store.  Maybe Christmas perhaps is a little bit more.”

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi