From Both Sides of the White Picket Fence: Celebrating the Season

For the last several years, we've thrown a holiday party that seems to grow bigger every year. This year, having moved into a townhouse with limited parking space, and less room on the main level, and a smaller kitchen, and blah, blah, blah... we decided to skip the holiday party. Or really, I said that we'd skip it this year, and since I'm typically the organizer, Kevin said, "Okay, honey" and went along with it.

Yeah. Until last Monday when I was hauling out the decorations and realized I was sorta bummed about my/our decision not to have a party this year. So I decided on MONDAY to throw a party that coming SUNDAY and sent out the invites, not really sure who'd attend since it was last minute.

Who attended? 35 people. 35 people, of whom 15(ish?) were kids ages 6 and under.

35 lovely, beautiful folks who joined us for chili and munchies, and a tacky ornament exchange.

35 people who never said a word about the lousy parking situation, even though it was cold and rainy and wet.

The kids took over the playroom and played together, loudly but without incident, for 2.5 hours.

It was a blast.

Lesson learned: We'll be throwing a party again next year. Because this is part of what Christmas is about. Celebrating friendships.

I don't know why we tried to fight it.