Hello Holiday Monday

Hello friends. It's crunch time with just ten days until Christmas. Is your to-do list done? Nope? Well pull up a chair, grab a cup of tea, and let's talk about our weekends because why not? It's late in the day for blogging, but does anybody really know what time it is? Or what day it is for that matter?

Linking with Holly (Pink Lady) and Sarah (Sunshine and Books) for their regular Monday hop. 

Honestly this last week everyday felt like the weekend. We had two holiday dinners, I had a luncheon with my volunteer team, a book club party and a neighborhood party. I have just a handful of pictures, mostly food-sorry!, but it's the holiday season and there are lots of yummy bites to be had. I won't post all the pics from our wine dinner last Wednesday, but this appetizer-

Lump crab, compressed cucumber, and a delicate coconut lime vinaigrette. Scrumptious! Hubs knows the chef, and about a month ago they got to chatting and next thing you know hubs had invited him to dinner at our house. It will be fun, and best of all he said he'd cook the quail we have in the freezer. Whoop! I told him if he wants to bring a repeat of this app he should feel free. 

Four of us were in black velvet that night, which needed documenting. 

Friday was a day date kind of day, episode ten if you're keeping track. We went out for breakfast which is one of my favorite things, and then walked over to Hobby Lobby (also a favorite) and then drove downtown to a couple of little shops there. 

Is everyone finished with their shopping because I still need a few bits and pieces to truly call it done. I'm ready to have all the buying behind me, and hopefully tomorrow will be the day. There's a lot of us. 

Hubs didn't even blink when I said we needed a picture in the middle of Hobby Lobby. 

Friday evening we went back into town to watch our two oldest grands in their school Christmas program. Is there anything sweeter on planet Earth? No there is not. Each grade performed a song and then scripture was read between the various class group performances. Max's class sang O Christmas Tree and the Mancub's class sang Little Drummer Boy. 

If that doesn't put you in the Christmas spirit nothing will. 

Watching a child scan the audience for his mom and dad, then knowing when they finally spy them from across the room because their eyes light up and an enormous smile spreads across their face, well it will turn your heart to pure mush. 

I spent all of Saturday morning wrapping gifts. I'm still not done, but I made a lot of progress. We were invited to a neighbor's house Saturday afternoon with several other neighborhood couples to watch the Army-Navy game. Our host made so many yummy snacks along with a delicious turkey chili, plus everyone brought something so a very full table. 

I made the cranberry-jalapeno dip we love to have this time of year (recipe here) and you use a slotted spoon to pour it over a brick of cream cheese. It's the perfect combination of sweet and spicy, plus a mix of textures too. So good! 

The game was actually really exciting and I was rooting for Navy.  My dad was a Marine and attended the Naval Academy, plus hubs and I lived in Annapolis for nine years (non-military) so my loyalty is there. It was a close game with quite the finish. 

Sunday was church, then I hit the grocery store. Hubs vacuumed the whole house and polished the wood floors. I did some prep work for the luncheon I was hosting on Monday (today) and I finally cleared off the dining room table which is where I've been wrapping and writing cards and doing pretty much everything Christmas related. It's been making hubs twitch so he was happy. 

I meant to take pics of the luncheon set up, but I was busy luncheoning. I had nine friends for lunch including my daughter. So fun! She arrived a few minutes early (thankfully!) and helped me with last minute stuff, of which there was somehow a lot lol. 

I made hot chicken salad, a veggie tray, a Christmas fruit salad, and cranberry bread. Everyone brought three dozen cookies to swap and I bought these cute containers for the take-home goodies. The cookies were beautiful and we did not have any doubles.

And that was the weekend. Hope your week ahead is merry and bright!