Exchange Rate

I am so behind!  Tonight's blog post is going back in time to the Ornament Exchange party that we hosted for the kids.  We started this tradition our last year in St. Louis and it's been going strong ever since.  As I said a few posts back, I didn't want to let it slide this year simply because we have a new baby.  I decided to be reasonable, though, and chose to host only ONE ornament exchange this year.   Hahaha.  In the past I've done one for the kids and another one for ME and my friends.  In the end, I decided that it would be less stressful to host a bunch of kids -- who probably wouldn't notice or care very much if the house was in less than stellar condition -- and put my party on the back burner until next year.  Hahahaha.  Plus, since my kids are all old enough to create their own ornaments, I didn't really have too much to do.  In a happy turn of events, a friend of mine offered to host the grown-up exchange at her house FOR me, so that I was still able to continue on with my tradition!  :)

Grace arranged the ornaments and Christmas tree centerpiece. :)

Cookies and Hot Cocoa were the refreshments, and Ethan really came through in the clutch!  Hahaha.  He spent the two hours leading up to the party, making the cookies (chocolate peppermint chip and sugar -- both from the refrigerated section of the grocery store) and getting the toppings ready for the hot cocoa.  Meanwhile, Ethan and Grace were both super excited to wait on the guests that were coming to the party.  They've been playing "Diner" for the last couple of weeks, and the Ornament Exchange was the perfect occasion for them to showcase their serving skills.  They printed out menus and everything!  Hahaha.  

Taking an order.  :)

Everyone's ornaments turned out super cute, even if there WAS some last minute drama.  Sophie didn't get around to even choosing a replacement idea for her ornament until the morning of the party.  And in the end, I had to help with a LOT of the construction because the time crunch necessitated the use of a hot glue gun and I certainly didn't want any 3rd degree burns.   Ethan finished up his Olaf ornaments with plenty of time to spare, and Grace finished hers the night before the party.  {And possibly even the morning of.}  As we illustrated in a previous post, Ethan was the one who took over melting the crayon bulbs for Jane, but I love that she added her own touch by writing "Ho! Ho! Ho!" on each of them.  :)  Sophie's last minute ornament was a little reindeer made out of puzzle pieces, paint, googly eyes, and a pom pom nose.  They were really cute, and she WOULD have been able to do everything on her own (using Elmer's glue), if she had started at the beginning of the week like I kept hounding her to do.  Hahaha.

 Ethan's snowmen -- complete with "snow" at the bottom of the tin in the form of flour.  :)

 Grace's "ninja stars" -- made using popsicle sticks and yarn.

 Jane's melted crayon ornament.

"Ho! Ho! Ho!"

Sophie's reindeer.

As the guests began to arrive, my Diner crew set to work getting everyone their orders.  The goodies were consumed rather quickly, and while waiting for everyone to be ready for the exchange, another impromptu Magic Show was put on by Ethan.  He saved the day LAST year during our party with the same Show, and it entertained the masses once again this year. 

There was only minimal drama with the big kids being mean to Sophie.

The cookie station.

Oreos for the allergy girl.  :)

 Magic Time

Abracadabra!

Hahahahaha.  I love how into the magic act these kids were.

Grace was his lovely assistant.

Once everyone was ready, we gathered around the family room and one by one, they described their ornaments and how they made them.  Then they started their exchanging!  Everyone was supposed to make 12 ornaments and get that many in return.  We ended up with one kid who couldn't make it because he was sick, but I don't think anyone even realized they were shortchanged an ornament.  Once everything was handed out, I made everyone pose outside, holding up the ornament they made, for a group shot.  In the flurrying snow.  :)

Grace and her friend, Halle.

They didn't even plan it, yet they were matching! :)

As the exchange wrapped up, I realized that an hour and half was too much time allotted for the party, and in the future we will be shortening it to just an hour.  Hahahaha.  It was all good, though.  I didn't have anything formal planned for the last 20-30 minutes, but kids are kids, and they always find something to play.  The trampoline and basketball hoop hit the spot while waiting for parents to arrive.

And that was that!  The kids had fun and we'll definitely keep this tradition alive.  To close, I just HAVE to post pictures of the cutest little Santa baby EVER!  :)

Stay tuned for some Christmas catch-up...