Lightening Online

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I’m pretty sure now that it’s November, I’m safe talking about Christmas.  Right?

Right….????

We’re hosting Christmas this year for Farmboy’s family.

It’s been planned for almost 2 years now - had to give everybody a couple of years notice to make sure everyone could come.

I’m really looking forward to it.

And as an added bonus, it’s getting Farmboy moving on a few finishing off jobs like enclosing our patio! :)  A deadline is always helpful when it comes to getting those jobs done.

Since the decision has been made, I’ve had a few logistics to work out:

1. WHERE to put everyone.

We thought it would be fun to have all the cousins sleep here the night before and the night after Christmas.

That’s 14 extras to bed down.

Sorted.

1 family in the lounge/office (which will hopefully soon be a bedroom)

1 in the caravan

1 couple in the boys bedroom

boys in the camper trailer

girls (2 of the 3) in DD’s bedroom.

Bedding and a couple of beds still to be sorted.

2.  WHAT to eat

Menu planning has probably been the biggest of my decisions so far.

I wanted NICE enough for Christmas.

But SIMPLE enough to feed 24 without it stressing me out.

And with most people staying here, we’ll need:

a) Christmas Eve Tea

b) Christmas Day Breakfast

c) Christmas Day Lunch

d) Christmas Night Tea

Plus drinks, snacks etc etc.

(All of this has now been decided but I’ll write a dedicated post on that)

3.  WHERE to eat

Not to mention, seating (and tables) for 24 people.

This will all pretty much take place in the pergola (weather permitting).  We’ve bought some trestle style tables and will buy some cheap chairs to have enough.

4.  WHERE to put the Christmas Tree

With a house full of people, finding somewhere to have the Christmas Tree so that we can all sit around for the “present opening” is a challenge.  Thankfully, the timing coincides with building a shed for a games room so the tree can go out there.  It won’t be lined or anything so not really suitable for sleeping people in but as long as it’s not too hot, it should be fine as a place to “hang out” and a back-up eating place if we can’t eat outside.

5.  DECORATING scheme

I’ve decided to go with the colours red, white and gold.  The details of what and where I’ve yet to decide.

I will admit, I’m having a lot of fun in the planning process.

I LOVE Christmas.

And this is the biggest Christmas event I’ve hosted.

Hopefully I can relax enough when it actually arrives that I can enjoy myself too.