Christmas Cheer!

Just me, surrounded by my people.  I really love this pic!!! ❤

*I also have Moore people and MWC people and more Tulsa/Bixby people, but I do adore the above group and feel simultaneously empowered and protected by these wonderful friendships.

❤

Steve photobombing Sarah's cute cookie pic. lol

Chet Lee and Ronda, a piano-playing realtor he hired for this party. =)

Karli and Paul and Stephanie discussing the list of the top Christmas Movies.

Chet with Cody and Yolanda - nice to see them again!

The Barden Bellas adding to our pre-party entertainment!

A hostess gift from Mom and I in the cute Amber Marie bag (where I bought my Christmas sweater earlier that afternoon).

"The very best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!" ❤  This was a fun party addition this year... JEM and Sarah were our strongest and most vocal singers, which was awesome!  I loved hearing everyone sing, and certain songs brought back fun memories, like all the extra lines in the Rudolph song! #likealightbulb

Wilson fam Christmas stockings. ❤

Sarah enjoying the wine she brought. lol

The Wilsons with a few of their Country Crossings neighbor friends!

Dessert board - yum!!

Charcu-tree board - cuteness!

Our singing stars + our piano player!

Wilsons - please note Chet's Whataburger sweater! lol

Ronda playing music for us - I was singing along well before the official caroling time! lol

I'm thankful Chet made it possible for Sarah Elizabeth to join us (paying a coworker to cover for her)! lol

Pic Sarah sent of me laughing while listening to Jeffrey sing all the harmonies! =)

Chettles got these books as Christmas gifts for me and Sarah... Becoming More by Dianna Kokoszka of the #BOLD fame!  He said it's to motivate us to keep pursuing our dreams, which I couldn't love more!  I also LOVE all of these photos... and the fact that next Sunday is our 15-year Friendiversary (as a friend trio, that is... the two of them were actually friends long before I was assigned to be their Scavenger Hunt chauffeur). lol  Even though something tells me we're all more likely to listen to the audio version, I'm declaring this a book club read and saying we need to meet in January or February to discuss it!

Tate took this group photo for us and did a great job! =)  ...I typically avoid wearing super-bright colors on photo-op days due to past photos where I was extra self-critical and shame-spirally and wished I had blended in more, but red was the only Christmas sweater color they had at Amber Marie, so I reluctantly went for it, and I'm glad for that!  Yay for being bright and cheery and festive, yay for stepping out of our comfort zones in big and small ways, and yay for loving ourselves wherever we are today on our path to becoming more. (#BOLD!)

Chet decided to host a kid-free party this year - it was fun to catch up and have more uninterrupted adult conversation than usual... but I was also delighted when Bill and Melissa brought Tate and Parker back home! =)  They were playful and adorable in their comfy PJs, and very ready to dig into the leftover food!!

Side note: I was surprised to see these deflated inflatables in their yard as I drove up (I came about an hour early to chat and help them set up after my hair appointment).  And as Chet came out to refill them, he said, "I told myself we would never be those people, but Tate and Parker love them, sooo they each got to pick one!" lol  His tone of mock-disdain made me laugh, as per usual, but now this pic makes me smile thinking about happy, silly kids with awesome, loving parents!  I drove through a very bright and cheery Bixby neighborhood to look at their fun Christmas lights before heading back home.... and already, that short convo is positively reframing the way I view inflatable yards, so that's an unexpected gift for me. lol ❤ #Christmascheer

In summary, Chet's 3rd Annual Bougie Charcuterie Board Party!!! was a delicious success!  There were crab cakes + spinach-and-artichoke dip + HTeaO + holiday punch + 'very popular' wine + Christmas Vacation cups + kid-friendly-ish cheese cubes + a variety of fruit and vegetables + chocolate candies + Karli's M&M cookies + Cookie Mamma sugar cookies + mini-cheesecakes from NYC Junior's + cashews and almonds + Gouda cheese and "sturdy cheese-bearing crackers" + loads of pickled things I avoided + confusing brie cheese + Olaf's summer sausage + beloved cranberry dip I still haven't tried + little smokies + cute star-shaped cheese ornaments I cut out my very own self (Karli's idea) + white chocolate and PB pretzels and more!! 

There was inflatable Minnie and Darth + the Barden Bellas + Mariah Carey and Alan Jackson's Christmas music.  There was legit old-school Christmas caroling + cute kids + constant snacking + catching up on big and small things.  There was laughter + fun gifts + fluffing Mom's bow on the hostess gift she made them + discussing our favorite (and least favorite) Christmas songs and movies. #yippeekiyay #yesMaryknew  There was even a short-but-delightful Heart and Soul piano duet by me and Sarah -- she messed up a couple notes and Chet said, "There's the wine!!" then I was still laughing about that through the next video he recorded. lol  So thanks again to the Wilsons for putting in the energy and effort of hosting and providing fun memories & all this food for everyone!! ❤

Happy Monday - have a lovely week ahead! ❤