What to Do With Today: Christmas baking, new carpet and a party to boot!

We have been busy little bees preparing for the holidays...I've continued with the baking and we served most of it at our party last night...new carpeting was put in on Wednesday...goodness...you'll see from the pictures what a mess it was getting that done...not to mention having to take apart all the television equipment in order to move the cabinet for the carpet installation. Count on 'anything that can go wrong will go wrong'...prepare for it and it won't overwhelm! The carpeting was supposed to be put in a week ago, but the company messed up the order and, therefore, the installation was the day before the party. Refer to the 'count on...' part mentioned above. While the installers were working, they somehow managed to get two deep, black grease stains on the carpet. They came back yesterday to repair, but only made it worse. So, you guessed it, new carpet after the new year...replay whole take apart, put back together scene. But hey, at least they're trying. We're thankful for a lifetime stain guarantee on the carpet.
Baking the sugar cookies has been a lot of fun this year. I finally learned how to make perfect royal icing, thanks to Bridget at 'Bake at 350'. Check out her blog to learn all about making cookies! I got the right ingredients, including meringue powder, and it is amazing how beautiful the icing came out. I started making the cupcake snowmen last year and continued the tradition once again...can't wait for little Piper to see them when she comes Christmas morning.
We had a blast at our Christmas party. We missed the ones who were unable to attend, but God knew who he wanted to have there and it was a precious time. We started the evening out with a time of praise to thank our Heavenly Father for the birth of Christ and what this season truly means. It was great to hear what others shared. Then we went into an ice breaker game and learned a little about one another. Bunco was a little off because of how we played, but everyone was a great sport and it was fun...then on to Mexican Train and Pit. Those of you who played Pit,.....hmmmm....now that was entertaining! Thank you to all who came...we loved having you!
Tonight Garry and I will be at both Christmas Eve services...he will serve communion at both and I will sing in the choir for both. This is such a different Christmas without family with us Christmas Eve, but we want to always be flexible and happy whatever our circumstances. We are looking foward to seeing Paige, Trevor and Piper tomorrow and the Brownings will join us for a Christmas meal. We leave on the 29th for Little Rock to see the boys, M.E. and Anne and Gene. We are blessed.

First pictures are of the old carpet and what the family room looked like with the oriental rug in it.