Party For The Children

'Tis the season to have a party for ANY reason at all! Last night we had a party at the McLarty Farm to put together the gifts for the Children's Home. BIG THANKS to all our friends that came by and helped wrap marshmallows, bake cookies, put candy in bags, write names on bag-tags, eat pizza, drink hot cocoa, etc! It was an evening filled with the spirit of Giving and these photos are proof:

First, we tackled the BAKED GOODS...we put one of each home-baked cookie and brownie into a plastic baggie.

Here is John, Cheryl, and Tammy in the "Cookie-Bag-Assembly-Line"...all smiles because they know that the leftovers are up for grabs:)

Second, we tackled the CANDY...we tossed two of each chocolate or sugar-filled item into a brown baggie.

Here is my Mom at the "Candy-Assembly-Line." She is the creator of this yearly McLarty tradition. Every Christmas she comes up with another idea to personalize something for every kid at the Children's Home.

There's Dad supplying the troops with some much needed nourishment. There was no way we could have bagged cookies, candy, marshmallows, and mugs without stopping to refuel with his delicious PIZZAS! This was the first one out of the oven and it completely disappeared not too long after I took this photo:)

That's Martha proudly displaying one of the personalized mugs after she stuffed it with some hot cocoa packets and marshmallows.

If you were wondering where the baggies of marshmallows came from...look no further than Cheryl and Tammy working hard at the "Marshmallow-Assembly-Line." This was one of the more complicated areas of the evening because it required that ribbon be CURLED!

Karen (my Mom), Nancy, Martha (hiding), and Pete all showing off the pretty mugs before putting the mug into a Christmas gift bag...(Yes, there were LOTS of different kinds of BAGS floating around the house all night:)

Who says there was an age-limit or age-minimum to help in the spirit of GIVING? This is little 4-year-old Sean hard at work with the finished product...1 bag of cookies, 1 bag of candy, 1 bag of marshmallows, 2 hot cocoa packets, and 1 unique mug all stuffed into a holiday gift bag.

The fruits of our labors...75 beautiful and yummy gifts for 75 very deserving kids this Christmas!!

The McLarty Holiday Party concluded with a medley of Christmas music performed by our very own three piece band...Mom on piano and Nancy and John on guitars!