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And my honey...
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/736480/Mitch-cute-smile.jpg)
Every good Christmas party starts out with a tree...
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Some lights...
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Some glass baubles....
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/280596/ornaments.jpg)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/455548/decorating%20the%20tree.jpg)
Here's how it ends up:
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/677176/the%20tree.jpg)
Then you have to light the fireplace...
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/22414/mantel-5.jpg)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/589105/mantle-no-flash.jpg)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/691519/wash-stand--straight.jpg)
No shortage of chow.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/742439/star%20of%20party-%20dining%20rm.jpg)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/334385/dining-room-closeup.jpg)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/70431/star%20of%20party-%20the-hall-table-buffet.jpg)
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Food kept coming out of the oven, nice and hot..
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/987092/kitchen---sheets-of-food-from-oven.jpg)
Plenty of champagne punch and wine...
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/569990/champagne-punch-and-wine-station.jpg)
Lots of sustenance within easy reach of the couch.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/263225/coffee-table-closeup.jpg)
Mitch inspects the dining room buffet.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/217073/mitch-tilt.jpg)
The party started out with a relaxed ambience. Here's AJ and Jason enjoying some cocktails.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/896483/brighter--AJ-and-Jason.jpg)
Big hugs are mandatory. Here's Bill arriving with Sara, a really cool chick.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/129771/me-hugging-Bill--Sara-looks-on.jpg)
Carla, Nicole from Houston, and Amanda...
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/639663/Carla--Nicole-and-Amanda.jpg)
Carla has such a pretty smile.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/586662/Great-Carla-smile.jpg)
Fabian, Austin's best salsa DJ, enjoys a good laugh.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/1592/Fabian-laughing.jpg)
Daisy and Fabian's wife Sonia.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/161487/Daisy-Sonia.jpg)
My bud Fred. Doesn't he look scholarly?
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/219882/me-and-fred.jpg)
Ali came in from Houston; Gretchen from work brought her handsome husband Peter, and you can also see Frank and Fred in this shot.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/605706/cute-ali--gretch-peter-frank-fred.jpg)
Anita gets into the eggnog.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/542142/Anita%20serves%20eggno.jpg)
Her husband Curtis just got a big promotion, so they were celebrating.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/625346/curtis.jpg)
Fabian, me, Nicole, Amanda and Carla's boy Scott, hanging out in the kitchen.
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Anne has a pretty smile.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/328346/Anne%20smile.jpg)
Gretchen and Peter are obviously besotted :)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/881367/cute-gretch-peter-frank.jpg)
I love getting to see friends all dressed up. Rrachelle looks good no matter what she wears though! And I'm not just saying it (she's not even my boss any more.)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/603154/cute-of-me-and-Rra.jpg)
The Cueros clean up nicely.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/794942/Sonia-and-Fabian.jpg)
Lisa and Rob Elzner.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/157214/lisa-and-rob.jpg)
Bill and Sara.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/577314/sara-bill-window-seat.jpg)
Before the gift exchange gets going, everyone gets a seat with a good view.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/885301/party-shot-start%20of%20party.jpg)
Here's Rrachelle and AJ, ready to go.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/429371/cute-AJ-RRa.jpg)
Jason and Anne took their assigned seats, and Lisa and Rob got cozy too. Both couples are expecting this spring.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/164262/couch-jason-anne-lisa-rob.jpg)
Sara, Bill and Traci... and Ana, my coworker, and her husband Sean.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/720151/nice-sara-bill-traci-ana-sean.jpg)
The thrill of adrenaline, as people wonder who has what...
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/960033/group-shot-from-hall.jpg)
I had to lay down the rules for the gift exchange. (They don't change every year, no matter what Jason says.)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/887199/me-laying-out-the-rules.jpg)
The best part of the gift exchange is the strategy involved-- should I veto? Should I steal? Here's Nicole investigating her options and Amanda cracking up.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/243149/amanda-cracking-up.jpg)
Halfway through, and if you like what you have, you pray no one steals it!
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/938116/good-group.jpg)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/298042/nicole-unwrapping.jpg)
Daisy and Alan, my old running buddy, and Anita and Curtis, fellow Bastropians, hoping they don't need to veto.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/456012/Daisy-Alan-Anita-Curtis.jpg)
Curtis had no compunction trying to steal Fred's Crown Royal.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/218499/Curtis-wants-the-Crown-from-Fred.jpg)
Fabian wants THAT ONE!
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/183629/Fabian-wants-that-one-.jpg)
But he's willing to wear ribbons-- very attractive.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/702473/Fabian-ribbon.jpg)
Patiently waiting their turn.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/110768/Rra-Bill.jpg)
You don't have to unwrap your gift, but you can (and you're encouraged to!)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/241771/Lisa-rob-unwrappin.jpg)
Jason and Anne, laughin'.
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Lisa steals a beaded handbag.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/677438/Anne-Lisa-purse.jpg)
One of the most popular gifts this year-- a well-stocked picnic basket.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/186871/Bill-picnic-basket.jpg)
I scored big-time with this hat.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/469044/me-in-hat.jpg)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/965907/me-in-hat-I-don-t-know.jpg)
Looks like we all bit the same lemon at the same moment.
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Bette, an art teacher in Traci's school, opens her gift.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/526397/Bette-opening.jpg)
I think she's so pretty! Very French if you ask me.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/636515/bette%20so%20pretty.jpg)
This is how you do the veto.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/310339/mitch-veto.jpg)
Bill cracks himself up with his witty contribution to the exchange.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/18119/Bill-laughin.jpg)
A six pack of beer, two having already been consumed. Har har har. (There were some earrings, too, in his defense.)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/893146/bill-s-dumb-gift.jpg)
Rrachelle laughs with Bill.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/594473/Rra-laughin.jpg)
The hat I won turns out to look good on other people, too! Here's AJ modeling it (with Rrachelle's fingers getting into the action.)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/217666/AJ-in-hat-with-Rra-bunny-ears.jpg)
Bill and Sara.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/654645/CUTE-bill-sara.jpg)
One bird on Amanda's head is better than one in the tree. Yes, it is an ornament.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/464907/Amanda-bird-CUTE.jpg)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/701720/amanda-smile-with-bird.jpg)
I think Nicole looks like a madonna in this shot.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/649061/nicole-as-madonna.jpg)
We had four little angels with us for the party (but they spent most of the time in the library with the movies.)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/636299/all-4-kids.jpg)
Amanda and Rrachelle catching up.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/28203/amanda-rrachelle.jpg)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/676587/Am-Rr.jpg)
Amanda, Rrachelle, me and Traci (my former neighbor, who now has a home in Leander.)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/365779/Amanda-Rra-me-Traci.jpg)
Then AJ gets into the picture...
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/466966/Amanda-Rra-Me-Traci-AJ.jpg)
Rrachelle, me, Bill, and Maria, a Rumanian physicist (way over my head!)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/818312/nice-group----RR-bill-me-ladyfriend.jpg)
After the gift exchange, folks wandered back into the kitchen to chill. Here's Anne, Amanda and Ali in one of the most popular perches in the house-- the kitchen window seat.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/667489/Anne-Amanda-Ali.jpg)
I ate more than I planned. (Who didn't?)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/216808/me-eating.jpg)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/234194/me.jpg)
Jason, AJ, and Dr. K.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/572142/Jason-AJ-Dr-K2.jpg)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/204529/Jason-AJ-toast--Dr-k-bkgrnd.jpg)
Bill, me and Fred.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/758844/Bill-me-Fred.jpg)
Ali.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/177610/hot-ali.jpg)
Me, Ali and AJ.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/14369/self-timer-1.jpg)
Dr. K made a lot of effort to be here for the party. Hopefully he didn't regret it :)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/735771/Dr-K-laughin.jpg)
Fred demonstrates how the champagne punch makes him feel.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/911825/fred-tongue.jpg)
Dr. K and Sara deep in conversation.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/379425/Dr-K-Sara.jpg)
Jason reenacts a hanggliding adventure.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/254333/Jason-hanggliding.jpg)
Towards the end of the evening there were lots of intimate conversations-- one of my favorite parts. And of course, everyone ends up in the kitchen.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2282/3303/400/me-smiling.jpg)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2282/3303/400/112053/me-fred-Dr-K-Jason-Anne.jpg)
It was a wonderful party, and confirms my belief that I have the best group of friends anyone could hope for. Smart, fun, insightful, laid back, strong people; I'm lucky to call you "friends." Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!!
I'll close the blog for 2006 with a quote from a Christmas card I received at the party, easily the most clever quip I've heard in a while.
"May there be peace on earth, and let it begin in tents."