December 23th Bryant Family Feast

Christmas is a time for family, presents, and food.  One of the most anticipated days of the year is the Bryant family feast!  Mom and Dad go to town on this dinner.  The decorations are awesome, the presents are very generous, and the food is out of this world. We dined on prime rib, shrimp, bacon-wrapped water chestnuts, and salad with every topping imaginable.  Here is the dining room table and our cooks. 

Alyssa tried out some new food. She liked the bacon but not so much the water chestnut.

Kandis and Brandon kissing under the missile "toad."

Everyone with their present.

After feasting on the main course we move the tables out of the room and make way for the chaos of present opening.

A brief moment of chaos as everyone tears into their Twelve Day gift.

The kids all received a blanket and a modern etch-a-sketch called a "boogie board."  Jill got cookie paddles, an attachment for her Bosch mixer.

Mom and Dad discovered leaf raking hand tools  (Leaf Scoops) and gave each of the sons a pair.

 

At the talent portion of the night everyone has to perform.  Logan sang a funny Christmas tune while Alyssa danced out the actions.

The Ludlows and Jill and I sang Blue Christmas while shoving marshmallows into our mouth (Chubby Bunny, Christmas style).  It was pretty fun.

The boys then performed a choreographed kendama routine to Mannheim Steamroller's "Hark the Herald Angels Sing."  The kendamas were last year's Christmas dinner present.  They practiced a lot at home and came up with a fun routine.

Alyssa showed her flexibility by performing a bridge.

Then we moved into the front room for some amazing piano routines.

I was asked to bring back "Choppin' Broccoli" which I did with vigor.

For the last talent of the night, I turned down the lights, turned on music from the TransSiberian Orchestra ("Christmas in Sarajevo"), and used Logan's orb for a light show.  After a few seconds of my performance Jill surprised everyone by using laser pointers (green and red) to put on a laser show.  Together we lit up the room for an amazing show!

It was an amazing party and we all had so much fun.  Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and then the big day!  It's such an exciting time.