Despite some logistics issues, and the fact that it's the weekend before Christmas, and lots of folks are out of town or overbooked, it went very well, if low-key.  Folks came and went, and never more than a few at a time.   Still, it went very well, and I think I'll do it again next year.

The last folks learned that to get the sprinkles and sugar on the frosting, dip the cookies into it, even with just a few on the parchment paper, it worked.  I'll also get a different variety of sugars and sprinkles and such, and make my own frosting. We'll nix the gingerbread, and concentrate on the sugar cookies, and maybe add in the shortbread.  But the chocolate chip cookies are staying in the mix; those were a huge hit. 

I was so busy baking (about 6 hours worth), I ended up not frosting any cookies until after the official time was over.  I didn't even have any solid food until the chocolate chip cookies were done, and the first real meal of the day was a Thundercloud sub Talyn picked up for me (thanks, hon!). 

Next year, I'll prep all the dough the day before, and then get cookies cooked before folks arrived. That way I get to enjoy it more. I had to ask friends to pick up more flour because I was so focused on the decorating portion, I forgot to double check the amount of flour I had.  And break out the banquet table to make more room.  And have some non-sugar based snacks.

As it is, my feet hurt and my back is trying to kill me.  But I'm happy, and I was very pleasantly surprised to see hoe the cats handled the company. Plunk was out to see Talyn in minutes (he loves her), and even Mac was out after about a half an hour, and hung around the couch.  He can be really skittish, so this was a big step for him, and that alone was worth it. 

But now, most of the dishes are done, the kitchen is nearly restored to it's fairly pristine state, and I've changed out of my flour coated clothes, and am about to curl up on the couch with my furbabies.

Merry Christmas.