We no longer do a huge Christmas feast. Mom is 85 and while she is in relatively good health and she can do amazing things still - we all realize it is too much for her. A few years ago we did something very special. We did a Christmas tea. We all dressed in formals - even the baby. (camisoles with the string shortened or tied, elastic in the back make an adorable formal for a baby... Even Mom wore a formal. Well not the men... he he... We all wore as much old jewelry as our necks and arms and legs and fingers could stand.... Well not the men... We had hats and such. We all brought healthy finger foods. Mom fixed tea and we took turns pouring. We had flowers and fancy dishes, the good china, doll sized tea cups for the little girls, a fancy table cloth - the works. We did our nails - we went all out! Dad couldn't stand it - he crashed the party - said someone had to hold the little one. The girls ask for a tea party every year now instead of Christmas. I wonder what will happen next year. The oldest boy will be 3 the next boy will be 2 and then the baby boys will be a year... I somehow doubt if there will be any good china. Maybe the men folk can go do something wild.