Food:

• Egg and Sausage Bake
• Ham and Swiss Hash Browns
• Vegan Waffles (http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=12753.0)
  • whipped cream
  • Blackberry Compote
  • Cherry Pie Filling (with a little almond extract)
• Ham Sandwiches in buns (brown and yellow mustard and red onion)
• Bagels and Cream Cheese
• Fruit (bananas, kiwi, orange slices, pineapple, and mandarin oranges)
• Carmel Corn
• Mixed Nuts

Drinks:

• Coffee
• Hot Chocolate
• Tea
• Sparkling Apple Cider

Use paper plates and napkins from Noah's Graduation (Green Cupboard in basement) Hot Cups from Black Friday Escapade White Snowflake Tablecloth with Stacked Serving Dishes (wrought iron) and Deep Red Christmas Dishes for serving

Result: Gabe: (Jane, Tim, Samantha, Katie and Connor)...five friends came, I think he had a lot of fun making waffles for people

John: (Trevor, Jackie, Jarrod, Allegra, Nick, Gretchen)...six friends came and I think he enjoyed talking with them, although I did not enjoy sharing him with all of his friends, since he had seen so many of them already at at least one other event in the past four days if not two, and this was meant to be a gathering so that all the other previous meetings wouldn't have to happen...oh well. Barely even got to say goodbye.

Noah: (Hope)...one friend came. One texted to say that she was sick, one went back to school early, one was going to come after brunch with her family, but then didn't, one was going to come after it was all over(he had to work until 2:00), but then didn't because Hope and Noah had too much homework. Bad weekend for them as they are coming off a break in which they did not get that much homework done and going into finals and Christmas Concert Rehearsals so time is at a premium. They helped keep things running in the kitchen as always, but they might rather have been doing something else.

I ended up with way too much food and now have to deal with all of that guilt and, like I said, am jealous for the time I lost with just our family together. Oh well,...live and learn. I had a lot of fun watching all of them...but too many people in such a small space...

Next year, maybe a sandwich bar? Maybe for one boy and his friends only and the other boys can help serve? Maybe Saturday morning instead? Send out invitation? Invite parents as well? Just waffles with toppings and make them to order.