Happy New Year [Party that is]

Alright, as per request of my dear friend Sarah, here's pictures of my New Year celebrations. Last night Jon and I hosted a New Year's Eve party. Our first real one really. I spent two days cleaning and reorganizing the house and Jon ran all over Tulsa getting the proper food and party stuff and wines. I was nervous and stressed as I wanted the food to be great and for people to have a great time, but, it didn't take long to forgot about that as people poured on in.

Technically the first course was baked brie, but, that was annihilated fast and I didn't whip out the camera fast enough. At least the fondue course lasted a bit so I was able to sneak in shots between eating, drinking, hosting and managing dogs.

This distraction only lasted a few minutes I'm afraid.

Semi-food/cheese induced comas didn't stop anyone from eating.

The raclette grill in action during course three. Jon's gift to me for Christmas. This was the first time I've ever used one, and let me tell you it will be used again and again. The handles below are to 'shovels' that hold cheese under the heating coils. Obviously, the coils heat the stone on top and you can cook whatever you want on that. Once the cheese obtains the desired gooeyness you pour it over cooked veggies, meat, charcuterie, potatoes, bread, etc. It is simple and sinful and delicious. How this hasn't caught on in America bewilders me.

A great, albeit dark, picture of how the evening went. People were just happy. We ate, drank, talked, laughed, for hours. No one was in a rush we just enjoyed one another's company and the food.

Of course we had dessert and that was a complete success as well. Yum, yum, and yum. We broke out the champagne soon after this as it was getting close to midnight.

Leo hanging out watching us countdown the last seconds of 2010.

Happy New Year indeed!! The party lasted past two (am) when we all simply couldn't take it anymore. We had been pushed to our limits! But, in such a good way! This is probably going to go down as one the best New Year's Eve parties I've ever attended. Okay, yes, I did help to host it. That said, it was just a wonderful evening filled with loads of good food, drink, and even better great friends who made every bit of sweat and worry poured into this night worth it.