It Takes a Child to Raise a Village

We've accumulated a lot of really nice village pieces, but I knew that between the two of us they weren't going to be brought up from storage and set up.  So I made a plan.  Invited the two local sons and their families to help out.  For food.
The plan was to have the kids come to help their Pop Pop get the village set up, feed them lunch and then have the parents join us later for dinner.
It worked out beautifully!
Here are the tables I set up the night before.  Doesn't look like much yet, does it?

But then the first wave of helpers arrived...bringing us a fresh door wreath from Ian's Cub Scouts, and lots of energy!

And then the teens got here to lend their support. (The Littles had already done all the running up and down the stairs with the buildings!  I think that was the plan!)

We had lunch, hot dogs, beans and mac and cheese and then added the finishing touches.

Followed by dinner with the parents later in the day.  Missing our Virginia contingent....the kids would have loved to share this day with their cousin, Jessica. 

And for dessert....we celebrated a few days early .... youngest son, Pat's 40th birthday.