Presents under the tree and having a party

[lovemygoofy]

I'm having several open house and brunch things in the upcoming weeks. They are all family friendly and I expect children of all ages which is great. However, do I leave the presents under the tree that are already wrapped? It looks good and homey and all that other jazz but I was worried about kids getting into them. Not because they are misbehaved but just because at a younger age that is what kids do, rip off paper.


So those that have Christmas parties/open house things, do you leave your presents out under the trees or put them away until the company is gone?

 

[JerseyJanice]

The way you bake, I bet you're the hostess with the mostest.

It's been a few years since I had this issue, but yes, I did put the presents away before the guests came. I had too much to do in the kitchen to babysit the tree, and I wasn't up for rewrapping anything, so better safe than sorry.

Have a great time with your guests, and I'd like to see you post what you're serving. I love to read other people's party menus. I get ideas from them, and it's interesting to see what people outside my area serve.

 

[C.Ann]

With children of all ages coming, I would remove the presents..

When my late DH was alive we always had a large family party at our house on Christmas Eve - which of course included children - so any gifts got "stashed" for the evening..

Have fun!

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

I have always left the gifts under the tree - I love the look of pretty packages.

Have never had a problem with a child opening?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

If you are concerned, remove them.

But my kids are 9, 7 and 2 and would know better than the help themselves to gifts. (I'd be keeping my eyes on the 2yo to be sure.)

It would be sad if you had to do that, as one would hope that any family would have enough manners so that the kids would know better.

Good luck and have a great open house!

 

[daisyduck123]

How about just leaving out a few cute holiday plushes (stuffed animals like snowmen, Beanie Babies, Santa Claus) under the tree? Do you have any of those?

That way your tree won't look bare underneath & it won't matter if the kids touch.

 

[golfgal]

I would remove them, especially if there are toddlers there. The older kids should know better but the toddlers don't understand. Yes, parents can keep an eye on them but every good parent knows that it only takes a second for a 2 year old to get into something they shouldn't. Besides, by not having the temptation there the parents can relax a little more at the party.

If you have some decorated Christmas boxes or gift bags, put those under the tree if you want to to look like there are presents there and if someone gets into them, no harm done.

 

[lovemygoofy]

The way you bake, I bet you're the hostess with the mostest.

It's been a few years since I had this issue, but yes, I did put the presents away before the guests came. I had too much to do in the kitchen to babysit the tree, and I wasn't up for rewrapping anything, so better safe than sorry.

Have a great time with your guests, and I'd like to see you post what you're serving. I love to read other people's party menus. I get ideas from them, and it's interesting to see what people outside my area serve.

Thank you for the compliment! You made my day lol I'm usually not stressed about parties and gatherings but I"m having people from office at one, people from husband's office at another, and some deployed families at another. Apparently I'm glutton for punishment lol but I knew I wanted to be sociable when I moved into thise house.

Anyways I'm not solid on all the menus things yet. Tomorrow is strictly appetizers and people bringing stuff as well.

Appetizers

Meatballs cooked in chili sauce and cranberry jelly
"chocolate" croissants (crescent rolls with a touch of nutella inside and sprinkled with cocoa powder when done)
mini loaves of sliced cranberry bread
buffalo chicken dip with chips and veggies
mini sandwhiches
oatmeal cranberry cookies
individual pecan pies

Brunch Tuesday

french toast casserole
more meatballs
more "chocolate" croissants
fruit salad
spinach quiche
more cookies and inidividual pecan pies


My husband's office party--no clue yet that is 2 weeks away lol but it's a dinner thing probably a baked ham

Dessert party(always my favorite)

Mini loaves of cranberry bread
Pumpkin cream cheese muffins
oatmeal cranberry cookies
peppermint bark
cheesecake brownies
brownie macroon
apple pie
inidividual pecan pies
hot chocolate with real whip cream
oreo truffles
peanut butter cookies
sugar cookies to decorate


as you can tell I have alot of repeat items because I can make them in bulk and freeze and then defrost as needed. I have learned to make my life alot easier this way and that way I'm not worried about not having enough stuff or having to make more in the middle of entertaining.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Awesome menus!

So you take regular crescent roll dough, spread Nutella on one side, roll and bake them? Then sprinkle with cocoa while they're hot?

They sound very good! I will try that.

 

[mumom95]

Thank you for the compliment! You made my day lol I'm usually not stressed about parties and gatherings but I"m having people from office at one, people from husband's office at another, and some deployed families at another. Apparently I'm glutton for punishment lol but I knew I wanted to be sociable when I moved into thise house.

Anyways I'm not solid on all the menus things yet. Tomorrow is strictly appetizers and people bringing stuff as well.

Appetizers

Meatballs cooked in chili sauce and cranberry jelly
"chocolate" croissants (crescent rolls with a touch of nutella inside and sprinkled with cocoa powder when done)
mini loaves of sliced cranberry bread
buffalo chicken dip with chips and veggies
mini sandwhiches
oatmeal cranberry cookies
individual pecan pies

Brunch Tuesday

french toast casserole
more meatballs
more "chocolate" croissants
fruit salad
spinach quiche
more cookies and inidividual pecan pies


My husband's office party--no clue yet that is 2 weeks away lol but it's a dinner thing probably a baked ham

Dessert party(always my favorite)

Mini loaves of cranberry bread
Pumpkin cream cheese muffins
oatmeal cranberry cookies
peppermint bark
cheesecake brownies
brownie macroon
apple pie
inidividual pecan pies
hot chocolate with real whip cream
oreo truffles
peanut butter cookies
sugar cookies to decorate


as you can tell I have alot of repeat items because I can make them in bulk and freeze and then defrost as needed. I have learned to make my life alot easier this way and that way I'm not worried about not having enough stuff or having to make more in the middle of entertaining.

Um, Tina, I think my invite got lost in the mail. Mind sending me the address and time you want me there to sample all the yummies I promise I won't unwrap any of the gifts!!

 

[AlleyKat]

I'm having several open house and brunch things in the upcoming weeks. They are all family friendly and I expect children of all ages which is great. However, do I leave the presents under the tree that are already wrapped? It looks good and homey and all that other jazz but I was worried about kids getting into them.

Tina, if you have some spare time and some spare wrapping paper, wrap some empty boxes, decorate them as you normally would, then replace your real presents with the "fake"!

Your tree will look "homey" and you can have a great time without the worry!

 

[DMickey28]

I suppose it depends on how young the kids are and if they have a habit of doing that!!

I plan on wrapping up some random boxes and stuff to put under the tree to make it look more festive. That way if DS gets into them 1. he doesn't find his presents 2. I don't have to re-wrap! We also have a very tight budget this year so other than a few things for DS we don't have much in the way of gifts. DH and I are buying ourselves stuff for the house instead of just personal gifts.

Can you wrap up a few cereal boxes and other small boxes just to keep the festive look? Then if the kids ruin them you don't have to worry about it.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

Awesome menus!

So you take regular crescent roll dough, spread Nutella on one side, roll and bake them? Then sprinkle with cocoa while they're hot?

They sound very good! I will try that.

I want to know too!!! That sounds yummy.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Your party sounds wonderful! I agree with everyone here about removing them from the room for the party. Not only would I worry about the little ones opening them but falling into them and crushing them, even dropping food or drinks into them could be a problem too. But, since it is a party, why not play into it and have a bunch of inexpensive keep busy toys wrapped and under the tree just for the guests kids, like favors? This way you still get the decorative effect without the risk to your important gifts. For decoration you could even put them in bigger boxes with pretty paper.

 

[golfgal]

Awesome menus!

So you take regular crescent roll dough, spread Nutella on one side, roll and bake them? Then sprinkle with cocoa while they're hot?

They sound very good! I will try that.

I think I will too-sounds very good.

 

[PatsMom]

I agree with those suggesting that the presents be removed if toddlers are coming. The temptation might be too much for them. Older kids should understand that those are not their presents but toddlers are a different story. I do love the look of presents under the tree so wrapping some empties is a great idea.

If you know how many kids are coming and the budget can afford it, you could wrap something for the kids. I've done that before with stuff from Dollar Tree or other small items I pick up through the year. We have a New Year's open house and the kids get one last Christmas present there! Won't work if you don't have some idea of the ages and numbers of kids though.

And I love your menu. I wish I was that good at cooking!

 

[golfgal]

I agree with those suggesting that the presents be removed if toddlers are coming. The temptation might be too much for them. Older kids should understand that those are not their presents but toddlers are a different story. I do love the look of presents under the tree so wrapping some empties is a great idea.

If you know how many kids are coming and the budget can afford it, you could wrap something for the kids. I've done that before with stuff from Dollar Tree or other small items I pick up through the year. We have a New Year's open house and the kids get one last Christmas present there! Won't work if you don't have some idea of the ages and numbers of kids though.

And I love your menu. I wish I was that good at cooking!

Good idea. Read the unusual post thread-wrap up a box of character bandaids for everyone under 8 and they will LOVE them. A bottle of bubbles is great too--especially if it is cold out they can go outside, blow bubbles and watch them freeze and shatter-it's a LOT of fun.

 

[MIGrandma]

If the children that will be coming are very young (crawling up to age 3 or so) I would put the wrapped gifts away before the party started. If I had the time and energy I might wrap up 3-4 empty boxes to make them look like presents and put those under the tree. That way the gifts make it look "homey" but if the children do unwrap them, no harm done.

*oops, didn't see that someone had already suggested that, sorry*

 

[Abbie]

I'm sorry, I'm really trying to focus on the question so I can add my thoughts but I keep getting hung up on the "presents already wrapped" thing!

I wish I had read about the croissant thing before DH went grocery shopping this morning so I could have had him pick up the ingredients! (I'd even spring for the nutella, even though I threw away the last jar we had because I figured we'd never use it!)

 

[golfgal]

I'm sorry, I'm really trying to focus on the question so I can add my thoughts but I keep getting hung up on the "presents already wrapped" thing!

I wish I had read about the croissant thing before DH went grocery shopping this morning so I could have had him pick up the ingredients! (I'd even spring for the nutella, even though I threw away the last jar we had because I figured we'd never use it!)