After a sleighride? hot soup or hot spice cranberry tea! TACO SOUP 2 pounds ground round (I usually use less, 1 1/2 lb.) 1 large onion, diced 1 packet taco seasoning 1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch original 1 can kidney beans (with liquid) 1 can pinto beans with jalapeños (with liquid) 1 can yellow hominy or 1 can whole kernel corn 1 can diced tomatoes and green chilies (Rotel) 2 cans stewed tomatoes (I use Mexican stewed tomatoes) 1 8 oz. can tomato sauce 1 cup of water Cook beef and onion until beef is browned, drain excess grease. Add the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 30 to 45 minutes. Or put everything in a slow cooker and cook on low or high depending on how long you want simmer. Hot Spiced Cranberry Tea 1 large bottle cranberry juice cocktail 1 quart freshly made hot tea, tea bags removed after steeping brown sugar to taste whole cinnamon sticks - several whole cloves - 6 or so put everything in a slow cooker, taste for additional brown sugar; heat for a couple of hours on low; serve hot

I wouldn't worry about a lot of decorations for boys. I agree with trying to combine your activity as the party favor. You could have them decorate their own cupcakes or cookies. Scavenger hunt is another good idea. The prize could be a pinata and then everyone gets a chance at breaking it. I've seen the backwards party mentioned a lot and kids his age would probably get a kick out of it. You could really go all out from invitations to the final parting or just let the invitation say it's a backward party so wear your clothes backward etc. Play musical chairs backward-when the music stops you get up and move around or you walk around and then sit when the music comes on. I think Family Fun website may have had some ideas on this.

I have done a HUGE Christmas party for years that centers around a cookie exchange. My word of warning--it is so fun that no one will ever stop insisting you give it! My kids feel it is the centerpiece of the Christmas season, and I start getting questions about when it will be starting before Thanksgiving. We invite well over 100 people (families). We ask people to bring "a plate" of cookies to share. I make a lot of extra cookies--my top pleaser with the kids are Rice Krispie bars wrapped with fruit rollup to look like little presents. I also make coconut macaroons out of Silver Palate (dead easy) and dip them in chocolate so they look fancy. I have a number of other easy recipes as well. I make two huge pots of soup--a Moroccan soup and pumpkin-peanut soup (wouldn't work for you, obviously), buy a ham and rolls, and provide a few other food items. I also have drinks plus mulled wine and hot cider. My top lessons learned: --soup is hugely popular. --have paper plates and foil available and people take home cookies on that, or on the plate they brought --people are often really intimidated by baking. If they express any reservations, I tell them not to bring anything. I always have plenty. --I end up with all of the cookies that nobody wants. I gave myself permission a few years ago to just throw out anything I didn't think we would eat. Otherwise, it got depressing with the rock hard gingerbread, my sweet neighbor's tasteless cookies with candied fruit, and the occasional bag of Chips Ahoy. --I don't ask for an RSVP because I don't get them anyway--and if I don't ask, I don't need to sweat it. There are always plenty of cookies if we run out of other stuff.

Posting a follow-up on the Pesto Cheese Torta. Was able to get lots of fresh basil from Trader Joe's, so I gave this a try. It presented so well and I received many compliments and requests for the recipe. I served it on a large square rimmed platter w/ a pedestal base with TJ's plain & whole wheat pita crackers surrounding it. Unmolded the torta itself on a small clear glass plate. I placed decorative green leaves under it and set it in the center of the platter. People loved it! I found I needed a larger container (32 oz.) than olychick noted to fit in all the cheese & layers. Otherwise, the recipe & instructions worked perfectly. Note that this is a VERY rich spread. If you're making it for a smaller gathering and don't want a lot leftover, I'd suggest making half a batch.