Over-preparing for a Holiday?

While Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year, there's something about seeing a room lit up by the warmth of Christmas lights.  There's something inside me that stirs when I hear of chestnuts roasting over an open fire (even if I've never had chestnuts, let alone ones that have been roasted over an open fire).  So when I found out that we were staying home for Christmas (the very first time this has ever happened in...oh, say....nearly 10 years), I might have freaked out.

Not only are we staying home for Christmas, but I also get to HOST a Christmas dinner.  This was such an exciting concept that I started planning a menu over a month ago.  I've even decorated our dining room table and set the plates for dinner.  You can never be TOO prepared.  Right??  (and right about now is when Jason starts rolling his eyes....)

A little view into our table settings and Christmas decorations:

Christmas wouldn't be the same without my little Russian Santa Clause!

Table runner:  Hot Cocoa Designs

Glass Bottles:  Festival ReGlass

Wreath:  Target

Wooden logs:  Cut from a local fallen oak tree!