Happy New Year, Mr. Scrooge!

My most favorite activity to do with children - share the book A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and then have a party celebrating the new Scrooge!

 Thursday was our Happy New Year, Mr. Scrooge! party.

 Ebenezer himself joined us.

 The party is a huge undertaking requiring lots of help with food, decorations, and serving.

 Tablecloths are laid out along with a listing of guests.

 The classroom looked very elegant and formal - perfect for our banquet!

 And just look at the food - sugar plums, Christmas cake, cookies, fruit and nuts, and more.

Lady Meister and Lady Munn were kind enough to head up the decorations and serving for us.

They also acted as photographers. I could not have done the party without them.

All the guests had had a prior encounter with Mr. Scrooge during his grumpier days. They gathered together to make amends and celebrate his transformation.

Carolers (and sisters) Miss Rose and Miss Margaret Brewer sang for Mr. Scrooge and then invited us all to join them in a rendition of Jingle Bells.

 Mr. Scrooge had been unkind to these philanthropists, Mr. Duncan Barlow, Mr. Micah Dierk, and Mr. Jackson Allsbrook, on Christmas Eve, but now he was more than ready to make a donation to their cause.

To our astonishment, Queen Ella of France attended, bringing her servant, Miss Lucy Rose, along to the celebration.

 These young purveyors of newspapers, Mr. Thomas Johnson, Mr. Joshua Oliver, and Mr. Ron Jarred, chatted with Mr. Scrooge. Unfortunately, one of them had their pockets picked during the banquet. How sad!

 Christmas Eve Mr. Scrooge witnessed the townspeople ice skating, and one of them, Colin Shautel, was able to attend the banquet.

 Miss Cynthia Alcott, a servant, shared her experiences with our repentant Scrooge, too.

At this point, refreshments were served. 

 Scrooge and Queen Ella led us through the serving line while Lady Munn and Lady Meister served.

 The guests politely waited until all had been served before eating. 

After our brief repast, Mr. Scrooge again received his guests.

 Bob Crachit himself was there, along with his oldest son, Peter Cratchit.

 As was the wife of his nephew, Fred, Mrs. Alison Smith. 

Blacksmiths (and brothers) Comhrai,  Baldemar, and Curtis Ashin gifted Mr. Scrooge with some of their tools in a gesture of forgiveness.

Just as Mr. Scrooge is now a reformed man, so too is this former pickpocket, Walfrid "Snatchit" Brody.

However, we questioned his reformation - several items of value mysteriously disappeared during the party.

 Artist Poppy Nicole joined was among the party guests.

A recent friend of Mr. Scrooge, Mr. Jimmy Dagenhart, who bought the turkey from the poulterers as a favor to Scrooge, made an appearance.

 As did seamstress Miss Alexandra Grace.

 Our last guests were the McClairey twins, Marie and Mary Ann.

After another round of food, Mrs. Smith joined me and helped lead us in one of her family's favorite games - similies!

Such a lovely afternoon for us all. And what a wonderful story Dickens created.