We had our family Christmas on Christmas Eve. This was my year to work Christmas day, so it worked out well. Aaron and Laura, Alaina and Ruby and Andrew and Heather all came for the evening.
Disclaimer - my photos are terrible. I was having trouble getting the camera to focus and didn't have time to fix it. Sorry!
We started with supper - lots of appetizers and punch. We had lots of leftovers!
After supper we skyped with Andy and Nikki in Kentucky. We did our gift exchange with them via skype. :)
Our kids had arranged a crazy gift exchange. They exchanged names and had to buy something at a thrift store that had something to do with birds and it had to be something they could use. As you can imagine, this gave a lot of laughs.
Here's Laura with her crocheted turkey hat.
The gift Andrew got was probably the one that made us laugh the hardest, although it was also the most disturbing. It's a turkey foot, attached to an antler to be used as a back scratcher. Sice he came up with the rules for this exchange, he deserved this "gift".
After that craziness, we opened our stockings. Alaina loves Shaun the sheep. These are claymation videos you can find on Youtube. Bob carved a Shaun for her, and you can see by the smile on her face that she loved it.
Ruby just snuggled and slept through it all.
Here's another gift Alaina liked. I found this cute cat that purred and moved its head when you rubbed its back. She was happy with it.
I made a photo book for Aaron and Laura with pictures I've taken of Alaina over the past year. It turned out really nice.
What kid doesn't like a box? Alaina had fun riding in this box after the presents were opened.
It was a great evening with the people who are so dear to me!
16 comments:
I love the gift exchange and all the conditions that had to be met and yes the turkey leg back scratcher was a hoot...
Elaina certainly looked like she was having fun and just as she proved lots of times boxes are the best "gift".....Ruby will definitely be in on the action next year...Happy New Year....
That back scratcher is so funny! We had so much fun with the white elephants at the business party here, I think we should also do them with the family. I hadn't laughed that hard in a long time!
Ruby....aw.
I'm so glad you all were together and had such a fun time. I do love the expression on Alaina's face; pure joy for the gift from her granddad. :)
Love the gag gifts, the turkey hat is so funny.
xoxo
I'm all about that back scratcher-funny or not. We've got an old wooden one that we got from The Dollar Tree. It's about worn out. Honestly some of the teeth are missing. Allaina's expression is priceless. Isn't that what it's all about. I'm with Ruby, I slept through Christmas Day. I had a spastic colon attack and didn't get out of bed. Christmas comes this weekend for me.
I can only imagine how much laughter filled your home over those bird gifts. You all sure know how to have fun!
What a fun idea!! It is things like that, that make the best memories! Alaina is such a lucky girl to have a grandpa who can carve her favorite animal character for her. What a lovely keepsake for her to cherish. Mari, the food looks wonderful (even blurry) and I know you all had the best time! Thanks for sharing, and bless you and all who worked on Christmas day.
goofy gift exchanges are my favorite! everyone has more than they need, but this way you get the fun of shopping, the fun of opening, but not the $$$ on something someone already has.
Aww..thanks for the smiles...I agree, what kid doesn't like a box? Smiles
Oh my, Shaun the Sheep -- that is my favorite present of the evening although I have to say I envy Andrew his back scratcher antler bird leg thing. Allissa and I have watched Shaun the Sheep so many times, I have his antics memorized. I think when she comes to see me on Thursday I'll suggest we lay up in the bed and watch a few reruns. Happy New Year my friend! xoxo
Hahaha!! I love these pics Mari and love how much your family seems to have the same humor as ours. Cut to the crazy guns 'n roses stuff my hubby had to wear this year on Xmas A.M. He got everybody those graphic print shirts where it looks like - say a favorite food - but it's made up of enlarged pic of the actual food all over the shirt. So needless to say someone got a cheeseburger, someone mac & cheese, another bacon and so on. We'll see if they wear them next year.
So fun! Thanks for sharing and here's to another funny year! ;)
Sounds and looks like a wonderful evening. I loved the idea of drawing the names, having to buy it at the thrift shop and having a theme. Hopefully I can remember that for next year. I can just see and hear the laughs, good time and fun.
FUN!
:-)
I absolutely love the idea the crazy gift exchange. Hopefully I can remember that for next year.
That gift exchange was funny! I think I have missed something. Who is Nikki?
What a lovely time! Interesting idea for the gift exchange! Our family has done some crazy gift exchanges over the years too, and it's always fun.
Love the last photo, because it so aptly captures the joy of the evening.
We all had a great time - and definitely got a good laugh out of watching Andrew open his turkey leg. When it came in the mail I told Aaron I couldn't even touch it to wrap it it was so disturbing!!
And Alaina definitely had fun with presents this year - she got spoiled!
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