Once we came back, we got to work getting the bags together. Left to right are Brian, Michelle, Nate, Eric, Melissa, Kristin, and Danae:
We were able to make 28 gift bags and it turned out to be evenly split with 14 boys and 14 girls bags. Here are the ones for the boys:
Here’s Michelle and Danae with the girls bags:
Our next get together was a White Elephant Gift Exchange on Wednesday, December 19. I was out sick from work that day (at the start of my now 4 weeks of being sick), so I may be a little fuzzy on some of the details. We did play a game of “Name that Tune,” but I can’t remember if the guys or the girls won. I’m sure someone will remind me though.
Have to say that I was curious about the definition of a White Elephant (besides it being an animal), so I decided to look it up.
From Webster’s Dictionary: n 1) A rare whitish or light-gray form of the Asian elephant, often regarded with special veneration in areas of SE Asia. 2) a. A rare and expensive possession that is financially a burden to maintain. b. Something of dubious or limited value. 3) An article, ornament, or household utensil no longer wanted by its owner. 4) A conspicous failure.
I was laughing when I saw the different definitions and I’ll let you decide which fits with what gift. This picture is of Nate trying on his funky new glasses that were a part of the gift that he selected. I don’t think he ended up with them though. Peering over his shoulders are Kristin and Adam:
Eric was happy to get some gift certificates to Baskin Robbins, but I don’t think he ended up with them at the end:
Mike was back home for Christmas, so he joined us for our party. He chose the gift that I brought, which was a hollow cone shaped thing stuffed with lots of candy. He was able to keep it, but it had less candy when he left:
Brian selected a gift that turned out to be little wooden puzzles that are very complicated to put together, let alone explain what they are. He did end the night with them and I know that he was still trying to figure the puzzles out when we got together on Saturday.
Charlotte opens her gift with Eric looking on. It was an airplane with a santa that came off to reveal some goodies inside:
It took a long time, but Kristin finally unwrapped her gift to reveal two books on CDs. I know she didn’t end up with them, because her roommate, Michelle, took them away. Here’s proof that she had them for a few minutes:
Now the party could begin with the party favors that Danae opened up:
Adam ended up getting a football, thankfully the guys didn’t start playing in the living room, since there wasn’t enough room:
Lastly is Tom and the teddy bear that he got. I don’t think he left the house with it though:
Somewhere in there I was able to select a gift. Since I was taking the pictures, I don’t have one of me. I got some sparkling blueberry cider and two glasses. After opening all the gifts, we all just sat around, talked, played ping pong, ate, and talked even more.
Our next get together was that Saturday night (December 22). We were going caroling at a retirement community in town and then going back to Brian and Melissa’s for our First Annual Soup-er Fest (not sure if we officially named it or not). Anyone in the group could bring soups/chili/stew and we’d vote on who had the best. We were joined by Melissa and Michelle’s parents, Hildred and Clair, who were here for Christmas from Utah. Brian and Kristin’s brother Steven also joined us before he headed to their parents place in Idaho. As we started to gather at the retirement community, I took this really cute picture of Abee in her little Santa outfit, which her Great-Grandma knitted:
Last year, Brian, Melissa, and I, along with our old Bible Study group came to this same place for caroling, but we walked up and down the hallways singing. I actually liked this time better, because we stayed in the dining room, sang, and then got to spend quality time with all those who had joined us. Left to right are: Brian (with Abee), Michelle, Kristin, Melissa (Hildred hiding behind her), Steven, Lucas (in front), Tom, Eric, and Clair.
A close up one from left to right are: Brian (with Abee), Michelle, Kristin, Melissa, Steven (back), and Lucas (front).
The rest of them are left to right: Hildred (back), Melissa (front), Steven, Lucas, Tom, Eric, and Clair.
While hanging out with the residents, Abee was with either her parents or her grandparents. She was enjoying the attention, but she eventually got really tired and hungry. A great picture of her after a long night:
After caroling and visiting, we went back to Brian and Melissa’s place to get ready for our Soup-er Fest. To pass the time, Eric (front) joined Tom (back) on the piano for a great performance:
We then dug into the soups. Getting ready to chow down are left to right: Tom, Melissa, Michelle, Clair, Hildred, and Eric.
Kristin’s trying to decide what to have, Steven’s getting ready to pick something out, and Clair knows what he wants:
For some reason, everyone decided that there was something more interesting in the living room than the food. Here’s the backs (and some profiles) of: Steven, Melissa, Hildred, Michelle, Clair, and Kristin.
There were lots of different soups and I better not try to name them all, since I know I won’t be able to:
After trying them all, we scored each one and then they announced the winner. Eric was the winner and I’m not even going to try writing what his was.
