The biggest bummer of the night was my dad calling and saying that the roads were so bad, he couldn't make it. He was on the road for a half hour trying, and finally turned around and went home. He should have made it here just over a half hour, and he'd only made it about a normal 10 minutes from his home. There were spin outs everywhere. My brothers made it, and said it was pretty bad from their direction as well, 7 spinouts between our two exits alone, but they are a little closer than my dad is so arrived safely and on time. It just wasn't the same knowing we were all partying and my dad was stuck at home due to the roads. darnit.
But we ate anyway - we had chili, chicken chowder, wild rice soup, sandwiches on homemade buns, fruit kabobs, cookies, salad, raw veggies, jello, chocolate eclair - we didn't starve.
And then we played the dollar game - we stick all the crew in the same game - from 2 - 42.
It's not unusual for someone to end up in tears if they don't get the doubles needed to open a gift, or if their cheeseballs get stolen - but this year went pretty well. I always chalk it up to a good character building learning experience - and I thought for sure we'd be working on Brian this year, but he did great. Here he's showing off his package of latex gloves to his uncle Kevin and he's just charged. What are you going to do with those gloves, someone asked. WASH THE DISHES!!! As in - WOOHOOO!!! I love a four year old's enthusiasm. The biggest fright came when his auntie Julie got an identical package and he thought she stole his - the look on his face was priceless.
The dollar game over and more food in our bellies, we moved on to the adult exchange. Julie had Kevin's name and she made him a shirt - and something else that hasn't arrived in the mail yet - so this is a 'tide you over' gift.
Kevin had Greg, and he made him a clock - I really like how it turned out. He needs a clock out in his garage, but I'm thinking he can take the train clock out there and leave this one in the house.
Greg had Julies name, and the kids are anxiously wondering what she received, can you tell?
She got an ornament - I love this one. We don't have one on our own tree yet, but he's working on it.
My brother Brian had Shannon and he took some pictures and put them in a frame. The frame on the left - he made, but he decided that the pictures looked better in the store bought frame - so he gave her all the options. I should have taken a closer picture - but the top is a single blueberry, the middle is a lemon and the bottom is a cherry.
My brother Dennis has Brian's name - and that gift isn't quite done yet. Close - but not yet. He blamed the date change
I had my dad - and his gift is under the tree - he'll get it Christmas day when he comes for dinner
My dad had my sister Terri, and her gift isn't in the mail yet
Terri has me - and that gift probably isn't in the mail yet either
My mom had my brother Dennis, and she was really hoping that his gift would come on Saturday - but it didn't - so the mailman should be bringing it to my door today.
Shannon had my mom, and I didn't ask - but I'm guessing that she's sending her gift up with Kevin, who's planning to go up for Christmas.
We'll do it all again next year.
We wound down the night with the kids playing twister, the adults enjoying avid conversation and all in all it was a good time.
I stayed up until 1 and cleaned up and wound down so I could start Sunday fresh, because that was a busy day too.
Sunday morning - church. Mark is a cranky sinus head, so he stayed home with his dad and I went in with the big kids
After church - get a hot dish quickly into the oven, wrap a few gifts, took a quick nap and got ready for the 3:00 Pennala gathering.
While I was getting ready - the rest of the gang was helping Allan with is Digital Imaging homework - he has to make a video. I had to do the dramatic death scene last week, and this week I had the hubby be my stand in so I could get stuff ready.
And Wendy lost a tooth and the tooth fairy is on Christmas leave.
Then off to the VFW hall that was rented for this gathering. This is only a spattering of the crew - maybe even just half. Granny and Pappa had six kids - Ruth, Richard, Paul, Grace, Howard and George - off those, Richards, Pauls and George's have a good showing here - but we're the only one's of Graces, there is only one of Howards and two of Ruths (it was fun to see Calvin there) - and not all of the other gangs either. So yeah - this is probably half. Family is awesome.
Food is good too. Nobody went hungry - although the hot dishes were slim by the time the tail of the line went through.
My favorite part was when they decided to go through line at age order, with the oldest first. Richard and Paul and George went through and then it was time for the grandkids. Donny hollers to Calvin - Hey Calvin - get up here, you're older than me! And so it began down the line. My husband was trying to inch forward, but kept getting bumped back by the cousins older than himself, of which there are a few. It was all good.
We sang, we ate, we visited, we sang again and then some of Santa's elves showed up.
Santa brought gifts for the elementary school and under crowd.
The big boys had their own exchange where the unspoken theme seemed to be 2-liters and snack food.
The big girls exchanged gifts, where I didn't stick around long enough to figure out a theme - but saw stationary and glow in the dark bling going through as I walked by.
The men exchanged gifts and more than a few men asked their wives, "Am I in this exchange?"
The ladies exchanged gifts, and I got a lovely new scarf that I'm pretty sure my daughter just walked out the door to school with this morning. hmph.
The big party was over at 6:30, and we still had a lot of leftovers from our Saturday party - so we had afterhaps at our house. (note Brian escaping to the edge of the activity - on the stairs with a book, listening to the guitar. He stayed there for a good 40 minutes)
George played the guitar...
I enjoyed seeing Victoria's eyes - she kept them tightly shut the last few times we met....
The bigs enjoyed some laughs while playing the 'what if' game at the table. We played this game on Saturday too - but I kind of forgot the whole 'what if' thing. Oh well....it was still fun. Funner if played right though. I'm one tired mom - the details are escaping me daily.
It was a cozy end of the weekend.
I was too tired to clean up the kitchen, so I woke up to that this morning.
I've called the doctor already this morning - and will bring Mark in this afternoon - his sinuses are raging, and it took until 2:30 last night to finally get him to sleep - he's so congested that sleep was rough.
Today I have to start gathering my presents and figure out what I have and don't have - get the last of the gifts in the mail - wrap a few things and this evening is yet one more party.
Is it January yet?
