Christmas Party 2011

 I love our Christmas party.  I look forward to it all month.  The only downside is that we miss Nathan, Briana, and Emmaline.  We hope someday they'll live in Utah.

This year we started out with the nativity.  Camden and Maris were Mary and Joseph--and they also serve as casting directors, assigning each person his or her part. They were very busy!

 Grandpa played a dual part--being the donkey and a Wise Man.  He offered to let Mary ride on his back, but we all vetoed this.  (Too soon after shoulder surgery.)  Mary was content to walk beside the donkey.

 The donkey stayed with Mary and Joseph in the stable.

 Aunt Brandy was the angel.  Aunt Alicia was the shepherd.  She visited the stable after she got the message about Jesus from the angel.

Grandpa, Uncle Brian and Uncle Erik were the Wise Men who visited Baby Jesus and brought gifts.  Camden says we need to get a boy baby doll next year because Jesus IS a boy.

 

 

 

 Next we enjoyed a feast of ham and our favorite funeral potatoes.  We had great appetizers, yummy salads, and chex mix, of course.

 I ruined the dessert I was so excited to make.  It included melted candy canes, whipped cream, and oreos.  I failed to get the whipped cream sweet enough so I colored some sugar and sprinkled it on top.  This didn't do the trick.  The dessert went into the disposal at the end of the night.  I hated to waste all those oreos! 

 

 Grandpa organized the games this year and did a great job.  During "Santa Attack"  we had to pull a paper from Santa's hat if we were holding it when the music ended.  It told us an activity we had to do. This is Maris singing a rousing rendition of her favorite Christmas song.  Camden is being restrained from adding his voice to Maris' solo.

 Grandma is a gracious listener.

 Camden and Maris are ready to perform a reindeer dance. Grandpa helped with the choreography. For some reason the antlers have one antler that stands up and one that flops over.

We played a game where each of us picked a present according to our number, and we could take a gift from someone else.  No one cried!

 

 

Of course we sang some carols with the chimes.  Aunt Alicia helped deliver all the chimes and spoons.  Camden was amazing.  He read the words and hit his chime on the right word every time!  Maris hit her chime on the right word every time, too.  She played on every beat. :) 

 

 

 

 

For our final game, Camden and Maris are waiting for the snow to fall at the North Pole.  

Surprise! Surprise!  It isn't just snow that falls at the North Pole!  It snows gum drops!  Camden and Maris had fun popping the balloons (gum drops) after they fell.  Camden got really good at pouncing on the balloons with both feet.  Maris resorted to a fork.

We decide to open Christmas presents at the party this year.  Maris seemed to like her tutu.

 

 

 Brian kept all the wrapping paper picked up.

 

 Camden was very gracious about the rocket he got.  He and his dad are going to launch it.

 Brandy got her traditional Snow Globe piece for her village--a cookie factory.  I got some PEZ dispensers that are the first five presidents.  They are so cute!

 

 Erik got a camera. 

 

Afterward, the clean up.  And to all a good night.