Christmas Eve Rundown

Because if I don't right down all the fun details now...I'll forget in the busy-ness of the coming week.

Did I mention that I procrastinate?  It runs in the family. 
But I finished my gift.  Not quite soon enough to catch my own family van leaving the driveway, but luckily my youngest brother was driving by and I was able to catch a ride to the party with him.  He understood.  My husband, the overachiever, had already delivered his gift a week ago.  He had my dad's name again, and made him a carving. Again.  I forgot to take a picture of it before delivery, so I'll have to catch up with that at a later date.

But I digress.

   

Today I earned my plumbers license, so says Pa.  I had all sorts of fun with flames, and solder and copper and flames and now I pretty much want to run around soldering everything and I made three frames. Two 5 x 7's and a 4 x 6. Had I allowed myself more than 5 hours to do the job, I might have gotten a little more creative with the wiring, but for the most part, I was really pleased - and my brother Brian who's name I had, seemed to like them. 

If we follow the trail, my brother Brian had my brother Dennis's name

And the delivery came with opening instructions.  Namely - "Wear gloves" 
Hmmmm
Would that be because

He also procrastinates and the minwax was not quite dry?
Oh yes...that's exactly what it means.

But when it's all dried up nice, Dennis will be able to put the felt on the bottom and have himself one groovin' guitar stand.  I'm pretty impressed!

Dennis, who is also a procrastinator...had Kevin

And had made him this really cool puzzle thingie - but it broke.  And because that was yesterday and he didn't have a lot of time to redo it or start over - he defaulted to plan B.  The Sock Monkey.  He threw in the puzzle that he was patterning his orginal gift after for good measure. 

Kevin, who is also a procrastinator (are you seeing a pattern) has my mother...and since he won't see her for two or three more days...he's not quite started his gift but he does know what he's doing.  We'll see how much he gets done now that his girlfriend is in town.

My sister-in-law Julie had Pa's name, and the only picture I have of that action is a bunch of kids because they were crowded in to look...but he prized a bucket complete with apron for all his tools.  Julie made a snazzy tool apron.  He's out in the garage filling it as I type.

My sister has my name, and I thought she was going to shine as the overachiever of the family since she was hinting at plans long before any of us even began our thought process...but she's claiming delay because she went up north to see grandma and grandpa last week.  She's a procrastinator too....

My dad had Terri's name, and I know what that gift was - but I'm not certain that she got it yet, so I won't share.  I know he mailed it before he went up north.

Anyway.

After the adults exchanged their gifts we played a rocking and rolicking game of something.  I don't know what you'd call it...but kids and adults alike each brought three $1 gifts to toss into the pile.  Then we all sat in a circle and rolled the die - whenever we rolled a 1 we were able to steal or pick a gift from the pile.  No 1, no gift.  Kevin and my brother Brian were the most consistant at rolling 1's.  Elizabeth, Greg, Julie and my Brian were struggling to even get one 1....but I think in the end everyone managed to get a gift.

We enjoyed teasing Kevin, as both he and Shannon (girlfriend) got whoopie cushions.  Kevin also scored a deck of Old Maid Cards and some candy - so we figure they are all set for dates for the next few nights.

Pete and Wendy kept stealing the sponge animal capsules back and forth from each other, and I believe it was Pete who ended up with them in the end.

Pete also got a coconut, Wendy bawled and pouted about getting animal crackers, and Elizabeth found it a much safer bet to just steal a gift rather than risk getting a Home Depot apron from the pile (of which there were six) She stole my brother Brian's fruit roll ups first, and her dad's pack of gum second.  My Brian consistantly rolled fours, but finally got a one just before he was about to go into complete and total melt down for not being able to open a gift.  Phew.  He was fine after that.

And it was all fun
Now to figure out where I hid our own gifts.....

And I had to throw this picture in for good measure.  1. Because I like it and 2.  Because I get so many people asking me which one is Brian and which one is Kevin.  So now you know...Kevin is the one with the sock monkey and the girlfriend, and Brian is the one with the fake nose and bushy eyebrows.

   

Comments

[Torm's Mom]

That looked like fun - wish I could've been there. Oh - and I have Julie's name and managed to finish her gift about 10:00 tonight - not in time to mail it for the Christmas party, but she should get it before New Years. I think I better start making plans to join in the fun next year!

[Linda J]

Merry Christmas Sharyn:)

[tania]

merry christmas my friend!
you have one VERY cool family!

[Kathryn]

My sisters and I exchanged names this year for handmade gifts. I'm expecting mine in the mail this week; it was so fun. I hope we do the exchange again next year! You are all so talented; it's so fun to see what you all come up with for gifts. Very cool.

[~ Junkyard Jennifer]

Cool gifts. Fun to see/read what you all made! I love handmade gifts - they're the best. Right up there with {good} junk gifts. ;) Those are some pretty cool frames you made for Brian. I'm impressed!

We always play 'the dollar game' at Mark's family's on Christmas Eve. {That's what we always call it.} It was a rollicking good time too. Love that game!!