Traditions: Family Party

Every Christmas we get together with all of my extended family on my Mother's side and have a Christmas party. It is always in Delta, where most of my family is from. This past Saturday was our Christmas Party. We always start out by having a nice dinner. We rotate every year, which head of family is put in charge of organizing and preparing the meal. This year we had a Potato Bar with all the fixings. YUMMY! There were lots of goodies and treats afterwards. Santa comes and brings all the kids under 18 a sack full of goodies. There were 29 kids this year. They all get to sit in Santa's lap and tell him what they want for Christmas. The little kids draw names earlier in the year and had their gift exchange. Me and my cousins generation buy a girl and a guy gift and play a game while reading a story, moving the gifts around in a cirle and whatever gift you have when the story is done is the gift you get to open and keep. My mother's siblings exchange gifts and everyone usually gets something for Grandma. We rent a place that is large enough to hold us all... about 75 people... and also has room to play basketball or other games and the kids can run around and have lots of fun. It's always a fun time. Getting together with family that you don't get to see on a regular basis is always something I look forward too. I'm glad that we have had this tradition in my family for many many years for as long as I can remember. And I hope we can keep it going for many more years to come. Because, afterall, isn't that what Christmas is about? Spending time with your loved ones? I am very grateful for the closeness we share as a family, and that we all really enjoy each other's company. I was very bad though, and didn't take any pictures. I'm mad at myself for not having any pictures to post. So... I decided to post some pictures from the party from 2003.



My Grandma crocheted everyone hats this year.


Shellise - Not so big like she is now :)


My Grandma and Santa


My Jessie Boy! A much younger version.

The gift exchange. Grandma opening her gifts.