I thought you all might enjoy these pictures from the 2003 Christmas Party taken at the no-longer-existent Joaquin Elementary School gym.
Some of you may remember that last year we decided that we'd all take turns planning the Christmas party in pairs. Sam and I volunteered to do it this year. Here is our plan:
Gift Exchange:
We are not going to exchange gifts this year. Instead we are going to use the money we would have spent on each other to give to a family for a "Sub for Santa". I really think the grandkids should be a part of the giving and so we are going to have Mom and Dad come to each of your homes for FHE starting tomorrow. They will give a lesson about giving etc and also give each family one of these to decorate (FHE activity - please provide your own decorations) and keep in the kitchen or somewhere where it will be seen. The idea is that everyone will add money to the jar until the day of our Family Christmas party (TBD). Then the day of the party, a few of us will go and buy the gifts for the family (Dan is going to find us a family) and at the party we can decorate cookies, tie a quilt, and wrap gifts for the family and even possibly some can go and deliver the gifts - depending on what Dan thinks will be best for the particular family.
I thought this schedule might work for FHE visits from Mom and Dad. Please let me know by writing a comment if that date works for you.
- November 12: Sandy and Leslie
- November 19: Joe
- November 26: Dan and Sam
- December 2: Karen, Ann Dee and Katy
This year we are not going to purchase gifts for Mom and Dad. Instead we are going to give them something better. Every single person in our family (spouses, children etc.) are going to write a section of their personal history. The personal histories will be compiled into a binder for Mom and Dad to keep. Mom and Dad are very excited about this idea and Dad came up with the topic for this year - "My first five years". Everyone will need to write approximately 2 pages about what they remember of their first five years of life - where they lived, what they did for fun, who was around, stories etc. This can be an activity for another FHE - then please email these personal histories so I can compile them for the gift. I think this could be a great tradition and a much more meaningful gift for our parents than orange sticks, ties, and perfume soap.
Christmas Party:
The first thing is to decide a date - I think a logical date is Saturday December 22nd. It is the Saturday before Christmas and I'm thinking most everyone will be on Christmas break by then. Because I have a final the day before, I'm going to need some help organizing this. Please respond on the following points:
- Date - December 22nd - please let me know
- Location - maybe Ann Dee's church again (where we had Mom and Dad's 50th party) - any other ideas? Ann Dee will you be in charge of this?
- Food - Paulette and Sam (is that ok?) will be in charge of this but ideas and help will be appreciated
- Quilt for SFS family - I need someone to get it all ready so that all we need to do is tie it at the party and it is ready to go - Anyone willing to be in charge of this?
- Organize the purchasing of gifts - this responsibility might go to Dan as he is going to be our liaison with the family. Dan is that ok?
- Sugar or gingerbread cookies - I need someone to be in charge of making cookies and providing all the materials for decorating - Anyone willing to be in charge of this?
- Family calendar - Please email me your favorite family pictures taken this last year. Doug will you help me again this year? This will most likely not be ready by the time we have our party but hopefully it will be ready by the new year.
At the party, I thought we could sing karoake (Dan will you bring your system?), watch video footage from various family outings this year (Alaska, 50th Anniversary), write letters to Elder Lowell and Elder Rock, or whatever else you want to do.
I'll be posting new information on this blog so please be sure to check it or sign up for the RSS feed so you know when I post something new. Thanks
Katy
15 comments:
Katy, You are awesome. I'll see about the church.
Good job Katy. You are an awesome partner. I never would have thought of bullet points. Nice touch. do you want to have a meeting with ruby and me? I'll call you. Thanks again.
sam
I can be in charge of the cookies and decorations. I may not actually MAKE the cookies but I will furnish them and the rest. Gosh Katy, great job! You should be the president of our family.
BTW I love you very much! Now GO GET A TISSUE!!!
Karen
I think I'll run for president of the family - new reality show idea. Thanks Karen!
I think I could work on the quilt with Leslie and I could also help Karen with cookies. I could also help with the calender. I guess I would basicly like to be the helper. I also have a very good family if Dan's doesn't work out.
Katy, you don't have to run for president You are just it. Who is the anonymous helper? Kinda creepy when you don't know who's commenting.
Karen, Phyllis, Anonymous, Chopped Liver? Make up your mind. That last anonymous is Sandy.
Katy,
I am your elder, yep that's right and you better start showing a little respect.
Hey Anonymous,
If you have a great family let's go with them. Our ward has a bunch of people who are needy, but our ward pretty much takes care of them.
PS. Katy I LOVE YOU. Seriously.
OK so if we're going with Sandy's family - we might want to have Sandy be in charge of all the gift buying things. Also we may want to check for a church up in Bountiful - or maybe we could have it at Leslie's house. Ann Dee will you follow up with the location? Sandy will you work on the family and find out what their needs are? Sam - lets get together with Paulette and decide what we want to eat etc. Dad agreed to pay for the food btw.
Hi, this is my first time commenting. I'm a little nervous. Will everyone please send me your Alaskan cruise pictures? I am putting an album together to give to Larry and Jewel for Christmas. It will be from all of us. Is it a requirement to decorate our money jars? Also, I would like to run against Katy for Family President. I feel strongly that someone from the In-Law party needs to be represented.
Thanks, Amy
Amy - no you do not have to decorate your jar.
Thanks
Katy
Amy if you dare go against Katy go for it! If you feel a little intimidated (after all she was the SBP for Provo High back in the day) you can automatically be senior vice president over the "in-law" division!!! Oh, and I'll send my pictures to you tonight. That's a great idea!
Katy, thanks for organizing - I will help Sandy with thte quilt, and buying for the family. Also, I wouldn't mind helping Paulette and Sam with the food We can have it at my house if you want, or either mine or Sandy's church.
No Karen, I am not intimidated by the whole sbp of Provo Hight thing. But I will settle for Vice-President since I don't have time to put a strong campaign together at this time. About the Christmas Party, It sounds really fun and I can help with the food. Also for those who want to contribute pictures to the Alaska Cruise Photo Album, my E-Mail is Amycknight@msn.com. Thanks
One more thing... Did anyone decide who is getting the sub for santa family? Sandy or Dan?
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