Christmas Party/Tree 2008

The day started out with Kevin and I running the Ridgefield 10k. Keri and Marilyn did the 5k. Kevin and I both got PRs. It was really cold--infact, my left hand was still freezing at the end of the race thanks to the GPS watch. Nothing like metal to conduct cold right through the tips of my fingers. Then we literally raced back to get changed for Kevin's work Christmas party. Kevin had his party at a country club this year. They had it from 11 am to 3 pm. It was really fun. They started off the morning with cider for everyone. We mingled and chatted for a while. Then they took the firm picture, first with all the lawyers and then they added all the family members in. That was quite a trick. The guy taking the pictures stood on top of one of the tables. Afterward, they had a brunch buffet with pastries, juices, fruit, eggs, hashbrowns, sausage, french toast, bacon, etc. Everyone seemed to enjoy their meals. We followed that up by an hour, give or take, of more mingling. During that hour, they had stations set up for the children to do activities. They could decorate a stocking, decorate sugar cookies, color, and play games. Santa came during that time and presented each child with a gift. Marin was none too happy when she got a Barbie that she already has. We smoothed it over by buying her another present that evening. At the end of the party, we play our traditional white elephant exchange. This year was quite heated. Every year, Rich Vial makes up new and exciting rules for the game. There were several presents that appeared to be quite appealing on the outside--two Victoria's Secret packages. There was also a bag that looked like Santa's that the kids were all clamoring to get. What helped/hurt the exchange was that the person who brought the gift gave a tantalizing description of what was in their package to try to get the buzz going about their gift. One of the hotly sought after gifts ended up being a pair of swim goggles, all because the description given about what they were was very cryptic. Andrew ended up with what he thought would be the ideal present--the Santa sack and then traded at the end for another gift he thought he wanted. Turns out he ended up with ugly Christmas candlesticks that he cried about on the way home. I tried to explain that is what you get at white elephant parties but it went over his head.

We also went and got our tree after the party. This year, I succeeded in getting Kevin to buy a tree that we didn't have to cut more than a foot off of to fit it in our house. Every year we pay for an eight foot or more tree and then cut off at least a foot so that we can fit our tree topper on top and put it in our tree stand that lifts it about 6 inches. Our tree is really pretty this year and we had great weather for going to get it. The place we go takes care to shake all the dead needles and then wraps it up tight. We just unwrap the twine when we put it in the stand and it fluffs right up. The kids had a blast hanging ornaments. It was a fun, but exhausting day.