My cousin walked through the door and asked, “What games will we be playing this year?” My sister and I were absolutely thrilled that games were a big hit from last year – so thrilled that we’re doing it again this year prior to dinner and presents so that everybody can and will participate.

The first game was wrapping a box with a partner of your choice. Each pair was given the same materials: scissors, wrapping paper, a box, tape and a ribbon. The only requirements were to wrap a Christmas present using one hand of yours and one hand of your partner’s. And the team to wrap their box the fastest and make it the most presentable wins. My parents were one team, while my cousins paired with their significant others and my aunts paired with each other. When we gave them the green light, the teams went at it. Across the board, you can probably see the women taking the lead, doing the cutting and taping while the men were good at taking direction. You can also notice that hands sometimes got a little twisted as they led over verbal communications. There was a lot of energy and tension to get this small box wrapped. Sometimes you even saw four hands to a box over two. My parents were taking the lead. There was no surprise there, since my Dad started telling the story that he’d been with my Mom for over forty years and you just sort of ‘pick up’ on these things. In the very end, it looks like the years of experience and partnership triumphed as my Mom and Dad won the competition. They got crowned Mickey ears and Santa hats along with some sweet treats. Congratulations, Mom and Dad!

For the second game of the evening we decided to bring back the gingerbread making houses – an all time favorite. Instead of teaming up to build larger gingerbread houses, we each got our own mini gingerbread house. Assorted gum drops, m&ms, confetti and icing were available to dress each person’s house to their liking, that’s if they can even put together the foundation of the house. After a few attempts at the icing, my hands were sticky and white. The walls could barely hold the roof, which could barely hold the candy. Yikes, mine looked like a snowstorm hit San Francisco. Clifton filled his house with candied windows along with his initials on the rooftop. Bernice made cute little snowmen, xmas trees and a dog. My Aunt Julie couldn’t help but try to copy my cousin in putting together the base of the house, where my Mom was concerned with decorating the rooftop. Jeffrey got his hand all muddied up in icing, while Laura seemed to have the magic touch to making the house look homey. In the end it was unanimous and Laura took home the trophy for the best looking gingerbread house in town. A concession prize went to my Aunt who didn’t even get her house to stand. What a fun evening that was and you still have Clifton in the background claiming he too is deserving of a prize – any prize.

What a fun evening of games.  I think we all worked up an appetite. Now onto to dinner, presents and more festivities. I hope your Christmas is just as exciting, warm and eventful as ours.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas from the Lee Family!