Fun with Friends

We are part of a group of friends that have held a monthly potluck for many years. The December potluck is extra special because in addition to the usual wonderful food and good conversation, we participate in that traditional bonding ritual known as the "white elephant gift exchange." This can get quite adversarial at times (all in good fun, of course), but tonight was fairly mild. I guess we're getting soft as we get older!

Unlike some other versions of the game, we do not open any presents until all of them have reached their final destination, which happens when someone gets tired of stealing a gift from someone else and chooses the last gift from underneath the tree. In our version, a gift can be picked 3 times before it is "dead" and cannot be stolen any more. Our sometimes intense competition for a gift is based solely on how it looks and "feels" when shaken.

This beauty came across my lap rather early in the process, but alas, it was not meant to be mine permanently.


After the "stealing" portion is done, it's time to open up the gifts and see what we've been fighting for.
Bruce was properly enthusiastic about his "Skin So Soft" lotion.


Judy was happy to support the Springfield High School Millers.


ShamWow! and De-Icer were practical gifts for Julie.


Craig is not sure what he's going to do with Sylvester.


Would you believe there was an entire lamp post in this box? Well at least a miniature one.


Kyle is still smiling because he hasn't opened his present yet!


LeAnn got someone else's unfinished project to work on, because she has so much spare time, you know.


Warner got properly excited about his Christmas tree candle.


Virginia liked her snowman Christmas card display tree.....


.....once she and Warner figured out how to assemble it (which took a lot of concentration).


And here is Carol opening the one that got away from me.


Darn! I really coulda used that fish bank. :)


But I didn't go away empty-handed. I got a genuine Coconut Bank from Hawaii!!!! (Kinda scary, isn't it?)


Oh, well. At least it came with a moose! :)