CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS & CARD SHARKS

THE BASKET GAME

In addition to the drawing names for adults gifts to one another, it is a tradition for us to play the "Steal a Basket Game". This year, the limit on the basket was $25.00 and participants can either select a basket still available or STEAL ONE someone else already picked. First everyone tries to make their own donated basket appealing for stealing, but Joe and Nicole missed out on the basket stealing announcement, so they had to get some 'donated' items from MOM.

Here, Joey tries to explain the attributes to a Wine called "Penetration" produced by the NAKED WINERY...and I don't think Joey even drinks wine or alcohol at all...so it was a task...but what an improv star he could be!

WILL baked his basket wares and explained the delicious offering with the verve of a five star chef...



LINDSAY proudly displayed her 'everything hand made basket' for the girls to view (since the guys wern't really into the importance of the gift of creativity and time)...

PAPA didn't participate but came over to watch the action and enjoy hanging out with his bride of 19 years (we celebrated our 19th anniversary December 7th) who defintely WAS IN THE GAME with her offering of a mystery basket of something good...or maybe just nothing good...THAT was a gamble for them to take...no?

SISTERS, Wendy and Lindsay 'crack up' at one of the jokes either JOEY OR WILL were handing out...explaining their baskets. Wendy offered up a beautiful "float" I was eyeing pretty closely along with Lindsay's Basket...and Faye was IN with a PIRATE GAME that can be played in less than an hour by a family of four...and NICOLE with her donated gift of BEAVEROPOLY!

THIS just goes to show that STEALING from your FAMILY can be FUN.


THE POKER TOURNAMENT

THE POKER equipment came out from the mothballs for this annual MUST at Christmas...the POKER TOURNAMENT of TEXAS HOLD'EM.

Everyone puts in FIVE DOLLARS TOTAL and collects all the high stakes chips in equal shares. We play til everyone goes out and we have a big WINNER.

JORDAN served as FAYE'S assistant, as Faye can't see the cards, or the chips, and can't remember too much about the last five minutes either...so with JORDAN'S HELP...this famous family CARD SHARK ended up WINNING THE

$40.00 pot of money. TRUE TO HER FRUGAL FORM...

she generously gave JORDAN...TEN DOLLARS as a TIP

"FOR HELPING".

EVERY YEAR since she was 84 Years old and I told Allen that I wanted her to live with us (and not go into a retirement/convalescent home) we have looked at the possibility that we may only have Faye ONE MORE YEAR. In fact, when I asked Allen about her moving in with us...his first reaction was

"Hell no." as he was happy with things just like they were.

When he saw that I could not abandon her because she had always 'been there' for me as a good advisor and counsel...he relented when I said,

"Honey, we might only have her one more year..."

Well, THIRTEEN YEARS LATER, we don't say that anymore. We honestly think that she may just OUTLIVE US BOTH...as she is still pretty HEALTHY although

she seems to be fading away in inches. I say inches because there are still lot's of inches to go...and now that we can't take care of her like she needs now, and still take care of everything else, we have the help and assistance of her baby sister AUNT OPAL who is a spry 82...but forgetful...and FAYE who is fading, but remembers stuff where she stays when we travel. Of course, my cousin VICKIE (Opals daughter) and her SO Wayne, live across the street and help with all the heavy lifting for BOTH of the old ladies...plays a very signigicant role in that HELPING THING.

WENDY is taking over a lot of the duties I just can't do...and we sort of work together to see that FAYE is 'covered' 24/7 around the clock as Faye can't be left alone at all anymore. It is hard to believe that she has been around longer than the TITANIC has been at the bottom of the ocean...and was born about the same time the Wright Bros. got that airplane afloat.

LINDSAY AND DAVID and their kids arrived on December 14th...MOTHER on December 17th, and finally JOEY AND NICOLE arrived December 22nd. David, Lindsay and Mother left on December 24th to get home to the rest of their family, in-laws and out-laws and traditions. JOEY AND NICHOLE were able to stay until December 26th...so with some GOOD-BYES...we still were celebrating the Christmas Holiday Vacation with the Baby of the Family and his wife.( They promised us some 'pitter patter' of little feet in another two years though...and there's a good chance for TWINS from Nicoles family, and a Red Head from Joeys...so Allen has his fingers crossed.)

So, now I am working on a photo album for Mother with all the family photos in it so she can remember who is who in my branch... and this blog for those who KNOW EXACTLY WHO YOU ARE...

AND, then "Basketball Joe" who will be coaching their basketball team next year put in a bid to watch the Lakers -vs- Suns game on Christmas Day...and he had a willing participant in MOM. I'm for the Lakers and Joey was for the Suns...my SON LOST...

EVEN IF he gave it his all to prevent it....