Christmas in July

Our 2008 Hoefer Family Reunion began last Saturday with a day of work at our house followed by Christmas in July! We had a Christmas tree, presents, peanut butter balls. I even suggested opening the door to outside because it was getting warm, forgetting that it was not December. The only thing we didn't do was line up in chronological order and proceed down the stairs for a video (another Christmas tradition).

One of my favorite things about Christmas has always been our family gift exchange. There are 14 grandchildren in my dad's family and we drew names each year for a Christmas gift exchange. Our generation has since moved to giving a combined gift to a non-profit organization (when we get organized enough) but the younger grandchildren and great-grandchildren have continued the tradition. This year Sylvia got a set of animal puppets from my cousin Jacob, and she loves them!


Here Sylvia is with her Great God-Mother, Sarah.


We also did a white elephant gift exchange this year with the adults as well as my favorite game...the dice game (for lack of a better name). I first played the dice game at one of my wedding showers. It's a great game because you can play it at any type of party or shower..

Directions
Place 5 or so wrapped gifts (depending on the number of people) in the middle or a circle of people.

Give 3 or 4 people a pair of dice and a paper plate to roll them on.

Set a timer for 5 (anything longer is too long).

When the timer starts, the people with the dice roll and then pass the plate and dice the person on their right.

Each time someone rolls doubles, they take a gift from the center or from another person. Do not open gifts until the end of the game.

The game continues with people rolling, passing the dice & plate and stealing gifts until the timer goes off.

When the time goes of, the people with the gifts may open them and keep them.