Extended Soptich Family Christmas Party 2009

We had our Extended Soptich Family Christmas party this last weekend up at Ensign Ranch. We had a lot of fun. Here's Aunt Becky directing the handing out of Grandma Great's gifts.

Ahhh memories - Gracie and Halle put on a little program for us. They both did a great job - Gracie on the violin and Halle on the piano - see the videos below.

Family hug (minus a few)

I KILLED myself to finish this silly quilt for the gift exchange - in fact, it took me so stinkin' long to "snip" the seam allowances that we had to go up Saturday morning instead of Friday night. You see, in the Soptich family every gift has to be homemade. You put a number on your wrapped gift and then another of the same # is put in a bag for drawing. The #'s are drawn by those choosing to participate (that have also made something) and then matched up to see what you got in return. Rick, Ryker and Karissa drew the magic # 7, which was the one assigned to my quilt. I'm so glad that someone got it that seemed to appreciate it :). You can't tell here but it's really quite good size.

Then last night Miss Kendall (who apparently loves belly buttons) was enjoying pregnant Crystal's

Family . . . you gotta love 'em! You can't pick your family, but you can pick . . .

their belly buttons :)

Christmas set up and . . . Elves ")

I decided to retire the 12 foot Christmas tree this year, and bought a pre-lit (such a luxury) 9 foot tree from Costco. Nellie and I put it together Sunday night. The box was irresistible to Miss Nellie.

Tonight I found our Santa hats . . . and an "angry Elf" - he must be from the South Pole.

That's better :)

As we started to put some of the ornaments on the tree tonight, Nellie found one that she had made in Preschool with her picture on it - it's very cute. In the picture she has a big crooked smile. This is her trying to replicate it - funny girl!

Trying to get all the Christmas decorations up is a HUGE job, but I always love it when it's done. Good luck to all of you who are doing the same. Ho ho ho!

Thanksgiving 2009

M - m - good :)

Notice the cool whip on the nose
Dishing up the "feast"

Addison hearts Auntie Jen's rolls

We moved most of the furniture out of the living room so we could have both big tables together for the feast - 20 in all this year

Checking out the ads for black Friday.

Paul and Emilee's 10th anniversary fell on Thanksgiving this year - happy anniversary to them :)

A little x-box

This was the 2nd year for our Turkey Trot (so to speak). Tyson plays the part of the turkey (go figure) and the kids chase him and try to pluck the feathers that are taped to his back. We had some funny looks from a few of our neighbors who happened to notice/hear (and snicker at) the chaos. Make sure to watch the video below

There they go

A tired turkey - allowing himself to be plucked

I forgot to rotate this one, but here he is exhausted!!

A new turkey takes over

Kids hiding their eyes while the turkey hides to begin with

Emilee enjoying the plethora of desserts

Lee was worth his weight in gold as the official "dish doer" for the meal. We sent the dishwasher through 3 times that day

The kids decorated a gingerbread house and tree

Paige and Summer working their magic

Gracie and Bailee did the tree all by themselves - I guess they're growing up or something.

Tyson, Calley and co. spent the night with us so Calley could go shopping with us early the next morning . . .

The lines at Target were really something!! After waiting for FOREVER in the line back at the electronics, the cashier tried to tell us we could only pay for the electronic purchases there - that her register would shut down if she did too many other items. Emilee told the cashier that she didn't believe her, and that excuse wasn't going to work because we had waited too long. There was a manager standing close by who told the cashier to just go ahead and ring the other stuff. Amazingly her register worked fine :). Go Emilee!! :)

Our 3rd annual lunch at RR after the big black Friday shopping trip - we all look a little tired

We came home to find Lee and co. making what I call a camo quilt - you never know what this guy will be up to.

Lee was a bad influence on Billy this weekend, shopping wise, and got him in a bit of trouble with his wife - sorry Kaisa :) , you know as well as I do that Dad does whatever he wants to!

Billy sporting my "warm and cozy" (a Snuggie knock off) that Lee bought for me. Doesn't he look stunnishing?

So proud of my little Pookie :)

Kaisa, with her first "official" pumpkin pies

She did it!!!

Miss Nellie Sue got her license today so she's official now!

She is a VERY happy girl - she sang all the way home; "because I'm sixteen, and I got my license". She said the DOL guy that tested her looked like a Keebler Elf. He must have been a nice elf because he passed her with a 96 ")

YAHOO for Nellie!

PS . . . .

I forgot to say that Nellie's main gift was a stereo for the truck that she'll be driving, installed by Scott of course. You can't see much in the video but she was very happy!