The Booby Prize

Every year since Lulu was born

my daughter has had

an ornament and

white elephant exchange party.

The kids are sent off with Daddy

for the night and my daughter's friends

and relatives come to enjoy an evening

at her house.

Just a few shots of this and that.

This is her dining room chandelier..

which used to be super bright brass..

Spray painted Heirloom White

and adorned with shades

and baubles for Christmas.This is a shot of her family room..

where the party takes place.

The picture above the mantle is one

that hung above my mantle

for all the years the kids were little.

I passed it along a couple of years ago.The little dog on the mantle belonged

to one of us when we were kids on the farm.

It's an old Fisher-Price toy.

The little clock was in my daughter's room

when they were little.There was SOOO much food..

and I forgot to take pictures before

we started eating.

The cone tree is one we have done for

many years. It is a Styrofoam cone

covered in lettuce leaves.

My "ornaments" were always

star shapes cut out of yellow peppers..

and small red tomatoes..

and olives and radish roses.

My daughter showed me up

by making her "ornaments"

out of chocolate covered

strawberries and using

blueberries as "garland".

Cute, huh?Her tree lights are all white..

but the lights above her kitchen cabinets

this year are multi-colored...

a nod to the children in the house.After everyone has snacked

and eaten 5200 calories each..

we move to the real purpose of the party.

The Exchange.

This year we did not do an ornament

exchange. Instead we brought gifts

for a needy family.

However, we were NOT going to

give up our

White Elephant Exchange.
Here are some of the gals..

listening to instructions.

We had about 25 left at this point.

You drew a card and low to high

picked a package.

The next person could

"steal" another's gift

or pick a new one.

The first person got a money bar of soap.

The second person got this...Actually not too bad for a

White Elephant gift.

Of course there were a few old CD's

and a

Boyz to Men puzzle...

Yeah-Radical Man!SweetCheeks was allowed to stay

at the party..because

Daddy had take the other 2 to a pool.

But we won't talk about that here..

cuz SweetCheeks would NOT be happy

if she knew.

Instead..

because she is so dad-blamed cute..

we let her pick a couple of gifts.

I encouraged her to give a special

one to her Mom...

Pick the big red bag..

I yelled!She did and this is what was in there.

I wish I had taken a picture of the doll's face.

It is the scariest looking doll ever..

Kinda like Chucky gone bad!

You all know who Chucky is-right?
Yeah-He is one scary dude!

He was my contribution to the

White Elephant Exchange.

I got the prize for the worst gift.

Yaaaay for me!

HOWEVER,

There is a little tradition we have...

It started when one of TPot's girlfriends

brought

The Gynecologist Statue.

Her mother-in-law..

God rest her tortured mind..

bought this for Jessica as a

"wonderful surprise"

when her first child was born.

It was so hideous that Jessica used

to hide it and then have to bring

it out to display it when

her mother-in-law was visiting.

It is now known as

The Booby Prize!

OUR TRADITION

is..

Whoever gets it..can't exchange it..

AND

they have to display it in

a prominent spot

in their home

for a whole year..

until the next

White Elephant Exchange.

I am
proud to announce

that my daughter

was the lucky recipient this year.

I think it will look quite nice

on her mantle.Uh-Oh...I see someone

has made off with

his stethoscope.

Be still my heart...

Get it...stethoscope...heart....

never mind~