I call it my Mom’s Christmas party because in our family, the guys pretty much just lift the heavy stuff and “supervise.” We’re the ones making the food, putting up the decorations and wrapping the packages. Maybe it’s not like that at your house, but hey, that’s what it’s always been like at mine {both growing up, and in my own home}. And you know what? Everything seems to works out just fine. 😉
Plus, my mom and I are kinda both control freaks and if a slice of cheese was out of line, we’d have to go over to the party platter and fix it before the food could be served. So ya know, it’s just easier to do some things yourself.
This past summer my mom found the book The Real Girl’s Kitchen and while flipping through it found a recipe for dog cookies. I didn’t get a chance to go through the book but my mom said it’s packed full of all sorts of fun recipes.
Anywho, my mother, who’s more of a wine and cheese platter, let’s eat a big salad for dinner kind of girl than a baker, took the time to hunt down a sack of whole wheat flour and a jar of nutmeg, just so she should could bake her grand fur baby a batch of homemade cookies for Christmas. HOW SWEET WAS THAT? Lucy opened her box on Christmas morning and went wild for them.
I’ll have to try and get the recipe and share it with you.
And in case you were all wondering…. Yes, Monkey Boy received a giant bag of Doritos from my mother.
And a pack of Charmin. He’e been getting this every year since he was like 11 because back in the day I refused to buy the expensive tissue for him. And well, Granny wasn’t having any of that.
And of course a gift card to smelly ol’ Mc Donalds. GAG.
Ah yes, and let’s not forget the canned chili. 🙂 🙂 🙂 Are you a grandparent? Do you buy your adult grandchildren stuff like this? Because seriously, I want to know if this is normal or if our family is just totally off their rockers. 😉
I mean, it’s the little things in life that make it so great, right?
Oh, and this year, I beat my Dad in the final round of our annual card game of 31 and went home with $180 in gift cards to various places like Chic Fil A, Panera, Starbucks, Target and Wendy’s.
How about YOU? How was your Christmas? Did you give or receive anything unusual? Does your family play any games at Christmas or have any silly traditions? We’d all love to hear about it.
~Mavis
P.S. This years freebie gift boxes are coming up next! 😉
Kari says
I love 31, and just leaned to play it this year! just out of curiosity, do you play that each person has buy-in of $5 gift card, winner takes all?
Mavis Butterfield says
This year each person had a buy in of 3 $10 gift cards. Winner takes all. 🙂
Kari says
I love this! I am going to do this at our New Year’s Eve party (modifying the $ amt.)
E in Upstate NY says
My husband’s family do a family gift exchange at Thanksgiving. Everyone brings a gift which is put in a huge pile. One by one, dice is thrown. If total above 6 or doubles, you get to pick a gift. If below, pass the dice. If you get to pick, you may pick from the pile, or pick someone’s already opened gift. Dice continues around until every gift has a home. Game finished.
When my parents were alive, my mother liked to sew everyone a gift. She was an excellent seamstress, so we are talking shirts, dresses, bathrobes etc. It became tradition that someone, usually my father or me, would receive a box filled with fabric, pattern, and notions. Mom would stop her sewing binge around Thanksgiving, and wouldn’t start any new projects til after the new year, hence the box of fabric.
Thanx for doing this blog, Mavis. It constantly brings joy to me, which often I need.
Nan says
Oh wow! We play that dice game Christmas Eve but only a gift if you get doubles. It’s so much fun. This year I won See’s candy, Belgian chocolates, 2 nail polish kids, a few gift cards, wine, place mates, more candy, and probably some things I can’t remember. We use a timer and divide the loot so when the first half is over, that is yours to keep. PS I have never bought my grandkids anything like TP heehee but now that they are teens, I give the boys a crisp hundred dollar bill they love and 4 year old GD got an American Girl doll.
Amber says
I love your quirky fun family traditions.
We have a relative who used to get a giant puzzle for New Years Eve and host an open house all day. The goal was to get the puzzle done by midnight and people would drop by to visit, eat cookies, and help finish the puzzle. It’s an easy, fun way to see the people you love during the holidays.
Kristina says
That is such a clever and fun tradition! Cozy and casual.
DebbieF says
My gradsons, ages 11 and 9, love to eat. Right now, they cant get enough of ramen noodles. So, they each got a 12 pack case along with a Rae Dunn bowl that says Ramen on the front. They were thrilled! Lol
Debra Basquez says
my sister does Christmas Eve at her house. For the “kids” who are now ages 14-28, she has a bingo game set up in the dining room. they play and winners get a gift out of the basket full of silly and weird things she’s collected through the year. at the end, if you didn’t win, you get to pick from what’s left over. this helps them be entertained for a couple of hours before dinner. but they all look forward to it. they are now taking turns being the bingo caller while the other’s play. we also do a white elephant exchange after dinner. it’s a lot of yelling at hilarious gifts. favorite gift this year was a button that had many different ways to say “blah, blah, blah”.
Sue says
I have the cook book by Haylie Duff. I’m going to save all my freebies this next year to see what I end up with. Good goal! Just love your mother and her goodies.
Diane says
That would be great to get the “Lucy approved” recipe for the dog snacks!
My two rascals would be thrilled with a special treat, and I like the idea of them being fresh and I can make them just the size I want.
Lace Faerie says
I would love the recipe that Lucy went wild for! I have two grand fur babies to spoil!
Jenny Young says
This was the most subdued Christmas we’ve had in years, even with a new grandbaby celebrating with us. I had surgery on Dec. 22 & came home on the 23rd so I was in control of absolutely nothing!
But…we love unusual gifts at our house. Some of the best given over the years….
-a gallon of whole milk; our son moaned as a teenager about the limit I set on how much he could drink a day because it had to last to the next shopping day. So my husband gave him a whole gallon & told him he could drink it as fast as he wanted to.
-fresh steak; we often do quick trips to the grocery store to buy steak, bacon….whatever raw meat the men are hungry for, then wrap them in newspaper & put a bow on top to give as a gift
Mavis Butterfield says
I hope you’re doing better Jenny! We LOVE food gifts at our house too. 🙂
Min says
Towel freebies from the W hotel huh, I need to go there.
Lace Faerie says
I like the spin on the spoils of 31. I’m going to suggest this for the next family event. Maybe for our birthday Sunday suppers.
My quilt guild has played Left Right Center with 3.5” x WOF (width of fabric) strips of batik fabrics. It’s added many laughs to our annual Christmas party!
New Year’s Eve was for all night games at my parents’ house with all my sibs and their kids. With 5 sibs, spouses and 13 kids between us, it was wall to wall sleeping bags by the time the last game, poker for the grown ups, ended close to dawn! As we were all safely in for the night, no one had to abstain to be designated drivers!
This year the games will be at my house with our adult children, spouses and 1 new grandbaby. Hey, maybe there will be a profitable game of 31 in my future!
Ms. Sandie says
My grandmother used to give me a can of Asparagus and a six pack of Dr Pepper every year as a kid. Now that I am the caregiver she gets a treat every day from me.
Carol says
Ms. Sandie,
Sweet!!!!! You sound as if you are the most wonderful granddaughter one could wish for!!! Bless you for your thoughtfulness!!!
Ms. Sandie says
Thank you Carol. I love my “Rae-Rae”.
Emily Brower says
I love this. Thank you for sharing, and please give your nana a squeeze for me.