The Orchard Team Huddle

It's a different phase of life we are in right now. With Stockton on his mission and Douglas married, Mason is the only one around.  This was our first Christmas without Stockton.  We spent 2 years without Douglas but we got him back.  This year he was gone too.  I couldn't really imagine Christmas with only Mason but it turned out just fine. Here we are trying to make sure we don't poop out on fun Christmas stuff.  This is the completed project.  Mason really doesn't care!  Luckily, I bought this gingerbread house on clearance the year before.  It doesn't matter if the candy is stale because we don't eat it anyway.  In fact, we didn't even open it! Amelia spent the night at our house so she could be here when Stockton called.  We decided it was legal to wake up at 7:00 am.  I got up early enough to be showered before gifts since Stockton was calling at 8:30 and I didn't want him to think his mom had let herself go!:) ...

We used to get together every Christmas afternoon with our Sproul family.  Grandma and Grandpa would cook a nice dinner for everyone and we would exchange gifts.  Last year we decided to quit buying cousin gifts and have a night playing games together.  We picked the Sunday before Christmas as this new time.  We still have dinner but we all help cook and now we play BUNCO!   Bunco:  This was our second annual Christmas Bunco party.   The dinner menu consisted of Dallas' famous smoked brisket, Russell potatoes (Russell didn't make them.  We just call them that because they are his favorite:)), green beans, rolls, and strawberry pretzel salad with brownie peppermint ice cream hot fudge sundaes for dessert.  We were missing Stockton who was in England, Cameron's family in Kansas City and Douglas and Daisha who spent Christmas in Idaho. The rest of us had a great time! You move tables if you loose and stay if you win.  At...