The Marvin Christmas Party 2013

The Annual Carl and Nadine Christmas Party was held on
December 21, 2013.  Our family branch was in charge this year.
It was the first day of winter and yes!  It snowed!

As BIG as our family is, there were only three of us available to 

set up for the party. Dad shoveled snow at the Church.  We all made 

multiple trips to get everything inside.  The van was loaded!

Andrea paused to show off this years pinata'. 
She's the baby got to love her!

 Dad and Andrea hung the pinata from the basketball hoop first thing.

 Then we set up five games.  This game is called  "Toss Santa a cookie."

 This is called, "Christmas ring toss."

 This game is called, "Guess and Win." (Mandi's girls made a clean sweep.)

Our next project was tables, chairs and decorations. 

Notice that the snow is not as deep on Mom's side ...

...as on Andrea's side. :)

These are my Christmas "clearance" table clothes.  

I've been collecting for a couple of years.

I made this Christmas tree on R.S. Super Saturday this year. 

Our little snowman greeted everyone at the door. (Timmerman's gave it to us.)

 I made the plate at R.S. Super Saturday last year!.

 Finally, a chair for Santa.  Oh no!  It won't fit! 

Grandpa thinks he is Santa I guess. :)

After we set up we went home to get the sloppy joes started
and wait for 2:30 p.m. for the party to start.  Dad blow up
the tubes and gathered wood for the big fire.

It a perfect day for a sleigh ride.  Let the fun begin.  Our sleigh-riders
met at Dave and Linda Shepherd's hill and began the trek to the top. 

Malea and Jared with someone small.

 Neldon and Brenda.

Malea is on launch control at the top.

"Good bye and good luck!"

OOOHHH...Another one bites the dust!

 

Willie, Bridger and Hayden on Willie's ice fishing toboggan.

 

 They nearly made it to town!

Andrea and Malea. They survived and are planning their next descent. 

Tyler, trying to decide if he wants to go again.

Andrea and Kinley, Dillon's little girl. 

Hayden could have gone on forever! 

Willie with his boys, Bridger and Ace. 

 Bridger totally face planted on his solo trip, but
Uncle Kieth was there to tell him how much fun he
was having so he never shed a tear.

Haylie and Aunt Mia!  I love what
Colton did to enhance the colors!

 Kaleb, Aunt Andrea and Dallin

Aunt Andrea is starting to show her age. 
(She's maybe 19 or even 20:) 

 What do high speeds down a hill with powdered snow do to your make-up?
Mandi can tell you!  We recommend water proof mascara.

 Uncle Kieth has some of the cutest grand daughters...Jerica and Savanah.

Let's do it again!  Dallin, Andrea and Brendi!

 Kaleb and Aunt Andrea.  

( I'm not sure if Andrea bumped her head or just had too much wassail.:)

Promptly at 4:00 p.m. the group gathered up and headed for 

the Levan Ward Church, even though most were not ready):

At the church, each child was given a card listing the five 

games available. They got a stamp for each game played. 

This is Heidi playing "Move the Snow!"

 Kaleb is trying a hand at Toss Santa a cookie.

After they had played all five games, they took their card
 to the Christmas Trading post, manned by Aunt Annette
and traded it in for a prize of their choice. 

Then we our special visitor arrived. 

I know... who knew Santa had a cowboy hat.

  Santa Uncle Dick, Grandpa and Glen.

Santa sat in his nice big chair, near the "pin the hat on the 

polar bear" game.  You can see his bag was stuffed to the top!

He called the kids one by one to come and visit before receiving a gift.

This is Kaleb Darrel Mellor.

Santa and Dallin Kurt. Check out the holly on Santa's hat!

Santa grilled Spencer a bit.  I guess Santa really does know! 

Santa and Tyler.  Apparently Santa asked some sobering questions.

Hayden passed with flying colors. 
Dimples and charm are great assets.

 Haylie and Santa were immediate friends. 
Santa gave her a puppy in a purse.

 When Kien came, Santa quickly assessed the situation and
decided it was safer to sit on his lap.  Kien is a BIG kid. 
Kien played right along and asked Santa what he wanted for
Christmas.  Without hesitation he said,  "A day off!"

 Santa didn't bring gifts for anyone over 16 this year, but Andrea 

delivered the card we had for Santa and he suggested we get a picture.

Here's the picture for our 2014 Christmas card!

After Santa left, we had a yummy dinner and then we had a Pinata'.

 It was an amazing pinata.  It lasted from Paige's baby, Zander....

... through Kaleb and all the kids! 

 It made it through all the teens!  Andrea shows
what it looked like when it was her turn.

The final blow was delivered by Willie!  We felt pretty proud about that!

NOTE: It was a great party.  Everyone stayed and visited.  It just felt good to be together.  

We hoped to make it the funnest party ever...and we came pretty close. :) 

We missed all who weren't there.):