Thimble Thoughts: December 8

Today was another big day for our family as we celebrated Bruce turning another year older. Truthfully his birthday is not until Monday, but we celebrated today. As we gathered around the table and everyone bowed their heads to pray, I couldn't help but feel blessed.

On the menu today was lasagna and garlic bread. A favorite of my dear hubby. He LOVES my lasagna.

Dessert was "death by chocolate." Triple chocolate cake with chocolate ice cream.

Blowing out his candles.

Mmmm, good cake!

Enjoying the food and fellowship.

Gift time! Bruce is thanking his mommy for the money she gave him.

New dress pants! Two pair.

And MORE money! Woo Hoo!

Thanking my mom.

Thanking my daddy.

I got Bruce the Air Hog Havoc Heli. It's a small helicopter that hovers and flies. It's really neat. Our cat was quite intrigued by it.

Bruce and his mother. Can't you tell?

When the celebration was over, Bruce took Harrison to the church for his Sunday School outing. His class went to McDonald's for supper and then off to Hollywild Zoo. He was so excited!!

Later on, Bruce, Hannah, and I headed back over to the church for our Sunday School party at the fellowship building. Hannah was helping in the nursery with the little ones.

Don't you just love that giant snowman?

And this beautiful tree. Isn't it lovely?

Hannah made those gingerbread cookies in the back and some pigs in a blanket for our party. I made spinach dip and crackers and was pleased that Brother Brian wanted to take a gob of it home with him tonight. I hope you enjoy it, Brother Brian!

Amy made the snowman cheese ball. The cheese ball is made of two blocks of cream cheese and one packet of dry ranch dressing. Mix it together and roll into shapes. She used chocolate chips for the eyes and buttons, a very small baby carrot for the nose, and a fruit roll up for the scarf. Cute, huh?

Brother Daniel giving the thumb's up. At what, I do not know. But, ok.

Amy and me. I know you love my hat! I even have earrings in the ears.

It was time to play Dirty Santa. Everyone was to bring a "white elephant" gift from home. Which is really just something around the house that you either don't use any longer or you've never used and probably never will use. Everyone draws a number and you go in order of those numbers until everyone has had a chance to open a gift. But when your number is called, if you want to take someone's gift they have already opened, you can do that. If you do that, the person you took the gift from, is given an opportunity to take another gift from under the tree. Any gift can only be taken three times.

Brother Chad got this nifty decorative something. He saw it came from Wal Mart and was hoping to return it, but later found out it was three years old and there was no receipt for it. LOL

Brother Josh got a very nice candle set.

Bruce got some sort of vanilla body stuff. LOL

Brother Ted got a UNC sweatshirt two......or three......sizes too small.

Brother Ken got these fishing things that are GUARATEED to catch fish. At least that's what the man on TV said. LOL

Brother Brian got this box of Pot of Gold chocolates. This was one of those gifts that was passed around.

Amanda got a Home Interior angel picture......with Spanish writing around it. I suppose she could hire a translator.

Brother Daniel got a ten pound candy cane. Ok, I may be slightly exagerating about the size, but it was really big!!

Mrs. Rebecca took the vanilla body wash and lotion from Bruce, so he picked out another gift which was a thermos. He liked that one better than the body wash. LOL

Betsy got this stadium seat which has made its way to our party the last couple of years.

Brother Chris was pleased with his very large universal remote. Might I add that this is just like the one I bought for daddy last year.

I got a stove top grill. Wasn't sure what it was at first, but Rebecca filled me in on it.

Tammy got a tapestry wall hanging.

Josh had his candles taken away from someone so the next gift he chose ended up being an Aunt Jemimah hand soap dispencer. Which, by the way, has also made its way to our Christmas party the last couple of years.

When someone took Brother Ted's shirt that was two sizes to small, he ended up with this dog set. I don't know exactly what it was..

Brother RJ got an empty wallet and the movie DUNE, which obviously had the reputation of being the most boring four hour movie ever made.

And Missy got this little.........tree..........thingy. Very interesting indeed! Her husband, Brother Chad said, "And now I gotta sit in my chair and look at that thing." LOL She also got a candle and candle wreath. But this wasn't her original gift. The gift she first got was a very pretty candle stand. So she was upset that she got this in place of that.

Although her little........tree.........thingy was upsetting for her, she was the last person's number drawn which entitled her the option of trading with someone else. So she did get her candle stand in the end.

This made her happy and as you can see, she continued to have a really good time.