Friday, December 14, 2012

Early Christmas in Fresno!

After we left Vegas we took two days to get to Atwater, California . We have friends that live there and they host the Red Lips party every Christmas.  Several of us arrived on Thursday and got together for dinner.  Three ladies; Marion, Pat and Joette left from San Diego and didn't arrive until after midnight!










We had a group of 17 this year.  We decided to have the gift exchange Friday night this year. After we had Jim and Della`s awesome Spaghetti dinner, we first played a 1964 trivia game for a prize!   Della was the big winner and won a box of 1964 candy!  The candy was not really around in 1964, just the kind of candy!   1964 was the year that Ted`s high school class graduated and most of the group are from that year!  There was also a game question on how many states Ted and Susan visited.  Duane was the big winner and won 10 scratch off tickets for $4.00!


We had a really fun gift exchange this year. Everyone brings a $20 good gift and a $5 gag gift!  There are always some interesting gag gifts and this year was no exception.  We had "mop the floor shoes", "hand sanitizer in case you touched your genitals", "a bottle of Tequila with two urine sample glasses to drink from" to name a few!  Phil always finds unusual gag gifts and this year his gift was really odd, to say the least.  He sent a gift in his absence because he is working in Austria and couldn't make it to the party.  He took a beer bottle, put some clothes on it, some eyes on it and a chunk of his ponytail!  It was hysterical and we all had a good laugh over it and all the gag gifts in general!  Box alcohol sets seemed to be the most popular good gifts along with Starbucks and a couple of household items.



 Kelly found the best "red lips" gift for Billy and Vicky, our host and hostess!  She found it on one of her bike trips and had to carry it in her backpack while riding her bicycle for eight weeks!  It even made it all in once piece...and so did Kelli!

It turned cold and grey on Saturday but it didn't stop the band from playing!  Vicky and Billy's son plays in a band and he has a lot of musician friends that seem to like to come and play for us. We always have a huge pot luck and lots of beer and the band and their friends have a good time playing, eating, drinking and singing for us.  One of our classmates had a bucket list wish to sing with a band.  Joette sang the Jose Cuervo song.  She was very brave and did a good job!  We try and get them to play music for us from our era and it doesn't always work, but it's always a great time!




Sunday morning about half the group met for breakfast and then we head out in all different directions!  By Sunday we all are exhausted!  Such a fun weekend!

From there Ted and I were going to go over to Sacramento for a few days but we were unable to connect up with friends so we headed down to Fresno. So far we have had lunch with the oldest nephew, Craig.  We had a good visit with him and have run some errands. Wednesday was cold and rainy so we took advantage of an opportunity to just rest up and read our books!

Last night we went to Costco with Craig and then met up with everyone at his house.  Craig and Claire are having a huge Christmas/Open House/House Warming on Saturday and were busy with the house.  Stephen had to study for finals so Chip went to dinner with Ted and I.  We had a good time catching up with him!  He is really enjoying teaching high school math and being the assistant wrestling coach.  He loves working with the kids.

I'm trying to download the Red Lips party pictures so I can get this posted!  Pat took a lot of great pictures of the group!

Enjoying the early holidays..."Ain't Life Grand!"








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