Holidays 2016

Holidays 2016

We had many wonderful family gatherings during the holiday season and we were blessed to have ALL of our family together for some of these occasions.

This is a copy of our Christmas card.

Christmas

I love this photo of Jon and Allison's cute family! 

Ella was so proud of her new shoes with a heel!

We enjoyed a dinner of ham and potatoes.

Our little Evie

After dinner the cousins played with some of their new toys.

Poor Violet was sick with the flu but she still managed a smile.  That nasty flu bug went all through our family!

Tricia relaxing after dinner

Ruby and Evie love to play together!

Preston and Alex enjoyed playing games together!

James relaxing

The cousins loved this silly game - Watch ya Mouth.  You put the device in your mouth and then try to say a phrase while the rest of the group tries to figure out what you are saying.

Making cinnamon rolls with grandma

Thursday January 29th

I did this with the grand kids last year before Christmas and they loved it.  So this year, we waited until after Christmas when Jessica and her kids could join us. Each grandchild made and frosted their own pan of cinnamon rolls.

Preston and Sam rolling out their dough

                                                     Ella and Gigi with the finished product

Mickelsen Family Holiday Gathering

Friday, January 30th

With Adam, Jessica and Family with us, we were ALL able to celebrate Christmas on January 30th!  It was wonderful to have everyone together!

Hal called the family to order and we began with a song, prayer and then the grand kids presented the Nativity.

The Mickelsen Family nativity

The angels arrive!  With lots of granddaughters, we have lots of angels!

The FULL cast

My two beautiful daughter-in-laws - I love them both so much!

Our appetizer dinner is served!

We were so happy that Adam and Jessica and kids could come for the holidays!!

Sareya and Dorothy came over early to decorate the tables, make place cards and they also helped get  the food ready.  (I will ask for their help again - they were awesome!)

After dinner, it was time to open the gifts!

Hal received the new putter he wanted!

 

  Gifts are opened and thank yous and hugs follow.

After all the family gifts are exchanged, we begin our White Elephant Gift Game.  The kids and the grandkids love it!

 
With lots of coaching from his cousins, Dex chooses a gift.

He is so excited when he opens it and shows it to mom, dad and London.

Then Conrad opens his gift - a crazy,  bright yellow suit, complete with feet and other decorations.  No one was sure exactly what it was, but thereafter, all the guys wanted it.  So when Jons' number was up, he stole it!  I am not sure how long he kept it, but I think that James eventually ended up with it.

Dorothy (on the left of the photo), opens her gift and finds a giant bag of animal cookies.

Liam got a book about "super heroes".

Treygan is deciding whether to "steal" a gift that someone has or open the one in his hands.

Kelly's choice revealed the true "white elephant", only it was a white fish!  I am sure that one will find it's way back next year!

Cute picture of Adam, Liam and Gigi

The granddaughters ALL love baby London!

New Year's Eve

On the afternoon before the New Year's Eve Party,
 this group gathered at our house to play games.

 The Murder Mystery Dinner Party

Kelly is very creative and organizes things well.  She wanted us to celebrate this New Year's Eve in a little different way, so she organized a "Murder Mystery Dinner Party".  The day before, she gave each of us an assigned part to play.  We were to come in costume (hats were required) according to our part, and to stay in character until the mystery was solved.

Our hostess - "Ashton Jade", a recently promoted CBS news reporter, that will do anything to keep the job!

The character interaction began over the appetizer course.  We were to reveal information about ourselves through our conversation with the other guests at the dinner party.

Evan/"Reese Cerulean" was the wealthiest and most hated person in Bloodworth Falls (the scene for our mystery).

Adam took the part of "Freddie Fuchsia", the cynical horse jockey that was willing to do whatever it took to win races.  Hailey was "Madison Scarlet", an FBI agent on a secret mission.

Conrad took the part of "Brad Olive"- a charismatic stage actor trying to make a name for himself.  Dex and London played themselves in this drama!

 Pictured above, is" Wolfe Indigo" , (Evan/"Reese Cerulean's" butler) - who was anything but fond of his employer.

James played the part of "Riley White", the  corrupt mayor of Bloodworth Falls. Tricia was "Brin Mint", the town plastic surgeon that was most eager to give everyone a treatment plan for their face.

Jon was "Omari Black", a popular radio show host.  He could be shady at times, and was known to accept  bribes for radio spots!

Allison took the part of "Avery Lemon", the blissful scuba instructor, Jessica was "Pram Peach", the flamboyant costume designer for the local playhouse.
The full cast is pictured below.

Alex was "Logan Plum", the only electrician in Bloodworth Falls.  I took the part of "Carey Coral", an eccentric ancient artifacts dealer.

Dinner

 We enjoyed Texas Roadhouse ribs, baked potatoes, salad, rolls and Martinelli's to drink!  It was a most delicious meal.

As the evening progressed, we learned that Evan/" Reese Cerulean" was the victim of the crime; which thankfully, didn't happen until AFTER dinner.  With all of his enemies, no one was surprised!

After the "murder" took place, we all gathered to figure out "who done it".

After our discussion, we took a vote on who we thought was the culprit.

Then each character gave more information about themselves and...

Allison/"Avery Lemon" was guilty!!  She revealed her motive as she read her statement and the mystery was solved! 

Preston had to work until late, but he joined us in time for some dinner and the big reveal of the murderer.

We had a great time with this fun game!

New Year's Celebration

 The grand kids were really good while the adults solved our mystery.  The older girls had a dinner and games prepared for them, downstairs.  As it neared 10:00 pm, the smaller kids put their pajamas on, to be ready to celebrate "Fake New Year".    

Dex in his "Spiderman" pajamas and Liam wearing his dinosaur PJs.

Gigi and Preston are ready for the festivities.  They all love to play with Chloe.

With hats, horns and silly string, we all celebrate New Years with the kids.

At midnight, the adults rang in 2017 and we all look forward to a great new year!!