We Loved Our Annual Family Christmas Party!

Our family has been holding our annual Christmas get together for years! This tradition started in Thunder Bay when we first landed in that little northern city. I could still vividly remember our family's first Christmas gathering in 1971in this frigid country. Though it was minus many degrees outside; inside our house, it was filled with warmth, laughter, hope and optimism for our new lives in Canada. I could still see clearly our youngest brother - Dave's little face lit up when he got some hockey stuff that Christmas!

I am so glad that this family tradition has carried on for more than thirty years. It started with just our family. As my parents' children and grandchildren have grown and many of whom are married with their own youngsters, this one family tradition has expanded to included many others.

E. was able to make it for this year's big family dinner!

Even though E. has gone away to the U.S. to study and work, he has never missed one Christmas at home. However, due to his work schedule, he did miss the big family dinner for a couple of years.

 I was delighted when E. came home the Saturday before Christmas, therefore allowing him to attend this big family dinner on Sunday at Susan and Dave's place.

A great family get together!

Dave, Susan and their family did a fantastic job organizing this family get together!

Dave's family did a fantastic job organizing a dinner party and a bingo game

They started  planning weeks ago  organizing this annual event making sure there was enough food and variety dishes to satisfy a diverse group of participants of around thirty-five people!

Not an easy task at all!







The food was always delicious as everybody chipped in and brought a dish to share.

Everyone's favorite was the dessert table after the main meal!

A beautifully laid out and very tempting dessert table awaiting us!

Our annual family Christmas party brought everyone together!

 Besides excellent food, there was entertainment after dinner too!

As a tradition, we always have a gift exchange game after dinner.

This year there was something different!

It could be a difficult decision for a kid to choose a gift

We played a Bingo Gift Exchange Game after dinner

What was different and fun at this year's family party?

 A Bingo gift exchange game Dave and Susan introduced to the party after the Christmas dinner!

At the beginning as guests arrived to the dinner, they brought gifts with them.  Mikaela collected them and placed them on the gift cart.



Dave's family came up with some rules to make sure the game was fun and fair for all.

 It was! and everyone had a great time and loads of fun!

 Dave, the Bingo Master, explained the rules clearly before the game started so everyone knew what to expect.

Everyone took part and had loads of fun at the party

We were happy to see everyone, both young and old, at the party participating in the gift exchange bingo game.

Mom had a lot of fun playing Bingo at the family party.

 Even Mom was able to take part!

It was fun to see how excited Mom and everyone was when they scored and yelled out

" Bingo Ah!"  at the party!

Choosing a prize from the Gift Cart

 If you bingo and after your numbers were checked by the Bingo Master, you got to go up to the gift cart and choose a gift from the pile of gifts
collected from the guests.

It was great clean fun for the whole family!

After opening their gifts, the cousins trying their hands at the new games

( While many people feel that they must consume a lot of alcohol to have a good time at a party, I am  immensely proud of our family gatherings! Having fun without anyone getting drunk, fist fighting, saying or doing any stupid things to one another!)

 Many thanks to Dave, Susan, Jordon and Mikaela for organizing this fantastic family Christmas get together! 

The party rocked!

R.T.
Christmas Party
2014
Toronto