Our holiday happenings ebb and flow - not everyone is at everything - but New Year's Eve does find us - for a few hours anyway - all together under one roof. This year there were 33 of us. It was a crowd!
For many years there have been certain traditions - everything from scavenger hunts to talent shows to film festivals to poppers - that come and go. There are a few givens: dinner together, predictions, and banging pots and pans at midnight.
Robbie and Matt went and got various kinds of root beer at Galcos in Eagle Rock and we had a root beer tasting party - that was a big hit. This may reappear next year.
Hannah and Eliza did dinner this time - I love the delegating out of meals this go round - not only is it a lot less work for me, it means that we get to try some new tasty menus.
Paper goods ruled this time too - no point in washing dishes for 33! Although we did leave a large carbon footprint - and the trash cans were bulging!!
We also celebrated Harry's 70th birthday with a little activity I thought of - all by myself too! I had each "group" - that is each of our children and their families - list 10 things about Dad - memories, talents, observations - whatever. I did a list too - so that meant 7 groups with 10 items - equaled 70 items! Dad went to his room - he actually was not up to par over the New Year's Eve day, so he was happy to rest for a bit - and then he came in after we had posted the sheets on the walls of the living room!
He seemed pleased with our efforts - and later told me he'd loved seeing what everyone wrote.
You probably can't read these - and may not even know what they represent, but sometime I will do a post about them.
It would reveal a lot about Dad and our family over the years.
I'm a fan of large-sized post-it sheets - with lines!
Need to think of some fun activities to use up the rest of the sheets.
Maybe FHE? (This is my list - they are mostly quotes that mostly are meaningful to Dad and me - but it's fun - and all the Terrills know the meaning of "I'm Linda Mason."
I oversaw the predictions activities, so didn't get any photos, but we noticed a real surge of interest from the grandkids this go round - we were running out of time before Ara and Ella had to leave for the Stake New Year's Eve dance and suggested doing the predictions the next day - but the overwhelming choice was to do it right then.
I should do a post on some of the funny, poignant, charming, and delightful predictions that come up - suffice it to say everyone was smiling and laughing. One example is Porter's: " Porter will strike gold with his metal detector. Eve will get a gold medal. Harry will get a gold tooth. hee hee hee! And Deacon will get a lot of attention."
And since not everyone had a prediction in the envelope, there was a little better participation at writing them for next year. (The predictions have been compiled in a book - at least the first decade's worth.)
I recall last year everyone struggling mightily to stay awake for the new year - but we got a late start and had lots to do, so it didn't seem like there was much down time. Ara and Ella left for the dance, and Taylor and Noah went to a venue where Noah was performing. The all together part doesn't last all evening - and hasn't for many years.
My favorite part of the holiday season is having everyone here, but getting photographic evidence of that is tough - especially the years when we don't hire a photographer!
As usual someone predicted that "Grandpa will dig a basement," because that's a running prediction. But maybe we'd better get serious about it.
Or hope for warmer weather so we can be outside around a fire - that was the plan for this year, but it was just too chilly!
Maybe I should give Harry heat lamps for his birthday, our anniversary, and Christmas next year!
Did I mention that I love having everyone under the same roof - even for a few hours? It does bring me joy!
