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Monday
Dec222008

Granny Pat's Christmas Party

When I last wrote, the girls and I were working on our scrapbook pages to give to family members at our annual Granny Pat’s Christmas Party. We did half the pages this year (usually we do a spread per family), and they were very simple—partly because it was the night before the event when we did them and partly because I only packed a Simply Scrappin’ and a few accessories, but I think they turned out pretty cute. 

 

We enjoyed being together to create them—we even got help from the guys when it came to the journaling, and we all visited and giggled until late, eating homemade cinnamon rolls until we were sick.

The party includes Mom Pat and her husband, Bill, my Grandma Baker, and all of my sisters and brothers and their families. It always occurs the full weekend just before Christmas. The last few years we’ve gathered in Kanab, Utah. Out-of-towners stay in nearby hotels (everything’s nearby in Kanab), and the party is at the Stampin’ Up! manufacturing building.

It’s perfectly suited for our family with a large area for eating, crafting, and games; the training room doubles as an area for the children to run around and be as loud as they wish as well as a movie theatre where we have our Christmas program; the phone booths make perfect spots for the little girls to hide away and play; even the hallways are filled with activity. Basically every accessible nook and cranny is taken.

Of course, the warehouse is off limits, even though the older boys asked if they could have their Nerf gun wars in between the racking—just imagine Nerf bullets in your stamp sets!

Friday evening everyone arrives for a light dinner and visiting, and Saturday is usually spent playing games, with crafting of some kind for the women provided by my mom (and Aunt Leslie brings projects for the younger children). The children and teenagers exchange and open their gifts, and we end with our traditional Christmas program. Of course, the entire day is filled with visiting and lots of food!

This year was unique because we also had a bridal shower on Saturday morning for my niece Cierra. We held the shower in the Stampin’ Up! apartment upstairs while the men watched all the children downstairs. It was a delightful time with family and friends celebrating Cierra!

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Reader Comments (23)

What a super celebration! Looks like a very large group. How many attended and who does all the planning? What a fun way to celebrate Christmas and to stay connected to extended family. I was thinking how fortunate you are to have had 2 moms that craft. It must be in your blood! Does your sister Lavonne attend this gathering? It would be great to see a recent picture of her and/or her family. I hope your daughter that lives in Seattle (is it Sara?) is able to be with you all for some of the holidays.
Merry Christmas! Enjoy your Christmas phone call w/ your missionary daughter.
December 23, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterSHH
Another question. Sorry to be so nosey. :) You can add this 1 to your next Q & A - I am wondering how many siblings you have and if any of them work for SU!?
December 23, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterSHH
Sounds like so much fun!! My son would have loved that Nerf Bullets in the stamp sets!! He has Aspergers and has been obsessed with Nerf everything for the last 2 years!! What a blessing that you are able to all get together. Merry Christmas and have a safe and Happy New Years.
December 23, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterYsvasquez
I love that you share so much of your family with us. The scrapbook pages look great. There is something to be said for simple pages. To be honest, they are my favorite. I am trying very hard to get the family into scrapping and at our annual Hanukkah celebration I took a LOT of photos and told my sister in law and mother in law, as well as the teenagers that next year I am bringing those photos and we are going to make a scrapbook.
Thanks again for all you do for us.
Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year
December 23, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterJoy Willinger
Wow.. what an amazing weekend you had, such wonderful traditions, great family activities for all ages.. and having just been at your Kanab facility in Sept., I can envision all the things you are talking about. :) I LOVED your scrapbook pages.. I'm going to go pull out that SS Kit right now! Much love to you and Sterling this Christmas.. see you in a couple weeks!! Love, Patty
December 23, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterPatty Bennett
I love all of the scrapbook pages of your family. Lots of great ideas for all of us looking at your blog.
Could you explain the relationships of your two moms?
Have a wonderful, blessed holiday season Shelli. It looks like it is already off to a great start.
December 23, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterSue Ring
Hi Shelli!
What great pictures! Love your scrapbook pages. Thanks so much for sharing a glimpse of your lovely family holiday :)

xo,
Rosemarie
December 23, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterRosemarie Diehl
Hi Shelli,
I'm confused! You have a mom Heather and a mom who was at the family gathering at the manufacturing plant? Is one your real mom and one a step-mom?

Thanks! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas...I love your blog!
December 23, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterMaria
How fun, Shelli! I wish I had daughters to stamp with; my 19 year old son is not too interested! I did a double take when I saw the title of your post because my son calls my mom Granny Pat! I was wondering why you were invited to her party when I didn't even know she was having one. LOL
Thanks for making Stampin' Up such a wonderful company to work with, and I wish you and your family a happy and healthy 2009!
December 23, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterJana Emmert
Merry Christmas! Enjoy the time together with your family and the phone call with Shanna. What a fun family party!
December 23, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterJenn
Wow, it's fun to see Vonna and her girls! Boy, it's hard to believe it's been that long since we've seen those yearly family pictures from the catalogs. I'm going on 13 years as a demo and I treasure all of those catalogs mostly for the family pictures!!! Have a very Merry Christmas and enjoy your Christmas phone call with Shanna.
December 23, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterJulie
Hi Shelli

Sounds like so much fun!

How many came for the weekend?

The pages look awesome!

Wishing you a Happy Christmas Shelli - remembering the true meaning of the season. Take care and may God bless you all!

Lisa (Down under in Brisbane, Australia)
December 24, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterLisa
Hi Shelli,

It's Christmas morning here in Australia, and I just popped on to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas for tomorrow! I imagine you will have a really wonderful day!

Love Karen
xo
December 24, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterKaren
Merry Christmas Shelli. I hope your new year is filled with many blessings.
December 24, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterAmy
Shelli, WOWOWOW that looks like sooooo much fun!!! I love how your scrapbook pages turned out, they are great. You have a huge family. As I get older, I realize how important family really is. Something I think people take for granted when they are younger. I wish you and yours (To You and Yours, my most favorite set in the catalog!!!) a most Merry Christmas with memories to last a lifetime!!! Thanks for sharing your world with us, it brings you more into perspective for us, instead of the GREAT STAMP GURU lol. Hugs Danita :)
December 24, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterDanita Hollander
Merry Christmas to you & your family! What a wonderful blessing your celebration looks like! We had a fun time here, although a bit smaller, with only 6 of us in Florida for the holiday!
December 25, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterStaci Miserlian
Shelli,
were you describing your family's Christmas party or mine? I guess the only difference is that we spread it over a month. A Saturday at each of the family members house! There is nothing better than celebrating with famiy and later recording those celebrations using beautiful paper and stamps from Stampin' up! Oh, the sacrifices we make for family!

Merry Christmas and happy new year 2009!
December 26, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterBetsy Johnson
I love how you take time regularly to celebrate family. I'm trying to start some family traditions of my own - I only have one son so it's a bit different!! Oh ya, he would have loved to see me receive a Nerf bullet in my stamp order...perhaps that's the new family tradition!
Thanks for sharing your Christmas celebrations with us. I wish you and all your family a wonderful and prosperous New Year.
December 28, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterMarnie Miller
Shelli,
I love how you all celebrate! I come from a large family too, and I wouldn't have it any other way. The chaos makes it all the more special!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Hugs
December 28, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterJoan Hajek
Shelli, wonderful post as always! Thanks so much for sharing the wonderful layouts and including us in your family traditions! Looks like a fantastic time was had by all. I hope you and the family had a wonderful Christmas and that the New Year brings good things to you!
Sharon
December 28, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterSharon Bridwell
Shelli, I just took a close look at the pictures, and realized one was of Vonna and her girls...It was so much fun to catch up on your family. One of these days...I'm gonna get my blog going....It is a great way to chronical families...and let everyone in on what is going on!!!!
December 28, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterCathy Waskewicz
Sounds like you all had a great Christmas! Love your scrapbook pages. Merry Chistmas!
December 30, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterTwila Davis
Hello Shelli,
I like spending money- but I REALLY LOVE spending money when I know I will be supporting a good company. Melissa Zessin is my demonstrator (she got me hooked) and it was really touching to me when my friend and I asked her a question about Stampin' Up and when she was explaining how wonderful the company was she got teary eyed. Ever since our conversation I have loved and respected your company. Thank you!
January 8, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterMartine Ayers

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