~~LIVE~~LAUGH~~LOVE~~: CHRISTMAS IN JULY WITH THE HOLMES FAMILY (White Elephant)

This has been another busy weekend for us, but this time we didn't go camping. :(
We spent it with our families. We had Christmas in July with Mom Holmes and everyone!
Decided to celebrate Christmas in July this yr instead of in December. Why? Well because the Holmes family has grown so much that when we play White Elephant there is way to many people to sit in a circle in the house. So what did you do to acomodate that? Well we had it outside instead. WOW BIG Turnout! Mom told me that there was going to be 62 people there! Let me tell you there was plenty!!

What is white elephant - well we play it this way:
You each bring a gift and you place it in the middle of the circle. Then you pass pans of dice around and if you get a double then you go get a present, but you have to wait till everyone gets one. Then after they all have one, you open them up and go around and tell everyone what you have. That is when it gets real good - this time we had 40 minutes of time. You shake the dice and if you have a double you go to whatever person that has a item that you want well you go and trade what you have in your hands for what they have in their hands. You keep doing this for 40 minutes. After the time is up, what is in your hands is yours to keep. So that is why you need to hurry when you shake the dice and pass it fast. Really FUN game and it is a Christmas tradition in the Holmes family. It is also now starting on the Keene side too now. But the Holmes family ALL the kids are involved - even the little ones!

We had a wonderful time with the family and getting to see some that we haven't seen since Christmas time in Dec. Since there was a fire this winter no one has been to this house for awhile now. They are now back in the house and things have been removed and replaced with the new. We have not been inside yet but we will soon I am sure.

So here we are with Christmas time in July with the Holmes family. This is the day that we wanted to bring Donald Jr. & Chrissy but it wasn't planned right for the weekend. So here are some photos to enjoy looking at. ENJOY!