The Flower Children and the Ring Master

Now that I've waited ridiculously long to talk about it...

M's brother got married a couple months ago, so we flew to Utah for the wedding and reception. We were, of course, happy to go, but flying our family of five there and back in less than 72 hours was no small feat! Our original flight ended up getting canceled and we got moved to a later flight on Wednesday evening, so by the time we got to Salt Lake, got our bags, got our rental car, strapped all the car seats in, and drove to our hotel, it was 12:30 at night.  The ceremony was at lunch time the next day.  And despite the numerous promises we had received from the hotel staff, the portable crib was NOT already in the room.  Ugh.  A very late night.

But don't get me wrong.  It was wonderful to see M's family.







It was the first time we got to meet our new sister-in-law.  In that sense the trip was too short.  But in other ways, it was utterly exhausting.  You could see it in M's boutonniere after wrestling with the kids:

Everyone but me was in the wedding party.  But really, I was Kate's handler, so I think as Flower Girl Wrangler I basically qualified ;)  I had the privilege of chasing her all over the place.





But don't worry, M took his turn too:





Claire and Kate were flower girls.  But Kate was too little to actually walk down the aisle, so she "stayed" with me while Claire did a great job scattering flower petals down the aisle.





Scott was a ring bearer and he did a great job too.  But I preferred it when Claire and Scott kept referring to themselves as "the flower children and the ring master."

 

The ceremony was at a gorgeous site.

There was a delicious luncheon afterward in the restaurant.

I would have been in heaven if I wasn't so stressed out about averting disaster the whole time!  Here's a rundown of the things that happened once we got to the site but before the ceremony even started.

We got everyone ready and then drove the 45 minutes from our hotel to the ceremony location.  We had received the clothes for the kids just the night before.  You know, when we arrived at the hotel at 12:30 at night.  Claire was disconcerted that she wasn't wearing any sleeves.  I'm proud of her for being concerned about modesty, but what are you gonna do?  Kate's feet required a crowbar to get into her shoes.  SUCH fat feet.  It's not the width of her feet, but the height.  They're really thick up and down.  (We had the exact same problem when Claire was a baby - possibly worse.  So there's hope that her feet will thin out since Claire's did.)  But Scott was the biggest problem.  His pants weren't even CLOSE to staying up by themselves and I had forgotten to bring a belt.  What was I thinking?  You'd think I'd be used to his skeletal frame by now, but because I ONLY buy pants with the adjustable waistbands, I don't really have a good belt for him.  The only one I have is red and came with a pair of size 24 months shorts.  (It works if I put it on the tightest notch -- Like I said, crazy skinny, ok?)  But I should have just bought him a belt if I had been thinking.  Or at least a safety pin.  I DID, however, remember to bring a needle and some thread, so we threw that into the diaper bag and sprinted out the door because, of course, we were running late.

When we got to the site, Claire stepped on the hem of her dress getting out of the car and the solid band on the edge pulled off the sheer material of her overskirt.  So I had to quickly bust out that needle and thread and sew it back together as best I could.  Good thing I had brought it!  Then we turned back to Scott.  M's grandmother held her hand between the needle and the pants so I could sew a big pleat into the waistband of Scott's pants without pricking him. I thought she was being over cautious...until I pricked her finger in my haste and made her bleed.  Oops.

But we made it and everyone was presentable again in time for pictures and the ceremony.  But after the ceremony while we were waiting for the luncheon, Kate stepped on the hem of her dress too and the same thing happened to her dress, but partway up.  The sheer skirt pulled off at one of the bands about two-thirds of the way up.  Oh well.  At least we didn't have to have it fixed until the next evening's reception!

At the luncheon, we tried to juggle the three kids, and really they did remarkably well.  We even just sat Kate in a regular chair at the table and she behaved like a champ.  Everything was going smoothly until they served dessert.  One of the desserts was a cute little trio of a mini pumpkin pie, a mini crème brûlée, and a mini chocolate cake. Well, apparently the mini chocolate cake looked like a brownie to Scott.  While I was distracted by one of the other kids, Scott just grabbed the entire chocolate cake in his hand and started chomping on it.  He got chocolate EVERYWHERE.  We had taken off his coat in hopes of protecting it, but it was no use.  Somehow he managed to get chocolate on every single piece of his clothing except for his tie, his shoes, and his pants.  (But don't worry, the pants already had blood on them from the sewing incident.) He chocolate on his white shirt, his vest, his suit coat, AND his socks.  (I'm still not sure how he managed the socks...)

That night we got to make a run to the 24 hour Wal-mart (ugh) for stain treater, safety pins, and Ben and Jerry's therapy.  We were able to wash Scott's suit in the laundromat at the hotel.  I mostly got the pumpkin pie spots out of Kate's dress as well as fixed the tear up.  I even made it a little shorter so hopefully she wouldn't step on it again.

The next day we found time to go on a short drive up Provo Canyon.

We only made it up to Bridal Veil Falls, but it was beautiful.

 

A little cold for us Texans...

 ...but the fall colors were lovely.  I don't miss much about Utah, but I sure do miss the mountains.

Then it was time to do it all over again.  We checked out of our hotel and moved all of our stuff into M's parents' hotel room.  We decided this time to get dressed after we arrived at the reception site.  So it wasn't until we were already there that we realized we had left both the girls' shoes at the hotel.  Doh. While I finished getting dressed, M raced back to the hotel to get their shoes.  He almost made it back in time.  But they went ahead and took the photos with the flower girls about 3 minutes before he arrived.  Fortunately Kate was so little she was sitting on a lap I think so no one could tell she had no shoes on.  And hopefully no one will notice Claire was barefoot in those photos.  At least she got to spend a little less time in the shoes.  (By the end of the night, both girls' shoes had worn holes in their feet.  Ouch!)

Once again, the reception was gorgeous.

 

I even adored the table cloths.  (Enough to take a picture of them!)

 

But let's go back to the cake again.

It was very pretty.

 

But when they went to cut it, I saw this:

 

Those boys were all drawn like moths to a flame.  "Cake?  Did someone say cake?  Can I have cake???"

Scott:  "Oh good, they're busy feeding it to each other.  I'll just sneak in here and have a little taste..."

 

Claire was running out of steam for awhile there.

Then the dancing started and Claire was a little wallflower...

(or should I say "floorflower"?)

Not even her aunt could coax her out:

But then M got her swing dancing!

There were some crazy moves going on! 

After that, there was no stopping her.  I think she would have danced all night if we let her!

Then we had a sparkler sendoff for the bride and groom.

Exhausted, we made our way to my friend Kristi's house.  She moved from Texas to Utah awhile ago and it was so good to see her, even if only for a few hours.  She gave us a free place to sleep and we just dumped the kids into their beds.

I should have known better.  Putting kids to bed without having them use the bathroom first is always a bad idea.  It's even worse when you're staying in someone else's house.  And it's super, extra bad when that kid is still wearing his suit.

In the wee hours, we got to change Scott out of his wet suit and move to him over to sleep on the couch.  It's a good thing I know Kristi loves us anyway, because there was totally pee all over her air mattress.  And in the morning, we got to wash Scott's suit AGAIN!!!  In less than 48 hours, that little suit had urine, chocolate, AND blood on it.  I felt like we were living in an ad for Spray 'n Wash.

But in the morning, the kids had lots of fun playing with Kristi's kids while I packed:

Then we drove to the airport -- with several detours where our GPS tried to take us to non-existant gas stations to fill up the tank on the rental car.  I have to say, our GPS has NOT impressed me.

The kids did so well on both flights getting to Utah, and our flight out of Utah.  But I think our luck had just run out by the time we got on our flight back to Texas.  Kate had just had it with sitting on our laps.  She was fine as long as we walked the aisle with her while she made friends with all the other passengers.  But when we started to land and she had to sit on our laps again, she was, shall we say, not pleased.  And Claire's ears were hurting her really bad so she was crying.  By the time we were getting off the plane in Texas, we were a bit cranky.  What a fabulous turn-around the kids felt when the pilot on that flight invited them to sit in the cockpit:
 

Finally, we made it home, with all of us feeling a bit like this:

Superfly Shutterfly

My relationship with Shutterfly began back in 2002 when M and I used them to print our engagement photo for inclusion in our wedding announcements.  Our photographer recommended them, so we went with it and all 400 some-odd prints looked beautiful.

Fast forward a few years to when we actually entered the digital age and got our first digital camera for Christmas of 2003.  Just in the nick of time before Claire, the first grandchild on both sides, was born.  We used Shutterfly share sites to show pictures of little Claire to family who lived far away.

I've made baby books for both Claire and Scott using Shutterfly photo books.  I used the pictures from their first year to put together a book, and I love how they turned out.  And that reminds me... I guess it's time to get cracking on one for Kate!!!

These photo notepads and these photo calendars (customized with our own dates) made great Christmas gifts for the proud grandparents who "have everything."

So for all the things I've ordered and loved from Shutterfly, one thing I've never tried is their cards.  So imagine my delight when I read on someone else's blog about Shutterfly's promotion to give 50 free Christmas cards in exchange for blogging about their holiday card collection.  Yes, please!  They aren't the cheapest option, but based on the print quality I've seen for everything else I've ordered, I bet it's for a reason.

I have a great photo of our family from a wedding in October, so all I need to do is find the right design.  But look at all these options!!! I was impressed with their selection of religious Christmas cards.  Mad props for making some stuff that is religious without being too cheesy and grandma-ish.  And story cards!  Genius!  No barely legible low-print-quality letter needed for you to brag about your kids!  How will I ever choose???  And how cute would it be to have matching address labels?

The kids will just have to scavenge for food themselves for awhile because I'll be sucked into picking Christmas cards!!!

Title-asaurus

Scott (sitting on the toilet): Guess what kind of dinosaur I am!
G: I-don't-give-a-crap-asaurus?
Scott: No! Guess again!
G: Uh... Get-off-the-freaking-pot-asaurus.
Scott: No! Acrocanthosaurus!!!

Science Project

One day I looked out my back door window and saw that there were no leaves left on my pentas.  I went out to investigate and found no less than 8 hornworms (6 green and 2 brown) trying to live off the four plants in my pot.  These were pretty impressively big caterpillars, so we saved them and did a little research.  We determined that they would become tersa sphinx moths.  So we made a little habitat for two of them and released the rest.  I just didn't have enough penta plants left to feed more than two!  For about a week they lived in my glass cookie jar.  (But I promise I sanitized it really well afterward, so it's safe to eat cookies next time you come to my house!)  Then the caterpillars went into their chrysalises for a couple weeks.  One morning, we woke up to this:

Halloween Costumes

This year costumes were MUCH easier. And good thing too. I don't think I could have pulled another sewing marathon this year. (Apparently even though I was able to finish the costumes on time this year, it was too much to have me blog about them in anything close to a timely manner!)

Claire wanted to be a penguin again this year, so she made it easy on me! Last year's costume still fit, so I took the opportunity to add the elastic here and there and stitch a few things closed that I didn't get around to last year.


Scott wanted to be a "scary mummy." I wasn't so sure about the scary part, but I was game for the mummy part. (I don't think a four year old with buck teeth and enormously long dark lashes can be scary even if he tries anyway... Unless you count being scary-skinny because he refuses to eat anything. And really really pale because he is my son.)

If you're wondering about construction on this mummy one, here's the deal (if not, feel free to skip ahead):
I used a long-sleeved white t-shirt and I sewed a pair of basic (pajama pattern in fact) elastic waist white pants with leftover fabric. Then I bought several yards of unbleached muslin. I tore the muslin into approximately 3 inch wide strips the length of the muslin. Then I quickly hand stitched along the top of the strips to attach them onto the shirt and pants. I just wound it around and around, making sure to overlap. Don't think quality hand-stitching here. I'm crazy, but not THAT crazy. Just rough and very long running stitch. Every time I stopped and started a strip I left a little hanging down to give it that disheveled look. In order for the shirt to fit over his head, I stretched it and pinned it around the neck and then made sure to sew it very loosely there. I started there and then did the chest. On the chest I didn't wrap around but rather zig-zagged back and forth until I got below the armpits. Then I made sure the wrapping a the shoulders covered the folded edges. Other than that, I worked up from the hands, up from the bottom of the shirt and up from the feet. I sewed a few of the longer ends into random places to complete the "not too perfect look." Because looking messy should always be premeditated, right?

Kate wore a little kimono that used to belong to M's mom when she was a little girl. Let's see if I get this story right. I believe it goes that M's mom was born in Japan while her father was there with the military. She was wearing this little kimono when she returned to the states.

The only thing I did was make a fake little obi (belt) using some leftover scraps of fabric, velcro, and cardboard from a graham cracker box.

I don't have photos, but M and I wore some recycled costumes from a few years ago. We were "The Track Team" or "Run-Over Runners." Basically we just wore running clothes with a t-shirt that had a large black tire track up the front. We continued the tire track onto our faces with black face paint.


Our main Halloween celebration this year was a party at church. Here are a few highlights:

Claire, I don't think that's the conventional way for penguins to catch fish...


Kate pretty much didn't stop moving the entire evening...



Except while she was on the "hay ride."

Phineas and Ferbkins

This year in honor of the kids' (and our) latest screen time obsession, we did Phineas and Ferb themed pumpkins:



The Dr. Doofenshmirtz and Perry pumpkin didn't turn out quite as well, I think. The image was a bit wide for a round surface, and we were a touch too ambitious on the detail. But all in all, I thought the pumpkins this year were a success!

Carving pumpkins is the only part of Halloween M really gets into. For me it's all about costumes, but I'm always up for a little time pretending to be artsy. This is one area where I feel like we stray from our usual, non-traditional jaded selves and REALLY get into the holiday.

I Thought It Would Be EASIER With Just Kate in the Pew...

Yesterday at church was our ward's Primary sacrament program. This is where instead of adults giving talks, the main portion of our meeting is all of the children in our congregation singing the songs they have been learning this year and giving small speaking parts and talks related to the year's theme.

So while M got up to get attendance numbers (he's the ward clerk), I sat and wrangled Kate while trying to watch Claire and Scott sing the songs. Scott is in the youngest class so he was right up front. Right in front, picking his nose. Picking his nose, and then eating it.

When I recovered from my brain aneurysm, and from vomiting due the grossness, I started trying to gesture to him to stop it. I tried to catch his eye and when I did, I would put my hand up to my face, then quickly put it down and shake my head. I tried waving my hand in front of my face. Scott's face simply got more and more confused looking, and I think the mental strain and nervous energy were sending that finger prospecting deeper and deeper. At last I took both arms, folded them in front of me, and then lifted them up in order to suggest he do the same. And it worked! He folded his arms. Phew!

But! In the few second that I used two hands to gesture to Scott, I had let go of Kate. She had rocketed out of the pew and had started toddling as fast as she could down the aisle. She KNEW she was being naughty, and she thought it was hilarious. She was cackling as maniacally as a 15 month old can and she could barely walk straight she was laughing so hard. At least it slowed her down a little! She was halfway down the aisle before I managed to run while hunched over and grab her, which of course she thought was EVEN MORE HILARIOUS!!!

At least the other people watching me seemed to get a good laugh too.

Three Piece Suit and Pink Flip Flops

Or

Why You Should Do What Mom Says

[Warning - Not for squeamish pansies]

We just attended a wedding for Marshall's brother last week. The kids were all in the wedding, so at church yesterday we had them all wear their fancy outfits. When we got home from church, we followed the usual routine. We told Claire and Scott to change out of their church clothes. Marshall and I changed our clothes and got Kate out of her church dress. When I checked on him, Scott was still sitting in his three piece suit reading a book. The only thing he had taken off was his shoes. So I helped him out of his suit coat and then told him again to go get changed.

I went to go do something and then I hear a crashing sound of something breaking. I come running into the dining room to find Kate has pulled a glass off the table and now her foot is bleeding.

[Now here I am torn between beating myself up and being defensive. I KNOW Kate is into EVERYTHING lately. I know she pulls things down off the table. I know we need to be religious about clearing off the table. Why, why did I leave my glass from breakfast on the table??? I know I'm a slob, but it's a whole new problem when being a slob hurts your baby. Shame on me. On the other hand, did I mention Kate is into EVERYTHING lately? It's all I can do to keep up with her. Perhaps if church wasn't at 9am, if M hadn't been gone at meetings leaving me getting everyone ready for church by myself, if I wasn't still getting over a bad cold, if I wasn't exhausted like I always seem to be these days, perhaps then I would have remembered to clear my dishes that morning. There. I made a noble effort at being defensive. But my true nature as a mother wins out. I suck. I can't believe I let her get hurt.]

So her cut was bad enough that while weren't about to call an ambulance or anything, she definitely needed to go get looked at. There was a lot of blood. Yuck. So Marshall crammed his shoes on while applying pressure to her cut. I grabbed the diaper bag with my purse in it and rounded the other kids up. Claire was all dressed and just needed to put some shoes on. Scott on the other hand? Still sitting reading that book wearing his dress pants, white shirt, tie, and vest. Oh well, he got to go in his suit. This is why you listen to Mommy when she tells you to get changed. So I told him to go find his flip flops.

Well, of course, of course! We could only find one flip flop. This is why you put your shoes away when you take them off and not fling them willy-nilly all over the house. So Scott got to wear Claire's pink flip flops.

We were a motley crew there in the ER. Scott, as I mentioned was in a beige suit with pink flip flops. Claire had selected to wear pants with holes in the knee. Pants from LAST winter that were total floods on her. M's shoes were untied because it was too hard for him to tie them while applying pressure to Kate's cut. Oh well, I'm sure they see much worse in the ER.

On the up side, everything at the ER went pretty smoothly. It's pretty near our house and when we got there the waiting room was empty and we got to walk right in. The took x-rays of Kate's foot to check for glass in the cut. No glass, so they cleaned it then they numbed it in preparation to glue the cut. Only problem was that every time they went to push the cut back into place, it would start bleeding again. And the glue wouldn't stick if it was bleeding. But since no one wanted to figure out how to do stitches over her toe nail and nail bed, we REALLY wanted the glue to work out.

Finally after another long bout of constant pressure, it stopped bleeding enough to glue it up. But when they were done, you could tell it was still bleeding a little because blood was collecting inside the cut and it was getting all puffy and gross looking. (Or should I say MORE gross looking.) The glue held most of the way, but in a couple spots it opened enough for blood to keep oozing out. Lovely.

But apparently it was good enough because they sent us home. We were supposed to put a sock on her just to keep her from picking at it, but it was all ooze-y and bleeding a little again. So we put a little gauze and a band-aid on it. But after a few minutes of letting her walk around by herself, blood was soaking through her sock. So despite discharge instructions to just leave it be, we decided to bandage her up rather then go back to the ER. I mean seriously, it was already 4pm and we still hadn't eaten any lunch and Kate still hadn't napped at all. (She already missed her morning nap like she does every Sunday because of church, so she was getting delusional.) The bandage seemed to work until she woke up as we were going to bed. We gave her another dose of Tylenol and took the bandage off. It finally didn't look like it would bleed, so we just put a sock on her. Now it just oozes tiny bits on and off, but seems to be okay. We see the pediatrician for a follow up tomorrow morning. Here's how it looks today:

This photo serves two important purposes: (1) it serves as a diet aid - because, seriously, I don't want to eat ever again every time I look at that thing, and (2) it serves to make y'all feel better about yourselves because, clearly, my rug is in desperate need of vacuuming and still I have posted here for all to see (Isn't it nice that you and I are close enough friends that I can let you see my dirty rug? I'm so glad we're tight like that. Hey, if you want to feel like family, c'mon over because have I got a kitchen sink for you to see!)

UPDATE: Kate's cut seems to have come open again. It's not bleeding, but it's kinda gaping. Guess toddlers are too rough on glue. (Seriously, the number of times in the last 24 hours I have watched her stub that toe into something at full speed, wince, then just keep on running is astounding...) I called the doctor's office, but they said to just put a band aid on it to keep it clean and come in for the appointment we already have set up for tomorrow morning.

Claire, This is Riemann. Riemann, Claire.

M got an email today from his best friend with a good math joke in it:

An infinite number of mathematicians walk into a bar. The first mathematician orders a beer. The second mathematician orders half of a beer. The third mathematician orders a quarter of a beer... The bartender says, "You guys are all idiots!" and pours two beers.

Claire was reading it over his shoulder and thought it was funny. I asked her if she knew why it was funny. You know, besides the fact that someone called people "idiots." This led to a discussion of the "pattern" of the fractions. We talked about how if it went on forever, the fractions would get smaller and smaller and closer and closer to just two.

So then we asked her, "When will it finally get to two?"

She looked at me, smiled, and said, "Never."

Well, then. Guess we're ready for calculus.

Not Beige This Time

Would you look at that?!?!? For my 30th birthday about a month ago, my sister made me the most incredible cake.




I kept looking at it and I just couldn't believe this beautiful thing was for ME!!! Lil' old me! It was almost too pretty to eat.

But don't you worry. Eat it we did. And if you think this thing looks incredible, you should have tasted it.

Heaven. on. a. fork.

Except when I would put the fork down and just lick my plate.

My sister's design was inspired by my wedding cake:


Or perhaps I should say, the way my wedding cake was supposed to have looked. Which is not what you see above.

Don't get me wrong, I think my wedding cake turned out pretty, it's just that I had envisioned something different and even getting what I got was like pulling teeth.

Originally, we weren't even going to have a cake because I don't like cake that much and M doesn't even eat sugar. Seemed silly to spend the money. But my dad seemed to think it was important to follow tradition. (Cue Tevye: "Tradi-tion! TRADITION!") Well, he was footing the bill, so I wasn't going to argue. However, if I was having cake, I was determined that it would be as yummy as possible. At least to me, because I'm selfish like that. Which meant chocolate - none of that white crap.

I went to a bakery my mom had heard good things about and we taste tested their stuff. They had a delicious chocolate cake and chocolate buttercream that I decided to go with. So when it was time to sit down and actually give them my order, I thought it would be easy. In the end, it was a good thing the cake wasn't very important to me.

I told the bakery I wanted a chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream icing. Right off the bat, they questioned whether I REALLY wanted chocolate frosting and not white. And I said definitely.

Then they asked what decoration I wanted on it. I told them my wedding kind of had a stylistic theme of bands or stripes, so I wanted each tier to have a band around it about 1/3 to 1/2 of the way up. Then they wanted to know what color I wanted that in. And I said chocolate. Same as the rest of the cake. They thought I was insane. (Do you? To me I think something can be monochromatic and still be pretty because of texture or varying heights, right?) I told them I wanted it all chocolate. They said it wouldn't show up. I said it would show enough. And I told them we would be adding a few fresh flowers ourselves. They were still dubious and suggested what if the frosting was chocolate and they made the band out of a darker chocolate? I thought that sounded okay so I agreed. I didn't know that would mean they would frost the cake with something they waved near some chocolate so it was just a dirty beige color. I wanted CHOCOLATE. I had pictured a subtle contrast of the regular chocolate buttercream I had just taste-tested and a darker chocolate accent.

Then they asked what else I wanted on the cake. I said nothing. They were appalled. I was repulsed by the very suggestion of a gaudy frilly cake. I like me my streamlined. Tailored. Simple. They told me I HAD to have something or it would be too boring. I said I didn't like a lot of decoration. Then they told me fine, but they wouldn't be able to get the edges on the bands smooth enough so they had to pipe the edges. So I told them fine, make it a straight line then. They again looked at me like I was crazy.

If I had actually cared much about this cake, then I SO would have walked out on them and found someone else. But whatever. In the end the cake was pretty good - a lot better than something non-chocolate. And it was pretty enough, even if it wasn't the tower of chocolate decadence that I had envisioned.


But 8 years later, my sister's cake was perfect. I have the best sister EVER!!!

Twin Cousins

Kate is only two and a half weeks younger than her cousin. I'm sure someday they will be the best of friends. But for now, they mostly like to steal each other's toys.

Well, in a whirlwind of sudden changes in plans, my sister and her little family left. Her husband went to camp for the Army for five months so they all went. And now, after having eight people living in our house for the past four and a half months, we have our house back to ourselves again.

On the one hand, it's a lot quieter...
Wait a minute! Who am I kidding? It's a lot LESS LOUD.
And now we can have underwear dance parties in the living room after the kids are in bed.

On the other hand, the live-in friends/babysitters are gone.
Now I have to wake up all three kids every time I take Claire to school.
And I have no adult conversation until M gets home.
And whose high chair tray will Kate steal food from now???

"Hey cuz! C'mere and let me sit on you."

Get the Gift - My Favorite Shower Game

I did a baby shower several years ago where I had to come up with a game. Since then, I've used it again and several people have asked for the the info on it too, so I thought I'd post it here. Then I can just give people a link when they want info on it and I can share with anyone else out there who might be looking for a good shower game. I love this game!

The idea for the game is loosely based on Pass the Parcel, which we played at some of my birthday parties growing up. I wanted to play a game where lots of people got a little prize. I like to spread the love :) So I put my present to the guest of honor in the middle, then I wrapped it in many layers of wrapping. (I stock up on cheap stuff after Christmas that doesn't look like Christmas paper and intersperse it with blank newsprint or whatever else I have around. You could even just use newspaper to be inexpensive.) Inside each layer I put a little favor. I usually buy packs of mini-nail polish and mini-rolls of ribbon at the Target Dollar Spot and then split them up. You could also use something like candy or whatever you want.

The second element I wanted to incorporate is a get-to-know you quality to the game, so rather than just "pass the parcel" I thought we could decide who to pass it to next based on something about that person. My friend had found a few rhymes on the internet (source unknown), so I started with those but there were only about ten. I added to them so there would be plenty for everyone to get one. I taped a rhyme to the top of each layer of the wrapping. Start with the last rhyme on the innermost wrapping and then put the first rhyme on the outermost layer of wrapping.

So here's how it works. You hand the gift to the guest of honor and have her read the first poem from the outside. Here are the little rhymes with the description of the "winner" in bold:



You thought all the gifts were meant for you,
But I have other items too.
So hold up this gift and look all around
Then pass to the one with eyes of darkest brown.

You might think you are the lucky one,
But let's all try to share the fun!
Look around with eyes discreet
And pass to the one with the smallest feet.

Your feet are tiny and very smallest.
Now hand this to someone very tallest.

Please take your time and don't be harried.
Give this to the one who is longest married.

You must be proud of your married life.
Now pass this on to the newest wife.

Of this parcel you are bereft.
Give it to the one on your left.

The longest earrings we're looking for now.
If you're wearing them, step up with a bow.

Now that you have gotten your treat,
Give this to the one with the largest feet.

Look around with all your might
And pass to the one of shortest height.

Now search for all the buttons you can find.
Look for the most, of any kind.

Now don't get cross and please don't fight,
But pass this to the lady third on the right.

Is she here or is she there?
Find the lady with the shortest hair.

Some of us may live far away.
Who came the furthest to be here today?

No matter where she lives on this earth
This lady is living farthest from the place of her birth.

Though it may make you shy, just a smidge,
Being the oldest comes with privilege.

You're the one whose years are most,
But now the youngest will play host.

To whom is this place the dearest?
Pass this on to the person born nearest.

Her life probably does not feel very calm,
So give this to the one who is the newest mom.

Search in this room, not all through the land
And find the one with the longest nails on her hand.

Your nails are so long! That totally rocks!
Now hand this to the person with the longest locks.

You are given the power to choose.
Pass to whoever you want, you cannot lose!

Give this to the person with the longest name.
Learning to spell it was no silly game!

Now the gift goes to the mom with the oldest child.
She can tell us all about how teenagers are wild.

Look straight ahead is what I ask you to do
Then pass to the one directly across from you.

A little discussion and we'll be able to tell
The lady whose name is shortest to spell.

Opposite of giving the worm to the early bird,
Put the gift in the hand whose knock was last heard.

I know, I know, the rhymes are getting worse.
Pass this to the one with the biggest purse!

I think we should stop now, don't you agree?
So give this last gift to the Mother-to-Be.


(I've never done it, but I'm sure the last rhyme could be changed to "Bride-to-Be" so the game could be used for a bridal shower.)

After each little rhyme is read, the group determines who the "winner" is and passes the gift to them. They unwrap a layer, retrieve their favor that was wrapped inside, and read aloud the next rhyme taped to the outside of the next layer. It's up to you whether you want to allow repeat winners or whether you want to skip people who have already won once and find a runner-up who hasn't gotten anything yet. I wrote enough to allow for 27 winners plus the guest of honor, so obviously you can expand or condense to meet your own needs. Let me know if you have any questions, but I hope you enjoy this game as much as I do!