Annual Rigby Family Christmas Party

I think it all began in the '80s when my dad and mother decided to have a big dinner, along with a Bingo party, so that everyone could choose their own Christmas gifts from the many that they purchased.  They carried on with this tradition with Dad and Mother having such a good time collecting items throughout the year for the party.  Then my mother sadly passed away.  Although my dad wondered how he would carry on the tradition without her, he absolutely insisted that the Christmas party would go on!  Therefore, with the help of two of my sisters in the purchasing of the gifts, plus the rest of us helping with the decorations, invitations, food and clean-up for the party, it has carried on to this very day!  This is such a special evening for all the cousins and siblings to get together, that everyone, except those who live far away, always makes it a point to be there!

 Our oldest son, Kevin, helped Grandpa Rigby call out the numbers this year.

My dad always puts out his favorite picture of my mother so that we can always remember her, too.  I love this picture.  I actually have one strand of this beautiful crystal necklace that my mother wore in this picture.  My sister, Beverly, has the other.

This year, my sister, Joyce, had seen my mother's wedding veil in a drawer.  I don't think I have ever seen it before.  Anyway, she put it in a beautiful box with my dad and mother's wedding picture in it.  This is such a family treasure!

 

 

The very large room with all the presents--I believe that even with 95 people in attendance, everyone got to go back at least three times!
 
 
Another fun thing my dad has always done is collect change and a few paper bills in a glass bottle.  Everyone gets the chance to guess the amount.  The closest to the correct amount wins the bottle.  This year Tom, Doug and Joyce's son, guessed $76 and some odd some cents and was only pennies away from the total!  Way to go, Tom!  Last year, I actually won it!

 It seems like there's always a bowl game on someplace which the guys are interested in and sneak a peak at during the dinner.


Natalie, Angie, and Ellie--our grandson, Taylor's, girlfriend.

We were thrilled to have Alison fly in from San Francisco.  With her family living out of the country for the last nine years, she wanted so badly to attend even though the rest of the family couldn't come. 

 This year, the Copeland Family was in charge of the food.  Angie did a dynamite job of purchasing all the food and preparing most of it while the rest of us helped out at the actual event since we all live out of town except her.   Others in the family brought salads and desserts.  Thanks to everyone, and as I say, especially to Angie! The dinner was absolutely fantastic! 


 


 Finishing dinner, listening to my dad reminisce a little.
 

So many darling cousins to have fun with.

Alison with her cousin, Michele, who was born exactly on Alison's birthday two years later!  They have always had a close bond--perhaps because of that!

Hannah with Ellie, Taylor's girlfriend, and Taylor.  This was the first year Taylor has been able to come to the Bingo Party for two years--he has been on his Mormon Mission to Philadelphia for the last two years. 

All of the boy cousins have a great time together, too!  Plus, Kelsey is there to entertain them.  What fun!

Alison with her dad.

Of course, we had to have ice cream for George!

Let the games begin!

Our two daughter-in-laws who were in attendance:  Natalie from Washington and Angie from Utah.

My sister-in-law with her newest grand daughter.  Isn't she tiny and adorable?!

My brother, Blair, was playing with one of the baby's older sisters--there are now four girls in their family.

Kent with his dad.  We are so happy they decided to make the 10-hr. drive down from Washington.

Two best buds--although they are cousins, they are like two peas in a pod.  And yes, they both absolutely love BYU!

My brother Jerry with his wife, Shelly, and their two sons:  Jace sitting by his girlfriend, and Zach.  Jerry has five boys and only one girl!

My sister, Beverly, with one of her beautiful little grand daughters.

Three of our grand daughters:  Lauren, Hannah, and Ella. 

This is my brother's daughter Emily and her fiance,  Irvin.  We all think he looks a little like David Archuletta!  Anyway, since we were out in Utah, we were thrilled that in a few days we would get to travel to Idaho and see them get married.  That will be on another blog.

Kent with his cousin, Tom.  Actually, four of us were expecting babies at the same time practically, and we all had boys.  These are two of those four boys that were born so close together.  The other two weren't able to attend this night.  Tom wanted a chance to hold Cannon and talk to Kent at the same time.

I love it when so many of the children go up to thank Grandpa Rigby for the wonderful time they've had and for all the presents.

I think one of the things that made my dad smile the most was when Joyce's grandson came up to show my dad the hat he had picked out in the Bingo Room.  That was a hat my dad got at a co-op he belonged to, and he was pretty proud of that hat!  So, it thrilled him when this little guy loved it, too!

Lauren listening to my dad tell her about something in his life.

Three of Joyce's daughters, Michele, Camille, and Jennifer, along with Camille's husband and one of Michele's little sons who looks like he's pretty tired at the end of the night.

Three cousins who really enjoy talking about their little ones--the two cousins on the right just had babies in the last couple of weeks!

My brother, Jerry, and three of his sons:  Zach, Chris, and Austin

Shelly and Jerry (Sister-in-law and brother)

Kelsey and Nate along with my sister, Natalie.

Mark and Natalie (Brother-in-law and sister)

My sister, Joyce, with her Taiwanese daughter, Rita.  She is such a wonderful young lady who already has her Master's Degree and is teaching at Brigham Young University.

George and Me

While everyone is cleaning up, there is always a friendly ball game going among the boy cousins.

Each year, we feel so blessed to have little Cannon with us.  He is nearing three years old with a disease that takes many of these angelic little boys much earlier than this.

My dad is always so interested about Cannon and prays for him every morning and evening.

Our three children in attendance:  Kent, Kevin, and Alison with their Grandpa Rigby

Ethan thanking his Grandpa Rigby and telling him "Good-bye" until they see him again--usually at a BYU game!

Of the seven children in our family, six of the sisters and sisters-in-law are in this picture.  (Only my sister Beth was unable to attend.)

Me, Joyce, Denise, Natalie, Beverly, and Shelly

The seven children with our dad:  Natalie, Joyce, Blair, our dad, Jerry, Beverly, and Me

What an absolutely perfect evening it was!  Thanks, Dad, for continuing a tradition that is loved by everyone in the family.  You are so generous and want everyone to know of your love.  I know that those who couldn't attend throughout the United States wherever they live, were certainly thinking about this evening and wishing they could be there.  Until next year . . .