How can we top the SCAVENGER HUNT

at Thanksgiving and get together again for Christmas as an extended family?

We-e-ell, how about a REVERSE SCAVENGER HUNT?

((We did this on Saturday. Our tradition of 20 years has been to have our family get-together on the weekend before Christmas! This year it was seven days before. We had fun! And they asked to get us together again on Zoom in just a few months so we can better keep in touch with each other. So, I’m thinking around March 1! Hopefully, I’ll let you know how that goes too.))

So NUMBER 1, we scheduled ZOOM for 1-1.5 hours only—so as not to intrude too much on anybody’s busy Saturday.

#2 GETTING READY: Grammy did a scavenger hunt of sorts through her house.

She found this, that, and whatever small useful items

she was not using all that much. (You know, the clutter doth creep up on you, even when your daughter is a famous de-cluttering guru. There is much soul-searching to consider in that statement, but I will not go there.)

Then she wrapped all the

junk/gifts

in brown paper grocery bags with bag intact and cinched up with packing tape.

((And mailed them to those in Kansas or delivered to those within an hour while we went to see Christmas Lights.))

The game part will be kind of like Twenty Questions. The recipient should shake it. Is there a clue there?

Then open the gift carefully, you probably will need scissors to cut the packing tape, BUT PRESERVING the grocery bag. DO NOT LOOK INSIDE!

((ACTUALLY, TO START: WE PICKED OUR SON to open his gift near the beginning. He was clued into the concept beforehand and played up the intrigue and fun as he used his handy Swiss Army knife to slit the packing tape on the seams—talking and already asking playful questions as he went.))

Recipient will reach in the bag and feel of the gift item. (START THE TIMER FOR 2 MINUTES & SOMEONE COUNT THE QUESTIONS) Then give clues BY DESCRIBING WHAT THEY FEEL. The recipient can guess at any time, as many guesses as they want in 2 minutes.) Anyone can make a guess or ask questions: Is it metal? . . . paper? . . . etc. (The recipient gets to keep the item or put in the family DONATE BOX

Copyrighted picture of Introduction to my picture book: Kacey’s Question: “Who Will I Marry?” — Copyrighted picture of Introduction to my picture book: *Kacey’s Question: “Who Will I Marry?”*

or AUCTION it off to the highest bidder.) Ha Ha!

((AND IN REAL TIME, WITH FAMILY DYNAMICS IN THE PLAY: Our son played up the mystery and finally guessed he got a can of soda in a box. What kind? His brand? No. His grandpa’s brand—a commemorative can of Pepsi in a box. Lots of guessing, Lots of accusing Grammy for her craftiness or lack thereof, etc., with inside jokes and family memories shared. Lots of laughing—THAT’S THE KEY—EVEN IF IT’S AT THE EXPENSE OF GRAMMY. ))

We could foresee we would not have time for 17 people to open all of the gifts so we plannedto draw names among the 2, 4, or five folks in each household. So, essentially we thought we would play this game in 3 segments like we did for the Scavenger Hunt at Thanksgiving. (And families could finish up off Zoom later, if needed.

In between segments, Grampa planned to interview several people and

keep it light-hearted!

Something from the weekend hunters, something from the virtual learners, something from the football fans, etc.

Then we read the Christmas Story Together.

((Actually, every person read at least one verse of Luke 2. (We chose the order and emailed ahead the verses for each person and included their names on the Power Point with the verse so all could read along. We assigned the verses so that the youngest/2nd grader could practice/read Luke 2:6—a short verse with all one—syllable words about the baby being born.))

Then Grampa made a few remarks, etc.

We sang two Christmas carols. Two different families (a choir of 5 or a quartet) leading and heard by all while all of us sang along at home.

((SO BY THAT TIME WE HAD USED UP OVER ONE HOUR: We thought perhaps we should end it, but

a roar went up!

“Can’t we open our other Grammy Gifts?”

So, by popular demand, we said everyone could open their gifts all at the same time, guessing among their family groups, etc. While Grampa and I watched and different ones called out what they got! (( I was really glad I kept a list of what I gave everyone!))

((Our daughter-in-law was pleased with her blue plastic dustpan//Aunt Becky liked her long-handled backscratcher//Uncle Eddie (diabetic) loved the ziploc of Werther sugar-free caramels//Ben, poised to enter Baylor’s Business School next year, liked his ‘old fashioned’ magnetic paperclip holder!//Aniyah was very pleased with her tiny sewing kit//Dana was pleased with a 2x3” diary from when she was about 8yo//Bob the principal liked his American flag lapel pin//Dakota 11yo wasn’t sure what he would do with an assortment of hooks he can add to his closet organization, but well, he’ll figure it out. Etc., etc. etc. Our nephew decided I must have done his last, ‘cause he got an almost used up roll of packing tape!))

Our family Christmas celebration the weekend before Christmas was a big success!

It worked well even for 2020!!
The year we all have learned

Maximum flexibility!!! RIGHT??

We ended at 1 hour and 25 minutes with the ULTIMATE BADGE OF SUCCESS!

“Can we do this again in a few months so we can all KEEP IN TOUCH!”

A REVERSE SCAVENGER HUNT and Maximum Flexibility!