The Matiyasic Family: Friend Gift Exchange

This year for our friends we decided to draw names and do a Secret Santa. We have a totally different group this year (thank goodness) and we all agreed to do a 20 ish dollar gift and we also were bringing a side for dinner. Keeping the Secret Santa gifts a "Secret" was a little harder for some than others but overall it was a huge success!

We had the party at Jen's place so we could have the dogs there to celebrate too.

As soon as I pulled out my camera Brayden was right there ready for a picture!

Here is our cute table. Jen didn't have matching dishes and we had a little joke going on about it so she got all matching plates, cups, napkins and table cloth! So cute!!

I had to work till 530pm and then run home and get Lucky and then come back to Jen's. I was so afraid I was going to be late. And I was, but I wasn't the last person! As soon as I got there and had snapped a few pictures, Craig asked what I was doing. I was oblivious to the fact that I was in charge of my stuffing and should have been cooking it. Well, Craig took over and cooked it for me! Thanks Craig!

They are always so cute! You would never know that have been married for 3 years!

While the food was being prepared, Brayden was sitting at the table snacking on some olives. At some point he had knocked over the burning candle and put almost all the olives on a plate, juice and all. Kelsi is not a fan of olives and of course the juice was on her plate. I was nice enough to trade her so she didn't have to deal with the horrible olive juice :)

Part way through cooking, I realized that I was supposed to bring corn too. Yep, in all my craziness I forgot the corn! You have to have corn! So Kelsi, Brayden and I ran to the store to grab the corn and we got back just in time to meet Cami outside. Then we were finally all here!

Is he not the cutest thing ever!

Yummy dinner!

Kelsi and Craig made the turkey. It was her first time cooking a turkey and it was amazing! She also did the gravy which was equally amazing!

Jen was in charge of the amazing veggie tray! She cut it all by hand too!

I was in charge of the stuffing and corn as you know.

Cami was in charge of rolls and mashed potatoes. Heaven!

And finally, Charles was in charge of dessert. Apple pie and ice cream!
As it turns out...Charles forgot the ice cream! So he also had to run to the store after dinner! Us Matiyasic's are forgetful this year!

After a delicious dinner we got things cleaned up. While all the cleaning was going on, Craig and Brayden were playing with each other and the dogs had to join in.

Finally it was time for presents!!! We all sat in a circle and we were deciding who should go first. I came up with the idea to blindfold Brayden and spin him and whoever he walked to first went first. He was ok with the idea until he realized that I was going to make him walk around not being able to see. But he ran right to Cami and we took that as him choosing the winner.

Somewhere in the middle of that, Brayden was giving me butterfly kisses. Then he decided he needed to give them to Jen...At the same time! Awww...He is a sweetie!

Cami was first and explained that she was in such a rush that she didn't exactly wrap the Secret Santa gift and it was in her purse. So Charles was granted the purse :) He opened his gift and received...

How to Train Your Dragon and a deck of waterproof cards full of drinking games.

Then it was Charles turn to give his gift. He wrapped this just for Craig.

And he received a bowling bad with a paper Sinister Bunny from the game Killer Bunnies taped onto it to represent the embroidered one that Charles didn't have time to put on just yet.

He loved it!

Then Craig gave his gift to me!

Brayden needed to help :) I received a Glee calendar and the movie Hairspray!

Then it was my turn to give my gift. I was working on my gift for Kelsi up until 1 hour before the party! Such a procrastinator! But she loved it!!!!

Then Kelsi gave her gift to Jen.

She got a pan for brownies and a doggy bone and an "indestructible" pig for Teeko. He is always eating things so Kelsi was hoping this would last him a while.

Jen then gave her gift to Cami. She also had a little something for Brayden. He was pretty excited about it :)

Cami received cookie sheets and cooling racks! Fun! I hope we get to taste the cookies soon (wink wink)

Then it was time for a group picture!!! It took a few shots but i think it turned out pretty good :)

Jen bought a ginormous picture from Ikea of a bridge. Charles decided he wanted a picture so it looked like he was crossing the bridge. It turned out pretty good :)