A number of years ago, we started a Christmas tradition, the gift line. My husband loves yard sales, and is a champion at finding great stuff. Some is unique, some is fun, some is just down right weird. But what to do with all this treasure? Gift it!
When we started this, we would wrap everything for the gift line. Here is how the line works: Everyone lines up in some agreed upon order. The first person picks a gift; he/she can keep the gift and sit down, or pass it to the next person in line, and go to the back of the line. The gift makes it way down the line, with everyone having a chance to keep it or pass it. If it reaches the end, back to the original person, he/she takes the gift and sits down. After everyone has gone through, we line up in a different order and start over. We usually have enough gifts for 5 or 6 rounds.
Somewhere along the years, our oldest grandson labeled this the Crap Line. Well, it is true that there is a fair amount of crap among the treasures.
In recent years the process has changed a bit. Now each family unit contributes gifts to the Crap Line. Beginning last year, enough identical paper was purchased, so that all gifts look alike.
Here are some of this years presents.
We had the Crap Line last night. Some of the highlights included a return of Soap on a Rope (I think this is the 3rd year for it); a box of rocks (geodes, crystals); an electric guitar & amplifier (yard sale treasure); green suede jacket (also yard sale). And:
Once all the presents are opened, a fair amount of trading goes on. All unwanted gifts are left behind for the party host to dispose of. Some return to the Crap Line the following year, some get re-gifted, and some go one to yard sales or second hand shops to become someone else's treasure.
When we started this, we would wrap everything for the gift line. Here is how the line works: Everyone lines up in some agreed upon order. The first person picks a gift; he/she can keep the gift and sit down, or pass it to the next person in line, and go to the back of the line. The gift makes it way down the line, with everyone having a chance to keep it or pass it. If it reaches the end, back to the original person, he/she takes the gift and sits down. After everyone has gone through, we line up in a different order and start over. We usually have enough gifts for 5 or 6 rounds.
Somewhere along the years, our oldest grandson labeled this the Crap Line. Well, it is true that there is a fair amount of crap among the treasures.
In recent years the process has changed a bit. Now each family unit contributes gifts to the Crap Line. Beginning last year, enough identical paper was purchased, so that all gifts look alike.
We had the Crap Line last night. Some of the highlights included a return of Soap on a Rope (I think this is the 3rd year for it); a box of rocks (geodes, crystals); an electric guitar & amplifier (yard sale treasure); green suede jacket (also yard sale). And:
Once all the presents are opened, a fair amount of trading goes on. All unwanted gifts are left behind for the party host to dispose of. Some return to the Crap Line the following year, some get re-gifted, and some go one to yard sales or second hand shops to become someone else's treasure.
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