Swim Team Christmas Party

So today after practice I hosted my team's annual Christmas Party. It was fun although I was a little embaressed by the way my house looked. I tried to remind myself that in high school I would have cared less what a place looked like as long as there was food... especially after a 9:30 am Saturday morning practice!

Anyway, there are a few traditions that go along with this party.

Tradition 1 ~ The Place

Always, with the exception of one year, at a coaches' house. For the last two years it has been at my house.

Tradition 2 ~ The Tree 

All of the girls decorate the tree. It is nice now since Jim and I don't have any kids yet. I guess when we do have kids who are old enough to decorate, assuming the party is still at my house, they will just have to help the team! Here is the final result.

Tradition 3 ~ The Ornament

The seniors make an ornament for the tree. Last year the girls forgot and gave me my ornament at the banquet in May. I couldn't find it since it never made it with my Christmas stuff. Hopefully I will have it for next year! This year I believe my seniors also forgot. When we asked if they made my ornaments their response was "Uhh... yea. It is done!" Here is what they gave me!

We think that the girls tore the top of a trophy off!

Tradition 4 ~ The Gifts

The girls each bring a $10.00 gift and we do a Pirate Pollyana. Everyone gets a number. The first person picks from the pile. The second person can either steal or pick from the pile. It goes that way until everyone has a gift. When everyone has chosen a gift the first person can either steal or keep the gift they have. Once everyone has a gift all the girls open the gifts together! We had to put a stealing limit on gifts a few years ago because it started to get out of hand so once a gift has been stolen three times it is retired.

Usually we eat before the gifts are done but we had the pizza delivered a little later than normal so we did the gifts before we ate.

This year I made some connections and had a special guest appearance by Santa! Check these out!

 

Here is me and Santa

Here is Katie and Santa. Katie is the head coach and was one of my coaches when I swam.

This is Stacey. She is the other assistant coach with me. We swam for Hubert's together!

Finally, here is my team with my dad, uh... I mean Santa!