The Dickens family Christmas party

Thanks to Michelle's hard work, our family Christmas party was a huge success. We ate chili, breadsticks and veggies, then played a fun game of fear factor. Here are some of the happenings:


These lucky contestants had the opportunity of sifting through brains to remove all the eyeballs placed within. Later Renee' said that before they started, she heard Athena sobbing inside her hat. She asked her what was wrong, and Athena replied that she didn't want to put her hands in brains. Renee' then had to reveal it was only spaghetti and marshmallows. That was enough to ease Athena's mind, and she happily played along.


Tally time! I actually don't even remember who got the most, but it was sure fun to watch.


Nathan Slater's favorite part of this game was the end, when he got to gobble up his collection of eyeballs.


Denise, Shalee, and Callie were probably the most grossed-out with their fear factor game. They threw darts at a dart board to determine how many bites they had to take out of a delicious Twinkie. The only glitch was that inside the Twinkie, carefully placed, was a pickle. Denise doesn't even like pickles, but she came out on top. She ate that conglomerate like a pro. Shalee, on the other hand, practically threw up, while Callie's face turned green.


I got cold feet (well, foot) from this game. We had to remove a bunch of hot dog chunks out of a big bowl of ice water...with our feet. Brrrrrrr!!!


Samantha and I were the winners. Kimball wasn't surprised, though. He's always amazed with the things I can do with my prehensile toes.


Hazel and Athena just found out they will be eating baby boogers. They'd better eat them all, since Michelle worked painstakingly hard at collecting enough for everyone.


Seth and Benjamin are going to need each other's enduring support through this one.


Green, slimy, and satisfying. Yum, yum! Eat 'em up!


This next game was a tasty one. We had to fish a piece of bubble gum out of a tray of whipped cream, without using our hands, then be the first to blow a bubble. Trust me, it's harder than it looks. It's serious business, especially when the pressure is on! You just can't rush a bubble.


Mr. and Mrs. Claus (Nicholas and Amanda).


Chew, Teresa, chew!


The guys got to test their home economics skills by separating eggs without breaking the yolks. Isn't it funny how they each have their own style? Dainty Kimball used the transferring between the shells method, clever Doug broke the egg into his hand and let the white fall through, and time-saver Brett took it to the next level by breaking all the eggs into the bowl, then scooping out the yolks. And the winner is...


Triumphant Brett! He just earned himself the "Homemaker of the Year" award.


Katelyn and Mama sure looked pleased about the next game: Who can eat baby puke the fastest?


"I guess baby puke isn't that bad after all."


Go, Doug and Robert, go! Come on, Matt, slurp that puke!


Painful wall sits. Cathy was the winner, but everyone involved experienced "jello legs" for the rest of the party.


Rigorous jumping exercises.


Sour lemon faces.

Now for some non-fear factor photos.


Every time I see this picture, I can't stop laughing. Hayley and Katie are so cute, then there's this random arm coming out of nowhere, with no body attached to it.


Three cute little girls...Lahela, Hayley, and Katie.


Lahela sure loves her doll!


Wow, Benjamin! Forget fingers, the tongue is way more effective.


Are we having fun yet?



The princes. Top photo: Christopher, Ethan, Connor, and Nicholas. Bottom photo: Nathan, Jonathan, Benjamin, and Jacob.



The princesses. Top photo: the beautiful Callie and Katelyn. Bottom photo: Samantha, Hazel, Amanda, Athena, Ashley, Claire, and on the side, Hayley (with Mama in the background).


Cynthia and Renee', holding Alexandra.


All the kids entertained themselves by playing "train" under the stacked chairs.