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Show First time in over 25 years Reunion prompts July Christmas party I s ' f . v ! I.-: Y;'8is f r v ... . is- S! . IV ftfm4 t V s I ft A f V..ix - 'ft1- By DO.NET A GATHERUM KAYSVILLE It looked like Christmas. The house was decorated deco-rated with a traditional tree, a nativity scene and a ceramic Christmas village. Santa Claus was there for the children. There were presents in abundance. It felt like Christmas. Thirty family members were happily visiting visit-ing with parents, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. It smelled like Christmas. There was food enough for all. It didn't matter that the calendar date was July 23, 1988 and that other families were camping, parade para-de watching, water skiing, enjoying en-joying fireworks and rodeos. For William and Peggy Morrison, Morri-son, their eight children and 13 grandchildren, July 23 was Christmas. Christ-mas. For the first time in over 25 years, all eight children were together with their parents. What better way to celebrate a reunion than with a family Christmas party. Although the Morrison family are native Utahns, William's military milit-ary career took them to many places in the world before they returned re-turned to their home state and settled set-tled in Kaysville. Several members of the Morrison family have also chosen military careers. Richard, the oldest son, is a warrant war-rant officer stationed in Tacoma, Wash. He, his wife Sue, and their three children were happy to be home for Christmas. So were Brooks Morrison and his wife Doris, from Ft. Hood, Tex. Billy and Marilyn Morrison traveled to Kaysville from Woodby Island, Wash. Marilyn is expecting a baby, so the family interrupted their Christmas celebration long enough to give her a baby shower. Daughter Susan Kulukulualani flew in from her Hawaiian home to attend the reunion. She left her husband and three children behind. The other Morrison children all live in Utah. Craig and Brenda and Mike and Anita are from West Valley; Val-ley; Scott and Aleta live in nearby Ogden; and Brent and Ruth Man-ley Man-ley and their five children reside in Kaysville's neighbor city, Layton. Thirty people are too many for one house to hold. The Morrisons had Christmas dinner at a nearby church. There was also a special picture-taking session for all family members before the large group returned re-turned to the Morrison home for Santa Claus and presents. Santa is a magic person even when the temperature is 90 degrees plus. The children responded to his questions and his hugs in July with as much enthusiasm as children show in December. The fur-clad visitor confessed he had to leave his reindeer home they just couldn't take the heat. Santa, jolly and perspiring, confessed confes-sed he liked a July Christmas party. "Things this time of year aren't nearly as hectic and demanding. This is a nice break for me," he told the Morrison clan. Santa Claus gets a big hug from one of the adoring Morrison children who gathered at a "Christmas in July" family reunion. x |