Ward Christmas Party

After moving last December, the first Ward activity we went to was the Christmas party.  We were absolutly blown away at how amazing it was.  The theme was the Polar Express, complete with immaculate decorations, breakfast for dinner, and an awesome program.  Logan recalled us saying to each other that we NEVER wanted to help with the Christmas party after seeing how much work went in.  So when this last July we were asked to be on the Christmas party committee we were a little nervous.  Planning meetings began that August!  Somehow we got put in charge of the program (probably Logan and his amazing skills had something to do with it).

The committee decided on the theme "The Spirit of Christmas Stepped In Through My Door".  Everything was based around the book "The Spirit of Christmas" by Nancy Tillman.  In a nutshell, the book is about the Spirit of Christmas coming to a girl's home to help her try and feel the spirit of Christmas by showing her all kinds of fun and traditional things.  The girl just doesn't quite feel it throughout the book until the Spirit reminds her the real reason of Christmas is the Christ child and love.

After months of planning, the party last weekend!  It was a major success with about 300 people showing up for the festivities.  I ran around taking pictures at the beginning to help get a feel for how wonderful it all was.

Pre-party decorating!  We weren't there for much of this but they did an excellent job.

I may or may not have already eaten the mint for this place setting....

There were ten long tables complete with chair covers, chargers, centerpieces, and goblets.  I wish I had taken a picture showing just how many tables... but there was a ladder still up for the chandelier and I didn't want it in the picture. :P

We wanted it to feel cozy and warm like you stepped into a house.  There were Christmas trees, one large chandelier in the middle and two more on each end.  On the walls were fake windows showing a starry night.  Because we were in charge of the program we ended up making a film (surprise surprise) so Logan made a fireplace to be shown on the big screen during the party part. 

I WISH I had taken a better picture of the chandelier!  It had rhinestones on it!  I love sparkles....

A tradition in our Ward is a giving tree.  Every Christmas they put this tree in the foyer and instead of ornaments there are papers with specific items for people to donate (for example, women's shoe size 7, or Lego toy).  Then everyone brings their gift to the party and puts it under the tree.  This was just the beginning but at the end it was full!  Behind it was a banner to sign and be sent to one of the missionaries in our ward.

And of course, in the very center was this nativity.  Because our whole message was the reason behind Christmas is Christ.

   

Mr. And Mrs. Clause favored us with their presence!  They even had a chalkboard to list the naughty and nice.  Both sides were very full by the end of the evening.  They passed out "Elf Kisses" to all the children (baggies of Hershey kisses the Activity Days girls put together).

There were plenty of crafts for the kiddos!

And, oh my goodness, the food was delicious!  We had rolls, salad, ham and ham sauce, twice baked potatoes, corn, and for dessert cookies and milk.  I ate two of those yummy potatoes!  And I'm not going to say how many cookies.... Elsy just didn't finish hers... And I'm pregnant, right?

I wish I had taken a picture of all the people who helped!  But there were just to many.  I was only able to snap a picture of a few of our kitchen crew carving the hams.

And of course, Cameron and McKenna who watched Elsy the whole time while I was running around doing costumes and Logan was adjusting sound and whatnots.  (I see you Elsy, stealing that mint!). And Cameron helped Logan a lot to with filming and getting the screen put up.

So for the program Logan made a video with the help of lots of members of our ward.  We had a woman read the book as a narrator and then had an actor acting it out with a CG orb acting as the Spirit of Christmas.  After each fun tradition that was listed off we had either a live performance or a short video.  Here is a snap of the youth doing their Jinggle Bells dance.

And all the cub scouts were dressed as toy soldiers and they marched out to give candy canes to the audience.

Here is the video:

I wish I could have sat and watched it but I didn't get the chance until the end.  It was so much fun! And Logan did a spectacular job putting everything together.  At the end, after the narration ends about the Savior being born, Logan faded the video into some clips of the LDS Bible videos of the nativity.  We all sang Silent Night as the videos played.  It was really powerful and it felt so peaceful in there with our wonderful ward family. 

And of course, I was to busy to get a picture of our family. :(  But Elsy had fun running around eating rolls and sucking on an battery powered candle.

And of course, we got our first Santa classic. :)