Ward Christmas Party

OK - Decompression. We just had our ward Christmas Party tonight and Anthony and I were in charge of the music/program. It went well . . . actually - I think it went really well, but I always come home and mull over all the things that went wrong. OK - I'm not going write about the wrong things yet . . . no I am. First of all - this man came up to me as I was trying to set up and asked if he could see me in private. I was so confused. I had never seen this man before - and here he wanted me to meet with him out in the hall where nobody was around. My first thoughts were - there is no way I'm going to leave the cultural hall with this man. I told him no. I asked him very curtly - 'What is this about?' He repeated his request. And I again - told him he could talk to me right there. He asked again if he could meet with me away from the kids - and I still didn't get it. I took a few consolatory steps towards him and away from Allison and he finally told me in a low voice that he was Santa! Oh my goodness gracious! It didn't even occur to me that this could be Santa. I was so mean! Here we were at church and I was so suspicious. Oh dear. Well we finally figured out the whole Santa entrance thing. I felt so silly. I tried to apologize to him after the party . . . I am so silly.

So that was one wrong thing . . . the other thing was when we got to the church building we were running a little late - and I get to the gym - and there on the stage was the whole Santa set-up complete with an artificial fire place, arm chair, and Christmas tree - with the curtain's pulled up just to the edge of the ensemble. I was crushed. I had practiced the music set-up using the screen on the stage - and now there was no way access it. I at first thought - oh maybe we could move this set-up just a few feet to the right so we could see the screen. But the activities directly kindly and wisely told me that would not work. Santa had spent an hour on this set-up and it was going to stay. I was so frustrated. I didn't have a key to access the big screen in the back of the gym - and I had envisioned the only other option as a little portable screen on the floor of the gym and nobody was going to be able to see it. My whole plans came tumbling down before my eyes. How was I going to make this work? Anthony kept reassuring my frazzled nerves that it was going to be OK - people would be able to see the little screen. As he worked on that I tried to make phone calls to access the screen at the back of the gym. Nobody was home that supposedly had the key. Anthony meanwhile - brilliantly put the portable screen on the stage next to the Santa set-up. It worked! It was high enough that everyone could see - and we angled it just right. It was perfect. Meanwhile - the bishop and stake presidency member who are part of our ward found a key to access the screen, but by that time the party had started and so I decided to just use the screen on the stage.

OK -so that is the bulk of the wrong things . . . and they were eventually made right. Now for the good part - Anthony is amazing! He was the MC tonight - and it never ceases to amaze me how well he works a crowd. Put a microphone in front of him and watch out! It was so fun. We started off with a Ho, Ho, Ho contest - seeing which group could give the best Ho Ho Ho's. Moms and Grandmas vs. Dad's and Grandpa's vs. Kids. Of course the kids won. He had a couple kids help him judge. Then we got into the picture puzzles. I put up picture puzzles for various Christmas Carols (thanks Mom!) and everyone guessed the song. We started with Jingle Bells, Santa Clause in Coming to Town, Rudolf . . . we had a bunch of kids wear reindeer antlers for that one - and had the kids do the actions. Then we did Frosty . . . Anthony told the kids that if they sang really loud there might be a surprise. He had one of the kids volunteer and she went backstage and put on the Frosty costume and came out in the middle of the song and danced on the stage. It was cute. Afterwards - Anthony told about how frosty had to go back into the freezer . . . I don't know - I can't retell all the jokes Anthony told - but he was so funny!

So the biggest hit of the night - The 12 Days of Christmas. I called Mom this morning to ask for her last minute help on this program and she told me about this activity she did last night at a Christmas production she put on. It was great! Each table was one of the 12 days. And they would stand up and do the action when we got to their part. It was so fun. We had Lords A'leaping across the back of the cultural hall. Kids squatting to lay eggs like the geese-a-laying. A table of adults standing up and dancing like the ladies dancing. The only bad part . . . I was so focused on trying to keep the song 'going' . . . I was playing the piano . . . that I totally forgot to rest after some of the things to allow them to say their little saying. For example - the 2 turtle doves where to flap their hands like birds and then say 'coo coo'. I forgot to rest to allow them to say their part! Oh dear. I even had thought about it before hand . . . be sure to rest . . . but I forgot. The higher days 6-12 - they had time to say their thing . . . but the other didn't. Nuts. Next time I do this - I will do it a capella - without the piano. I think the piano was a distraction. Oh well.

Oh yes - and the other sad part. Some of the picture puzzles had pictures of people in the ward in them . . . but nearly all the people who were in the pictures weren't there. :(

*sigh - all in all - I was very pleased. Oh yes - one more thing. Carrie had sent me some links to good Christmas workbook sights - and I found coloring pages for the 12 days of Christmas on one of them. It was perfect! When I was going around telling the tables what day they were - I left coloring pages and crayons for the kids at the table. That was a very good thing I think. It kept some of the kids busy.

Alright . . . this was a long report.

Happy Thanksgiving

I love thanksgiving. What wonderful time to remember the blessings of life. I think that is the hard part . . . remembering. These are the little 'blessings' I want to remember from this Thanksgiving . . .

1 - Katie and Brian's Wedding – it was very beautiful. Friday morning, after thanksgiving, Anthony and I went to the house to help prepare. I sewed some buttons on Katie’s dress while Anthony helped decorate the arch. Then Loretta and I put together some corsages. I’m always amazed at Anthony’s mom’s ability to create beautiful things. She knew just how to put the rose and the greenery together to make it look so nice. I was carefully taking mental notes – I want to learn to do that. Brian's Mom and friend came over for the wedding. They are from Scotland and it was such a treat to visit with them and learn about life in Scotland.

2 - Dinner at the Lion House and Temple Square Lights. Again - so beautiful. Loretta created such a nice atmosphere. We had Scottish tunes in the background. Beautiful purple napkins and votives filled with purple-tinted water and flowers. And the Lion house rolls. Amazing! After dinner we met up with the Watkins clan and went to temple square. There is such a peaceful spirit on temple square. I held Carter in my arms as we walked around, and he could not take his eyes off the templle. I would switch him from hip to hip and turn him around and he’d still just stare up at the temple. Mom and Dad made the observation that he is very ‘quick to observe’. Anthony’s mom said that he was a very observant boy as well. Carter is a lot like Anthony in many ways.

3 - The Drive - It is an 8 hour drive to Salt Lake City and back - and the kids were so good! I would give Carter a book, or the Friend Magazine – and he would sit there for 20 minutes looking at the pictures. The only tough part was the last hour of driving when Carter was just done and the screaming began. There was also a point when Carter wanted a movie and only one of them could watch a movie on the laptop at a time. And so I told Allison that she could watch after Carter was done - and she just cheerfully said 'OK!' No whining, no complaining - just a cheerful 'OK'! (Yes that is a novelty in our family! :) )

4 – Loretta’s birthday party. We went to Sizzler for lunch and then had a party that night. Allison sat on Grandma’s lap while we watched a movie Andrew put together of her life. It was so nice! Allison was the commentator throughout the movie shouting – ‘Look that’s my Daddy!’ or ‘Hey, that’s me!’. We then played bingo with boards all about Loretta, and had cake and ice cream. Later that night the siblings played a ‘memory game’ recalling various memories from growing up.

5 – Having Thanksgiving dinner in Carrie and Dan’s apartment in Wymount in Provo Utah. We set up 3 tables together and had a delicious spread. Allison made little turkey place cards for each family member. Carrie and Dan were so kind to let us invade their apartment and were so hospitable. I'm afraid we weren't the most docile (hmm - that may not be the right word) of guests. Carter woke up crying every single night - I hope we didn't scare them about parenthood. He's usually a pretty good sleeper . . . well maybe that's me being optimistic.

6 – Tanner treating us to breakfast and dinner at the Cannon Center (I think that is what it is called). It's the food court where Tanner eats on campus. All you can eat . . . steak and chicken cordon blue – we were living the high-life!

7 – Dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Erickson at Olive Garden. It was good to visit and enjoy some good food. Salad, breaksticks, and the Tour of Italy. Yum! I took Allison to the bathroom during dinner and she was singing up a storm. The lady in the other stall commented on what a happy girl she is.

8 – Games at the condo. We visited and played The Big Taboo.

9 – We walked up to bridal falls. It was so beautiful. Tanner and Dad tried to hike partway up – but finally came to their senses and carefully climbed down before they fell to their death. We taught Allison how to play ‘pooh-sticks’ on the bridge.

10– Doing ‘Cinescopes’ with Mom. Her book group this month did this book . . . we all listed our 10 favorite movies and then discovered our inner ‘hero’ profile. I was a ‘chosen adventurer’. Anthony was a ‘loyal warrior’.

11 – Wet Shoes at Trafalga. We went black light bowling at a local bowling place. Dad won by one point. We split into two groups and Allison was playing with the first group. Anthony suddenly turned around and there was Allison tromping through the water pit in the middle of the course – retrieving her lost ball – shoes and all. I took off her soaking shoes and socks and we finished the round before finding some moon boots in the car to put on her for the rest of the day. Silly girl!

12 – Dance Revolution. What a riot! Watching Mom and Dad dance to What a Wonderful World remix. Classic! Carrie and I weren’t too bad ourselves but I think the champion’s hat has to go to Tanner and Dan. They are quite the dancers! I wish I would have taken some pictures :)

13 – Carter and the hacky sack. We discovered that this is the perfect toy for Carter right now. He loves balls and loves to throw balls – and a hacky sack is soft and easy to catch.

14 - Thanksgiving day games at Carrie and Dan's church. We went into the nursery room where there were lots of toys for the kids and enjoyed an afternoon of 'Would You Rather' and 'Luck of the Draw'. It was so perfect - the kids played peacefully while we were able to enjoy the games.

15 – Twilight and the Stuffed Devil Tragedy. Thursday night we went to the movies. Hal, Holly, Dan, Carrie, and I went to Twilight (which was wonderful! I loved it!). While Mom, Anthony, Tanner, and Allison went to Bolt. This was the first time Allison had been to a movie theater and she was so excited. She gave the ticket guy her tickets and grabbed the 3D glasses. She wore the 3D glasses and wouldn’t let go of her ticket all through the previews. After the movie someone came by with a stuffed devil someone had left – and asked Allison if she wanted it. Anthony, sensing a teaching moment, told Allison that the stuffed orange devil wasn’t hers and they needed to take it to the lost and found. Allison lost it. It was after 9:00 at night. They spent $3.00 trying to win another one for her – but to no avail. Luckily she fell asleep in the car.

16 – Doin' the Number Dance - Mom and Dad took the kids to The Pie Pizzeria . . . I wasn’t there for this - but this is the story. They were listening to some groovin’ tunes and Tanner was showing Allison how to dance by putting one finger on each hand up in the air and moving them up and down. Allison started to dance and then she stopped, looked at her fingers, put two fingers up and started to groove with two fingers. Then she stopped, put 3 fingers up and grooved again. She couldn’t quite figure out four – so she just went to 5. Too funny!

17 – Hal taking Allison’s order at Leatherby’s ice cream shop, after she was so sad that I ordered for her. It instantly cheered her up.

18 – Allison so excited anytime we re-met with the family members. She’d yell “Grandma!” in the parking lot – after we had just been separated for 2 minutes and run and give everyone hugs.

19 - Tanner, Dan, and Anthony sitting on the couch tackling Tanner's calculus homework. I could almost see the brain wheels churning!

20 - Spirit of God rewind. We were singing the closing hymn in sacrament meeting at Carrie and Dan's ward . . . and just as we were starting the 3rd verse Allison starts whimpering. I asked what was wrong and she said that she missed the first 2 verses. She wanted the congregation to rewind so she could sing. I told her that she could just sing with us where we were - and so as I pointed to the words in the hymnbook - she sang through her tears, crying in between words. It was oddly cute :).