All Aboard..........

A few months ago I was released from the YW Presidency and called as the Activities Chairman. I was kinda bummed thinking the activities committee was just for those who just needed a calling. Well, I was wrong. I was totally wrong. I know now I was called to that calling by inspiration. It has been such a fun calling and has helped me to get to know so many more people in the ward. I was a little worried going into the holiday season knowing there was going to be a party, but I had no committee. The last week in November they called a few people to my committee.

I came up with the idea of the Polar Express and had started planning it. Luckily I have some awesome people on my committee who helped make this night a success!!

The Cook's, The Hunt's, Bro. Stapley, and Bro. Vance all came and helped set up. Most of the day it was only 5 of us working, but it was nice having the help we did. We spent all day Saturday setting up.

Believe it or not, I wasn't all that stressed out beforehand. I only started to stress once people started showing up and they just kept coming. This activity was the most attended than any other church event our ward has ever held, so I had to keep getting more supplies out of the closet, and we had to set up 3 more tables. We already had set up 13 tables and had chairs around the sides of the gym.

We had dinner catered by Moki's Hawaiian Grill-to die for!! Everyone LOVED it. Especially me because that meant, I didn't have to stress beforehand that we had the food all ready. They dropped it off and then later on in the evening, they picked up all the dishes. SO NICE!!

Our program was great. We had Bro. Gardner from the ward be our "Conductor". He dressed the part and did great. The little kids loved the 15 min movie. Some of the kids loved Mr and Mrs. Clause.

Steve, his Sister Jen and his brother in law Brian worked so hard in the kitchen cleaning up and making sure everything was taken care of in there. The ward all helped clean up. I was so impressed and so grateful for all the help cleaning up. 9 hours of setting it all up and it was put all cleaned up in about a half hour or so.

Overall, it was a success. I loved doing it. Well worth all the hard work and planning. So, if anyone is wanting to do a polar express party, I have lots of ideas!

I know I am so blessed to have the calling that I have. I love my calling. I love the people in our ward. I am so grateful to get to know all the ward. I can't wait for our next activity. I think we will try to do a Golden Green Ball for Valentines. Hopefully I can pull it off.

Here are some pics of the evening:


This was near the end of the night. We were so busy all night, but had to get our chance to get a shot with Santa and Mrs. Clause.

Cleaning up after the party Halle and Lizzie goofing off in the train.

The backdrop. Took us SOOO long to set up. It was worth it though.

Front and Center. We put the screen down until it was time for the movie. We showed the reading of the Polar Express Book. Had all the little kids come down in the front to watch it.

Before the chaos began. Before we had to push the tables closer together to add more.

Santa Area. Our Santa and Mrs. Clause were SO awesome. They were so nice to all the kids and they LOVED playing the part.

The train was such a pain. It just wasn't working out quite the way I wanted, but oh well. It worked out just fine. We didn't try the fog machine for the steam until right before and the fog machine we borrowed was actually broked and leaked a gallon of Fog juice all over the floor behind the train. Bummer!

Lizzie is 6 years old today!

Some of my favorite things about Lizzie:

*She is such a cuddly little girl. She likes to be around her mom as much as possible. Even if it means just sitting at my work waiting for me to finish up things.

* She is very artistic. She loves to draw and color-I think she gets that from her parents. Her dad is an artist and I love to color.

*Lizzie likes to play around. She is always being a goof ball and having so much fun! She likes to play dressup and she really doesn't care what other people think of the way she looks. She just likes to have fun!

* She is such a good sister and daughter. She plays well with her sister. She she sticks up for her sister when needed and helps her out when she struggles.

* She is kind of a “Go with the flow” kind of gal. She is so easy going.

* She helps me do the dishes, clean the house and even mop the floors.

* She is a very social person. She loves to be around people. No fear. She makes friends very easily and everyone loves to be around her.

*Lizzie is smart. She is doing well in her schoolwork. She is top of her class and although I think she is bored half the time, she still seems to learn every now and then.

* I love her laugh. It's the best when she scrunches her nose up when she's laughing. Her sister does the same thing. It’s so cute.

*Lizzie has a little “accent” as some would call it. It is so cute. Her little voice is so irresistible. Everyone comments on her voice. I know someday it will be gone, but it’s cute right now.

*Lizzie is just a happy person. She is so fun to be around even when she is grumpy-it’s hard to stay away from her. She's just wonderful and we all love her!!

Happy Birthday Sweetie.
"Love ya SO much"