Christmas Parties

My ward's Christmas Party was Saturday night.  We had Christmas in Nauvoo (circa 1843).  I've been so busy with the preperations for that and the Enrichment Night Progressive dinner that was on Dec 6.  This blog has been last on my list of "things to do," but I decided I do need to let everyone know what's been happening.  The Progressive dinner was fun, and I enjoyed being able to talk to the sisters in the ward.  In years past, we went around to different houses of the sisters in our ward.  But this year many women in the ward have husbands that are deployed.  We went, instead, from room to room in the building.  Our appitizers were in the Santa's Workshop (the YW room).  In the cultural hall aka Winter wonderland, we had dinner and a gift exchange.  Finally, we had our spiritual program and desserts in the Primary room (Bethlehem).  We used a program I found on homemakingcottage.com titled "The Women Who Knew Christ."  
The ward Christmas Party turned out beautifully.  I never fully appreciated the amount of work that goes into the Ward Activities.  My hat's off to the Ward Activity Chairperson.  I fell into the lead roll this year by default.  Our Chairperson went out of town for Christmas, and since I'm the Co-Chair,  I ended up taking the lead.  J helped me out so much.  The committee decided to have 5 stores (The Red Brick Store, The Tinsmith, Scovil Bakery,  Printing Office, and a Quilt Shoppe) from Nauvoo, with each store "sponsered" by an auxillary.  The Red Brick Store was headed by the Primary, and they handed out stick candy.  The Elders Quorum lead out the Tinsmith, where children could make tin-punched ornaments.  At the Bakery we had gingerbread men for people to decorate with help from the YM/YW.  The Missionaries had printed materials to hand out, and we Christmas cardsthe members could sign for our ward missionary at the Printing Office.  Felt ornaments were decorated by children at the Quilt Shoppe, with help from the Relief Society.  

    
        

We then had a turkey dinner (turkey, gravey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, mixed veggies, sweet potato soufle, and dressing).  After dinner came the program.  The youth did a supurb job with "A Christmas Carole" rap.  It was so entertaining.  After Brother Bangeter read a "Christmas Orange,"  Santa came to visit the children and gave each an orange.  I'm so grateful that people stepped in and helped with whatever I needed them to do.  It turned out beautifully, and was a huge success.