We arrive right at 5:00 pm for the start. They were much more organized this year and as you entered, you received a number letting you know when to get in line to see Santa. We were number 8. Had to call daddy on the cell phone quickly and say, "Get down here NOW! We are in line and it's almost our turn!" He made it with one family to spare. Phew!
They take photos for the families and during the party, they print them. So, you leave with a photo or two of your kids and family with Santa. Of course, you are also allowed to shoot your own pictures, too. They also put all of their photographer, Nat's pictures up on a share folder at work for families to download. We had 13 shots total that he took. It's a very nice gesture and program for all the families at the plant.
The kids didn't smile as much as they did last year, but they were busy talking to Santa, so I am still very happy with the pictures. And, Nat snapped one of our whole family with Santa, so our monthly challenge family photo (the final in our 2010 installment) is complete!
If you look closely, you can see the drawing Santa is holding reads, "Dear Santa Claus, We love you" and has Gretchen's name at the bottom. She wouldn't sign Carl's name or let him sign it because on the other side was a drawing she made for Santa. A family portrait including cats. She wanted to make Santa a present because she was worried he wasn't going to get any presents. I love that you can read it so clearly in the photos, but, even moreso, I love that she is just that sweet!
Mrs Claus is holding the little stuffed elf and snowman the kids received as gifts this year. Perfect choices! They love small stuffed animals!! Especially Carl! As always, there was a table of delicious treats. This year, they even had a big ol' bowl of pretzels shaped as stars and trees. Carl was very happy to see something he liked! You know he won't eat cookies or chocolate. Now Gretchen doesn't have any trouble with sweets. She managed to get us to let her have 2 big frosted sugar cookies throughout the night. Gee, wonder why she didn't eat much dinner later.
They had about 6 different craft projects set up at tables for the kids to enjoy, too. Gretchen loves glitter glue! and sequins! This party is heaven for her! And then, her parents are left holding precious snowmen and ornaments for the rest of the evening because you can't put something with wet glitter glue on it into a bag to carry easily. Carl is not as much into art, but for the past 2 years, he has made me 2 ornaments. One, a shiny Christmas ball that you put festive stickers on and the other, a popsicle stick reindeer head. He loves squeezing the glue bottle! So, he was willing to glue on 2 eyes and a nose. Gretchen made hers much more elaborate by adding a gazillion beads, too. With glitter glue. Once it dried (the following day) I went to move it and every single bead came right off! Shhh... do not tell her, but I had to open up a photo to see where they were placed and re-glue them all back into the spots they left in the glitter glue. I used Tacky craft glue. Let's hope they stay this time!
Here she is decorating a foam tree. She has 3 ladybugs painted on her face. She was pretty pleased that they remained on there, although faintly, for school the following day.
And here they are hard at work with glue, googly eyes and beads!
Carl's finished reindeer. I do have the pipe cleaner antlers, just forgot to add them yet.
Gretchen's masterpiece.
What an awesome night! I love that you can read her letter to Santa in the pictures. Cracking up over trying to put the beads back in the right order using the camera. I can totally see myself doing this one day. So great that Lew's company puts this on each year.
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