Santa and His Helpers

HO, ho, Ho

HaraMara

Blythswana

Arielminda

Rhacc'Var

Mr. and Mrs. Claus

One evening in December Greg and I went to dinner with a group of friends.  While we were eating one of the ladies told about her new job at "The Villa".  It is a building of studio apartments for elderly.  On Thanksgiving day only one of the residents were leaving to go with family.  She told how she stayed there with them trying to make their day as cheerful and bright as she could even though they were seemingly forgotten by their families.   I was so sad, and my heart ached for them.

A few days later I was in charge of doing a craft with the LDS sisters at the convalescent center.  The Villa and the convalescent center are connected, but separate.  As we were doing the craft again I felt so sad for these sweet people, and was desirous to make their Christmas a little more merry.  When I got home I told Greg my idea, he consented, and even said it sounded like fun.  When the kids arrived home I presented my idea of dressing dad like Santa, me like Mrs. Claus, and them as elves to spread holiday cheer to the residents of the convalescent center on Christmas day.  They were all so excited.

The following Sunday Gabrielle was assigned to give a talk during the Sacrament meeting for the Convalescent Center.  Greg generally takes her when they have assignments, but that day he was conducting our ward's sacrament meeting (all are dismissed after our sacrament is administered to go and do their assignments at the Convalescent Center). I packed up my little lovlies and we headed out.  The notorious Phyllis was in attendance...just as a side note Phyllis is famous.  She is in her 90s and a mess.  Every time Greg is at the care center she proposes to him, telling him"You are a fine man, just a hunk, do you want to get married?  Looks like you were raised in a manure patch as tall as you are."  Her pick up lines are quite endearing.  However, she doesn't carry the same love for small children, teenagers, or women.  One Sunday she called Sister Barker, who was the chorister, out for not wearing nylons while she stood in front of the congregation to lead the music, saying you always were nylons at church, ALWAYS!  She stopped the sacrament because the cloth was not perfectly straight on the table.  AND on this specific day Bennie said "Ut-Oh" when he dropped something before the meeting had begun, and she screamed "OH WOULD YOU JUST SHUT UP!"  Needless to say he didn't say much more. ANYWAY as we were leaving I saw the lady over activities and went asked her if there was anyway my brilliant idea would work.  She got so excited, and said absolutely and to arrive Christmas morning at 9.  So we had a gig, and we began to work on costumes.  Mori worked for hours with liquid latex making elf ears.  She called it her "Elf Prosthetic Shop". Gaby sewed a skirt for herself, and after a bit of shopping we were in business.

On Christmas morning we opened our gifts, changed into our costumes, and then headed to the care center.  As we were in the car, I asked my family why they don't stop me when I have ideas like this. I really didn't know what to expect, and was feeling a little awkward.. When we arrived all of the residents were sitting in the foyer, in a circle just patiently waiting.  We walked in to a few, "Oh look Santa!", but we couldn't find the activities ladies.  It was awkward!  A lady from our ward that works in the kitchen came over and spoke to us for a minute, that calmed us.  Then, I sent the kids around to visit with the residents.  Finally, we caught site of the activities people, and our work started.  They had the multi purpose room packed with gifts, and our task was to deliver the gifts, and help the people back to their rooms with their gifts.  We enjoyed ourselves, and the residents seemed to as well.  They loved the kids.  Bennie dressed in part of his Halloween costume as a snowman.  The ladies kept saying, "that's a beautiful baby!"  He'd wave, and they'd melt.  He was so exhausted and was asleep by the time we arrived home.

Originally we were supposed to go to the Villa at 2 pm on Christmas day, BUT they had a stomach flu outbreak and were quarantined. A few of their residents even ended up in the hospital.  The Tuesday after Christmas our friend called, and reported everyone was well, and they were going to have a Christmas party the next day at 2 pm, was there anyway possible we would be available.  The only glitch was we were tending 4 kids for friends that were having a baby that day.  Mori stayed home and babysat while we went to the Villa.  Before arriving Bennie walked around saying,"HO Ho, ho!", he was cute, but wouldn't do it for the ladies! Barb had kept us a secret, had us come in 15 minutes early, and stashed us in her office.  As we walked into the party you should have seen the shock and disbelief on their faces.  It was precious.  Barb had a photo directory and showed us each person's picture, we learned their name, and a few facts about them as we were stowed away.  One lady said, "How'd you know my name?!"  Santa and his helpers always know names!  One lady kept saying, "Who are these kids!  Who are these kids!"  While clapping her hands. It was awesome, and we loved our time there.  There were six residence (the convalescent center has 60+). We were able to talk with them, and get to know them.  They were so delightful, and just were so appreciative.  Almost giddy over the experience, one lady said to Greg' "Santa, this is even better than Christmas Day, but I was in the hospital on Christmas Day!"  The kids were overjoyed as well.  We arrived home, and were just settling in when my phone rang.  It was the sister missionaries confirming a dinner appointment that Greg had scheduled with them...that we had completely forgotten.  1 1/2  later we were sitting down with the missionaries to a nice meal, with 9 sometimes delightful children (one of which pooped his pants & ended up in the shower as I was trying to prepare for the missionaries.  I was glad that night when his dad picked him up, and even more glad to bequeath a new pair of undies to the child).  We had a great time and were so glad to relax that evening.