Polar Express - Irmo Style

For about a year now, our Relief Society President, my sweet friend Kelly, has wanted to do something different for our ward Christmas Party. She got some push back from people who wanted something more traditional, but she kept up her enthusiasm and actually made it happen. And I have to say - it was the best ward Christmas party ever! We had an enormous turn out and everyone was crazy about the party. It was a huge success!

I was in charge of the paper stuff. I got lucky and found a website that had templates so I didn't have to recreate anything. Normally, I prefer making my own, but these were perfect so I was grateful to snag them. These were the invitations.

When guests arrived, they were greeted by Bishop Johnson and his wife. 

The Johnsons gave each child a ticket to ride the Polar Express.

We then followed the train tracks into the cultural hall. (Aren't the Edwards the cutest couple?? I love these people!)

The Polar Express was at the back of the room (notice the real light) and tables were set for breakfast. I didn't get a very good picture of the snowflakes, but they were three dimensional and were made by the youth in the ward.

The Young Men's president made the engine.

The activity day girls and the scouts helped make the table top Christmas trees with folded up magazines. They looked amazing.

We had a hot chocolate bar where you could put all kinds of goodies in your hot chocolate. We had fancy cups with cardboard holders. 

Our good friends the Baltzeggars joined us. We love doing things with them.

Baylie and Isabella have been in the same class at school almost every year.

Jalen was excited to ride the train. (Although he wanted it to actually move.)

Another picture of some of my favorite people.

After a breakfast of pancakes, eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy cooked by the priesthood brethren and served by the young women, Sister McKee invited us to listen to a story.

The train conductor invited the children to board the Polar Express. They had to have their tickets! 

The elves greeted children as they boarded.

The elves gave each child a bell with this tag on it.

The children boarded the train and headed for the North Pole. You can't really see the windows, but they were pictures drawn by children of what they thought they would see if they looked out the window of the Polar Express.

Jalen and Jackson all aboard.

Isabella and Baylie.

As the children rode the train, they ran into lots of fascinating characters. First we had ballerinas - Clara dancing with her nutcracker. (It helps when the RS counselor owns one of the best dance companies in the country. She had all the costumes and we had additional dancing girls that I didn't get a picture of.)

Then we had two dancing bears (the aforesaid incredible Kelly and her husband Franck).

Then we had a visit from Frosty the Snowman!

Next followed Elsa, Olaf and Anna.

And last of all, Santa made an appearance!

He went on board the train and told the children that the real purpose of Christmas was to remember Jesus. He asked the children to sing Away in a Manger with him.

Afterwards, the kids got to sit on Santa's lap.

Santa gave each child an ornament. If you shake it around, there are fun things hidden inside.

It was such a perfect party and so different from the dinners we usually have. The children were fully engaged and appreciated the message in a way that doesn't usually happen. This party will be pretty hard to top.