Many hands make light work! A huge thanks to all of those who helped with the Ward Family Christmas Party this year. Specifically:
Wendy Frey & Salome' Otero: concept, design, construction, take-down, and dumpster diving -- these 2 women can do anything!
Kim Kaelin: design, construction, props and lighting -- expert decorator, tireless worker
Doug Farrer (and son Boman)-- ceiling specialist; he gave up many, many hours dropping the ceiling -- amazing man!
Dave Frey: provided much needed truck, keys and closets; palm tree construction and other as-needed help
Derek Wilson: Temple construction and painting -- plus, boring set-up work
Laura (Anderson) Elkins: painted the 2 beautiful murals behind the temple
Dianne Anderson: helped with the murals and watched her grandson so Laura could work.
Laura Sillitoe (friend of Wendy Frey): painted the backdrop on the stage
Abe Kaelin: help as needed (!!!) and constructor of palm tree stands. Also helped tremendously with take-down.
Young Men: Constructed palm tree stands
Jan Muir: food, kitchen work (and organized some great women to assist her)
Bruce Schow: Better than Santa Claus! He brought us so many tools, wood and always a kind word!
Holly Reynolds: Designed and made the costumes for the program (amazing talent!)
Robin Bullen: Director of the play -- brought everyone together!
Eden Ellingson: Asst. Director -- pulled off a big production with limited time!
Dan Ellingson & Family: Sound and lighting specialists
Melissa Faber: Youth dance coordinator
Robert Cuello: Helped with lowering the ceiling and clean up
Justin Pendleton: Construction of marketplace stalls
Many thanks to those who helped the evening of the party by sitting in the booths:
LeRoy and Dianne Anderson
Pearl Angelos & Jeanne' Triptow
Doug & Shirlene May
Kris & Cris Page
Jack Halvorsen & Iona Adam
Pam Perkins & Lynne Rada
Jared & Elysia Forsgren
Matt, friend of Elsie Noorda, who showed the children how to do pottery
The Young Women for helping with ornament painting and face painting
Thanks to the great performers:
Bro. Baker: Narrator
Bishop Monson: Samuel the Lamanite
James Crowley: "Oh, That I Were an Angel"
Nick Ramos: Nephi (son of Lehi)
Durham Family: Joseph, Mary, and Baby Jesus
Emily Rottler: "Mary Pulled the Shawl About Her Shoulders"
Pres. Pingree: Isaiah
Bishop Noorda: Nephi (son of Helaman)
Young Women & Young Men: Nephites
Choreographers: Lindsey Faber & Abbie Noorda
Chorister: Holly Baker
Pianist: Maree Karrasch
Also,
Thanks to Monika Gerszewski for taking pictures. What a great record of the night's events!
Thanks to James Crowley for bringing extra props (the beautiful water-table fountain and trees) and Glen Thomas and Collette Murdoch, who brought all of the beautiful copper-works that added so much to the decor.
Thank you to those who stayed after and helped take down "Zarahemla"; Two hours was too quick for a city that took a month's worth of labor and love!
And last, but not least, thank you to the husbands who had to step it up in November while their wives were busy at the church. And, to the awesome children in the Frey, Cuello-Otero, Kaelin, and Pendleton families, who have never loved going to the church so much (!!!) and were extremely helpful in painting, decorating and keeping younger siblings happy.
(We have done our best to think of everyone involved -- please accept our deepest apologies if you were not mentioned.)
