[Previous entry] [Main Index] [Next entry]

12/11/2005 Entry: "2005 APWU Kids Christmas Party a BIG HIT!!"

The Annual Kids Christmas Party for APWU members and grandkids was a big “Hit” this year. Cindy Peterson donated two porcelain dolls for raffle prizes for the girls so we picked up two Rockem-Sockem Robots for the boys raffle. The kids seemed to like the added chance at winning a big toy. The winners of the dolls were Jenny Wilinski and Kaylee Bertrand. The robots went to Joseph Groh and Mike Sullivan. I guess Dad, Dale Groh, seemed as excited as Joseph to get into the action with the robots.

Derek Johnson was the winner of the M&M guessing game and was also excited to find out they were his to eat.

The Poinsettia plants were won by Barb Glaser, Dale Groh, Dave Kroll, George Dowling, Robin Van Schyndel, Donna Vanden Bush, Lori Sullivan, Jody Bertrand, Ginger Lepp and Robin Rasmussen. The plants were all very nice again this year. Thanks to Cofrin Carrier Trish Mikulsky for arranging for us to get them on Saturday.

Sadie Mae, Pattie Willemon’s granddaughter made sure to let Mrs. Claus know that she wanted the book, “Dora’s Christmas Present” that was read to all the children. Jorden and Jacob Wallace, Robin Van Schyndel’s kids, and Sadie Mae ‘helped’ Mrs. Claus with the book reading. Johnah Mepsted couldn’t wait to open his present while sitting on Santa’s lap. That wrapping was coming off right then and there. Mrs. Claus asked the children if they thought there was a present in Santa’s bag for her and one of the kids said, “Probably not”. That was pretty funny. Some kids like Donna Vanden Bush’s and Larry Lagassie’s granddaughters just wanted to play on the carpet with the toys that we brought along from home.

Our helpers this year were Ashley Bongers, Josh Cisler, Tayler VandenBush, Hilary Wentworth, Kelsey Schneider, Logan Reetz and Katlyn Nohr. Our adult helper was Terry Wentworth. He is always a big help with set up and take down. Thank you for all your help.

Thanks to all the members who donated all the yummy treats. They were: Patti Willemon, Shirley Schuessler, Jody Bertrand, George Dowling, Arlyn Wilinski, Dale Groh, Robin VanSchyndel, Bernie Haen, Ginger Lepp, Donna VandenBush, Vickie Bongers and Gail Nohr. Please forgive us if we missed anyone as some people who brought food didn’t sign up. The APWU provided the meat, cheese, rolls, fruit, juice and water.

Thanks again to Santa and Mrs. Clause for putting on a great show again this year. I heard some kids say that the Santas at the malls are just Santa’s helpers. The real one comes to the APWU Christmas Party every year. Thanks also to all the parents and grandparents that came out with their little ones. And thanks to all the kids for being so patient with the bingo and for listening to Mrs. Claus tell Christmas stories while they were anxiously awaiting Santa’s arrival from the North Pole.

Thanks also to Sharon Duescher for helping Santa pick up and wrap all the presents for the kids. It is all worth it to see their eyes light up when they get just what they asked for from Santa.

Thanks to Vickie Bongers for setting up the crafts for the kids to make and take home. This year the kids made snowmen on skies with a scarf and magnetic picture frames for their pictures with Santa.

Thank you to George Dowling for taking the pictures of the kids on Santa’s lap and to Bryce Thomas for taking the digital pictures to put on the NEWAL.ORG website. Thanks also to Jeff Hackl for displaying the pictures for everyone to enjoy.

The fun for Vickie and me is the event itself. We enjoy doing the party every year. Thanks to all the members and officers for allowing us to do something we really love!!

Vickie Bongers and Gail Nohr