Sabic Party

People.  Do you realize that it is December 2nd and it was 65 degrees today?!!  AMAZING!!  Today was also the day that, despite the warm temps, we had our Christmas Party at Sabic.  This is something we look forward to every year and usually have the best time.  This year might have been the best one yet!

In recent years they have had a bunch of games for the kids to play.  With the smaller number of families attending, it's given our kids the opportunity to play them a lot more and get lots of prizes.  Each kid walked home with a bag full of prizes (that are now all over my living room).

Before they really got into their games and other activities, I was able to round them up for a quick picture. :-)

One of our favorite families was there too.  This is Jayson.  He and his wife and family are our dear, dear friends.  They have 4 kids that are all the same ages as ours, with one bonus one. ;-)  Jayson and Pete have worked together for years and are great friends. 

 About an hour into the festivites, a magician came in to entertain the kids.  Now, we've had magicians before and, honestly, I've never been that impressed.  This one though?  WOWZA!  He was so entertaining and so amazing with the kids!  They had the BEST TIME! 

Livie got called up for the first trick and she wanted Noah to be her helper.  The magician put soft clown noses in their hands and was able to make Livie's disappear and reappear in Noah's hand.  When Noah opened his hand and saw that he had 2, he was like "WHOA!".  It was hilarious!  He couldn't believe his eyes!  All of the kids were engaged and excited to see what the magician was going to do next. He didn't do anything I haven't really seen before, but his personality was so fun and so sweet, that he really made the experience one the kids really got into. I made sure to tell him that too!  Just so much fun!  Now, of course, the kids came home and tried to do every magic trick that he did, but that just means he did a great job. :-)

Here are our kids with the Thirys.  Such great friends!!

Oh, and did I mention that not only was the magician awesome as doing his magic tricks, he is perhaps the most impressive balloon artist I've ever seen!!!  He made balloon animals for an hour for these kids!

Hello?!  Monkey in a palm tree?  Sure.

Can I make you a giraffe?  Why, of course!

I mean, check out his belt!  That's a pretty fabulous balloon-making tool belt he has there! 

Now, when the kids get to age 12, they are no longer invited to see Santa and get gifts.  But, they do pick special people to become elves and, guess what?  Madie got invited to be an elf this year and she's only 11!  Here she is with one of her great friends, Emma - oh and Mrs. Claus too, of course.

Mrs. Claus read "The Night Before Christmas", before inviting all the kids to come up and receive their gifts.  Madie, being an elf, got to help pass them out.

Livie got a Monster High doll and car.  She was thrilled!!

Noah got a remote-controlled helicopter that really flies.  He too was over the moon!

Had to get a picture in here of Madie and all the elves.  How cute is that?!

Madie got a gift card for $30 for her present this year as well as a $20 for being an elf!  How lucky is she?!

Here are the kids with their loot.  Gotta say, Sabic really does a great job of including families and making things like this special for them. 

Here is our favorite family, the Thirys!  Just love them to pieces!

Here is our little family.  What a fun day for all of us!

As I saw Laura and Jayson leaving, I had to take a picture.  This is what leaving the Sabic Party is always like, only we usually have coats to carry too!  We always leave with our arms full of goodies like this.  But, hey, isn't that a great way to end the party?!  We met up with them later at Cracker Barrell for our annual "Let's meet up for dinner after the party" date.  What a fun day and a great way to get ready for the holidays.  Now, if only the weather would hold out.  I could definitely handle the 60s all winter long!