Front Line & Reindeer Games

Today was the day before the day before Christmas. This day last year was christened "Titanic Tuesday" because it (a) was on a Tuesday and (b) was the day everyone and their mom came to see Santa and then became very angry when they had to wait to see Santa because it was two days before Christmas. This year it was decided that today would be a fun day for the elves. We had day long games and challenges and hour by hour challenges. In the spirit of the day, Shortcake let Sprinkles sparkle her. This involved blowing sparkles all over Shortcake's face. It doesn't show up so well in the photo:


Shortcake spent the entire day on the front line, which is old news by now, except when she was working on the scavenger hunt on her lunch hour.

There was an all day challenge to see who could get the most people to sing Christmas Carols with them. Shortcake won, obviously, since she is such a pro at the front line. She sang a LOT of "Jingle Bells," "Rudolph," "Frosty" (for which she learned the words from a mom who was on line, and they're still not in the right order), "Jingle Bell Rock" (which she doesn't know all the words of, but faked it well), "Winter Wonderland," "Deck the Halls," "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," "Joy to the World" (the version that includes a bullfrog - Shortcake decided it was a Christmas song), "The Twelve Days of Christmas" (which takes a LOT of energy) and some more "Jingle Bells." Thanks to Hot Chocolate for lending her a bell for the day.

Shortcake tried to act out Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer with some kids early in the morning, but it didn't go so well. But at least she tried.

There was another all day challenge to see how many countries elves could collect from people who came to see Santa. Shortcake gathered the following: Brazil, England, South Africa, China, Guyana, Algeria, Dominican Republic, Argentina, Malta, Mexico, Venezuela, Puerto Rico (technically a territory, but it's not a US state, so it counts), Colombia, Japan, Nigeria, India, Spain, Frnce, Russia and the United States. Keep in mind that list is just from today. Shortcake has been visitors from all over the world including, but not limited to: Ireland, Scotland, Germany, Holland, Albania, Israel, Pakistan, and Sweden.

From 12p-1p the game of the hour was to not say the word "Santa." Shining Light tricked Santa into saying it at 12:04p, but it wasn't fair because Shortcake didn't hear the announcement that the game was starting. She almost said it while singing Rudolph later that hour, but she only said the first syllable and quickly stopped.

From 1p-2p, the game was to dance to the song "Sleigh Ride" anytime it came over the loudspeaker, but Shortcake couldn't participate because she wasn't anywhere where "Sleigh Ride" was playing. Also, she was on lunch, working on the scavenger hunt.

From 2p-3p, the game was to find a name that started with every letter of the alphabet. Shortcake didn't start playing until 3p, (oops), but she did get every letter except U: Alexander, Brandon, Cynthia, Daniel, Elaine, Fran, Gabriella, Hamid, Isabel, James, Kayla, Lisa, Michael, Naja, Olivia, Paul, Quinton, Rado, Sophia, Teruko, Vivian, William, Xavier, Young (last name), Zach

From 3p-4p, the game was to pass a green ribbon and a red ribbon down the line of people waiting to see Santa, and see which ribbon could get it to the Gatekeeper first. The green ribbon won, so every elf wearing green pants got a prize. Shortcake was wearing red pants today, and thus, did not earn a prize. But she did take the red ribbon home.

From 4p-5p, the game was to see how many people you could get to say the word "Believe." The line was exploding at this point in time, so Shortcake did not participate in this game.

Now, the scavenger hunt. The big one. Shortcake was given a little bit of help from Santa, but mostly she did it herself, and has the actual items or photographic evidence of such.

1. A candy cane
This is a candy cane hanging on a tree.








This is one of the candy cane's surrounding the Welcome Kiosk.











2. A red nose
There is a red nose on the Jack in a Box.

There is a red nose on that clown cookie jar on the shelf.










3. A set of antlers
Option number 1 for reindeer antlers. What is Shortcake looking at?











Option number 2 for reindeer antlers.









Option number 3 for reindeer antlers.








4. A stocking
It's not Shortcake's stocking, but it is a stocking.











5. A carrot
A carrot from a pot pie.


Shortcake is pointing to the carrot nose on the snowman on the wrapping paper.










6. A top hat
This is the only top hat Shortcake could find in the Maze.











Then she found this top hat, which is infinitely better. It's meant for a bear with a significantly larger head than Shortcake's.







7. A dancer
Those bears are dancing the Nutcracker, making them dancers. As a bonus, there's a red star behind them.










8. A vixen
Shortcake is pointing to a sign that says Vixen.



This is a strawboss named Vixen. In 2011, Shortcake is hoping to become a strawboss.










9. A cupid
Shortcake is pointing to a sign that says "Cupid."











10. A Santaland Express ticket
This is the front of the Santaland Express ticket.








This is the back of the Santaland Express ticket. Yes, those are Shortcake's fingers.







11. A lump of coal
So, it's not a lump, but it is an elf named Coal.











12. A red star
Yup, that's a red star.








13. A strand of tinsel
That's an elf named Tinsel.








Yup, that's a very large strand of tinsel.











14. A receipt from Puppet Theater: Shortcake never made it over to Pupper Theater.

15. A used photo ticket with the #3: Shortcake wasn't in the Village all day.

16. Last year's Santa pin: If you look carefully at Shortcake's hat in the Vixen photo you will see the pin from last year.

17. Topstick
Shortcake was the first person to recognize what topstick is, and to ask for it.







18. A caroling book
This is the caroling book Shortcake carried around with her to help her remember the verses to "Deck the Halls" and "We wish you a Merry Christmas."









19. A coloring book
This is the coloring book we used to give to kids who came to see Good-Lookin' Santa.







20. Siblings wearing matching sweaters
Yup, these two sisters are wearing sweaters that match.








21. A kid in PJs
This kid is wearing a flannel shirt, and she's wearing flannel pants under her pants. That counts, right?







22. A pair of red socks
This child is wearing red tights.








This child unzipped her boot to show off her red socks.








This child has red socks and red shoes.








23. The correct # of stantions in Santaland: Shortcake didn't try to count them.

24. Every managers' Elf name: Cindy Lou Who, Snowstorm (?), Avalanche, Blinky, Surprise, Chubby, Bing-a-Ling, Icicle, Hooli, Santa, Twinkles (?), Prof. Frosty (?)

25: The names of all the houses: Star, Bell, Tree, Candy Cane, Ornament, Holly