Per Perkins Perhe: Christmas Movies Galore

Monday began with the installation of the mantel. Here Rod Newman puts screws through the braces and into the shelf, itself.

Making certain its level.

We had a nice visit with them and they left us with their vcr/tv so we could share one of their favorite Christmas movies that night.

Dad got the bubble lights clipped on that the Sister's Trip girls bought me from Texas.

He also got all the Bethlehem Dinner dishes done.

And we realized we need more large wood bowls and goblets. We so appreciated all you did to make it our most memorable Bethlehem Dinner to date.

That night we met up with Bruce and Di, and her brother John and his Finnish wife Reeta. John and Reeta visited us on our first mission, and Dad looked up to see that they had paid for our dinner that time, so he picked up their bill this time ... only an accountant. (That was in 2016)

Tuesday Dad completed the second set of doors on the outside, now we just await spring and stucco and roofing ... (and a heating system of course).

Some people were looking at the house while he was working outside and he invited them in for a tour. They are in our stake and live behind the hospital, their names are Paul and Clair Mensinger. She is Australian and they met when she was a nanny in Chicago, and he was a new member in the same ward.

That night we watched Little Lord Fauntleroy, that the Newman's had loaned us. I loved it, it was sort of like a boy version of Pollyanna. I've always known the name, but thought it was something much older. See how good it is to have friends?

On Wednesday I went to work, while Dad finished up some projects around the house, and took hams to our ministering families. In the evening we went over to Nadine Evans home. She'd seen a new Hallmark movie she had enjoyed about Norway, and thinking that is where we served our mission she thought we might enjoy it. I told her I am half Norwegian, and that is why I loved it. It was surprising how much the lifestyle portrayed is like Finland, though, which made it even more fun.

I thought this little carving of a troll, that played a prominent role in the movie, was adorable. I love that the little girl sitting on his head looks like a party hat at a glance. The movie was just charming. Thanks Nadine, who is from Zimbabwe.

She told us about this 1,000 cranes banner a Japanese work associate had made, along with his wife, for Mark when he was so sick.

In this closeup you can see the individual cranes. I thought it was just amazing, and reminded me of the 1,000 cranes that Spencer and Brittney did for their wedding.

Thursday was Kim's 25th birthday. That is so hard to believe. We just adore this girl.

On Wednesday Kathy gave me the tiny stick leg Santa, which I added to my Santa display before heading to work on Thursday.

At work that Day, Marci and her friend Linda stopped by with goodies and hugs.

Then this lady, shown carrying the top of the desk, stopped by to get it after buying it from me on Wednesday. I bought this desk with part of my inheritance from my Mom, and ever since getting the desk I really wanted (The East Lake barrel top desk I found at a thrift store 8 years ago for $60) I've tried on and off to sell it. In the end I sold it for half what I paid, but then on the other hand the barrel desk was worth about 3,000, so it all even outs. The lady was lovely, and I felt good about it going home with her.

Dad picked me up after work and we headed to Heuers for more Hallmark movies. First, we saw A Biltmore Christmas , a sort of time travel movie similar to Somewhere in Time, and another called Christmas with Holly.

Moes, Heuers and Perkins.

And Robin gave me this Pioneer Woman Polkadot batter bowl she had found for me at DI. Yep, my friends are cool like that.

On Friday, while I was working at the Grove, Dad brought me Cafe Rio for lunch on his way to visit his sister Cheryl.

And here he is at her place.

I laughed at these two crafty gifts this gal bought for a white elephant party she is going to. The tree is crocheted, and the cowboy silhouette is made of yarn. At Treasures on Wednesday, I had a guy buy a white glass elephant shaped dish for the same purpose.

This gal from Virginia came in and spent a boat load, her name is Arial, and she is lovely. I love meeting like-minded people, and wished that she could live next door, maybe in Heaven, right? She drove here to spend Christmas with kids, in a huge oversized van, bigger than mine, on her own. What a rock star.

Saturday was Bri's birthday, what a darling, kind spirited girl she is.

That day we took the TV and movie back to the Newman's with a little gift for them. Rod showed us around his amazing wood shop, and I just loved these guys sitting on a pipe high up on the wall.

Later at home, I worked on this bust that reminded me of Ichabod Crane. I saw it after my friend Aubrey told me she loves him, and I bought it to alter as a gift for her. You can see the shorter panel at the top of the base that I scraped the composer's name off, then the sculpy I added to the base so I could carve Ichabod's name there.

Dad ran into Macey's to get the rest of the stuff for our Christmas brunch, and ran into Jared Young with whom he worked at Associated before he retired. Jared was recently called to be a Stake President there in Spanish. Of course, Dad always loves any kind of reunion.

After Aubrey got home from work, we took Ichabod over to her, along with a ham from Dad and me. She is so cute, she wore a beautiful red dress and came and sat by us at church. We just love her.

Doesn't he look Ichabodish?

Darby, meanwhile, was hanging out in Montana with Dallas, but I noticed he doesn't appear to be at the cattle round up with Darby and some of his friends.

It seems so weird to see her in Western garb, but I guess riding a horse, is after all, riding horse.

Then, this afternoon it was fun to stop by and see Spencer's family on our way to Bountiful. At Bethlehem dinner, last week, Van asked if I would come to his house for Christmas and bring some Pokemon cards. I almost forgot, and didn't get any, so I asked around at church and found a 9 year old who agreed to sell me some. Here is Van with his collection. When we got there, he asked me if I remembered what I was supposed to bring. It was just priceless.

Here he is with his expanded collection, making for another Christmas Journal worthy story.

Spencer working on dinner with an adorable audience. Her sweet suspender kilt skirt is a three generation hand me down. Brittney's Mom wore it as a child, then Brittney and her two sisters, and now Cam, and its still, and always has been, in style.

And their beautiful Christmas Eve dinner table, with the dishes we used since the 1970's. What a fun family tradition.

And here is Emily's Christmas Eve dinner table, with the rest of the old family Christmas china. It just warms my old heart.

We met Joyce in Bountiful for Bruce's family Christmas Eve dinner. Here is shown Phil's youngest daughter who won the candy jar estimate contest. She was so lit up. We all watched the Time Square Church of Jesus Christ Nativity program. Of course, we'd seen it on our phones, but it was even better on the bigger screen.

They also rang colored bell on cue and sang along with this Christmas song video program. That was fun.

I laughed at Reeta's gift from Dianne. It's the corner of a fleecy blanky, and since the two of them watched Hallmark Movies all week, like we did, I thought it was perfect for inclusion here.

It was fun to spend the evening with Joyce and get to see Bruce and Di's kids and grands and get reacquainted. Its been at least 6 years since I have seen the majority of them.

Ryan wanted a picture with Joyce, you may recall they became close first while both were working for the church's parking services downtown, and later when they took care of Mom together for 6 months together.

Here is Ian, Tykena's husband and Jared. Jared told me that Ian grandfather had invented tator tots. How cool is that? Of course, I had to mention that it was Napolean Dynomite, who had gone on to make them famous. And Jared is going to be a Dad again, his wife Jordan is expecting a little girl next spring, who they are naming Marigold.

And this is Matt with his girlfriend, Amanda Gentry, she's a a professor at Weber State. He met her doing western dancing last spring. Don't they both look amazing??