So Much to be Thankful for

Monday morning, and we're adding a bit more Christmas a bit at a time.  I'm loving this antique tree display.

This funny little tree with the candles is one that my sister Julie had.  I already had a smaller one, but had never even seen another before. This one was missing its stand, so it got an old green thread spool.  Voila!

First thing that day we went out to Saratoga Springs and collected this cutie.  He went shopping with us, and when we chose this plaid hat as our tree topper for our carriage house tree, we thought we'd try out to see how it would look.  Adorable.

Watching him was so much fun.  Dad went to the dentist, so we had some one on one.  We played with the felt nativity that we got in Finland, and I told him the story using the characters.  He was so wide eyed.

How cute is he with the baby Jesus.

Then he played with these plastic red heart ornaments.

Adorbs.

Yummy boy

We finished up by me feeding him his bottle while he fell asleep in my arms to me singing, "Where Have All the Flowers Gone", which is a round and can go on forever, actually, that is how I sang my kids to sleep.  So fun, I may have dozed a bit too, before Brittney came to collect her treasure.

On Tuesday I was off to work, while Dad picked up Parks again and watched him again. Dad said he couldn't get a thing done, and I said, "Welcome to Motherhood." But I know he loved it.

After work we headed to K's Kitchen, as they were celebrating 6 years in business.  It seems incredible that it's been so long. 

yummy

This is Barb's granddaughter Boston.

K's Kitchen had two Asian shows running, with subtitles of course, this cartoon and a Korean Soap.  This little cartoon girl reminded me so much of Boston, she was so full of energy. 

Dad saw this on Facebook and thought it was cool.

We got going early on Wednesday, before I headed to work, and got our Scottish and 12 Days of Christmas decor on the tree.

At work I got to put out more of Julie's items, like this translucent glass and brass cloisonné plate that she likely got while living in China. Its stunning.

As well as some things like these three trio tea service sets that I found just last week, which are actually Wedgwood.

Then Craig Alvord came in, I knew he would sooner or later, and I shared the news about Aunt Cheryl passing.  He said he had been afraid to google her name, worried that after years in a care center that's what he'd find.  He said he much preferred to hear about it from me.  I invited him to Thanksgiving dinner, but he said we're too far, and his younger brother, whose health is pretty bad, would be too tired. 

After work I had made the goal to get the table set for Thanksgiving the next day.  So fun to realize that it's been a whole year since we have our first Thanksgiving Dinner here for the initiating party for the Carriage House.

Dad wanted to include a couple of other pictures.

That night he found this FB group and joined, sharing this picture of our house, which got 5,500 likes almost immediately. 

Next, he posted a ton of pictures as a house tour and it had a lot of interest too.  Such a proud house papa.

Trevor shared this picture he took of a deer in our Neighbor Coralee's front yard, and I wanted to group it with 

Another couple of deer that are dear to us ...

Here are some others who are dear to us with their tree in Texas, Bekie and Benny.

Yet another dear deer.

and next its Santa with Charley Girl.

And how fun is this picture of her with her brothers putting an angel on the top of the tree. 

Its Thanksgiving morning and we're ready to go, other than the 5 hours of cooking, I mean.

Dad built the fire right before seating time.

Then there's the issue of getting everyone into the right seats. Some teenagers take serious management, right Eva?

Ah, we did it.

Here's one from the far end.

Of course, when one shows up dressed in their Christmas PJs there is going to be shenanigans.  Oh, I forgot, not PJs, the pants have 4 pockets, so they must be daywear.

Here's our Darby at the buffet, we had some fun new dishes and some traditional favorites.  Shown at the end of the table, are beets with goat cheese, so yummy, and Brady's creation.  We had Nell's amazing sweet potato casserole that is always a hit, and Bri's specialty, deviled eggs with crumbled bacon, it almost made me regret being a vegetarian.  Thankfully she served the bacon crumbles on the side, so we got to enjoy the eggs too.  A new tradition this year was Darby's Tiramisu.  She even made one that is sugar free, which she has done before.  I told her, that is all I wanted for Christmas, and so worth it.

Our Triplets are now 14, and the boys have both passed up Eleanor, who was the tallest of the three for years.

But it's all good, they are all still taller than Adi, though possibly not forever.

Maybe they can stop her from sprouting.

Here's out Becca girl.

Then there was dessert.

Here's the Lord of the Manner after dinner, all satisfaction, thanks for the great picture, Trevor.

Here's a blast from the past, such happy memories of decorating at Mosida.  It's have to believe it's been a year. 

Here's my favorite Nativity Painting for the year.

And speaking of Nativities, I saw a post from one of the many local painters I follow on Insta about a Nativity painting event that was going to happen on Saturday.  That sounded right up my alley. 

 

But first more decor.  I moved my smaller Nativity Angels, at least those that were white or blue, onto the mantel shelf in the dining room.

The largest ones are here on top of the Danish Cupboard in the parlor.

Dad was so happy on Saturday, he loves to be busy and he was soooo busy.  He went out for a run, then came home and changed before heading to SLC for a board conference with the Saltaire's Board of Directors and the music team.  It was a four-hour meeting and when he got home, he changed into his elf costume so that he could do the Santa Dash at Peteetneet, as you see here.

Riding the train ...

and running into a family in the ward.  The little gal is one of our Primary kids.

I decided she needed a Santa hat more than I did.  She is so fun and funny, which makes sense as her name is Emily.

Here are Dad and I as we gather near the starting line.

They had about 85 participants. 

and off they dash.

Bringing up the end, right before the cop cars are three Santas, saving their energy.

Then Dad came home to change his clothes yet one more time, but he didn't get carried away this time, like his son did.

Trevor's friend sent him a picture he saw when he was watching the game on ESPN!

Here is the boy with his Dad.

Of course, you know that I was doing my thing at the art painting exhibit at the University Mall, now called University Place, or for short UP, where the exhibit was taking place in an art gallery near the RC Willey.  

I was surprised to run into Crystal Meldrum, the Cooper's daughter, as her name had not been on the list.  But how fun is this?  She is actually portraying herself as Mary.

It was nice to see her, as I had sat by her last Sunday at the Temple Workers Fireside, and was talking to her, thinking she was her mother, because she was there with her Dad. (they are both tall slim redheads), Silly me, I think visiting with her gave me a chance to prove I am not actually senile. 

This is the gal who had posted on Insta, I love this painting. 

I also got to meet Liz Lemon Swindle, whose been working with the team on The Chosen in some way.  I told her about the props master coming into Treasures and buying the blue art deco vessel from the 40's, saying how surprised I was that it would look period appropriate for The Chosen.  After I described it, she said she'd seen it one set. 

And last, but not least is that we are celebrating my grandson Zach's 16th birthday today.  How crazy is that? We love you man!!