All Festival of Trees All Week

What a wonderful and busy week. It all started at set up for Festival of Trees on Monday where we were told we could not put up the walls Dad had built for the Darlings' Nursery!  Yikes!  They allowed the window, but only after we cut the frame by 18 inches, as seen above! 

 It took this group 6 hours to set it all up. Then we went to a late lunch. 

Here is the final tree and display for 'The Darlings' Christmas' 

This was everyone's favorite ornament! 

Later Ben called to say he'd made curry and offered to share!   Yeah, I stopped on the way home and picked up dinner, which was super yummy, by the way! 

On Tuesday I was off to Alpine again to work on more Christmas Smash Book pages with my crafting group. 

On the way home I stopped at Zach's birthday celebration.  Becca and her family were there too.   Dad had to miss the fun as it was his temple day 

Here are Andy and Ashley with my youngest grand child and ... 

Andy's Dad, Mike, and Ashley with my oldest grand child! 

On Wednesday Santa Claus came in to sign up for a booth at the mall. He's a fellow Paysonite, who knew!!

Becca and her family went to see my tree, and others, that day!  Titan's favorite tree was a Disney Tree, what the heck?!?! 

Dad got home a bit early and set up our Christmas tree!  My Hero!  Then that night we got in a couple more Hallmark movies!!  Yep it's the holiday season! So woopty do ... 

On Thursday I worked on this banner for my snowman mantel while at work! 

Davin and Bri got into the spirit by going  to see the tree that day, and we just missed them... Fortunately we actually passed them leaving as we came into the parking lot, because Davin told us to roll down our window and handed us tickets as he drove by, sort of like in a movie!    

We really appreciated that when we got inside, since the line to buy tickets was hugely long!   Thanks you guys. 

We headed right for Tami Heuer's Quilt. Isn't it a beauty!? 

This card shows the buyer of our tree!  There must have been some real bidding action, because the bidding started at $500 and it sold for $950. All for such a good cause! 

On Friday I got the window replaced in the van ... Then came home to dig into the Christmas decor!  

When Dad got home we headed to the 'attic turning garret' and started painting ...

I also painted the foot board we'll be using for a headboard. See the perfect fit? 

Saturday morning I was up early, painting in the garret again.  Dad got dressed up and headed to the ward for breakfast in Jerusalem!! I headed over a bit later. 

Everything was super well done! 

Here I am with our garret contractors the Pecks, who are becoming good friends!! 

Here's the Kews, Ginny and Dana! 

Dad is stage center as he narrates the the final bit of the program!!  Then he was off to an inventory and I headed home for ... 

More painting in the garret, this time with Trudy!  Together we finished off two gallons!!  

And I got this cutie by text!  Love her!! 

Then there were boxes and bins 

To be hauled up, emptied and 

Worked into displays!!  

Brady and Becca came down that night bringing flooring samples for the garret. That was easy!! Thanks you guys. 

That night Nell and Trevor went to the Festival of trees and took this fun selfie!!  

Today we had our meetings as usual, with some blogging in the afternoon for me, while Dad was off to another inventory!  

Then we met up at Darby's for family dinner!!   Eva got the darling coat her Aunt Brittany found for her last week !  And there was a quarter in the pocket!  Happy her!! 

Lots of regular family fun... And most of us watched some Back to the Future, well, except Uncle Ben!! 

So that was our Festival of Trees week!  

Over the River and Through the Woods ...

Such a busy family week! 

I had so much to do for Festival of Trees, but got called into work when another employee got sick in Monday.  I did manage to do this banner for our tree while at work though. 

On Tuesday I had my art group again. We had fun working on Christmas smash books and chatting.  The page above was done by Jann. 

This is one of the ones I did ... Afterwards, because I knew Dad was at the temple I stopped at the scrapbook supply outlet in Orem, before getting home in time to fix Cheryl's dinner 

I worked again Wednesday, and finished up the banners for the tree. Dad came and got me when we closed and we headed to Idaho, picking up passengers on the way. 

The trip through snowy conditions was harrowing. The wipers iced up and when we tried to de-ice them the drivers' side wiper broke. We stopped and got some pliers and a new blade. 

Meanwhile, Trevor and Nell's family was at the Norman Rockwell exhibit at BYU. Moes and friends were there too, and I am just glad the exhibit goes into February. 

  Alas we finally arrived safely at Britt's at 3:30 AM.  Our 6 hour drive had taken 9 1/2 hours. 

Britt, who had waited up for us, was back up at 6:00 to start the turkey!  She and Kai had moved dining furniture and stuff for the table to their new house, after the loan funded Wednesday. They'd closed on Tuesday. 

As always, Brittany had lots of food with all the traditional sides, plus some gourmet choices!  Spencer carved the turkey. 

This is Dad's plate!  Then we sat around on the floor and visited ... 

It was long before we were all snoozing... 

Then we took the kind da back to Britt's other house before the adults headed to the final Hunger Games movie!!  Which we all liked 

On Friday we all went shopping at the charming Village shopping development there in Bouse. I love this picture of Titan admiring the tree at Anthropolgie. 

Dad wasn't feeling great, and Becca was 'done' chasing kids in spendy  stores, so they went home, while the rest of us did more browsing. 

While at one store Charly found this Mary Engelbreit book and I snapped and posted this on Instagram, and Mary Engelbreit commented almost immediately. Woot Woot! 

Back at Britts we watched movies and had take out pizza!  

On Saturday we were off to a breakfast with Santa and a Festival of Trees. Regan was not a fan of Santa, but we all had fun anyway. 

Maddy wasn't too impressed either! 

But we all had fun and supported the local meals on wheels with our donations and purchases. And ... 

On the way out the kids got to pet Prancer!  

Loved this pic of Spencer and Brittney at the event!   

Back at the house we watched more movies, chatted, did home work, did Realestate  work etc.  Then Spencer, Brittney, Becca and her kids left to spend their last night at Britt's new house. 

This morning Brittany made a huge breakfast, we said goodbyes and headed to church.  Afterwards it was Utah bound.    

We had a rock flip up on the freeway and shattered a window. We stabilized it's with scotch tape first, then stopped 20 miles down the road for duct tape. It pretty much stayed together, which was a blessing. I 

On Facebook on the way home we saw this cute post about Elias .... 

And this one about Zach getting a tree in his bedroom, to quote Zach, "Best Day Ever!" And may I add for Dad and me "best week ever". Thanks Brittany! 

Broken Man Discovers Hallmark Has Just One Plot

Another week has gone by, and Dad is feeling much better. He's getting more sleep, and managed 3 half days at work this week, plus his Temple shift and some recreational activities, and at least 57 Hallmark movies 

On Monday I ran Dad into Provo to get his prescription for pain meds refilled.  Then we picked up the prescription in Spanish and did some needed shopping before hosting the Family home Evening at the care center that night. 
 

On Tuesday I met up with these girls to make banners for Christmas in Alpine. 

We spent the better part of the day, and this is how mine turned out. 

On Wednesday I worked as usual, while Dad had his Doctor's appointment. 

Bekie also had a doctor appointment that day. It was her final appointment after the periodic appointments she had since the illness that hospitalized her last year!  Yeah Bekie! 

That night as we watched more Hallmark movies, I dressed this antique doll, as one more project for the store, in my effort to get things from the house to the store in prep for our mission. 

On Thursday as I worked I finished up this Christmas display in the North store. 

After work Dad had a Bishopric Training and dinner that lasted until ten. I had book club until ten. At book club we had food based on the book including matzo ball soup and Pfeffernusse cookies, which are similar to ginger snaps and are made with pepper. 

Here's everyone but me!! The book was The Nazi Officer's Wife. 

On Friday I went to Becca's to babysit for 2 hours. Titan was at preschool so I just had the girls. 

We watched lots and lots of Peppa Pig. She and I have the same initials. 

Then we all went to Zupas for lunch before I headed to DI and the Paper outlet in Orem. 

That night we met the Kews in Provo to see The Martian.   Steve had read the book and it was fun to hear some of that as well.  We went to Gloria's for Italian afterward. 

On Saturday I was off to work again, while Dad met up with these guys at BYUs final home game!  All winners this year! 

Kim posted this cute selfie that day, so I borrowed it to share!  It's hard to believe my oldest granddaughter will be 17 next month!! 

We watched yet more Hallmark channel after work and the game. 

Today we had church as usual, then a nap and tithing settlement. We love the new ward, and the bishop is great! 

Tonight we gathered at Becca's for dinner. Dad and I brought Kenna's gift for her second birthday. It's hard to believe she's two. Here she is with the Lalaloopsie  doll and book we got her. 

Here's a classic old doll new doll picture. 

And an impromptu Christmas tree. Note the halo on the angel on top. 

Loved our babies in Red! 

Here are some of our girls. 

Hannah did some baby time too. 

I love the footwear fun this family shares! 

All my boys! 

And the most adorable Grinch Ever!!  Thanks for a great Family Dinner Becca and Brady.