Tonight we had such a fun night. Rusty's parents invited us to join them at the inaugural Festival of Trees benefiting Banner Gateway Medical Center. It is a new tradition starting in the east valley, that I am sure will go on for many seasons. It was so fun. The theme was "An Arizona Christmas", so a lot of the trees were decorated in desert or southwest themes. There were all different sizes, from 5 foot to 15 feet. There were to many spectacular trees on auction to name, but my favorites included the "Shades of a Desert December" and "Cabin Fever." There was even a Webkinz tree --which I know sold--(Kelli imagine how long you would ply Cash Cow to support like 30 webkinz! ACK!) and if you don't know what those are, I am sure I will explain the madness in another post. There were ASU, UofA, and an Arizona sports teams trees, for the fanatic in all of us. The event opens to the public starting Saturday through Monday. Any of the trees that didn't sell at the silent auction tonight are available to purchase then. Plus there is Santa for photos and live entertainment. It is one of those things that I think is just going to get bigger and bigger each year. I think it would be so fun to donate a tree for next year. The 2008 theme is "An Old Fashioned Christmas"... I hope we attend again to see those trees!
The best part for me personally was the centerpieces,
I ended up with two and I cannot wait to get my Christmas decor out now!
Russ and Cindi made their decorating a little easier this year, by bidding on three, yep three, separate trees. One will go to the office (It was themed "Chocolate Fancy") and two will end up at their house after the festival is over. One is a beautiful tree filled with white winter roses and beaded fruit, stunning and the other is a cute little gingerbread themed one. Adorable! I didn't get a ton of photos, but here are some. So, I hope this will be a new tradition our family begins, it definitely kicked our holiday season off right! Thanks Noni & Pops for inviting us and thanks to Nana & Grandpa for watching the boys so we could go!!! Oh, and I saw the cutest ideas for ornaments I want to make, one is for a craft with Braden, it basically looks like a star but it is made out of golf balls and tee's!
Whew, did I mention that that means I have one less tree to decorate this year! Hurray! As part of the festivities of getting ready for the holiday season, I generally decorate my parents, my in-law's and at least one of my siblings trees, as well as my own. So I am grateful to have one less to fit in! Let the season begin!!
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16 comments:
Those trees are beautiful. Salt Lake does a festival of trees every year for the Primary Children's Medical Center. Mom, Mary and I went last year and really enjoyed it. Each tree is made in memory of someone and most of them are children. At each tree it tells a little about the child it represents. Heart wrenching!!
It was fun to see you last night. I had to head out early but it was a fun time! I think it would be totally fun to do a tree next year! My favorite was the last picture you showed, the little one for the kitchen. I wanted to bid on that one.
i went to something similar to this once in utah and loved it. its beautiful!
WHAT? You decorate your parents, inlaws, & a siblings tree in addition to your own?? Are you Martha Stewart of what. Wow. I can barely get up my own, it makes me exhausted just thinking about all those extra trees.
I am just hoping this year I get to decorate the WHOLE tree instead of just halfway to the top! Cade is such a little punk when it comes to Christmas decorations. He climbs up the tree to grab the ornaments, then chucks them at whoever is coming to get him. AAHH I can't believe it's already Christmas!
That is an awesome event. Repeating Kellyann Utah has done a Festival for years. Fun trees!!! And may the CHRISTMAS season begin!!!
No no no, I am so not Martha, though I would love to be her friend... I just end up doing all those trees cause I like the variety, and cause other people in my family don't love decking the halls as much as I do!
Caryn, don't be so modest. You are totally Martha Stewart! My land! If you make that ornament with the golf balls and tees, will you tell me how? The Boys would love that. That festival sounded like a ton of fun. I love Christmas! (If you have, you know, a little extra time on your hands, you are MORE THAN WELCOME to come decorate our tree. I never know how to decorate it in a way that will stay decorated all season, free from little hands whose only aim is to destroy said decorations!)
Thanks for the countdown Caryn!! It makes it even more exciting!! And I am more than willing to help decorate!!! Christmas is the BEST!!
My boys play fall soccer. There is no way we could do 2 seasons in a row. They will be playing baseball in the spring though. I might try to find a basketball league this winter, but I've never done that before. I'll let you know if I find something.
I love the Festival of Trees. I go every year with my mom, aunt and grandma. I'm glad they have one in AZ now. I also have to say don't be so modest. You are so crafty and creative. So it doesn't surprise me that they ask you to decorate their Christmas trees.
That is so fun! I love Christmas trees and all the decorations so much! But while I love to decorate - I don't do others trees, you are way too nice. Oh how I love this time of year!
I LOVE that you are in the Christmas spirit!
How fun! I wish I had known about this. Abby would love that!
Hey are we still on for Saturday?
ok- so I haven't updated my blog since August, and you did yours 2 days ago- my goodness- I have been running like a chicken with no head! But- I am wondering about your cute clip boards- I host bunco at my house in Dec. and I think they would be sososososo cute and perfect- do you have 12 on hand, or can you make any between now and then? What do you charge? are we doing the sat. get together after thanksgiving? email me- thanks lovely! Brrrrooke!
That is such a cool tradition to start. I have had the same christmas tree since we've been married and I think this year is the time for change so thanks for giving me some ideas.
Yep you are amazing. Decorating all of those trees!! I have a hard enough time with my own. But wow those trees where beautiful. I bet you got some great idea.
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