Festival of Trees

For 40 years, the Festival of Trees has ushered in the Holiday Season in Utah. More importantly, every penny raised helps children at Primary Children’s Medical Center. The Festival is organized and orchestrated by volunteers and relies on the generous support of those who decorate and purchase trees, wreaths, gingerbread creations, playhouses, centerpieces, and quilts.

I had two extra tickets because Cassie and Chase could not go so I invited my sister Pam and her husband Paul.

Courtney, Carley and Pam

There are more than 800 decorated trees of every size, shape, variety, and theme. Here are some of our favorites.

Cassie is 20 Years Old Today

I’m wishing you another year of laughter, joy and fun, surprises, love and happiness, and when your birthday’s done,
I hope you feel deep in your heart, as your birthdays come and go, how very much you mean to us, More than you can know.

Love Mom and Dad

Our biggest baby girl is 20 years old! WOW, how fast they grow!

We went out to dinner at Macaroni Grill (one of our family favorites) after work.

The waiter was singing happy birthday to Cassie in Italian. I will sing the English version to you. Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Cassie, Happy Birthday to you!

I don't have very many pictures because my camera was being a jerk! I had to reset it back to the factory setting. What a day to act like a jerk, camera!

Happy Birthday Cassie
We love you!

Christmas Tree Hunting

The Saturday after Thanksgiving is our annual Christmas tree hunting day in Yost Utah. This is one of our family traditions that I hope we will always do and the girls will continue with their families.

The two best parts of a fresh cut tree are:

1. The house smells of fresh pine.
2. Pine needles are NOT all over the floor.

The tree below is the one that was sacrificed.

Cassie and Chase live in a small house together so this is their first tree. They wanted a small tree but I think their tree is bigger then mine.


After Christmas tree hunting a shooting we will go.

Shane and Carley

Mike and Courtney

Courtney

Shane

This year we invited the Thomas' to go with us. However they didn't cut down a tree. They have a FAKE tree.

Maddie, Mike, Jenn and Austin

The absolute best part of Christmas tree hunting is spending time with each other! We truly cherish this time!

Swan.. Where Are You?

Courtney and I both drew out for swan this year. We went to Bear River Bird Refuge unit 1 on our second outing. We seen lots of swans but none that would fly over us. In the area that we were hunting you are only allowed to carry 10 shells with you so you need to be very sure of your shot. The truck is a long walk away to get more shells.

My new Benelli Super Nova 12 Gauge shot gun. "You'll shoot your eye out"

This was Carley's first time out bird hunting and she was so EXCITED! She really isn't sleeping, just pretending.

Courtney is a great shot, she won't shoot her eye out!

The hat that Carley is wearing is the hat she made for Shane to wear hunting.

Halloween Fun

Every kid loves Halloween, Why? Duh, because you get CANDY, CANDY and MORE CANDY!

Carley was dressed up like a witch for school and trick-or-treating.

And just for fun she dressed up like a boy.

Courtney was a Zombie at dance and school.

The girls hit the jack pot when it came to candy. Dr Wade (our dentist) is going to love us!

Jack-O-Lanterns

We carve pumpkins every year, like clock work but this year was a little different. Cassie carved her pumpkin with her boyfriend. Courtney and Carley hounded Shane and I all day long to carve pumpkins we finally gave in after our Sunday afternoon nap.

Courtney and Carley needed very minimal help this year and pretty soon they wont need any help at all. Well, except for picking out the seeds so we can dry and eat them. I'm afraid that will always be my job.