Kid's Village Christmas

It's a Christmas party at Cody's school

... complete with a Santa photo-op, making sparkling reindeer food, eating "just one sugar" treats, singing (well, standing quietly) in a program for the wee-ones, and of course giving puzzle gifts to all his favorite teachers (8 of them).

It was a great memory-making evening for Cody and Mom. We tucked away from the fierce crowd for a while to have a tea-party of crackers, cheese, cookies (the "one sugar") and ice water. That was our favorite part! Until people found our retreat and dashed our quiet dreams, leaving us to go searching for another special spot.  We had a great time.

Don't you just love making a memory?

A Very Dowdly Thanksgiving

Dowdles Everywhere!!!

Thanksgiving just isn't the same without the Dowdle families. Eric's four youngest brothers, Warren, Lance and Ryan (and him of course), get together with us most Thanksgivings ... and it's a riot! 

Two families, Ryan and Maria and Lance and Tamara, live in Portland with their gaggle of Dowdle cousins. Warren and Darlene live in Boise with their brood and (of course) Eric and I live in Lindon. We took three of the kids with us (in a 15-passenger van - can you imagine the room!) Shawn was with his Dad and we missed him THE WHOLE TIME. 

We take this annual trek to Oregon where we travel for hours dreaming of the ridiculously amazing feast that always awaits us. Okay, that's what I'm dreaming about. The kids are mostly excited to play with their Dowdle cousins. Cody kept saying "I have cousins with exactly my name?" and he would ask constantly if we were at the Dowdle cousins house yet. How do you explain to a four-year-old that we have eight hours left to go? 

We stopped half way and picked up Kenzie (Warren and Darlene's oldest) in the van so she and Autumn could hang out (okay, they texted, i-podded, and slept the whole time) but they were thrilled to be together.

The whole trip was amazing and we're so thankful to all the Dowdles (Maria and Tammy especially), for the food, warm beds, entertainment, and hours upon hours of preparation to make this a wonderful event for everyone. These women ROCK! The guys were so fun and accommodating and the kids so gracious to give up their rooms. We have a family to be very proud of.

We're so thankful for our family, ... for delicious food and movies and football and funny Uncles and gracious Aunts and silly cousins and long walks and card games and late nights and late mornings and pumpkin pie for breakfast and Christmas concerts and ... 

for our children ...

and for missionaries (sniff) ... 

and for dear friends ...

for God and Country ...

for the gospel ...

and for a Savior ...

FOR LOVE

HOW BLESSED WE ALL ARE!

The Festival of Trees

Eric just released his Festival of Trees painting for .... well ... 

... the Festival of Trees! 

It was released at the Primary Children's hospital. They'll be displaying it at the festival and auctioning it at a special event next Tuesday (right before the event starts). It's a BEAUTIFUL painting and I'm so proud of him. First for his talent, and second for his generosity. What a cool dude!

Unfortunately, we didn't realize there would be media at the event and were all dressed (or undressed) to go on a long trip. We managed some presentable shots though. I must say that Autumn's roll-out-of-bed look is something most fully decked-out women would envy.

David ... my little bro ... and totally single ... came and helped us get the painting moved (it's huge). What a stud. 

From what I hear, the kids were on TV (we were driving so didn't see it) as they did fun crafts as part of the kick-off. Too bad Shawn wasn't with us to be part of it all. I hate when we don't have one of the kids for a perfect memory making event. Sigh...

I have to say, the spirit of the hospital and the amazing staff were so impressive. What a place!

If you want to see the painting up close, you can go to the festival OR see it on Eric's website.

www.dowdlefolkart.com

The Hillyards Are In The House!

Look who came to town! 

The totally amazing Hillyard family! They are some of our dearest friends and we got a surprise visit from them... 

As we were leaving town for Portland, they were just getting to Salt Lake (coming from Portland of all places). So we met at Eric's gallery and got our "fix" before crossing paths yet again. So sad. We seem to do this every Thanksgiving holiday.

Julie and I have been friends for a long time ... since our Franklin Covey days together as single chicks (Oh the stories we could tell ya'll ... but wont). This woman is fantastic and one of my dearest life-long friends. Anyone would be blessed to know her, let alone be one of the "chosen" ... hee-hee. Love ya Jewels!!! 

A few years ago, Julie met Todd, a totally amazing guy who loves her to death and keeps her teeth sparkly clean (yes, a dentist), and now they have two little guys, Liam and Matthew... adorable!

We totally LOVE this little family!!!!