This last weekend was SO SO Fun for our little Egbert family as we got to go to not one……not two….but THREE Christmas parties in a 24 hour time frame. It was a blast!
We started Friday afternoon at my Mom’s house where we were celebrating the life and legacy of my wonderful Nana who passed away 9 years ago that day. My Mom was having what she called “Nana’s workshop” where we got to learn about my Nana and how she lived a life of service. Just one of the fun memories my Mom shared with us was how one year my Nana hand-sewed 100 little 10-12 inch Dolls with intricate beautiful dresses for needy children. My Mom had one of those dolls and I was amazed at all the work and detail that my Nana put into each one. Her work was beautiful and it was obvious each doll had been made with so much love.
Therefore, in an effort to pass on my Nana’s legacy of service we each donated food and other items to make food bags for needy families and children at the Food Bank. The original plan was to make around 50, but everyone had been so generous with what they brought that we ended up being able to make 160 food bags. However, even that seemed like so little when we thought about how the food bank is giving over 250 of these bags away a DAY! There are so many families in need right now.
After our fun service project we had a wonderful Taco Dinner together and then sat around catching up with one another, teasing, and laughing the rest of the night. (We sure missed you Jess!)
Jasmine was a great help with the littler kids!
Some were more help than others! đ
Each food bag we made had a drink, healthy snack, treat, balloon, and toy for a child. The food bank gives these outs to help bring cheer to the children when their parents come in for food.
In order to get the kids more involved, some of the older cousins did jobs around the house to earn money for the needed items. Kylie was one of those and babysat for her Mom and helped out around the house so that she could buy a whole bunch of Playdoh to donate.
At our house we showed the kids pictures of homeless children and had them pick out one of their own toys to give to each child we showed them. It really helped Branson connect the dots in his head and understand that these children coming into the food bank are not as fortunate as we. Branson and Harry were able to come up with about 50 small toys to give away, and as a mother their caring attitudes just melted my heart.
Afterwords, Mom treated us all to a ride through Thanksgiving point to see all the lights!
Unfortunately none of the pictures really turned out! đ
Our 2nd party happened the next morning and was our Payson Ward Christmas Breakfast. We had Waffles, Bacon, Sausage, Juice and Fruit and were treated to her the ward choir sing as well as the primary.
Our friends the Wagers
Smiley Boy!
Then they had a special surprise visitor! Dawson wasn’t sure how to react!
Harry wasn’t amused at all!
And although Branson did tell Santa what he wanted (A Pig that Eats Hamburgers…A story for another time) he was surprisingly a little shy!
We loved Santa’s elves. The one on the Left lives in our ward!
Then after that party we hit up our Singles Ward Shin Dig in Provo where they were having a full catered dinner by the Olive Garden. SO YUMMY! The kids and I sat by Justin, Melinda, and Dan some of our favorite people!
After the dinner, our singles ward had a big Auction to raise money for charity.
I was absolutely amazed at how generous everyone was! Not only were auctioned items extremely generous (1 hour massages, Airplane rides, Ski passes, dinner nights, Adobe Photoshop software, movies, treats, jewelry, concert tickets, basketball lessons, singing telegrams, etc.) but the amount that some of these items went for was incredible! I think the ward was able to raise a lot of money for needy families.
What an absolutely wonderful weekend spent with so many we love!