2011- Festival of Trees

This year myself, my mom and my sister in law did a 1st year of giving back- one tree at a time to Primary Children's Medical Center- My brother Trent who was multiply disabled spent so much time at Primary Children's Medical Center for numerous and sometimes draining moments. I have spent time up there with my 2 girls as well. We wanted to share with other's the love Trent shared with us as a Family. His favorite books were by Audrey Wood- He LOVED Silly Sally and Quick as a Cricket, he would laugh to Weird Parents, it was a nightly routine with Trent- My dad read to him every night. They eve read all the Hardy Boys series and there was a box of books my Dad had just bought for Trent but importunately never read them to him- they were brand new never opened and donated to our cause. There were SO many wonderful people who donated, My parents ward, Audrey Wood herself, My Aunt Melba, My Aunt Cindy, our friends Ryan and Carrie, Jen and Johnny, Jan and Ard, My friend Diana, Uncle Mike & Aunt Marilyn, My parents, SO many shared there talent and love for this tree and we appreciate YOU!!

You might have to click to enlarge, my awesome husband wrote this saying- I had given him ideas of what I wanted but he ALWAYS has a way with words. Thanks Babe!

READ To ME- That's what Trent liked!!!

Our Tree! Almost all put together

Book ends, carved

Silly Sally Went to town, walking backwards up side down, Trent had this book memorized, in fact he loved it so much we had to coil bind the book and laminate the pages.. I miss you Trent

Here is a picture right after we decorated it! READ to your kids' it's a legacy that will carry on

Hey little Mouse

The mouse is a book end, it is about the The Little Mouse, Red Ripe Strawberry and The Big Hungry Bear! This was the first book Trent got and it continued onto many many more!

I bought this cute shelf at the D.I. and refinished it, it was SO much fun! We stained the birdhouses that are on the tree the same stain as well as the chairs and book ends!!

Aren't these stuffed animals SO cute! The hippo has a levi jacket and the frog has a bag full of more books.

Here is the digitized levi jacket, it's my Aunt's brand Toe-heads- if you want any work done on anything let me know~ She is SUPER good at it. 

Trent always said Hi ya!! He always loved to wear striped shirts and he LOVED balloons, I miss Saturdays with him- I got him balloons every Saturday! My Aunt did the work on this bag as well, there are more books in this bag.

Books that each had a saying on them, I chose these saying that I thought would be of interest to those who read the tree!

Me and Steph got creative!

I think we did GREAT!

All the books that 

were donated, THANK YOU SO much to those of you who donated

So many fun books!

I read each book to my sweet little baby niece Anniston before putting them in the box.

I know Trent would be happy I read them before boxing them all up.

So much love went into each donation!

So many I wish I could've read to him.

A couch full of books, Don't forget to read to your kids!

I should have posted these first, Oh! Well

One of the birdhouses, you may ask "Why" do you have birdhouses!! Well, Silly Sally went to town =) this was the town.

Top of the Tree

My Aunt did an awesome job on the tree skirt, it is seriously SO cute!

I know Trent is happy, but I am still so sad! I just love this boy so much!! He seriously brought SO much to life! If you knew him I know you felt honored as well.

Here is the loon, the silly loon who sang a tune!

My dad did a great job with these carvings, I am really 

proud of him!

Look at the detail on Silly Sally!

The pig dancing a jig and Netty Buttercup

The Dog playing leapfrog

The Sheep, I just LOVED theses!

Pig book end after the Piggies book

more pictures

more detail

Last night we went to the Festival of Trees! It was so bittersweet, we went right to it first thing walking in the door. This is what we came up too!

A sign that said "SOLD", I am SO happy our tree sold, I thought we did a great job for our first year and I cannot think of 2 better people them my Mom and Steph to do this with, as well as my Dad- what talent they all have. Trent, I miss you and I am so thankful you were and still are a part of my life.

It was a bit ironic to read who purchased the tree. If you don't know or if you do you know that 7 years ago I lost a baby at 24 weeks, we named him Ashton~ I am not sure if there is meaning but in my heart I'd like to think that maybe they are both trying to tell me it's ok. I know Trent doesn't like me to cry, I try hard not too! I know he knows I am having a struggle with his death, if you have time please pray for me- I know I need comfort and I often wonder if loosing my little babies (3) of them was because it was preparing me for the loss of Trent! I don't know but I do know I am grateful I have had my 3 little babies and I was able to spend almost 27 years with Trent.

This was my goodbye picture, We left! I got into our car and I cried and cried I just couldn't help my emotions! It's another first and another realization that he really is gone, I am not sure I will ever get out of the denial stage~ Thank you Thank you again for the donations- we had a quilt made by my parents ward it was so darling and so soft , the donations once again were what pulled this tree together- every item was donated! Thanks SO much for the love so many of you have for Trent. Also the tree to the left is our friends Russell and his wife, we were decorating on Monday and he comes walking around the corner sure enough he was our neighbors- I cannot think of better tree neighbors, it's exciting that there tree sold on bidding night as well!

Thanks again for your support! 

We are glad to give our donation back to PCMC for all the years with Trent and even my girls.

"Giving Back One Tree at a Time"