Festival of Trees 2007

Our family loves the Festival of Trees. It's a funraiser/silent auction for the hospital and my children have offered service through Key Club to help the fundraiser be a success. It's usually the weekend after Thanksgiving and the trees go for thousands of dollars. Along with purchasing trees, different trees have gifts that go along with them as well. Really cool (expensive) stuff. It's fun to see all the themed trees. Some are beautiful, some are not. It just depends on your taste. My favorite was the little candy tree. My least favorite which I found rather creepy, was the baby tree. There are also gift vendors and Christmas performances on the stage that make the Festival of Trees a hit. It's always a fun way to start off the Christmas season!!!!

It all began with the mashed potatoes...

The Mantzke Family has had a long standing tradition where we've been asked to bring the mashed potatoes for the Thanksgiving feast over at Grandma Marilyn's. This is no simple task mind you, since we need to make 25 pounds. That's a lot of potatoes!!!! Most families gather 'round a fire, but not the Mantzkes, we gather 'round the garbage can. And sadly, this year I was short handed since Jordan and Taylor are away at school, so what was I to do? My good friend Mary Mitchell and her daughter Paige, with potato peelers in hand, volunteered to come over to help! What lifesavers they were!!!! What was work, became fun and we ended up teaching them the skill of Potato Peel Fighting.



Thanksgiving dinner was delicious and everyone seemed to have a good time, but I have to say, I'm really looking forward to Christmas since the boys are flying up!!! This will be Jordan's first Christmas since being home from his mission, so this is extra special!!!



Betsey and Jim Teays
(Lisa's inlaws and Barrett's mom and Dad)
with Grandpa George.

Mike and his sister Lisa


Barrett (Lisa's hubby)




10 year old Connor
(Barrett and Lisa's son)
with his Aunt Connie
(Randy's wife)



Mike's brother Randy
carving the Turkey


Mother and daughter


Kendal and Derrek
with their mama


The kids at the "kid's table"

Happy Birthday to Taylor and Grandma Marilyn

This weekend Taylor and his girlfriend drove up from Utah to visit us during a little break from school. It was nice seeing Taylor and meeting Mercedes. Derrek also came over from the UW. All that was missing was Jordan, but he had to work :( Inspite of being one child short, It was a wonderful weekend seeing Taylor and Derrek!

Since my Mother in Law turned 77 last week and Taylor will be 21 on the 21st, we thought we'd throw them a party which totally took Taylor by surprise. It was great seeing the expression on his face! So cool! And he loved his gifts. (Don't mind my camera. Like a dork I had it on the wrong setting. UGH!!!!)

Wandering wonderful Washougal

Kendal and I had the best time this past weekend! We packed our bags and headed down to Washougal to visit my sister Jamie and family in their new home. It was simply wonderful and I bawled my eyes out when it was time to go. I've missed them all so much and I wish we could have stayed longer. It was heaven for me and after Kendal graduates, I wouldn't mind Mike and I moving down there. I've never been without my sister and I need her! Here's some pictures of roadkill (a.k.a kids wandering the neighborhood)
I'm so grateful Kendal, Kelsey and Tyler are close