Some early Christmas Cheer

Each year Tom's company buys all the makings for 300 boxes for the Operation Christmas Child program and then on a Saturday morning, invites employees and their families to help assemble and stuff the boxes. We decided it would be a great way for the kids to get in the spirit of Christmas and remind them, early in the season, that it isn't all about them and it certainly is not all about gifts they receive. The three older kids thoroughly enjoyed themselves and worked very hard to stuff the boxes and get them ready for their journey. I over heard Abigail having a discussion with one of the teddy bears, telling him that someone far away was going to love him! One aspect of Tom's company that I really like is their generosity and also the openness of the faith of the owner of the company. There aren't too many companies where you could attend an event like this and be able to open in prayer and not worry about who was going to be offended.

Harrison, Abigail,Nicholas and Millie, standing by all the boxes of shoe boxes that every one packed today

Nick packing one of the boxes, he really enjoyed himself!

Abigail inspecting some of the candy options that some little girl would be enjoying far away!

Harrison packing one of the boxes, he was a packing machine!

After leaving Summit, we attended the first annual Parade of Trees to benefit the Carrie Tingley Children's Hospital. It is a free event to the public, and the kids really enjoyed seeing all the different trees and the themes that people used to decorate them. Harrison's favorite was the "money tree", gee, can't deny he is Tom's son, a young Alex P Keaton in the making! Santa made the rounds, handing out candy canes.

My mom had a four page grocery list for her employer, so after we were done with "family time" Tom dropped me off at the store where I met up with Mom and helped her find all the things on the list, only after we went to lunch though! A nice, quiet lunch at Applebee's, with out any kids! Mom's employers are very generous and one of the errands Mom had to run for them today was to go to Keller's and buy a turkey for each of the ladies who helps take care of her patient. Move over Butterball, we get the free range organic Turkey Lurkey this year :)