Festival of Trees

We first went to the Festival of Trees years ago as students at BYU. We packed Juliana between the two kids in car seats in our little two door car, and headed up to Salt Lake in terrible snowy conditions. We ended up with two flat tires, RD changing one to our spare, and a good Samaritan drove RD to get another tire. We still went to the festival and enjoyed it, and Juliana still liked us, so it was a miraculous day.
We went to the Boise festival of trees, but it wasn't quite as cool, so we were excited to go the Salt Lake one again.
We announced to the kids we'd all be going, and a couple moaned and groaned and asked if we were sure they couldn't stay home. Taking the kids anywhere on a Saturday that interrupts their weekly electronic time is met with great resistance. But we insisted.
There were no flat tires (phew!). We listened to christmas music on the way there, to the consternation of one kid. After waiting in line to get tickets and get in, RD and I were eager to check out the trees. Aubree spotted the dance groups performing on stage and immediately starting asking to go watch the girls dancing. After a few rows of trees, we decided to check out the kids corner, but the kids weren't interested in the crafts. So using a few tickets to appease them with cookies, we headed back to the trees. We met up with the Beans, and had fun walking around the trees with them. A lot of the displays are total tearjerkers, and they're all magical and beautiful and often inspiring.And some are just funny.

We had bribed the kids with the promise of treats at the end of the trees, and they were actually cheerful and happy, and we enjoyed chatting and remarking upon decorations and themes. RD had fun talking to Cameron about what they found meaningful about the trees. Aubree would remind us often she wanted to watch the dancing :)
We got to the end of the big trees, and tried to get the kids to reach a consensus on a treat to share. Ha. RD ended up choosing some fudge, and we watched some dancers while we ate way too much fudge. It was goooood.

The kids were done, but we wanted to see the smaller trees, so dragged them along. We decided to skip the centerpieces and quilts, though we had to take a quick pic of an awesome Harry Potter quilt we walked by.

We wanted to check out the gingerbread houses, which are just incredible. Bree caught sight of the other stage of performers, so RD took her there as Grace and I went around the packed standstill line of gawkers to check the houses out. She was sweet and fun and held my had as we oohed at the houses. They are amazing! Even the boys thought there were some cool ones.

To the kids great relief we then headed home, and after putting them through some more Christmas songs, relented and switched the radio to stuff they like. We all ate more fudge (cause we couldn't finish it there). After getting home and lunch, I was surprised to hear all the kids say it had been fun, at least until we went through the smaller trees. I was hopeful!
Then some asked if they still had to come next year.
Sigh. I just love paying to drag complaining kids to festive holiday activities, it really spreads christmas cheer.