Merry Christmas!

The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas just flew by.   They were some of the busiest weeks of the year for us with all of the concerts.  They were also some of the busiest for the high school girls as they wrapped up projects and studied for final exams.   I don't know how they did all of that homework, got up for early moring seminary, and still did well on their final exams on so little sleep!   Christmas break was sorely needed!  

Two days before Christmas we got in the van again and drove back to Orem.   It has been about 15 years since we spent Christmas in Utah.   We weren't quite sure what to expect!



We spent Christmas Eve with Grandma and Grandpa Hansen.  They even let us cook dinner!   Neil made delicious Peruvian food--lomo saltado.



New Christmas jammies!

It was fun to spend Christmas morning at the Hemmert home.  Tyson and Holly live there too!

Grandma Joyce carried on her Dad's tradition.  She set out a huge gunny sack for Santa.  She asked him to fill it up with lots of presents.   When she opened the sack on Christmas morning she discovered that Santa had filled it with sticks, bricks, newspaper, and coal.  He reprimanded her for being so greedy.  :)  Did someone take a picture?  We have it on video.   Tyson was very concerned that Grandma got in trouble with Santa.

The Sing-a-ma-jigs were a fun novelty.

Jeff was so overcome with his gifts that he "fainted."



At my request we dragged out the Nativity costumes and acted out the Nativity story.  We have always missed this tradition, being in Colorado.   It is usually a comedy of errors and I think Grandma wanted to let it die, but she gave in.   My kids had fun dressing up and we tried to make it as short and painless as possible.   We had a very pregnant "Mary."  Julie was a good sport.  I don't think the shepherds got into any "cane fights" this year.   The grandkids are growing up!





We went tubing near Park City.  It wasn't a huge thrill, but it was fun to be outside and with cousins. 





We got to help take care of Mallory and Mason when Julie was in labor.   It was fun to dress up the little guys and get them out in the slushy snow for a little while.  Mallory and Holly were especially adorable.  Emily said they looked like little "podlings" toddling in the snow.

 Our Christmas week in Utah was very memorable.   It was wonderful to spend so much time with our families. We loved spending quality time with our grandparents.  The kids were able to share some of their musical talents several different times.   Jeff said, "What? Another program?  We've had 17 already!"  Some of our other activities were shopping, laser tag, movies, visiting BYU for a prospective student tour, eating at Tepanyaki, and a beautiful Carl Bloch art exhibit.   We stayed a day longer than we planned because of poor travel conditions.  We decided to leave the next day anyway, even though the roads hadn't improved much. Hayley and Emily wer anxious to get back for the stake dance too.  It might not have been the wisest decision--especially when we were driving in a complete white-out on a closed  highway outside of Rawlins, WY.  But we made it home in one piece and just in time for the dance!

December fun

The first two weeks in December are always busy, busy.  We have lots of Christmas concerts that we participate in.  It is just what we do.   We started off the season with a terrific piano recital.  This was Mark's first!  He did a great job.

 Mara rocked the house as usual!

Hayley missed the recital (she was supposed to perform too) because of the Sadie Hawkins dance.   Her fun group of friends came to our house for dessert and games.   She is with a nice young man, Jacob Gover.

The next evening was the Centennial Children's Chorus concert.  This is a wonderful concert.  I look forward to it every year.  It isn't the kids favorite because the music is more classical and difficult to learn, but they really sound like angels!  This was Mark's first year in the choir.   He looks pretty adorable in the tux.  

Hayley and Emily were in the Fort Collins High School Christmas concert the following evening (yes, this is 3 nights in a row--actually 4 because they did this one twice).   This is a new favorite for us.  The high school concert is very impressive.  Hayley performed in 4 different groups, Women's Jazz Choir, Symphonic Band, A'cappella Choir, and Jingle Brass.  Emily was more sensible, in the select Women's Choir. :)  

We finished our season with Jennifer's Larimer Chorale concerts, the Ward Christmas program, a RS Christmas program, the Stake Christmas program, and a dance recital.  It was actually an easier concert schedule than last year!



I had to include this picture.  No, Neil is not converting to Islam!   He has many Islamic grad students though.   A man from Libya gave this to  him as a gift.   The Libyans love Neil.  They are impressed to meet an American with similar moral standards to Islam.   They didn't expect that.  



Thanksgiving week (continued)

On Thanksgiving day we drove from Anaheim to Orem with only 1 bathroom/fuel stop!   We were motivated to get there in time for the wonderful meal that Grandma and Grandpa Hemmert prepared just for us!   I thought I had some pictures.  I hope Grandpa took some!   It was a fabulous dinner with all the trimmings and then some!

The kids were sure excited to see Holly and Tyson.  It had been almost a year!

Scott was in charge of the Hansen family Thanksgiving reunion this year.  It was the wildest one yet!   He picked us up in a "limo" a.k.a. furniture delivery truck, and drove us to the church where we had a yummy breakfast followed by some crazy games!   This is Brandon and Mark with the Boise Hansen's new puppy.

This is what I mean by crazy games.  Sumo wrestling!   We haven't laughed that hard in long time!

Our hero!   The guys were good sports.  It wasn't very comfortable in those suits.   Some of the ladies wrestled too, but we missed it.  We had to get on the road again to get home before a storm hit.



Mark tried it too!   It was fun until he fell over and hit his head on the floor.  We should have put the helmet hair on!



Disneyland!

Since the beginning of June, Emily and Mara practiced extra hours with their clogging team to get ready for a performance in Disneyland!  Three days before Thanksgiving all of their hard work paid off.  Bonus for us were discount tickets to the theme parks and double bonus was that three of Neil's siblings and their families came along too!!!

We stayed at the Candycane Inn.  It was close enough to walk, but we preferred the shuttle bus.   Once we even ran all the way from "It's A Small World" so we wouldn't miss the late-night shuttle.

The Christmas decorations are up.  Fabulous!



Steve and Laurie had a printed plan on how to maximize your time in Disneyland.  It told us to the minute which lines to stand in and which fast passes to get.   Funny thing, we saw a lot of other people in line with the same printout sheets!  Does it really maximize your wait time if everyone in the park is going to the same rides?!  :)   This picture of Mara and Emily is near our first ride of the day (along with about 200 other people) "The Peter Pan Ride."



After much research and practice, Neil finally got to level 6 on the Buzz Lightyear ride.  His nephew McKay beat his score though.   Teenagers!

Time for a Kodak moment!

Hayley had a bonding moment with Woody.  She tried to sneak a picture with him without waiting in line.  He good-naturedly butted her out, and then gave her a wave.  We got a great pic anyway!

Time to get ready for the clogging performance!   We met at the Toon Town bridge and then Mara and Emily were spirited away to the secret depths of Disneyland.  We didn't see them again until they appeared on the Garden Plaza Stage.

This is what we came for!  The show was terrific!

This show was terrific too!



Neil, Jennifer and Mara stayed late one rainy night.  We had a wet Matterhorn ride and enjoyed some of the shops.  It is a lot less crowded after dark, in the rain!





We waited in a very long line for the Toy Story ride.  Waiting is a lot more fun with cousins though! 




Hayley passed the time with a book. 





We spent one afternoon at the beach.   It was a refreshing change from the chaotic crowds of the Happiest Place on Earth, even if it was a bit chilly.



Surprise, surprise!   Jennifer ran into a childhood friend who was staying at the same hotel!   We only had a minute to visit, but it was sure fun to see Brenda!



Our last night together.  We ate at Bucca de Beppo.  We got there early enough to have a whole section to ourselves.  It was a fun way to end a terrific three days.   This is Steve and Laurie's family: Zach, Addison, Kylie, Laurie, Steve, and McKay.




Scott and Amy's family: Lexi, Scott, Amy, and Tyler.




Maria and Bob's family: Lauren, Maria, Kaitlin, Bob, and Brandon.



It was a terrific vacation with more to come.  We drove to Orem for Thanksgiving the next day!