December Dedication

I started off the month by helping with Willow Park Zootah's Reindeer Trek. They had a couple of activities for the kids to do, a real live reindeer, and even Santa! I helped pass out candy canes to the kids. (Maybe you could say I was Santa's helper) It was a bit chilly, but not unbearable. The patrons also got to walk around and see the animals as well. It was fun seeing how different the kids acted around Santa. Willow Park also does a Zoolights event, but not quite as big as Hogle Zoo's Zoolights in Salt Lake City.
It was a fun way to kick-off the holiday season.

I ushered at the Eccles for The Wizard of OZ. Not really a Christmas show, but it was still good. It had been on Broadway awhile back.

I also started my DIBELS testing. We'll be going strong up until two days before the Christmas break in the schools. I hope the kids can stay focused and do well.

Dale performed with The Gentlemen's Trio--Gentri again this year with the AFC for their Christmas concert. They did two shows, one in Logan at the Daines Concert Hall....

......and one in Salt Lake City, at the Eccles Theater in downtown Salt Lake. Both were sold out concerts. Dale's definitely getting into the Christmas spirit.

While Dale was singing with the choir, I went to our Ward Christmas Party. They had an Angel Tree where we picked off items to purchase to help families in the area. It ended up that our ward was so generous that we were able to help eight families have a wonderful Christmas. Pretty neat, I'd say. We do have a great ward.

My friend, Kathy Fishburn and I went to see White Christmas at Sky View High School. I've seen the show a few times, but never a stage production. The theater group Four Season's put on the production and did a great job. Very entertaining.

I was able to help in the Youth Center at the temple again. There were eight children and a nine year old was being sealed. He'd been with the family in foster care for 3 years. It was a great day for them. What a great Christmas present for their family. 

I also ushered a couple of shows: 'A Juanito Bandito's Christmas Carol' and a show put on by Voice Male at the Eccles to keep me busy.

We both went to a fun night out with the Logan Married 12th ward and wore our ugly sweaters and had a dinner. We had a nice dinner with the Logan Married 2nd Stake Leadership at Birch Creek as well and after dinner had a program. I didn't have to cook much that week, it was great!

We got together with our friends, Floyd and Alison Griffiths and went to dinner and then drove over to Tremonton, UT to see a light display we'd heard about. The neat thing about it was that the lights were synchronized to the music that was being played. They had like ten different songs too. It was pretty impressive. 

The extended Hansen family gathered together at Pioneer Valley Lodge for the annual Christmas Party. We sang Christmas songs with Grandma's famous metal pipes, ate, did a gift in a sock exchange and played a few games. There was a great turn-out. The room was packed. All but Doug and Donna's family were represented. It was wonderful seeing family that we don't get to see very often.

Dale and I took Mom Hansen to Bountiful, UT and we went to Maria Potter's (Dale's niece) temple sealing. Elder Gary E. Stevenson, an apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints sealed Maria and Grant King together for time and all eternity. Elder Stevenson knew Maria quite well, through his daughter. They were room-mates for awhile. He grew up in Cache Valley and knew a lot of members in the Hansen family as well. Elder Stevenson talked about the importance of temples and bore his testimony. What a special day for Maria and Grant.

We went outside for pictures, it was a beautiful day, a bit chilly, but the sun was out and that helped. Maria and Grant look so happy and make a nice looking couple. 

To warm up, we went back in the temple and had lunch in the temples cafeteria with Sue and Reed McGregor (Dale's sister and husband). Then we headed over to the State Capital Building and helped set up for the reception. It was beautiful and it was good to get to know Grant's side of the family some. We had a dinner with the families, and then went through the wedding line and visited a bit. 

Andrew and Lindsay were jewels and "tended" Dad Hansen while we were gone. His health isn't great and it would of been too long of a day for him. Grandma (Mom Hansen) really wanted to go, so we took her. We left around 10:30am and got her home around 9:30pm, so it was a long day for Grandma as well, but she was glad she went.

We did end up having a White Christmas by getting 12-16 inches of snow a couple of days before the big day! It was so pretty!!

The Mallory's came over and helped us take advantage of the fresh snow. Andrew, Titan, and Eloise joined us a little later to play in it with us and catch a thrill ride behind the Razor. 

We celebrated Christmas Eve by going to two Sacrament Meetings. The Married 12th ward and our home ward. What a great way to help you focus on the true meaning of Christmas. Then we had the Mallory's and Andrew's family over. We had our traditional soup, cheese ball, crackers, and vegetable tray meal here and then we had our program and had cake and ice cream to celebrate Mazin's 2nd birthday. It was a smaller group, but still a nice night. 

Christmas morning was a lot quieter than normal but we carried on the tradition and read from Luke 2 before we went down and put baby Jesus in the manger before we went to see what Santa had brought us. We had our traditional butterscotch balls and fruit with hot chocolate to top off the morning. Later in the day we had Jason and Danica, and Grandpa and Grandma Hansen, along with the Mallory's and Andrew's crew join us for our Christmas dinner. We had Prime Rib, garlic mashed potatoes, rolls, tossed salad, corn, jello salad and brownies and ice cream for dessert. The house was a buzz once again.

We visited and played games and snacked and played. Being with family is always fun.

I got a surprise call from my oldest brother, Craig, who's serving a mission in Africa. It was great catching up with his happenings and hearing about the area they're in. He looks great and seems to be loving him time serving as a missionary with Janet, his wife.

Andrew, Lindsay, and their kids joined Dale and I at Blue Water Resort at Bear Lake for a couple of nights. We stayed in Blue Water's Hotel. We went hot tubing, played games, watched movies, and the guys took Titan and Eloise skiing at Beaver Mtn. and Titan ice fishing. Titan even caught the first fish! 

It was a nice out and so pretty. There's not a lot of snow, but Bear Lakes famous blue water still stands out.

We ended up bringing in the New Year in probably the quietest way we've ever done. We went to Andrew and Lindsay's and had dinner with them, played a few games with the kids and then watched a movie. We were even in bed by 1:30am!! Happy New Year!

Our Seattle kids mixed in some work and fun this month. Nate went to his first Seattle Seahawks football game with some friends.

He also did some backcountry skiing and went on an overnight camping adventure at Snoqualmie Pass, WA with friends. It looked cold to me.

Kim took advantage of the peace and quiet, got into a good book, and enjoyed some down time.  She's going to be starting college next month.

They bought a new couch for their place and turned their Passat wagon into a truck to haul it back to their place. Pretty impressive skills!

Kim is still using her photography skills. They sent out a fun card with a family picture and had a quieter Christmas Eve as well. Too bad, Nate was on call. We would of loved to have had them here with us.

Nate wasn't all play though, he hit the books as well. When you're a doctor you need to stay up on everything, right?

Amie and Matt enjoyed some work and play as well. They got to meet the Grinch at a work party. 

Matt had tied in the Grinch with the spirit of goodness for a activity at the schools he works at. He even warmed the kids hearts by serving up hot chocolate to the kids when they were out for their lunch recess.

The kids had some fun making gingerbread houses.

A lot of family went to an Open House that Grant and Maria King had in the valley. They were able to spend some time with cousins they hadn't seen in quite some time. The Brady's (Jessica and Derek) came with Doug and Donna, and Morgan Lazenby Youngdale was here from California. They also went and watched Jenny McGregor Franson's daughter, Taylor, play with the USU girls basketball team in a pre-season game.

The kids and their family were treated well by Santa. I guess they were pretty good this year. 

Kennlyn has enjoyed playing basketball with her new team too.

Andrew and Lindsay's little Nora is now a one year old! They hosted a get-together with family and friends. Nora's birth parents and Aunt Cindy were there to help celebrate as well. 

Lindsay took on a new look by getting some bangs. I think she looks pretty cute.

Andrew and Lindsay took their kids to the mall to visit Santa so they could tell him what they wanted for Christmas. I guess we'll see if Santa delivers. It looks like Nora isn't so sure about who that guy in the white beard is though, she sure was staring him down.

Having the baby girls around added more fun to Christmas. Arwyn is now starting to say, "Da, Da" and Nora's becoming more mobile and Andrew's loving it.

Garrett had some excitement one night. He'd just gotten off work and was walking to his car when he saw a car start on fire and then kind of blow up! He called 911 to report it. Luckily no one was hurt. Pretty crazy!

Garrett and Zandra got to go to dinner and a Piano Guys concert for  his work Christmas party. I know he likes all the perks that come with the job.
They took off to Park City for a week and taught Jorie how to ski. She loved it!

They went to the This is the Place Heritage Park and walked around. It was all decorated up for Christmas, and had little shops and food booths which made it a fun atmosphere.

Luke is growing bigger and getting more of a personality. He likes music like his dad.

They had a family picture taken and sent it out as their Christmas card. Such a cute family.

We went and spent an evening with them and gave them their Christmas gifts from us early because they went to Florida to spend Christmas with Zandra's folks. Christmas at Disneyworld!! What fun!!

Garrett, had drawn out for an elk tag and when he got home from the sunny state of Florida, and climatized to our cold weather, Dale and Andrew joined him in the hills for a day. They saw a lot of tracks and got in some beautiful scenery, but never saw an elk. Maybe next time.

Garrett and Zandra celebrated their wedding anniversary this month. Six years and two beautiful kids. They are blessed.

Danica also decided to take on a new look and went blonde! She's still pretty cute, but I like her brown hair better.

Willow's still keeping her company and loves the holidays as well.

With the few good snowfalls we had Jason took Danica skiing at Snow Basin. She's never skied there before and loved it.

This was Danica and Jason's first Christmas together. They are learning the art of balancing family time on the holidays quite well. We were glad we got to see them and spend time with them over this wonderful time of year.

To bring in the New Year, Jason and Danica headed South and spent some time in St. George. She loves that red rock and sunshine!

With the end of another great year, my heart is happy. I love where I live, I love my life, and I love my family. Feeling very blessed.