Dale and I have had plenty of opportunities to get into the Christmas spirit this month. We kicked it off by joining in on the Cache Administrators Christmas Social. We had a nice dinner in good company. The District is in good hands.
I started my literacy testing (Acadience testing) this month as well. The only way this gets me in the Christmas spirit is going to the schools and seeing all of the Christmas decorations, feeling the kids excitement for Christmas, and working with the great ladies that I do. We have fun working together.
I got together with my good friends, Kathy Bullen and Jeanette Petersen, and we did some Christmas shopping and had dinner together. Why is it that I always find some good deals when I’m shopping with the gals? We do know how to have fun.
Dale and I went to the School Boards Christmas Social that Kathy Christiansen, the Board President, hosted. It was another nice evening in good company.
Dale and I also sang in the Married Student’s 17th Wards Christmas Program and then hosted a Christmas get-together with all of those that participated in the program at our house. We had finger foods, visited, and played a few games. We serve in a pretty great ward.
We also went to the Married Student 17th Wards Leadership Christmas Social. Again, more good food, and visiting. The couples we serve with are all wonderful. We have been blessed richly by serving among them.
Dale and I were able to go to our home wards Christmas Social. Where our ward is newer, it was good to get out and meet a few more of our ward friends. Our home ward is still pretty big, but we’ll do our best to get to know the members in it.
Andrew, Lindsay and their kids, Garrett, Zandra and their kids, and Dale and I joined in with the Hansen’s for the Keith & VerNae Hansen Family Christmas party at Maple Springs. This is the first Christmas without Grandpa, and Grandma was pretty emotional, but we had a good time. Instead of having Santa passing out the gifts we put a Santa hat on Grandma and she handed out the kids gifts. Family time is what the holidays are all about. We are part of a pretty awesome family on both sides.
I stayed in the Christmas Spirit by ushering a couple of shows at the Eccles theater. Juanito Bandito’s Christmas Carol was put on by The Pickleville Playhouse, and The Bar J Wranglers, a western group that’s been singing together for quite some time did their Christmas show. Two totally different types of shows, but both entertaining.
The Mallory’s treated us to a night out at the theater as well. We went to The Four Seasons Theater production of A Christmas Carol with them. I think I liked this one quite a bit better than the one I ushered because it was the classic story with Scrooge, all the ghosts, and Tiny Tim's family, the Cratchit's. Great local talent, great show, great company. Thanks guys for inviting us to go with you.
We also went to a dinner that was hosted by the Cache Valley Bank and to the American Festivals Christmas Concert, with the male vocal trio of Gentri joining them, in the Daines Concert Hall, on the USU Campus. Through the whole concert I could tell that Dale was deep down wishing he was up there singing with the choir. They put on a touching performance. It was a nice evening.
Dale and I owed Langston his birthday date and he chose to go ice skating at the Eccles Ice Center for our date. He started out a little rusty, but by the time we were done Langston was getting the hang of it and zipping around. We all had a good time and to top it off we got frozen yogurt with all the toppings at Yogurtland after.
For one last feel good evening before Christmas, Dale and I went to the Jenny Oaks Baker & family of Four Concert, along with Mattie June (a Utahan singer that's got a great voice) as the opening act, at the Eccles Theater, hosted by Cherry Peak Resort. Jenny Oaks plays the violin very well and her five kids joined her by playing the piano, bass violin, cello, guitar, and some percussion instruments to put on a great show. I had gotten the tickets as part of a Christmas gift for Dale and I. It was money well spent.
This was our off year with the kids for Christmas, but we still ended up seeing all of the kids around the holiday. We were blessed to have Nate come and hang out with us for almost a week! He took the long trek in his trusty home away from home van to get here. Nate got Andrew and Dale to take advantage of the new snow and they went skiing at Beaver Mountain. It wasn't the best snow, but the company made it a great out.
Then we made up some luminaires for the graves and Nate went to meet up with his cousins, Lance and David Petersen, who he hasn’t seen for quite some time, for a while and then joined us at the Mallory’s to celebrate Mazin’s birthday and Christmas Eve. We had dinner, played games, and had a little Christmas program. It was nice.
Happy Birthday Mazin! Happy Birthday Jesus.
Christmas morning was just Nate, Dale and I, but we still held onto our traditions and read Luke 2, put baby Jesus in the manger filled with straw from acts of love, and then opened our gifts. We had our traditional Butterscotch Balls, oranges, bananas, and hot chocolate for a late breakfast and then got things ready for our Christmas dinner. Dale and Nate were great in the kitchen helping get Christmas dinner ready.
We had the Mallory’s join us for a tasty dinner and then Andrew’s clan joined us later for dessert, games and visiting. We split up into teams and did a Christmas Scavenger hunt where the teams had to find Christmas things inside and outside that tied in with Christmas. Then Dale made up a Christmas Family Feud game that we played as well as a Christmas Version of Catch Phrase. We didn't get many pictures because we were having too much fun!!
When it was time to head home the Mallory’s joined us and we went and visited the grave of Dale’s dad in North Logan, and my dad and mom’s grave at the Logan Cemetery. We kept tradition and sang some Christmas songs and then shared some memories of these special people that were a big part of our lives.
When it was time to head home the Mallory’s joined us and we went and visited the grave of Dale’s dad in North Logan, and my dad and mom’s grave at the Logan Cemetery. We kept tradition and sang some Christmas songs and then shared some memories of these special people that were a big part of our lives.
We got some new snow over the night, and it made it perfect to hook up the sled behind the Razor and pull the kids around the back field. The Mallory's and Andrew, Lindsay and the kids joined us as well. Even Nora and Arwyn joined in on the fun.
The next day Amie, Jaxson, Nate, Andrew and Garrett got together and joined up with some of Amie’s soccer friends and played soccer. Early on in the game Amie was going after a ball heading out of bounds and tripped or slipped and ended up dislocating and breaking her ankle. It seemed ironic that the one who has been playing soccer the most lately (Amie’s been playing with this group for a while) is the one that gets hurt. Lucky for her, she was with an experienced foot and ankle doctor, her brother, Dr. Nate Hansen, that could help her. He turned into Dr. mode and took over.
Amie called Dale to tell him what happened, and I got a call from Lindsay and a text from Jaxson about the news. Dr. Nate ended up taking Amie to the ER and her brothers stayed with her, then Matt met them there. She said it was pretty neat having the support of her brothers there when it happened. She’ll be laid up for 6 weeks before she can put any weight on her foot. I’m just glad it wasn’t anything worse.
Zandra helped me make up some Butter Chicken for dinner with the spices I brought home from India for the group. Danica and Jason joined us for dinner and we played games and visited. The Mallory’s even came and joined us. Amie didn’t want to ruin the kids Christmas vacation fun. What a trooper.
We got more snow in the mountains overnight and Dale, Nate, Jason, Danica, Jaxson, and Kennlyn went skiing at Beaver Mountain.
I went to a friend’s funeral, Alisha Spence, who passed away from heart failure. She was born with a heart defect and has lived with this for her life. She had a beautiful smile and a sweet spirit and endured well, her heart just gave out. She will be missed.
Dale and I went to the USU vs Eastern Oregon Men’s basketball game. It was a pretty boring game score wise because we won 129-61, but the half-time show was pretty awesome. It was ladies 60-90years old that performed a dance routine. Their was a 90 year old that could still do the splits!! Our Aggies had a fun game, dunking the ball quite a few times, and a lot of the bench got some time on the floor.
After the game we met up with Nate and the Mallory’s. We had Chinese take-out and then went to the movie “Spies in Disguise” and then played games at their house with them. Cute show and fun evening. It’s been good having Nate around to hang out with us. The kids love Uncle Nate.
For New Year’s Eve Dale and I went to dinner at Kabuki Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi with our friends, Mike and Kathy Bullen. They cook the food for you at your table. It was a fun and yummy meal.
After we ate, we went to the movie, Sat Wars: The Last Jedi. We haven’t really followed the Star Wars series, but we figured it all out. It was pretty good.
They were going to come to our house and play games to bring in the new year, but Mike wasn’t feeling the greatest so they headed home after the show. This was the first year we’ve gone to a show on New Year’s Eve and the first time we’ve gone to bed soon after midnight! I guess there is always a first, right?
Besides making the trip home to spend Christmas with the family Nate got up in the mountains and got in his first backcountry skiing thrill at Camp Muir in Washington. They got above the clouds and it was a beautiful day for the guys.
Jaxson’s Boy Scouting days have come to an end. He got his Eagle Scout award! Our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, pulled away from the Boy Scouts of America and the end of this month was the final break from them, so he got it just in time. Way to work hard and get it done Jaxson, at 13 you’re the youngest one in the family to get your eagle at that age.
Eloise broke the family record as well this month. She ended up having double hernia surgery. She is the youngest in the family to have that happen. She was also pretty upset she had to miss school and her class Christmas party. She was all smiles before the surgery, but not so sure about it after. She was a tropper. Glad all went well.
Titan played the piano at their ward Christmas party. It was kind of an impromptu decision, but he shined. Way to go Titan! Arwyn and Eloise were glad to see their brother in the program.
Nora’s been going to a Early Pre-school to help her with her speech and motor skills and she loves it, and they love her. She even gets her big brother or sister to escort her to class and they all love that too.
They had a quieter Christmas this year because of El’s surgery, and Lindsay's injections in her back to help her back pain, but we were glad we got to spend some time with them around the holidays. Lindsay decked the halls at their house this year by changing the look of their tree and decorations for Christmas. It looks very festive! Nice look.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Garrett and Zandra’s house after the time they spent in India. This was the first year for their new tall tree. Looking pretty festive. The kids made sure to fill up Santa's treat plate as well.
Garrett joined his co-workers at Academy Mortgage where they packaged meals in bags for the local food pantry to help others have a great Christmas this year. I’m sure his efforts were greatly appreciated.
They also had a quieter Christmas with just their family, and had some fun going sledding on Christmas Eve Day. Fun times!
We had them at our house for a bit over the holidays and we also went to their house and watched the kids while Garrett and Zandra went out to dinner to celebrate their 8th Anniversary. It was a good trade.
Danica and Jason also got into the true Christmas spirit by helping man the Kid’s Corner at The Festival of the Trees. I’m sure the kids loved those two manning the booth.
Danica has joined forces with the Guild Mortgage Hassell-free Team. She’ll be a good asset to the office with her people skills, and her Graphic Design skills. She made up these tags to go with a caramel apple that they gave to people they work with. I wish her the best.
So excited to join Guild Mortgage’s Hassell-Free Loan Team!! I can already tell that 2020 is going to be an AWESOME year!
They were anxious to get on the slopes after a few good snowstorms and made the most of a day at Snow Basin.
They also went to temple square and to a Jazz game with family. Two wins in my book.
They too came and spent a night around the holidays and joined up with Dale, Nate, Jaxson and Kennlyn to go skiing after Christmas. Another family win.
Danica gave her first talk in church after a LONG time of getting out of speaking. I felt bad I couldn't be there to hear them speak, but I'm sure it was awesome. Here's her post about it that she shared on Facebook.
Yesterday Jason and I had the opportunity to talk in church. After giving my talk I got to sit down and watch/listen to Jason give his and my heart was just overwhelmed with love. Love for this faith, love for my husband and so much love knowing that in April we were able to be sealed to one another in our church. I am so blessed and am so grateful to be able to see all the blessings I have in my life that are constantly surrounding me.
This month was full of firsts, love, fun, and family. It was also busy but a good busy, so that's why I called it a Dandy December.
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