Christmas Eve

As far back as I can remember, we have always done fondue on Christmas Eve. It is the perfect meal, not a lot of prep and everyone basically does their own cooking. I grew up with only steak to cook but as the years have progressed we have added a cheese fondue, chicken, shrimp, and salmon(some years). I cut the meat into bite size pieces, marinate it, bake potatoes and cut up vegetables and french bread. When it is din din time, we place the different kinds of meats on plates accessible to all on the table. Everyone dresses their potato with all the yumminess they offer, sour cream, bacon bits, and cheese( I opt for a sweet potato)

Dinner is fairly time consuming but it is always good conversation while we cook our meat one small piece at a time. We get to together with Jaren and Cindy each year, every other year with their kids. This year was their kids so it was quite the crowd and we invited Grandma Hansen too. Jaren has 4 kids. Cindy 3 so altogether 12 kids! Holy Moly.

This is the host Jaren and Cindy, caught Cindy with a mouth full.

I took this picture a little late, but hey better late than never. We usually use Tostada ready made cheese in a jar for our cheese fondue. This year I felt adventurous and made gourmet cheese fondue. It was awesome, so awesome I didn't get a picture before it disappeared. It was pricey so we won't do that every year, but every once in awhile will work.

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Corby happy to be here and Gelsey not so sure, merry Christmas Eve.
Sierra, Gavan, and Teesh all enjoying our fondue meal. We sure do love spending time with our cousins. Gavan and Teesh are only 5 days a part.

After dinner, we all dress up and act out the nativity scene. Jaren put Teesh in charge and all the children participated while the adults sat back for the entertainment.

Gelsey is Mary, Gavan Joseph, Ada baby Jesus and Talia the donkey. Teesh read/told the story of how Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem to pay their taxes and how they could not find a place for Mary to have her baby. Eventually they were able to find a stable where Mary had baby Jesus amongst the animals.

Kaylen and Bria are sheep coming to see sweet baby Jesus.

Sierra is the angel warning the three wise men to not go back to King Herod telling him where he would be find baby Jesus.

And the three wise men (or women) finally brought gifts to baby Jesus. Love the sheep head right front and center. Don't miss Malia she is right behind Sam in purple and green.

When the nativity tradition had ended, Jaren and Cindy pulled out gifts for all their family members to open on Christmas Eve. We opted out here because we don't have many gifts. They all got new pajama bottoms. Bria was a bit sad that she didn't have a gift to open so Jaren let her open his and I said if it fits, she could have them. As hard as she tried she wasn't able to make 2x fit her little 5t body. Thanks for the laugh as you tried though sweetie.

We said prayers, put kids to bed and settled our little ones on the couch to watch a Christmas movie while the adults played games. We love Five Crowns, Slide 5  and Mormon Bridge. I couldn't resist taking a picture of my little munchkins relaxing on the couch. 

Before our game had ended, Bria was not acting herself and sure enough she had a fever. Malia has been ill the past few days so I knew someone else would most likely come down with it. We gathered our stuff and headed home. It had been snowing all day but luckily the drive was great. What a fantastic day! When we arrived home we helped Santa with his work and made it in bed by 1AM.
Not a bad day at all...... family, food, and entertainment, what more could you ask for!

Hansen Christmas Party

Since the passing of my father-in-law, Earnest, the family has divided up the gatherings and each takes a turn to be in charge. Jaren and Cindy were in charge of the Christmas Party this year. It was held out in Herriman and Cindy's mom, Linda, provided the entire meal. We had 4 different soups available with all the toppings possible, salad with dressing, homemade rolls, and a bazillion different kinds of dessert. When Linda does something, she goes all out. It was delicious and so relaxing to show up and not worry about a thing, second gathering that has done this....I'm liking this theme except Corby and I are in charge of the next gathering.
Everyone was in attendance except HyLee and Natalie, Corby and Malia. Malia wasn't feeling well so Corby opted to stay home this go around and study for an upcoming test. Sierra brought Conner, friend from school, so it was a full house or church;)

Here are the teenagers all huddled and  interacting. Seems so weird that in less than 6 months two of these rug-rats will be graduating high school. Where has the  time gone I say.
When we first arrived at the church, we ate our yummy dinner than gathered in a circle and did the traditional gift exchange and white elephant. 

Troy, the oldest son, and his mother Grandma Hansen

 Grandma Hansen always provides us with a number and a gift that coincides. After you open your gift, you can exchange with other willing participants. If you have a gift no one else wants, you are SOL and home you go with your new treasure. I love white elephants, it is hilarious to watch.

Ada got a new baby from the white elephant exchange and she is already taking such good care of it. She tenderly is feeding her little bundle of joy. Oh how I love this little girl.

Brynlee and Bria sporting their new fancy socks from Grandma Hansen. Grandma always gives the best gifts to the kids. She provides well thought out needed items.....and always a few wants too.


As a family we exchange family names too. This is the last year we will continue this tradition as we are wanting to provide to different charities. I am so excited for this new change. The family that had us this year is why I want to donate to charities. Now, don't think I am not grateful because I am and don't  think Christmas is about presents to me so just hear me out. What I dislike the most about Christmas is spending money or receiving a pointless gift just to be able to cross someone off the list. I think Christmas should be about thoughtful service or gifts and providing items that people never thought they would receive. This year my family received flavored chap stick, a book, and fleece blankets. Now, the blankets are useful but nothing else is so see my point, money spent on useless stuff when kids are going without all over the world. I am so glad we are donating to charities from here on out. I came up with a great gift for Kathleen this year and watching her expression is what Christmas is all about to me. I had the Salt Lake Temple printed on canvas and gallery wrapped. This was the temple she was sealed to Earnest in over 47 years ago. I loved watching her open a well thought out gift. Merry Christmas!
When the gift exchange was cleaned up, we could hear bells ringing and guess who stopped by to say hi........

can you tell from the expressions on the children's faces? Our special someone was Santa Clause with his dear sweet wife. The reindeer stayed outside, silly kids reindeer don't belong in the meeting house.

Bria is dumbfounded and Ada ran to Teesh for comfort

The children listened intently to the story of the candy cane, only a little false doctrine was taught but hey not much different than Sunday School. I love Bria's face here, she is enthralled.

Ada warming up to the idea of Santa being so close. Alynna is so funny here, really concentrating that girl.

Bria wants a puppy with a doctor bag

Each child/teenager was able to sit on Santa's lap and tell what they wanted for Christmas. 

Ada wants a purple chicken(good luck with that one Santa)

Teesh wants a reindeer

Sierra wants a pony and Conner a red rider bee-bee gun, don't shoot your eye out!

Before we knew it, the evening was over and we all said goodbye to Santa. We helped clean up and headed home. It is always so nice to get together without any contention and just enjoy each others company. Well done Jaren and Cindy. In fact, you did such a great job maybe you can take our turn next year.......

Elf on the Shelf

My friend, Misty, had this elf hiding in her house last year. I was so impressed with it that I adopted it as a tradition for our family. Watching her children get so excited talking about their elf I wanted that for our family as well. I went to Hallmark and purchased the book and the elf and brought it home to allow the fun to begin.
So the story goes like this.......an elf comes to your house and watches your behavior then at night flies to the North Pole to report to Santa the good and bad she sees. When the elf returns, she will hide in a different spot so it is your job to locate her the next morning. The little girls have just loved this fun holiday tradition. When they first wake they do nothing until "Elfie" is located. They know not to touch "Elfie" or she will lose her flying powers and  not be able to report good behavior to Santa dear. Elfie has been spotted in all kinds of places in our home.

The girls wake every morning to find where Elfie is. She seems to find the funnest places to land and watch. One morning Elfie brought a treat from the North Pole, Jelly Belly candy canes, delish.

Good thing we found Elfie before someone made breakfast, it could have been a bit hot for her.

Traditions this time of year

Candles made by my neighbor from Magna

Willow Tree Nativity, no touching little hands

I absolutely love this time of year! Not for the presents, even though I do love to surprise my loved ones with items they never thought possible. I have gathered for years to get this nativity scene from the Willow Tree. It is expensive but so beautiful. I wish I had taken a close up shot of the individual pieces but you get the idea. Look at my table decor......guess how much a I paid for the candlestick holders? waiting, waiting, OK, I'll tell you, .39. Yes, you read that correct. American Express was running a deal for small businesses and they would refund you up to $50.00 so I found my items and the total came to $50.39. Is that a deal? I was so stoked, I seriously love to bargain hunt, it makes me so happy to decorate my home for little to nothing. Corby doesn't mind it either. The ornaments on top of candlesticks were not included in the price so over all that center piece cost me $14.39 still not bad, eh?

Here is our sad little tree that we threaten to get rid of each year and after 10 years, it continues our journey with us. It was given to us at a real low income time in our marriage and it just represents so much that even though it is little and broken I can't seem to part with it. It fits nicely in our bay window and don't you love my ornaments I made 12 years ago. I think every year I need to change it up but I never do because these ornaments and tree are just what Christmas is all about.......love, kindness, sacrifice, and service. Do you spy Sparkle in the blinds checking to see if we are all behaving!

I went a little overboard with the garland and lights but it makes our house feel so festive. Corby is always wanting to turn the lights off to save electricity but Ada goes right behind him and re-plugs them back in. Way too go little Ada Rae, she knows how to work the system.

Here is where we display our collection of Christmas cards and school artwork. Before the season ends, this door will have no bare spots. We always feel so loved and remembered when we hear from good friends and family.

As you have probably notice, I change out my shelf every season or holiday. Corby made this shelf many many moons ago and I still just adore it!

When Teesh and Sierra were just toddlers I made our stockings. I made my own pattern and bought the fabric with the help of my sister-in-law, VaLynn aka "Lynnakins" She borrowed her mother's serger and we set a date to sew away. Lynnakins is an amazing seamstress so with her help it surely would turn out swell. We made 10 stockings(thinking future here ;)) I loved how they all turned out and I guess others did too because I used them as decor for one of my boutiques and they all sold leaving me with only 5. Five worked well for many years but when Ada and Bria joined our clan we were two short. Every year I had intentions of making two more but every year Corby and I ended up with no stocking so this year I took the easy road. I used a coupon at Kohls and brought home stockings for the parents. See now our family is complete!

 Isn't this the cutest little stocking ever! Corby got it one year and I attached it to the garland and it just remains there year after year. Bria designated it as Maybelle, our cat's stocking.

Another tradition is to make our neighbor gifts rather than buy or have it be something to eat. This year I felt ambitious and made these Christmas tree ornaments with a cute little saying about how much our neighbors and friends mean to us. We all worked hard and completed 30 of them in only a couple of days work. I was extra excited as we were able to make every one of them with all the supplies I already had, score on two counts, getting clutter out of my house and two meeting budget once again! So so excited!

My girls all helped in their own way in the cutting out, sanding, painting, and assembling of ornaments. This is what Christmas time is to me, spending time with family working on projects. Last year on Christmas Eve we were painting our basement, more on that in another post. Some of my girls weren't exactly excited with that festive plan so this year I'll stick to ornaments.

 The little girls painted ice cream cones to join in the fun. I just love all of Bria and Ada's expressions in these few photos.

 Score sign and the line smile!

Sierra not interested in painting  trees but painting her nails, at least she joined us.

And here is the end project!

Another tradition that we do this time of year is draw each others names each week and do kind deeds secretly for each other. Some of the kindness I witnessed was, doing each others chores, painting nails for young ones, calling and seeing how a day went or a test turned out. Being extra kind and just all around showing more love. I love this tradition because it means more than some silly ole gift it hopefully will bring out the spirit I so love about this time of year.

Christmas Preschool Program

Bria and Ada are in the same preschool class. I love it! They are the best of friends, I hope it stays that way forever!

They attend a preschool in the basement of a lady. She does a fantastic job and the girls have learned so much. The girls put on a program for Christmas today. Here it is in photos!

They sang songs and did actions to all the songs. I loved how happy they were performing for us. Grandma Hansen came to support the girls, as always. She is such a great grandma. She tries her very best to attend all the performances of my girls. She is the grandma I always wished for my girls. I never had a relationship with my grandparents growing up. They lived in different states and passed away when I was young. So so glad that my girls have it different than I. We love you Grandma Hansen.

Ms. B asked each of the girls what they wanted for Christmas. Ada said a scooter and Bria wants a doll named Molly just like what Malia has. It was so cute, I forgot to take a picture of Bria. Special photographer I am!

Ada and her antlers are hilarious. I couldn't stop laughing.

Here is our carpool for preschool. Jackson, Sady, Ada, Bria, and Ryli. When I pick up preschool kids, I take more than half the class with me, I love it! Preschool has been so fun, sad that it is almost half over. My girls are growing up way too fast, bittersweet for me.