Christmas Utah and Danish Traditions

I am going to attempt to get my blog caught up over the next few days. (Sorry for the delay.... I had to come up for air after Christmas!)  I thought about one long post, but I enjoyed Jessica's blog and her style of serving it up one piece at a time.  So I'll try and follow in her foot steps.

The weather has been unseasonably warm so it just didn't seem like Christmas around here.  We had all of our decorations out and what not, but without snow it just didn't feel very festive. Snow or no snow though, we carried on with our Christmas traditions.  First up- Christmas Utah!  About five years ago while driving home from the store I stumbled upon this house. I could just see part of the lights from the grocery store but  I could tell it was worth my time navigating through the neighborhood to find it.  It was an amazing sight!  The Christmas lights are set to music, reindeer fly, Santa waves in the window, the trees talk and tell jokes, bubble machines make bubbles and there are thousands of lights!  All you do is find a parking spot, tune your radio and sit back and enjoy.  We've been going every year since we found it.  Usually several times considering it's less than two miles away.   Sadly, this was going to be their last year.  So, I did take a little video to remember it. The girls at their age could take it or leave it, but the boys loved it!  We will be missing this tradition that's for sure!  

Growing up we always had Christmas Eve with the Hansen side of my family.  We celebrated it Danish style. There was always plenty of good food, all the traditional Danish meats and plenty of veggies topped with my favorite dessert,  Ris ala mande, (a traditional Christmas dessert similar to rice pudding). We exchanged gifts and the best part for me was to be able to see all of my cousins!  Both my grandparents have passed on, but that doesn't stop me from carrying on this tradition. I host it every year. I have to admit, I have no idea how my grandma did it for 20+ cousins and 8+ adults!!!  I've been told she would cook for an entire week and my numbers are fewer that's for sure. I am always so tired when it's all said and done, but grateful to have the opportunity for us all to get together.  And grateful to be carrying on this tradition for my children.

We drew names and each purchased and received one gift.   We had fun with Caitlin's Santa hat and a few of the guys volunteered to wear it.  (Sparkly crown and all!)

I drew Heather's name and I gave her a framed school picture of me!  I don't think she knew what to say after she opened it.  She just looked at me and said, "Thank You!"  I couldn't keep a straight face and was literally crying from laughing so hard, so she soon figured something was up.We all laughed and laughed and laughed.......  Truthfully though, the frame is really just part of her present.  I am also going to take their family pictures for them and I'll purchase the print for the frame as well. 

Later on that evening we dished out dessert and the kids came into the kitchen one by one to select their bowl.  Earlier that week Carter was whining about the fact that he has yet to get the bowl with the almond and I had my typical "life's not fair" response.  Imagine my surprise when Carter (who picked his bowl second to last) had the almond!  He got an extra present; a stocking with a few little treats and five dollars cash!  He was beyond excited!  The rest of the kids got an m&m candy cane too, just for safe measure.

And of course the evening would not be complete without a cousin picture! 

So that pretty much gets the ball rolling toward Christmas.....  Next up..... Gingerbread houses and Christmas Programs!