Christmas 2011

 The day before Christmas Eve my mom, dad, brother Zak and my aunt Pia came to our house. We were all pretty busy preparing for the Ward Christmas party that night and Ben just getting home from Hohenfels where he had been filling in at the Pharmacy, so we didn't treat them very well the first night. But we got everything ready and headed to the party. We just stayed to eat some yummy food and then left when all the games started. The next day we just hung out and relaxed and enjoyed being home and then later on started getting the food ready. It was so nice having my mom and aunt here, all though I felt like a slacker and like I wasn't doing very much. But it was so nice to have so much help. We had a traditional Danish Christmas dinner with a couple of added American things. Anyway, this was our Christmas table.

 Laney started taking piano lessons this past September and really enjoys it. She had a Christmas recital and my parents were planning on coming to it but then it got moved to another day and my parents unfortunately couldn't make it on that day. But Laney and my mom treated us to a wonderful Christmas concert on Christmas Eve. It sounded beautiful and Laney just loved having a concert with my mom. She already planning the next concert!!!

 She gave us all tickets to the concert and punched them "Polar Express" style when we arrived.

 My dad and I trying to film the pianists at the wonderful concert. I had to crouch down so I wouldn't get my dad's arm in the shot.

 And the crowds at the concert.

 The photographer and his helper. And can I just say that I'm amazed that Ben actually could find and dig out a double chin for the picture!!! I mean, who knew he actually had one?!

 After dinner and the concert we acted out the Nativity story. We recoded it all so this is the only picture I have of it. But I love it!! Pia was a shepherd with a bunch of sheep, Laney was Mary, Zak was Joseph, Ty was the angel, my dad and I were the wise man and woman, and my mom was the narrator and the piano player. Ben had found a fun play online where we had to sing Christmas songs every so often so my mom was running back and forth between the piano and the living room. But it was a lot of fun!!!

 Christmas morning picture of the kids on the stairs in their new jammies. Since Christmas morning was on a Sunday we had to kind of hurry and open presents, eat breakfast and then follow our predetermined shower schedule. But it actually went really well and I, at least, didn't feel rushed. We even had time to curl Laney's hair! :D

 My mom and dad asked if I could take a family picture for them while they were here. This one is probably my favorite one of all of them. I was laughing so hard the whole time because Zak and my dad were being so silly. Good times, good times. :D