Hogmanay

In Scotland, New Year's day - also known as Hogmanay - is a bigger celebration than Christmas Day itself. So, in keeping with our Scotland theme this year - we had our own Hogmanay celebration.

We had our New Year's countdown at 8:00 and then made our toasts!

We made boats and sailed them in the bathtub. Anthony wanted to burn the 'viking ship' like they do in Scotland . . . but we thought that might be against BYU rules.

Dressing up to go . . . oh Carrie I can't remember what it is called . . . but everyone dresses up . . . oh yes I remember - 'Guising'. We all put on little costumes and went to different doors in the house saying a little rhyme and asking for goodies. Luckily we found uncle Dan in one of the doors with shortbread cookies! (See video below - I couldn't figure out how to turn it around)

Allison dressing up as Mary Queen of Scotts and Carter playing the pan lid as we had a little parade.

We also left some coins under the mat out the front door - it's good luck if the coins multiply throughout the night. Allison was pleased to find, not only one quarter under the mat - but two quarters and a penny! That means we'll have a prosperous year - yay!

We also went 'first-footing'. In Scotland - after the New Year's Eve celebration, friends go 'first-footing' to other friends houses - bringing a gift and welcoming in the New Year. It's said that red-heads are bad luck . . . and so we banned Carrie from going first-footing - but Allison and Dan brought us the good luck by 'First-footing' our little party.

After the kids went to sleep, we adults stayed up playing Ticket to Ride - my new favorite game! I don't think any of us made it to midnight . . .

Provo Candy Windows

St. George

The Pizza Factory! Yum!

Zen and Allison climbing the narrows.

. Alli and Addie's funny faces

We spent part of Christmas Vacation down in St. George visiting Karma and James and Andrew and Anna. We got there just in time to hear Andrew give a wonderful talk in sacrament meeting on seeking after the riches of heaven. We had fun playing Andrew's Wii, we went to work out at the rec center and went swimming, and climbed up the red rocks.

Christmas in Scotland

One of my favorite family traditions is celebrating a different country each year. We learn about the country and their Christmas celebrations. This year we chose Scotland. Scotland's Christmas history included fire festivals (we lit a mini fire outside and Mom and Dad Jensen's house), sang some Scottish songs - Anthony's Dad remembered a Scottish song . . . about putting the fire out . . . humm I can't remember how it went - but we tried to sing it in a round. We roasted marshmallows and Alli and Carter enjoyed getting really messy as they ate. Carrie found some plaid fabric and we made some kilts for the guys. We also made little peanut butter/pinecone bird feaders and little holly leaves where the fairies are said to live. We also had a visit from the Scottish visitor 'Odin' or Woden . . . I can't remember his name. But he, in times past, was like their Santa Clause - coming and giving blessins and gifts. We ended the day with a Feast of St. Stephen. We made some delicious stew!

Christmas Morning

Oh my goodness I love Santa. There is nothing more fun on Christmas morning - than having a 3-year-old wake up in utter excitement - see that Santa ate the Mint Milky Ways she left for him and even left a note. So fun! He even left her the Dora and Tinkerbell movie she asked him for. Carter was thrilled with the basketball hoop Santa brought as well. He spent the whole morning shooting hoops. Dad and Uncle Dan even helped him with some flying dunk moves. Allison is very into pretend right now and so she also got a 4-sided pretend pop-up house thingy from Discovery toys. One side is a post office. She got her own box of envelopes, papers, and sticker stamps for that, one side is a theater (we made some super-cute animal puppets that Carrie found online), one side is a grocery store, and the last side is a stage. After opening presents on Christmas morning we went sledding behind Wymount. There is this great hill! Carrie and Dan said they went to every store in Provo to try to find a sled . . . but to no avail. And thank goodness - we had the best time sledding down on their old air mattress. It was great! Jed and Heidy's family also came sledding with us. Carter got a little too cold after awhile, and so Carrie, Carter, and I left early - but so much fun! That afternoon we also made gingerbread houses. We decided (or maybe I decided) that Dan won the award for most outstanding. His house had pillars, was two stories, had chocolate cinnamon bear statues guarding the entrance . . . quite the creation. Carrie's was super cute with snowment outside. I think I should nominate them to be in charge of one of the Provo Candy Windows next year.

We enjoyed watching the kids play with the Cow Bowling Set Carrie and Dan got them. They loved it!

Christmas Eve

We traveled to Utah early Christmas Eve morning. We got up at 2:00 in the morning - we like doing a early morning drive so the kids sleep most of the way. Well we checked the road conditions and discovered that I-80 was closed, so we decided to go I-70 - and it was perfect. We hit one icy spot on a bridge - but other than that the drive was wonderful. Christmas Eve night we spent with Carrie and Dan and Anthony's Dad. We had a talent show. Carrie told a delightful Christmas story, Grandpa Jensen taught us all how to make beautiful snowflakes, Anthony told some Laffy Taffy jokes, Allison sang one of her Christmas songs (see video). We then played a Christmas carol game, and sang 'Picture a Christmas' with flannel board figures. Afterwards we did a nativity with the kiddos. It was such a nice evening . . . oh and we had the most amazing Glazed Pineapple Ham. Seriously - the most tasty ham I think I've ever tasted. Dan is quite the chef. Allison also went on a scavenger hunt to find the ornaments. Each year we give each other ornaments that represent the year. I made these mini-ornaments for everyone this year. Allison got a book with ABC on top - because she learned to read this year. Carter got a basketball because ball was almost his first word - and probably the most frequently used word in his vocabularly right now. Anthony got an ornament that said 1st RF on it - because he switched jobs this year, and I got a teacher's chalkboard - because my year was filled with teaching preschool and nursery.

Bowling Mania!

We had a fun afternoon bowling with Carrie and Dan. Carter and Allison love bowling so much. He got a cow bowling set for Christmas from Carrie and Dan, along with a bowling video game from Katie and Brian . . . and now I can't even pass the mattress section at American Furniture Warehouse without Carter going beserk when he sees the picture of the bowling balls on the mattress. He loves it! And he has some pretty mad skills. I think his score was better than mine this game :) The best part were the high fives afterwards. He do the rounds and give everyone their high five.