An Austrian Christmas Eve

This last Christmas was definitely one I will always remember. Last year, I remember reading my parents letters from their mission describing how incredible Austria is at Christmas time. All the sights, the traditions, the incredible experiences they were having. This year, they truly brought an Austrian Christmas home to each one of us. I loved learning even more about this wonderful culture that is so much apart of who my parents are now.

In Austria, Christmas Eve is really the big day. The day when they celebrate everything and open presents.  So with that, we had a big Dent family Austrian Christmas Eve. My mom had gone to great lengths to make sure that everything was original, and authentic. She had spent a lot of time just preparing the traditional Austrian dinner and found European markets in the area where you can only buy certain ingredients and foods. We enjoyed a variety of meats, bratwurst, spaetzle (an egg noodle/dumpling)  pumpkin soup garnished with pumpkin oil and pumpkin seeds, rotkruat. (sweet & sour pickled red cabbage with green apples), semels (bread) and krapfen (Austrian donut with apricot filling...my favorite!) As well as some amazing little homemade cookies.

My mom busy in the kitchen with the preparations

Aren't these homemade cookies beautiful? And being so tiny...don't ask how many I ate....

After dinner they shared with us a tradition of the advent wreath. The preparation for Christmas begins four weeks prior to Christmas. A wreath is built with 4 candles. It is made to commemorate the arrival of Christ birth.  Each Sunday a candle is lit in representing the four sundays before Christ's birth.  A lot of their Christmas traditions in Austria revolve around Christ and counting down. All types of advent calendars are huge over there.

The room with the Christmas tree is to be kept hidden from everyone (and is usually set up and decorated on Christmas Eve) All the Christmas gifts are placed under the Christmas tree by Kristkindl "Christ Child" and are opened after dinner on Christmas Eve. The arrival of the gifts and lighting of the tree is announced by a bell. My parents kept the tree hidden from the grandkids. After dinner they explained the tradition and we sang christmas carols as they got things ready.

Then we heard the bell and the kids excitedly went into the other room.

Having a Christmas tree lit up with candles was something I'd heard about growing up. In fact we even had the candle stands that clipped onto the tree all growing up, but never used them. But seeing it in person, it seriously took my breath away. It was an incredible sight. These pictures truly don't do it justice.

Afterwards, we had our own Dent family Christmas Eve traditions of setting up the nativity and singing a song for each of the different pieces and of course singing Still Niche together in German. It's pretty neat to think that as each of us siblings were able to go and visit my parents on their mission. They took us all to the small and humble looking Still Nauche chapel where the beautiful song was first performed. Singing it that night with my entire family there was truly special.

Grandpa and Logan leading us in Still Niche

I love seeing all the grandkids excited at Grandma's feet. 

 Cousin Jenna helping Andrew put his nativity piece up. 

Then we opened presents. My parents had brought home each of the daughters a traditional dirndle dress. Then of course each of the granddaughters received one as well. With 6 daughters/daughters-in-law and 10 granddaughters....that's a lot of dirndles and dirndle shopping. The grandsons each got a traditional austrian hat with feathers and the youngest boys got little lederhosens. So of course we had to all get dressed up and take tons and tons of pictures. Here's a few of my favorites!

Andrew and I in our traditional Austrian clothes

All dressed up!

Grandpa showing Nathan how to attach the feathers and a pin. 

 My mom and all of her daughters/daughters-in-law in their dirndles. 

Each one is so unique and so Austrian

My sister Camille and I

Grandma and Andrew admiring the Christmas Tree

My sister Allison and her six girls all dressed up!

CHEESE!

It was a magical Christmas eve and one I will always

 remember, focusing on Christ and being together as a family.

Early Christmas Present

I'm still in the process of getting my pictures from the last month or now two months uploaded on to our computer. Maybe if I can sit down for more that two minutes at my computer, it might happen. Then watch out and prepare for some major blog updates. Until then, I thought I'd post a few small videos of Andrew. Sorry for the repeat if you've already seen them on facebook. :)

About two weeks before Christmas Andrew decided to give Stephen and I one of the best presents a little early this year. It was kind of funny how it happened almost all in one day. He just decided he could walk. His PT was over at our house in the morning and we of course worked on walking and he just started taking off. Both of us were in awe and couldn't believe how he just decided he could do it. He was walking all over the place without any help. Then after therapy I threw him into the car and we raced off to playgroup. Yet again, he decided he could walk and that's all we did for then next hour and a half at playgroup (this kid does NOT get tired of walking). After I got home Stephen came downstairs...from "work" and was getting lunch out. I had to show him and told him we had to get a video of this kid.

He did not believe me. And it always seems as though whenever we pull out the video camera to record Andrew trying to walk....he has his biggest falls. Then that's it. He's completely done. So with that hesitation, Stephen slowly pulled out his phone. Again,  we seriously couldn't believe it. We have a great "walking circle" from our family room to the dining room to the kitchen and the front entry. I think he walked it about 3 or 4 times. Of course by now he's extremely tired from walking all morning. But we got documentation that this kid walked!

Now I wouldn't say he's a walker all the time now. He's gotten quite a bit less confident in his skills the last month. But we know he can do it. And if he's in the right mood, he might just show off his mad walking skills every now and then. But it takes a lot of convincing. I honestly think it's because of his lack of protective fallings skills that most kids just have and Andrew does not. Which is why even when he does walk, I have to stay right with him with every step or he falls on his head.  Our goal is no more concussions for this kid.

Anyways, it's a work in progress and we're happy Andrew's headed in the right direction.  As parents, we're just trying to be patient while Andrew decides that walking independently is his preferred mode to get around.

The Great Texas Ice Storm of 2013

We've had quite the weekend here. So I thought I'd catch up a bit on the Blog.

We are going on now almost four days of weird Texas weather and being stuck inside our home.

Last Thursday night we had a terrible ice storm come through the area. Stephen and I awoke about 3 different times during the night to loud sounds...come to find out it was our front and our neighbors two front trees snapping and breaking because of the weight of the ice from the ice storm. A lot of the trees out here still have their leaves and this mixed with freezing rain was a disaster. After the last snap at 5am we turned on the news and realized how incredibly bad the storm was that had come through.

School has been canceled both Friday and today (Monday). They are telling everyone everywhere to stay home and don't go anywhere. We were supposed to see our friends sealed in the Temple on Saturday and yep you guessed it....the temple was closed down and they had to cancel their sealing. We also had church cancelled yesterday too, which felt weird. It's been so crazy around here!

It's been a bad storm, but I've definitely been in much worse. The problem in Texas is that they don't/can't do anything about it. No plows. No salt trucks. Nothing. Just shut the entire Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex down.  The biggest problem is that we've had freezing temperatures in the 20's ever since the storm, so nothing is melting. On top of that the last two nights we've had Freezing Fog...AND the even crazier thing was that we were enjoying our nice balmy December 80 degree weather just the day before all this mess.

The frozen blades of grass

Our little tree in the back yard pretty much broke right in half

I will have to say though, it has been kind of fun to just  enjoy all this time together as a family. We've tried to keep busy.  We introduced Andrew to a few Christmas movies. Finally finished decorating for Christmas, had the missionaries over for dinner, made Christmas cookies and treats. We even took Andrew outside a few times to "play" in the snow and ice. He wasn't quite sure at first. but he loved the crunching sound it made when he'd step on the frozen blades of grass. We even got a little creative and in true Texas fashion, came up with our own sled.

Here we go! 

Spinning around on the ice was much more fun then going down the little hill.

This little monster LOVEs popcorn and sitting in the corner of the couch. He was excited to watch Christmas movies! 

Trying to pick up the leaves frozen to the ground. 

Funny things we've seen....

• People ice skating in the middle of the street. There is almost an two or three inches of thick solid ice out there. Everywhere.
• Semi trucks were stranded on the freeways for almost 48 hours. They couldn't go anywhere and nobody could get in to help them. 
• Our neighbor across the street cracked me up while I was out with Andrew yesterday. He was trying to shovel his driveway in boots he'd covered in plastic (I'm assuming they were leather or something he didn't want to get wet) with a garden shovel. Yep that's how we do it here in Texas. If only I'd had my camera.
• Some gas stations have completely closed down because they are out of gas. No trucks can get in to fill their tanks.
• We did have to do a quick Wal-Mart run Saturday night to get some more cough medicine for Andrew and a few other things. It was packed. People were almost in panic mode and a lot of the shelves were bare. The funniest things were the frozen pizzas were almost completely gone and the toilet paper. Oh and of course the small supply they carry in Texas of winter hats and gloves. (which isn't much to start with)  Stephen and I just had to laugh. It's like the end of the world down here.

 It is beautiful, all covered in ice.

Our rose bush has seen better days

Usually this time of year can get crazy with all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. With so many Christmas parties, shopping for gifts and other holiday activities. It's been wonderful to slow down a bit and put life on hold for a few days and just enjoy our time together. So grateful for cars with full tanks of gas, that we have had our power the entire time and there is no major damage (i.e frozen pipes) to our home, just broken trees outside.

Thanksgiving in Utah

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and I always look forward to spending time with family. We have tried to teach Andrew this month about being thankful and not sure how much has really sunk in. But it has been a great month to reflect upon the many blessings we have.

My oldest sister Melinda hosted this year and it was absolutely beautiful and she went all out and thought of every little detail. I wish I'd gotten a picture of all the cute treats she had made for the table decor and name tags...they were darling. The weather was perfectly warm and the food was delicious. We stuffed ourselves and spent lots of time looking at the black Friday ads. Yet, surprisingly nobody went out...did most of our black Friday shopping online this year.

Here's our Thanksgiving Day in Pictures!

 Jeff's annual deep frying the Turkey picture... This is HIS yearly tradition  and it's always so yummy! 

 Uncle Mike and Andrew walking around outside

  A little pumpkin bowling with the little ones!

Playing with the dog!

The Little Kids Table 

The Not-So-Little Little Kids Table

 Parker and Grandpa coloring

 Playing a little "I  Spy" with cousins while we wait for our Thanksgiving Feast!

Andrew even convinced a few of the cousins to walk him around. He loved it and everyone who helped him walk were instant friends with this kid! 

The little kids coloring with their turkey crayons at the little kids table. So fun to have cousins the same age!

 Playing a little football game outside

Even Grandpa got in on some football action!

Cousin Michael let Andrew "drive" the blue truck, which Andrew could have done for hours and asked  to hold the keys as soon as he got out. This kid LOVEs anything with keys and wheels.  

Had to get a picture in front of the truck. Growing up this was my Grandpa Dent's 1968 Chevy Truck, which now my oldest nephew has restored and painted it bright blue. Lots of memories playing in that truck when I was little. 

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with so much to be thankful for. So grateful to be able to spend it with my family.

They're Home!!!

After almost 2 years Grandma Lyn and Grandpa Jerry (or as Andrew calls them Grandma and Grandpa Missionaries) came home from Austria and completed their assignment to serve as missionaries for our church. We were so lucky to be able to go to Utah and welcome them home. Originally we thought we'd just wait and go out over the Christmas Holiday and spend some good time with them then. Then our plans changed just a month or so before. It worked out pretty great that they came in two days before the Thanksgiving holiday.  We were able to fly in just about and hour before they landed in Salt Lake City and so we stayed behind and found their gate without them know. Mind you they'd been traveling for probably the last 18 hours and it was 4 am in Austria when they landed. But we were excited to get the first hugs and chat with them a bit before the 19 other grand kids. Who I might add...were anxiously waiting behind security for their turn.

Andrew giving grandpa a long-awaited kiss in person

It was a wonderful reunion! 21 months is a long time to be gone and Andrew was only just a small baby when they left.

This was just before they left

I loved seeing how excited all the grand kids got, especially over the last few weeks before they got home! Some made paper chains to count down the days. Others made countdown clocks on their ipods/phones that showed down to the number of seconds until Grandma and Grandpa returned from their mission. We all couldn't wait...it was like Christmas morning.

After all the hugs and pictures we headed to their house and had a "waffle night" My parents served the Young Adults who lived in Graz, Austria. As part of their assignment they would do institute one night a week, FHE one night a week, my dad taught English and my mom taught piano, and with each of these activities my mom was involved with cooking food. Many many meals and snacks for each of the events. Friday nights were "waffle nights" and the YA loved American waffles. So to make them feel right at home we had our own family waffle night and stay up until after 1am chatting and laughing and catching up.

It was fun to see my parents just walk around their house in amazement and notice the little things they did without for so long. A large kitchen sink, a disposal, a dishwasher, a garage and then realizing their entire apartment in Austria could fit inside their master bedroom at home. They were in a bit of a culture shock.

We had a great afternoon the next day when they showed us some of their souvenirs and gifts people had made them. They talked to us about the many dear friends they had made. Each one of us siblings were able to visit them at some point during their mission and seem them in action as missionaries, meet the YA they worked with, see where they lived and tour the beautiful country of Austria. Such a neat opportunity to be able to share a small part of their mission with them.

The celebrations continued. for about four days straight with a little Thanksgiving mixed in the middle. It was so wonderful to have them home and be together as an entire family....probably the first time in 5 or 6 years that we had EVERYONE together. We are so grateful for their service as missionaries and felt truly blessed for the sacrifices they made to leave their family and serve the Lord.  They are wonderful examples to me and I wish I could be there today as they reported and shared the experiences they had with all the wonderful people they served in Austria.