January Happenings

I'm not sure where January went, but here's what we've been up to around our place.

We rang in the new year with some awesome Texas weather. It was almost 70 degrees on New Years Day. So we decided to get out and enjoy the nice weather and start our new years resolutions of getting in shape on the right foot. We have loved biking as a family and have really gotten into it the last year. So we decided to go on a little afternoon ride. It was beautiful and felt so good to get out and ride again. I think Andrew enjoyed it just as much as we did.

I truly can't believe that Stephen and I celebrated our 7th anniversary this month. We had a sweet friend come and watch Andrew so we could slip away to the temple together. It was a wonderful night followed by ice cream. I think dates to the temple are my favorite, because it seems that nowadays we just take turns going with the other person staying home with Andrew.

I love the temple, especially all lit up at night. 

We decided to check off another item on our Texas bucket list this month. About an hour and half from our home is a outdoor wild animal park called Fossil Rim. We had heard lots about it and have really wanted to go. We had another nice Saturday with the weather in the 60's and we decided to just jump in the car and go.

It was absolutely perfect. The sun was out and it was warm enough to have the windows down in the car the entire time and feel the warmth of the sunshine. All the animals were enjoying the nice day too. They were out and about and very active. It made for a wonderful day to visit. We took tons of pictures, but I will just post a few of my favorites. 

Andrew thought it was pretty special that we'd let him sit on our laps while we drove through the park. 

Daddy was even nice enough to let Andrew help him in the drivers seat. Now Andrew wants to "drive" the car all the time!

He loved seeing the Animals up close. At first it was a little intimidating, but then he'd lean his head out the window and say in his cute little 2 year old voice. "Hi. How you doin'?" 

They had a pretty cool petting zoo in the middle of the park where you could park stop and get out of your car and walk around. Andrew loved petting the goats, and the huge tortoises. But I think mostly he loved just getting out and walking of course.

A nice day for a yummy picnic lunch outside 

The goats were pretty easy going as tons of little kids came up to pet them. 

The animal that scared us the most was definitely the ostrich. They would stick their head right inside the car with their long neck looking for food. We ended up rolling our window up because they scared us so much. Didn't want to loose a finger or Andrew a hand...those birds are huge! 

The animal I loved the most, was seeing the beautiful giraffes up close. They would come right up next to our car. They had the longest eyelashes especially as they looked down upon us through our sun roof. Their black tongues were interesting, but they were so majestic, curious and gentle animals. 

They had so many interesting animals from around the world.  Some were definitely more friendly than others. I loved petting the zebras from our car, but Stephen almost got a kiss from this friendly guy. 

The best thing about Texas in January is that it does get cold (20-30 degrees or so) BUT you know that it doesn't last long. Then you'll have a few nice days in the 60's. Then it's right back to being cold again. So I guess our goals was to get out on the nice days and enjoy some family time together. Mission accomplished! 

Utah in December

Our trip to Utah for Christmas came and went so fast. It seemed like went went from one party to the next. Stephen and I are now the only ones in my family who do not live in Utah....well, let me restate that...Everyone in my family lives within 10 minutes of my parents house, except for one of my sisters who is a whole 50 minute drive away. Then there is us....in Texas. It's pretty fun when we all get together.

We did get a delayed start on our trip. Our flight left at 6am and that meant leaving for the airport at 3:30am. We got Andrew up and he threw up before we got to the car. Then just as we were about to board the plane, he threw up again. With Andrew and his shunt we did not want to take a chance and get on the plane, so we had to make a quick decision and not get on our flight. We luckily got on the same flight for the next day, then we headed straight to the ER. Thank goodness it was just a little 24 hr bug and no shunt issues.

Dad is always good at finding silly games to help pass the time. 

We thankfully were only in the ER for a few hours. 

Now that we had an extra day, we decided to do our little family Christmas with all the gifts we couldn't take on the airplane. After Andrew opened up his first gift, he was done. He loved his truck and key and didn't care at all that there was more to unwrap.

 Opening presents!!!

My new truck!

 Yep! After almost 10 minutes, still playing with my new truck! 

The other presents can wait. 

With A LOT of convincing he finally figured it out!

After we finally made it to Utah, we were pretty tired...but glad to finally be there.

We decided to drive into the city and spend the afternoon and evening downtown Salt Lake. We finally made it to see Santa with all of our cousins. It was a good thing because Andrew didn't want a single thing to do with him this year. This was as close as we could get him to stand.

As you can see he's try to make his get-a-way pretty fast. 

We walked around City Creek, which was a first for my parents and Stephen and I. Then saw the lights at Temple square, the candy windows at Macy's and the flying candy canes at Deseret Book,  had dinner then headed home. I think everyone else in the valley had the same idea as we did. It was incredibly packed. I've never seen so many people on Temple square.

Christmas Day was a lot of fun. Since all of my siblings live so close to my parents and have their own families. My parents now go and visit each one of them at their own homes to see their Christmas. It was great to tag along get to see everyone.

We seemed to squeeze in everything the week we were there. My mom and I went shopping, which is always fun! Stephen and I were able to slip away for an afternoon and see a movie. My brother and his family who are the biggest Aggie fans I know. Threw a little Aggie Bowl Game Party! It was so fun to watch them actually win! And we just happened to all bring our Aggie gear. Now every time Andrew see's his Utah State shirt, he asks to wear his GO AGGIE shirt! It's pretty cute!

Another yummy tradition my parents learned on their missions was a Racalette Dinner Night. They would do these with their young adult group. I guess it is quite popular in Austria, although it originated in Switzerland. Basically you cook bite sized pieces of food on the top and then put it on your own dish, put cheese over the top and it melts over everything as it broils underneath the unit. A bit like a fondue-type dinner. So delicious and the process is just as fun!

And of course it wouldn't be a trip to Utah if we didn't make a trip up to the mountains and spend a few days at my parents cabin. It is such a wonderful relaxing place and in the winter there is always TONS of snow. Multiple feet of snow and endless fun. We scrounged up some snow pants for Andrew. (Thanks to his girl cousins for the purple pair)  Then we spent the day sledding and riding the four-wheelers (or as Andrew would call them fork-lifts) One of my favorite parts of the cabin, is after all the kids are in bed. We all sit around and chat and laugh till the early hours of the morning. It is the best and we were sad to leave.

A family ride on the four-wheeler

The Southard girls and Andrew playing in the snow

 Cousin Ashley and Andrew ready to go down the hill

Grandma and Andrew walking in the snow 

Stephen was a good uncle and spent a few hours taking kids on rides down the road. 

 Fun times on the sleds...hold on tight!

Cuddles on the couch with my boy!

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.