christmas break {denver edition}.

Ben and I are really fortunate to be at a university that gives employees and grad students several weeks of vacation time each year.  We had the opportunity to spend a week with Ben's family in Denver and a week with my family in Salt Lake City over the holidays, and we sure enjoyed every single minute of our break!  It's always nice to get away from home for a bit and be around family. :)

We spent Christmas Eve over at Ben's cousins' house where we had a dinner, played some Christmas songs on chimes, watched this movie for the first time, and had a Christmas program.  It sure provided entertainment (I think my favorite part may have been the electric guitar accompaniment to "Carol of the Bells")!  Later that evening, a few of us decided to go to a candlelight ceremony at a Presbyterian church because Ben's aunt and uncle were singing in the choir.  The arrangements were beautiful (lots of them were arranged by Mack Wilberg, who is amazing) and the accompanying orchestra was talented beyond belief.

Between playing this and watching movies all week, we did some shopping, reading, sleeping in, and more shopping!  It was just a terrific week, and I'm so happy that I get to call these wonderful people family.