Rushing all around no time to stop, “ Hurry, we won’t make it!” yells my dad. All rushing everyone is nervous. We have to leave NOW! Someone yells “Wait, I forgot my book!”. “There’s no Time” yells my mom. We all shuffle into our transit and hit the road for a 129 mile trip for a fun family Christmas in Hanover Kansas!
“Uhhhhhh” yells Audrey my older sister while kicking the seat, “This is so boring!!” Seriously! I think, mad that it was my seat she kicked Traveling with seven people sucks! “Being the second oldest of 6 kids isn’t the easiest life, Oliver” says my parent “It requires sacrifice and that is what this family needs, hard work, and sacrifice. God put you here for a reason.”. Well, I guess this is what they meant, I think. “Well guys don’t you think we should start the trip with a rosary?” asked my dad. “ Sure,” I say. “ No, wait. I need to finish this chapter,” says Henry ( my younger brother). “ We just started driving you can’t be very far through the chapter, you can finish after.” “Ok,” says Henry sadly. “In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit Amen…” Roughly 15 minutes later we finish. “ See guys after a rosary don’t you feel better?” askes my mom. “Yes,” I say, “ You ask this every time.”. Then Leah (my younger sister) asks “Can we please listen to music?”. “Sure,” my mom says “what do you want to listen to?” “Frozen music!!” Leah says excitedly. This is going to be a LONG ride, I think then slowly drift off into sleep.
“Owiver, wake up, we’re here” (my youngest brother) George says. Ahhh, finally! I finally get to see my cousins! Now being at Hanover Christmas is special. There are like 60 relatives that I only get to see once or twice a year. I am an introvert so it is always slightly overwhelming but it is still great to see all of them. “ Hi Sheeley’s!” says someone who only my parents really know. “Hi,” we all say. But then the best part of Hanover Christmas appears. You might think PRESENTS! But not even close. Justus my cousin that I see roughly 4 times a year and Dalton a cousin I see 1 time a year walk in. “Yes, you’re finally here!” Justus shouts. And then begins a play brainstorm like no other! Basically, we brainstorm what kind of play we do. Buuuuuuut, the events of the brainstorm are classified for members only until I write the play and what happens!! So stay tuned!
So, right after play brainstorm we all went down and through the kitchen to a ginormous garage. It is so big almost 100 people can eat in it. And that’s perfect because 60 hungry people need food. The aroma of cooked meat, fried veggies, and cake is all this stuffy nose can smell. This isn’t the best part but it is super close. All of the people bring good food consisting of little smokies, hot dogs, dessert of cake and candy. After everyone gets their food, we all stop to pray and bless the food that God generously gave to us. I have a hot dog, roll, and fried veggies with a little bit of chocolate-covered pretzels. We all say a prayer that is led by my great Uncle Tom who is married to one of my Grandma’s 11 siblings. Then after lunch, we go back to rehearse the play. We all get in our costumes and make a script and get our parts. Then is a good hour of playing with cousins and family. I play with Justus, my first cousin, Dalton, and a couple of others. We kind of play a tag game but then we get bored and decide to talk. And then we get called in for the one the only Hanover Christmas Play!! Then we all get dressed in our poor super old faded costumes to bring joy to please the people. All 200 of us went down to the cramped tiny basement to watch a play. As you should know it isn’t exactly a broadway production but for a group of 3-16-year-olds it’s not half bad.

Act ¼

Santa and Buddy the elf walk in. “Hello,” says Santa, “Welcome to Hanover’s got talent and for our Christmas special I, the one the only Santa Claus, will be the judge.” “For our First act please welcome Old Town Road,” says Bud. Then comes 2 very well dressed cowboys on their horse singing Old Town Road. Then Santa and Buddy quietly talk to each other about the first act and draw a 5 and 4 on their whiteboards.

Act 2/4
For the next act outcomes, a group of singer that sings a parody of silent night that promotes K-State after the song Santa and Buddy talk and they both bring out 10.9s
Act ¾
For the 3rd and final act comes a small rock band that goes nuts and freaks out the crowd. Santa and Buddy decide not to talk and both put up 3s.
Act 4/4
Finally, Santa and Buddy bring everyone onto the stage to decide a winner. Then out of nowhere the child, Jesus appeared and Santa and Buddy the elf had a clear winner.
After the play that we put on ended, we all took a bow. I was Buddy and it was extremely embarrassing. After the play, we sang with Uncle Tom and did other kid-led songs, and eventually, we heard jingle bells from upstairs and knew it was time to open presents that Santa had just dropped off. We all lined up youngest to oldest to open presents and me being 12 having had my birthday 2 days before on the 24th I had to wait forever.
Eventually, it was my turn and then when I opened my present I found a lightsaber that can record your voice! I had been asking for this for my birthday and now I was finally getting it! This lightsaber is so cool I still have it today almost a year later! By then everyone I play with is done so we go and talk about anything that comes to mind until dinner.
After dinner, the younger kids fall asleep while the older kids keep playing or talk off by themselves. Then at roughly 10:00, my parents decided it is time to go, we all got loaded up, said goodbye, and left. As I recall the awesome day I just had, I feel tired and quietly drift off into a long sleep.
Well, this was my family’s (on my dad’s side of the family) Christmas! This is pretty much how it plays out every year. This is really a jumble of true events and my imagination. I really don’t remember what all we did or said but just what probably was said or at least close. I hope you liked it because it was awesome for me to rewrite and relive this Christmas experience!