Christmas 2015 (Part IV - Tuesday)

Tuesday, 22 December: We woke up to a significant new snow fall. The plan was to go to Heber, Utah to ride the Polar Express on the Heber Valley Railroad (AKA Heber Creeper). Tickets had already been paid for and were not refundable.  But Utah DOT dashed any hope of that when the put chain restrictions on I-80 going up to Heber, and on US-189 which would be Matt and family’s route from there to I-15 in Provo going back to Vegas. (We did find out that the tickets could be used any time in the next year so maybe they will still get used.) This is the only activity we had planned that fell through, which considering the weather, wasn't too bad. We kind of hung out for a while, but with the road conditions the way they were, Matt and family got on the road heading south for a night in Vegas with Mike and Kelly and Grandpa Ed. (BTW – they made the trip with no problem.) PB&J, Kira, JoAnne and I went to see Star Wars that afternoon and really enjoyed it.  That evening we went to Pioneer Village at the This Is the Place monument.  On way over to the village, in snowy conditions we about got run off the road intentionally several times by a lunatic in an SUV. But we enjoyed the snow and the atmosphere of the village. Jessi and Peter tried the Virginia reel dance, and we had donuts and hot chocolate. We road a "train" around teh village. (Real trains don't have rubber tires on them and go on roads!) On the way home we tried to stop at Café Zupas, but they were closed for a Christmas party. Roads were getting pretty slick so we went home and had leftovers.  

Ladies all dressed up for train ride that didn't happen

Donuts and hot chocolate at Social Hall in Pioneer Village

Statue of Brigham Young and Joseph Smith

Front gate to village

Snow covered wagon

Church

Gingerbread demonstration

Carolers at Social Hall

Virginia Reel!