Sky of Blue, Sea of Green: And So It Continued Both Day and Night: Christmas 2012

One thing I love about college is being able to celebrate Christmas in two different places - decorating two trees, two sets of sugar cookies, etc. The night before my last final we had our apartment gift exchange.

This was a great kick-off to Christmas and I can't wait to get the uterus pillow Alexa has ordered for me.

We went to The Hobbit at midnight afterwards and I can proudly say that I still got an A on the final I took just a few hours after the movie ended. Then I was happily ready to head home to celebrate Christmas with all of my sisters! My family had waited to buy a Christmas tree until Abbie and I were home, so when we arrived there was just a tiny fake tree with a pile of presents under it, all wrapped in Justin Bieber paper. I was so happy to be home.

One of the highlights of Christmas this year was going to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir concert with my parents and Rachel. My dad gets tickets every year since he works for the church, but I have never gone before ever! I've never really cared about it before, but this year I finally realized...wait....this is kind of a big deal! People go through a lot to get these tickets and they are just handed to us! We have to go!

I'm really glad we did! Even though we were late and sat in the absolute top balcony, it was still amazing. And I loved having one last chance to see Temple Sqaure afterwards.

Christmas always offers a chance to celebrate my sisters' musical talents whatwith recitals and concerts happening all over the place. Janie is always the best dancer in her recital, and people who are not related to her have told me so. She is the only dancer in our family so it's just kind of a freak accident that she's so good. We make fun of her recitals, but really it wouldn't be Christmas without them.

I loved picking out a real tree this year with my family and decorating it together. His name is Norman.

Other celebrations that week included both my dad's and grandma's birthdays, as well as a party at the Fun Center for work. I am so lucky that my aunt and uncle always let me come back to work for them when I'm on break. There's no way to comprehend how much of my college life they have actually paid for. I was also lucky that I came back to work just three days before we all went laser tagging, mini golfing, and bowling.

I went to zoo lights at Hogle Zoo for the first time this year. It was beautiful but freezing. All of the animals were cuddled together sleeping which was cute. We gave our letters to Santa, and when I told Santa that I went to Utah State he said, "Good choice. I'm so sorry you lost your football coach today." He was obviously the real deal.

One of my favorite traditions is going caroling. I know it's kind of lame, but we make it a point to go to mostly old people so they always love it. The past few years Rachel has dressed up as Santa for it, which adds a layer of hilarity because she is the smallest person I know over the age of 12. We brought cookies along to make up for the making people stand on the porch awkwardly to hear us sing.

This year one of my favorite things was going ice skating at Farmington Station. Ice skating is so much more special outside, especially during Christmastime. Farmington Station was so beautiful with a huge Christmas tree and lights everywhere. There was even a water and lights show in the fountain that went along with Christmas music. So festive.

On Christmas Eve my mom had me come shopping with her so I could pick out the clothes I wanted. I loved having this time with just me and my mom and to be right in the middle of all the Christmas mayhem. After braving the mall and Barnes and Noble, we had to go to Smith's which was sooo crazy. There was literally not one single parking space, so we had to drive around slowly waiting for a space. During that time, we listened to this cathedral choir on the radio that was streaming live from somewhere. When the song ended, someone started giving a beautiful sermon about Christ's birth and a prayer that He would be a felt in a very real way throughout the world. That was actually a really special part of Christmas for me, because as we drove around the icy, crowded parking lot (there were literally no shopping carts left when we went in) I was reminded why we were doing what we were doing.

As always, we spent Christmas Eve in Ogden and had a great time opening pajamas, playing games, and singing to Abbie's guitar together. We drove through the Layton lights one last time on the way home and even though it was late at night there were a lot of other people there. Abbie, Rachel and I stayed up really late watching Christmas With the Kranks.

Oh yeah....Rachel and Lauren got footy pajamas. Spongebob AND One Direction.

For the past few years, one of my favorite parts of Christmas morning has been making the three little girls think that I'm never going to get out of bed. I can get them to do whatever I want at this point - have them sing me Christmas songs, put my slippers on my feet, you name it. I like to make them use all their strength to pull me out of bed.

the kids waiting for me to get up

Santa brought me a new camera and bright purple luggage. He obviously is excited about my mission. I think I am getting old because I like watching the little girls open their presents more than I like opening mine.

Jane's American G irl Doll!

I have really loved the snow this Christmas! We had a great day going sledding with our neighbors (despite a major collision which caused me to think my hand was broken for a couple of days)...

....this weekend we spent the day and evening at my Uncle David's cabin in a winter wonderland. We are very, very, very, very excited about the giant house he is building in the mountains which we include an indoor water tub with a waterfall going into it and a secret playroom with a rotating bookshelf as the door. Lauren and Rachel were almost crying when he was giving us the tour - I think they think we are moving there. Anyway, it was beautiful up there with the moon gleaming on the snow! We went on a 0 degree walk in the moonlight.

Rachel's album cover

Lauren on our late night walk

My sisters and our cousin's sweet little girls

We also got to spend a little bit of time with my dad's family this week. Most of it was spent guessing where Abbie and I will be going on our missions.