Christmas Eve...and the random thoughts that come with

What a great Christmas eve. I'll have to review the days events later. Right now I can't help but be so grateful to have the opportunity to spend another Christmas Eve with mom, dad, & the Barney fam. I can't help but feel overwhelmingly blessed to have such an incredible family that I love so much.

(This is a quick video post movie, pre dinner tonight. We had a great time.)

I also can't help but feel so grateful to my Savior for His life, His teachings, and His sacrifice in my behalf. What a blessing it is to have the gospel in my life. The hope that comes to me from my knowledge of the Plan of Salvation, and the love that I feel in my life daily is something that I cherish more than I can explain. I know that my Savior loves me. He loves each one of us. So much that He died for us, and He did it willingly. He did it knowing it would be hard, and painful, but that it would save us pain and hardship. He did it because He wanted us to be as happy as we could possibly be. The gospel really is, "good news." Striving to live as Christ did is what will bring us happiness. I love this photo from the new Reflections of Christ series.

I hope everyone has a VERY Merry Christmas. I love you all!

And now I think I'll fall asleep to, "The Christmas Story." I'm pretty sure this is the start of some 24 hour marathon. I can't wait for Christmas morning to see if Santa still visits 25 year olds. ;) One can only hope...

A Valiant Effort

December 23rd: Christmas Adam. One of my clients told me that one of her families favorite traditions is to celebrate, "Christmas Adam," on December 23rd. Because Adam came before Eve. Cute eh? So Merry Christmas Adam to everyone! This morning Denny, Kiley, Blake and I went to the Mesa Temple to do baptisms. Unfortunately for us about a zillion other people had the same idea, so we ended up walking settling for taking a lap around the grounds and heading home. You can't be mad that the temple is overflowing with people wanting to serve now can you? Pretty cool if you ask me.

The Christmas spirit is definitely in the air. We passed this sweet house on our drive back, and Kiley and I had to circle back to do a double take...and by that i mean i had to snap some photos. Seriously...check this out.

On the way home we stopped so Denny could drive their electric car home. It was hilarious. With he and Blake all dressed up, and his sunglasses on it looked like he was some CIA agent on special project to keep something secure. They were maxing out at about 24 MPH, no big deal. Super funny.

Kiley, Mom, Nichole, and I went to Crackers for lunch. I had never been there before, and it was yummy! After that Mama Cita and I did some shopping, and headed home for the day.

I'm loving being able to just hang out with the fam. It is something that i don't get to do all the time, and it's great to just hang out and relax together. I can't believe tomorrow is Christmas eve already!?! Where has this year gone?

This is the way we bowl, we bowl.

Joggity jog jog jog. This morning started off with a run with my sis Nichole. I love when I get to go run with her. She is in such awesome shape, she definitely keeps me motivated. It is so fun to just run and chat all along the way. We ended up running a little over 7 miles, which felt so good.

We decided to make a little afternoon outing to the local bowling alley to show off our intense bowling skills. It was super fun, and I definitely proved some mad skills with my total score of 73 points.

So much fun.

This evening's plan consists of Diet Dr. Pepper, Oregano's, and the Cougars. Good luck boys!

Home, Home on the Range.

Oh to be home. Happiness.

Thanks to Linds who was kind enough to dine with me, Gateway with me, and chauffeur me up to the airport. It's official. I can't get enough of her little kiddies. They are just so dang cute.

I sat next to an adorable girl from my ward on the plane. So fun!

Across the isle from me was a very good looking chap. I wasn't mad.

Les and Elaine picked me up from the airport, and without any if's ands or but's we pulled into Yogurtland.

Doesn't that just look delicious? Well it was.

I came home to a divinely decorated house. Straight out of catalog I'm pretty sure. So much Christmas in this house. I love it.

My parent's were opening Christmas cards they received in the mail today. All of the sudden my mom is opening up one from Mitt Romney. I was pretty impressed, and then I remembered that my parents know the Romney's from when we lived in Boston. It reminded me that I wish he was the Pres. not the Obaminator. Just sayin'

I am all unpacked in my room, snuggled up on my bed, watching Christmas Vacation.

A very good kickoff to the Holiday. :)

The answer is an astounding, YES.

Yes, Yes, and then some.

Yes, I can't stop thinking about the fact that at this time tomorrow I'll be nestled all snug in my bed at home in AZ.

Yes, I am ready to not be ankle deep in snow. (Uggs or not, it's not my favorite.)

Yes, I am SO excited that Christmas is a week from today. I am a 5-year-old at heart I tell ya.

Yes, I am STOKED that THIS GIRL started blogging. Love her, with all my heart. It's so great when people jump on the blog-wagon.

Yes, I am pumped to spend some quality down time with the fam in AZ...reading, shopping, eating, working out, Christmas-ing...and blogging of course. You haven't heard the last of me yet!

Yes, my friend Brady and I continued our now 4 year tradition, and watched one of my favorite early 90's classics, "All I want for Christmas," tonight. Nothing like Kevin Nealon and a bunch of other no name actors to get you in the real Christmas spirit.

-sidenote: If you haven't seen this film, and most people haven't. Watch it. It's golden.

Yes, I secretly, and now openly, loved sleeping in today, not working, getting in a nice workout, doing some Christmas shopping in my gym clothes, and getting ready to go home tomorrow...I'm really good at being a scrounge.

Yes, I need to sign off FB chat. Why are people up so late? Why am I up so late?

Yes, I am going to miss all my besties while I'm home.

Yes, I still have Christmas stuff to do. Wow, it snuck up on me this year, no?

Yes, I still love my new computer.

Yes, I'm currently in LOVE with photoshop and learning all the fun things I can do with it. I'd show you some of my latest creations, but it would ruin some Christmas surprises...later. Later.

Yes, I am CRAVING Yozone's peppermint frozen yogurt right now.

Yes, I was thinking today about how much I love my family...and how much i'm going to miss having a certain sister 5 mins from my house. :(

Yes, I need to go to bed.

Night.

Oh Christmas Tree

Garlands all the way down the stair case railings. A super tall Christmas tree with twinkling lights. What seemed like hundreds of collected Santa's of all sorts throughout the house. That is how I remember our house growing up, all decorated for Christmas. I remember loving helping my mom set up the boxes and boxes of decorations. The house felt so warm and friendly. A hard day's work rewarded with night coming, and all of the lights being plugged in. It always seemed like it turned everything into magic, and the Christmas season was really beginning. Although, I have about 1/100th of the amount of decorations that my mom has I still get excited to put them all up. Here is how the holiday decor turned out this year...

Rox and I had SO much fun hunting down our fun decorations. We seriously spent a whole Saturday going from one store to the next finding all sorts of cool decorations. So fun!!

Holiday Partaaaay

We wish you a Merry Christmas. I love Christmas. Have I mentioned that before? This year my friends and I decided that we needed to celebrate the holiday season on our own time, so we did.

The evening was complete with. LOTS of food, treats, and some fantastic white elephant gifts. We laughed a LOT. It was so fun to be all together and get to feel festive! I have some great friends. That is for sure.

Megan's Currently

I love Cami Wells. I was just reading her blog and she had a "currently," post...I thought it was cute, so I copied her.

Currently I am...

Sitting at Roxies house.

Stealing bites of her Dreyer's Slow Churned Mint Cookie Crunch.

Playing guess the top songs of the 90's via...Brian Turner.

Watching J-Man try and fix my ipod, and sing Boys II Men.

Drinking a Crest Diet DP.

Playing on Photo Shop.

Dreading the thought of walking back to my apartment in the 1 degree weather. Yes, my weather forecast on my computer is telling me that it is one degree outside. ONE.

Still in my gym clothes from spinning...oops.

Still stoked about my Mac.

Making my Christmas wish list.

Working on secret Christmas operations.

Excited I don't have to work super early in the morning.

Tired, and ready for bed...

Also...My mom posted this pic of my dad and I on her blog, and I love it. Precious.

Dooped. Swindled. Punk'd.

Yes, I was one of the many bazillion people that went to the Flash game tonight. Let me say that I have been a skeptic of this whole Michael Jordan thing from the beginning. I just didn't see it happening. There was no benefit for him to come...to Orem Utah, to a D-league game, nonetheless. BUT it was one of those situations that I heard so much hype about, I definitely wanted to go.

Half time came and Brian Russell made his grand entrance. Me...still skeptical. Russell was coming the whole time, we knew this. He gave his whole schpeal, and still...I was not buying it. But, then all of the sudden the lights went out. MJ's hall fame induction speech comes on...and in my mind I'm like. No way. This seems legit. They really did it. They pulled it off. Michael is here. This is unreal. I got butterflies. I couldn't believe it. Here is "Michael's" entrance.

Yep...you guessed it. Not MJ. It was a hired Jordan impersonator the Flash had flown in from Michigan. WTF?!?! Bodyguards and all. Disappointment. Who goes to such great lengths to pull of something like that. I'd be honest, the stands were PACKED. But really? REALLY? Not my favorite. We were not amused...as you can see...

December 1st. Fa la la la la la la la la...

DECEMBER IS HERE!!! I took the liberty of putting up some Christmas decor today. Whenever I put up Christmas decorations it make me miss home because my mom is a holiday decoration connoisseur. Christmas is her forte, she has so many fantastic decorations. It feels like you're walking into santa's workshop, but classier, of course. My few decorations definitely pale in comparison to hers! I love the spirit that Christmas brings. I love the amazing things that people do for each other to lift spirits and change lives.

I have been reading, Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis, and I read a part yesterday that really struck me. In speaking of sacrifice he says,

"I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusement, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small...Sometimes our pride also hinders our charity; we are tempted to spend more than we ought on the showy forms of generosity (tipping, hospitality) and less than we ought on those who really need our help."

With our accustomed lifestyles I think that sacrifice is something that is really a challenge. This quote really struck me because It puts the idea of sacrifice in a whole new perspective. I think that this time of year is a perfect opportunity to sacrifice a bit, so that we can help others wether it be in our time or our resources. There are so many great opportunities to serve. I definitely can improve in that area!

Monday Monday.

Dear 6:00 AM,

You came WAY to early this morning. Who do you think you are telling me that i had to get up, and that my fun vacation was over. That wasn't very nice of you.

Dear Delta,

Thanks for having free wi-fi today so I could write this post whilst flying home. Although I'm pretty sure you cut out about 5 inches of leg room on each of these rows...just sayin'

Dear Barney Fam,

Thanks for letting me invade your house, pantry, gym, lives, etc. for the past week. I love you guys, and I had so much fun with you!

Dear Mom and Dad,

I already miss you. Let's talk Christmas.

Dear Provo,

I hear you don't have any snow yet, but I'm pretty sure you're going to be a heck of a lot colder than sunny, beautiful AZ...I'm not excited about this. I'll be honest. I AM, however, excited to see all my besties. I love my friends.

Dear Christmas Decorations,

I'm very excited to get you out when I get home. If there is one thing that will make me feel better about leaving my fun Thanksgiving Vacation, it is probably getting my house all Christmas-ified.

Dear sore throat,

I get it. You've made your mark. You win. Now please leave me alone.

Dear work,

Be kind to me...let's just ease back into this normal routine thing ok? Don't over do it.

Dear Gym,

Due to sickness, laziness, and just plain selfishness...I have neglected you a bit the past week. But, I'm back. I promise. This week is going to be all gym-ed up!

I had such a great trip home. I always get a little bit sad when I have to leave my family! What can I say, I LOVE them. It's a good thing I get to bug Linds all the time, and that Ty isn't too far away either :)

Bottom line. I'm going to miss these folks.

Thanks for the FANTASTIC Turkey Day weekend!

Turkey Day

The Smith Family knows how to have a party. Our Thanksgiving Day celebration didn't disappoint. Elaine is an animal in the kitchen. Let it be known. She put on quite the spread. It was so fun to be all together. Rosemarie and Patti were here for all the festivities, and it was great to have them all here! p.s. the weather is perfect here. Yes, we did indeed eat outside :)

Linds and I with the classic hold the camera shot.

My Mac teachers :)

The traditional "apple turkeys."

The bro and sis's.

My lil' Kiley B. And by little I mean not at all...she's taller than I am.

Our Smith family Bocce tourney. I unfortunately lost miserably to Rosemarie in the first round. She's basically a pro bowler...

Thanksgibbing.

What a great Holiday. I love this kick off to the holiday season. It is so great that we have a day that is solely dedicated to gratitude. I feel so incredibly blessed right now in my life. I have the greatest family, that I get to spend a whole week with. I am healthy. I have the most incredible friends that are such a key part of my life. I have a great job that, as I have mentioned before, has come into my life at an opportune time. I feel like the way everything is going in my life right now is so divinely directed. Most importantly I feel so much gratitude towards my Savior. I don't know where I would be without the gospel in my life. It means everything to me. Even when I am feeling doubtful or discouraged, the grace of my brother, Jesus Christ, comforts me and gets me through. I truly do, believe in Christ.

I have already loved being here in Arizona. I am in love with my family. I seriously am the happiest when we are all together. They are so great. I could go on and on about the qualities that each of member of my family possesses that is unique and wonderful. But, just believe me, they are Great. With a capitol "G."

Last night we had our first annual "Ugly Sweater Party." It was so funny, and so much fun. We all dressed up and went to Gecko Grill for dinner, and then came home, had dessert, and played games. Good times. Here are some photos of the evening.

yessssssssssss...

I'm pretty DANG happy right now. I'm currently sitting in the Salt Lake International Airport waiting to board my plane to AZ. Yep, I can't stop talking about it because I'm pretty stoked about it. If you were asking if i'm stoked to leave the 25 degree weather I drove to work in this morning, the answer is YES.

Since my plane left mid day, and most of my possible ride candidates have already left town I was just going to drive and park my car...but Whitney found that out, and had a meeting up in SLC, so she was like...be ready in 20 mins and I'm taking you. I packed in 5 mins. Not a joke. I planned on packing last night, but got kidnapped by some friends until 2:30 AM. I am actually excited to find out what made it into my bag. Should be interesting.

We managed to sneak in a little Nordstrom Rack/Paradise Bakery on the way here. (Two of my favorites for sure...) I found some ADORABLE heels that were basically free ;)

We decided we're going to throw a banging Christmas party...more details to come on that for sure. I'm already excited though.

I flew through security with my carry on full of who knows what.

Tried not to touch anything here cause i'm pretty sure this place has got to be infested with the Swine. Gross.

Grabbed myself a Diet Coke.

Parked it here with my DC to wait until my flight takes off.

I'm Looking forward to shopping, eating, the first annual Smith Family Ugly Sweater party, games, etc. etc. etc. It's going to be awesome.

I'm SO Thankful for the chance to get to go hang with my fam. I'm sure there will be more talk of thankfulness to come...

80 degree weather HERE I COME!

Remember how I said I'd post some photos from Halloween sooner or later...well here you are :)