Holiday Highlights...

So, the holidays have come and gone. So much anticipation, a moderate amount of stress, not enough sleep and definitely not enough Christmas music (but you just can't listen to it once Christmas is over!) All that and then....it's done. Now to un-decorate the house and get back on a schedule. The kids started school today, but I let them stay home (yes, I know, I'm a cool mom...ha) because their cousins from CA spent the night last night. All in all we had a wonderful holiday. Here are a few highlights (in no particular order):

--Megan taking out her Endowments and getting married to Cameron. It was a beautiful wedding...Heidi did gorgeous flowers and Heather took amazing pictures.

-- Christmas Eve at G'ma and G'pa Jensen's house. Even as a little girl, Christmas Eve was the pinnacle of the holiday for me. It's the day/night we focus on the Savior. We enjoy a dinner of fish, grape juice and bread...eaten by candlelight. A dinner maybe a little reminiscent of what Christ would have eaten. Then, the Nativity story that the kids dress up and act out. Love this tradition...hands down my favorite.

--Christmas Eve breakfast with friends. We've been doing this for years with whoever happens to be in town. Love this opportunity to catch up! Numbers were small this year, but not any less fun. For those of you who weren't there or haven't been back to UT for Christmas in a couple years, I missed you!

--Watching the deer in G'ma and G'pa's backyard...they come to eat the birdseed almost daily!

--Sarah being so consumed with excitement on Christmas Eve that she couldn't sleep. The kids slept in our room...fun for them...not so fun for mom and dad.

--Volunteering at the Bishop's Storehouse with my kids. We peeled skins off onions and packaged toilet paper. They loved it...well, not the onions so much. They want to go back...I think we will make it an ongoing off-track activity.

--Learning to play Guitar Hero. This was Josh's biggest wish on his Christmas list and Santa came through. He watched GH3 clips on YouTube for weeks before Christmas to prepare. I've given it a try, too....this game is harder than you think. I've become adequate on "Easy," but still stink on "Medium." Fun stuff.

--The Christmas program at Church and Relief Society this year was amazing. Loved being filled with the holiday spirit and listening to and singing such beautiful music. Like I said, I didn't get enough Christmas music.

--Honey Baked Ham and funeral potatoes. Need I say more?

--Eating an entire box of Fernwood mint sandwiches....yes, I did and I don't regret it.

--Frequenting the gym to keep up with my holiday appetite. AND...running for 24min/2miles straight without stopping! I know, it's a 12 min mile, not great, but this was a big mental step forward for me. A long ways from a marathon, but a step forward nonetheless.

--The 80's New Year's Eve party....serious fun! I will post more later.