Christmas Day

What I love about Christmas: FAMILY. LOVE. JOY. <<--- Yes, those may be the cliche Christmas words, but is there really a better way to describe what makes Christmas so magical and so perfect?

After pretty much no snow for all of December, I woke up to this outside of my window.  A Christmas miracle!! <3 

I don't know if we're allowed, but we sneak a peek every year :) Shhh, don't tell..

Welcome to the family, Derek, the giant teddy bear. 

Endless massages.

<3 

We love having Aunt Marge spend Christmas at our home!

FAMILY.  The Pauls even surprised their kids and flew in to Salt Lake on Christmas morning! One of the best Christmas
presents for all of us!!

Airplane rides, arm wrestling, and karaoke all night long.

My grandpa truly is Superman!!

There was ONE day till Christmas and OUR Secret Santa gave to US...ONE best friend!!

Carly and I have had so much fun these last 12 days being Secret Santas for Shlyn!  We sang the 12 days of Christmas song backwards and counted down from 12 gifts to 1 gift each day.  We had so much fun getting together each day to go and find a cute gift to give, wrap it up, make the tag ("There were 12 days till Christmas and my Secret Santa gave to me... 12 donuts frosted!" etc.), and doorbell ditch it at Ashlyn's door!  Both of our entire families got involved too helping us think of gifts or drop them off.  Of course, Ashlyn suspected it was us at times, but we always tried to throw her off ;D Although, one day I rang the doorbell and started running back to the car, when Ashlyn opened the door and saw me!  She called my name, but later I just told her I was leaving it for someone else.  We gave her coal the next day for "being naughty and spying on her Secret Santa."  Haha everyone got a kick out of that one.

Merry Christmas, Ashlyn!  Thanks for always being the best friend anyone could ask for!  Love you!!

"You've been naughty for spying on your Secret Santa... 6 bags of coal!!"

Nicholas, Beau, and Olivia were always excited to help out!

Nicholas's disguise cracked me up.

Opening up her present with her one night...she doesn't even know it's us ;)

The longest lines you did ever see.

But, it was so worth it for three feet of fresh powder and not a cloud in the sky.

Christopher, his friend Isaac, and Nicholas -- waiting for Gadzoom to open up!

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.

A lovely afternoon with Adam and Ashlyn playing the piano, guitar, and singing for the residents at the local rest home.  They sure are sweet there.  I love it when they dance and sing along with us!

Courtney played with a dog?

Shlyn and I went on a walk this morning (ya, ya, we know that's such an old lady thing to do...but sometimes you just want to go out and enjoy the outdoors by walking and talking with your friend).  Anyways, a dog came running up to us.  And guess what?  I did not run away and I did not shoo it away.  But I played with it!  That's right, Courtney actually played with a dog.  Shocking right?  And guess what was even more surprising?  I actually kinda liked it... the dog jumped up on me and as I walked it walked/danced with me on its hind legs!  It was pretty cute.
*Disclaimer* This particular liking-a-dog instance does not mean that I ever want to own a dog.  I just thought the occasion was a rare occurrence, and I ought to record it.

Awww, look at it dancing with me!

The epitome of sibling bonding.

Finally did it!

3rd Annual Girls' Sleepover

I have been looking forward to this day for months now... our annual Girls' Sleepover/Pajama Exchange.  Shlyn worked hard to plan the perfect night for us!  We decided upon celebrating Classy Christmas this year and arrived at Ashlyn's house dressed to the nines.  She had the table set beautifully and a delicious dinner ready for us.  We ate and talked and then off to City Creek we went for a photo/video scavenger hunt!  Anna, Carly, and Ashlyn versus Tessa, Zoe, and me (missing Taylor and Ruby who both happen to be in Mexico this Christmas!).  With one hour to race around City Creek to complete the tasks, the competition was fierce.  The night ended with the traditional pajama exchange, watching all the videos and pictures from the scavenger hunt, games, Swig cookies, and falling asleep with bows still in (having too much fun to truly get ready for bed).  Thanks, Shlyn, for planning such a perfect night for us all!

Photobooth! Me, Zoe, Ashlyn

Shlyn said something funny...

Cheers to the classiest of Christmases

And so the Scavenger Hunt begins... Take a picture in Christmas P.J.'s

Try on bright red lipstick

Take a bathroom mirror selfie

Try on the highest heels you can find 

Take a picture in a Santa hat 

We just took this one for fun...haha

Line up in front of the fireplace

Try on Christmas P.J.'s

Bathroom mirror selfie

Try on bright red lipstick

Eat a Christmas cookie

Freebie! Take a funny picture.  ...We don't know these people.

Love these girls.  Anna, Ashlyn, Zoe, me, Tessa, Carly

Thanks, Carly, for the pajamas!  Best part is, I tried the pajamas on that she bought me one year ago.  She thought they
were so cute that she went back, bought them, and kept them on her shelf for the last year until she could finally give them
to me!  Thanks, Carl, I love them!!

{and then to continue her own tradition, because Carly gave me pajamas this year, she
dressed me up as a Christmas present with a giant bow}