I have a life again . . .

So . . . I have kinda, sorta befriended the whole blog thing for awhile. Why? When it is so much fun and keeps others up to date with my crazy life. Well, I am just that involved with a very crazy and busy life. Here's a glimpse of what I have been up to the past 6 months or so. . .

• 40+ hours working at Close To My Heart a week
• 12 Credit hours of School (Physics, Art History, Ethics & Values, and Math 1030)
• Coaching 2 Privates/week + subbing hours
• Crazy Doctors Appointments all over my calender
• Working on getting a UVU Gymnastics Club together
• Recently called as 1st counselor in the Relief Society
• In the process of training my adorable yet very naughty dog
• Therapy for my back, neck, and jaw . . . . .
• And then, on top of all of that, trying to find time for myself!

So . . . I would like to update you on a few things. . . . Christmas - Already Here?!!!Oh my goonies! I do not know where the time has gone! I have constantly been on the go and Christmas just crept right up on me! I have tried to enjoy the holidays as much as possible but haven't really had a chance to enjoy it until the week before Christmas. . .thanks to studying. But I have done a lot of fun stuff with my family to enjoy the holidays.
We went to the zoo lights and had an absolute blast. There are lights everywhere and aspen loved running up and down the sidewalks. She got quite a lot of head turns because she is so little and SO adorable! We also went to Temple Square lights. I have never seen that place so jam packed, in fact there were places you could barely walk! Besides the cold and the crowd, it was wonderful. The lights were amazing and Aspen, walking ahead, was looking up and all around saying "Wow!". Adorable, I know!

I went to the Nutcracker with my Grandma Mason (her Christmas gift to me) along with a friend, Neena (who is from Bolivia and staying with my grandma while going to school). I haven't been in forever and really enjoyed it. We rode tracks all the way from Sandy to downtown and had a good chat between the three of us, just talking typical girl things. I love going to the Ballet and seeing everyone dressed for such a wonderful occasion. All the little girls are adorable dressed in their frilly Christmas dresses and bows. Afterwards, Grandma bought Neena and I a little Nutcracker as a reminder. This is a memory I will treasure forever!

I have had many Company Parties between Close to my Heart and All American Gymnastics. I had 3 with CTMH (one big one with the whole company, one with just the Marketing Team, and then one that was just our Department - Creative Marketing). CTMH is all about partying when it comes to the holidays! Our 'big one' was dinner at Thanksgiving Point Barn and BYU's Living Legends came to perform. It really was fantastic! My mom went as my guest - my original date fell through so I invited her and I am glad she was available to go. As much as I really wanted a 'guy date', I love spending time with my mom. My company party for AAG was quite entertaining! I did have a date for this one, Jake, who is also a coach and I had a really enjoyable time. I would love to go out with him again on a 'real date' without other distractions (long story). We did a white elephant gift exchange and one of the gifts brought was a live chicken! No Joke! It had, written on the front of the package, an arrow and below it read, "This Side UP - Very Fragile!". I had #1, for order of choosing a present, and I almost chose that one bc I was curious as to what it possibly contained. When it was opened and revealed that it truly was a live chicken, I was grateful I acted against my curiosity!

I went to the Hale Theater's a Christmas Carol with Robyn (my amazingly, wonderful friend from High School). We try to do something together once a month and every month I look forward to that time set aside for just the two of us. She really is an amazing friend and I look up to her. She has such wonderful standards and is a great example in keeping and living them every day. We had a lovely time go to the play and watching this ancient Christmas story, with music and dancing and acting, the whole thing!

I have really had a wonderful Christmas. I have enjoyed the gift of giving a bit more this year. I was filled with joy when my whole family was sitting around the Christmas tree, enjoying the time spent and giving one another gifts. There was much laughter and big smiles as we shared time together. I really enjoyed watching Aspen walk out to her gifts from Santa, and seeing the sparkle in her eye and big grin on her face as she saw her baby doll. She takes that baby everywhere, rocking it, putting it 'nigh-night', and giving her kisses. She brings me so much joy, I cant even imagine how much joy my own children will bring to me. It is something special to watch little kids on Christmas morning, and the joy and excitement they bring. As Apsen opened her presents she would let out a gasp even before she could see what it was. Once the box was opened and the tissue was covering its contents, she gasped, it was adorable.
I hope after this Christmas season leaves us, the spirit will remain within our hearts. I pray that we will continually give and share the love we hold to those around us. I hope that we can keep Christ the center of our lives and remember who we are and why we are here on this Earth. May you always be filled with love and laughter all year round. . .