Now Christmas can begin!

Christmas lights were put on our roof in November. We have snow on the ground, and I have been wearing all of my Christmas colored "woolens." The presents have all been bought and are wrapped and under the tree. The stockings are hung along our banister...7 new ones, all matching with our individual names stitched on them (it's fun to have Covey "hanging" with the rest of us!). The nutcrackers are all out, with the Christmas Carol series taking center stage in our living room. We have been to Temple Square to see the lights and we have Christmas music blaring in our house. Our family has been the happy recipients of a darling "12 Days of Christmas." We participated in a Sub4Santa activity with our extended Mordue family for Bam's birthday (Dec. 15th) and Madi and Ashley have been helping the YM/YW with a Sub4Santa. We attended our ward party and put together humanitarian kits and decorated food boxes for the Food Pantry. We even gave our Christmas talks in church as a family. Yet, until today it just hasn't felt "Christmasy."

As we sat in the audience of Hale Center Theatre's production of "A Christmas Carol" and listened to the much loved lines of Charles Dickens and the beautiful Old English carols, I could not help but think, with great relief, "NOW, it feels like Christmas!"

Tag, you're it!

I've been tagged by my darling daughter, Kelsey....so, here goes:

4 t.v. shows that I watch:

1. Modern Family

2. KSL news at 10 p.m.

3. Monarch of the Glen...a pretty funny series from the BBC

4. Bones

4 Things I am passionate about:

1. My husband

2. My children

3. The gospel and the Savior

4. Well crafted words. I LOVE a good story!

4 phrases I say a lot:

1. How was your day?

2. Who did you talk to today?

3. What? Can you please repeat that? (I am sorry, but I really think I am starting to go deaf)

4. Tell me what to make for dinner.

4 things I have learned from the past:

1. When you put toilet paper down on the seat in a public place, ALWAYS make sure it did not get tucked into your pants when you pull them up!

2. A soak in a hot tub cures all.

3. Always be good to your mother.

4. Always, Always, Always pray (and give thanks)

4 things I did yesterday:

1. Reported a theft to the North Salt Lake PD

2. I got my cute son-in-law a really awesome Christmas gift

3. I helped Ashley write her talk

4. I read a few chapters from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

4 places I would love to visit:

1. Scotland

2. England

3. New York, NY

4. New England in the Fall

4 things I am looking forward to:

1. Learning names and getting to know the people in my new ward

2. Grand babies?? I not sure about this yet.

3. The next awesome sunset

4. A trip with my husband and kids

4 things I love about winter:

1. A snowy day if I don't have to drive in it

2. cute boots

3. Sweaters! and Scarves! and cute Coats!

4. Gingerbread Herbal Tea (Celestial Seasonings...amazing stuff!)

I tag Lisa Jones, Alicia Tebbs, Misty Mower and Shauna Robertson

My Cup Runneth Over

I could not think of a better gift than to have my family together for a picture by my wonderful friend, the very talented Shauna. We wanted to take this picture clear back in February for my birthday, but life REALLY happened, to both Shauna and myself. I am so glad we finally coordinated all of the different schedules and were able to get my kids in one place at one time. Any time we can all be together is a true joy for me. I really hope that as my girls get older and families of their own, that they will have the desire to stay close to one another. I think the bond between sisters can be one of the closest and most special.