Christmas time [was] here...

I'm a big fan of the Christmas season;

I looove that Christmas lasts a whole month.

The shopping and such does stress me out,

but I do love that it's socially acceptable to sing Christmas songs every day,

and everyone seems to be a bit friendlier for the month December.

I also love the excuse to go to concerts and throw parties.

Me and sweet miss Livvy 

got to attend Emma's choir Christmas concert;

I loved when they sang "Santa is the Man".

And then Livvy Lou gave me this Christmas present--

because she knows how much I love Paris!

It was so sweet!! 

And thennn, I went to a lovely little Christmas party,

where apparently a group of us subconsciously decided 

that we wanted to show the Christmas spirit

with the color of our pants.

I ended up making way too many presents

I didn't mean to, but I spent a whole lot of hours

(that I should have been sleeping, mind you)

making, remaking, and perfecting Christmas presents...

and loved every moment of it.

My sweet roomie gave me a super wonderful gift.

And left it in my stocking before she left to go home; so cute!!

My family even came over to my apartment for treats, and coco

and the "Polar Express"

We wore Christmas sweaters 

(and snowflake headbands)

and everything.

Such cuties!

"The first gift of Christmas!"

We love the Polar Express.

And then we donned footie pajamas...

And also party hats while we were eating our Christmas Eve soup...

...we made CC and Papa wear some hats too--they were great sports.

It was an extra special Christmas because these guys were there.

They are some of the most wonderful people I know.

And we all sure love them.

...

(and then came this big, lovely trip my family took to NYC; 

just imagine a group of nine people shuffling on and off of subways,

and in and out of tiny NY restaurants and stores...

It was simply fantastic.  I love that place.)

...

It's been an exceptional Christmas!

Grateful for:

my Papa serenading us on Christmas Eve,

my sweet Grandma and friend CC,

gluten free NY pizza,

the Manhattan Temple,

my faithful, soon-to-be missionary sister,

getting to go to the temple with my parents and brother and sister,

a whole new year ahead of me,

a nice, neatly organized list of resolutions

and the blessing of forgiveness

Quote for 2013:

"It's never too late to become what you might have been."