I think this is a result of living in a fairly large house most of my life. The apartments I've lived in have been modest, but I could still go smaller. When I come home to my family, everyone is off in their own little world, far from each other. This video is my dream.
I just finished listening to "World War Z" and "Catching Fire" (2nd in the Hunger Games trilogy). I'm in a bit of a dystopian mood, so if anyone has any book recommendations, I'm open to suggestions. ALSO. New song released for the HUNGER GAMES!!!!!!!!!!!! Sung by... T-Swift?
I don't care. I love it already. The Civil Wars are awesome.
I love being back in Salt Lake. My room is still in shambles, but I feel settled in here for the next month. I'll have to make the most of it. Here are some decorations from around our house:
Nativity
We embrace our Scandinavian heritage during this season
Nesting dolls and nutcrackers.
Tree with our initials on it
I felt like the holidays didn't really start for me till Friday. I went to a gingergread house party at Wyatt's, and felt inspired by Katy Perry, apparently:
I thought I did a pretty good job if I do say so myself. I watched Elf with Mel and Katie at my house. "Zooey Deschanel: Blonde Version" kind of weirds me out. I'm more used to her New Girl persona:
ANYWAY. On Christmas Eve, i spent most of the day Christmas shopping. Yep, I'm one of those. And then we went to Irene's for our family dinner. (NOTE: You don't pronounce her name "eye-REAN" but "eee-RE-neigh". We're Latin, a little bit. The English pronunciation bugs me to bits).
I think I need to get some bangs. My forehead is out of control. Also, I am short. Also, Jeremy is not really suffering, he just looks like it.Also, Christian mostly always smiles like a claymation character:
And then we went home and opened up our Christmas pajamas. LOOK AT ME AND MY MOM WE ARE SO CUUUUTE!
And then we went to bed. And then we woke up and opened presents!
YAY!
Cool albums from Jeremy and Sennheiser headphones
Jeremy channels the Bolivians
A sneaky smile from Christian. He got me a book about Harry Potter
Lovely Lovely. I had to leave early for church since I sang in the choir. I thought the program was very nice. We had breakfast (ekekow, sausage, and christmas bread), finished opening presents, and watched Scrooge. Then off to family dinner at my Grandma Billie Ann's. Most of my time there was commandeered by Pierce who gave me a play by play of his favorite TV show, Jurassic Fight Club. Specifically this episode. Eww.
For those who haven't watched this movie before, this scene might seem a little silly. But it's my favorite scene from my favorite Christmas movie, Scrooge. I feel that it perfectly encapsulates the blessings that came with the birth of Christ. Through his atonement, we too are able to have a new start, and begin again. .
Alma testified about the power of the process of repentance in the Book of Mormon:
Alma 36:19-21
19 And
now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember mypainsnomore;
yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more. 20 And oh,
whatjoy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my
soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain! 21 Yea, I
say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as
were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand,
there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.
I know that this is true; I've felt it myself.
I hope that you all have a happy Christmas, and that you also find peace and joy in your life, from whatever source guides you.
I got an e-mail from Banan Republic this morning that told me that today is the shortest day of the year. Which means it's Winter Solstice. I wish I had remembered this on my own. I wish I had cool plans to party like the pagans do.
But no. I will be in lonesome Provo, packing up my apartment with Gossip Girl playing on my computer in the background (I only pay attention when Chuck and/or Blair is on screen). I will then work as an Usher at my second-to-last BYU basketball game where old people will yell at me for asking to see their ticket. "I've been coming here since before you were BORN! Don't you know who I am?". Oh dear. Here is a great music video from a couple years ago about daylight, which we will be lacking today.
Sorry I've been MIA the past few days. When I have nothing that I need to do, I choose to do nothing at all, even if I generally like doing it. Hence, no blogging.
Some updates:
I'm slowly, but surely moving home (I'll be there for a month).
Allison's wedding was great. Such a happy thing.
I went to the library and was so excited. I could finally read for fun again! But, I checked out too many books, including: The Princess Bride - William Goldman, Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions - Kurt Vonnegut, Complete Short Stories of Evelyn Waugh (who is not a girl, by the way), The Commitments - Roddy Doyle, Dandelion Wine - Ray Bradbury. I also checked out the audiobook World War Z. Yep. It's about zombies. Perfect for Christmas, right? It actually focuses more on the social and political effects of a zombie war. Like a collection of interviews that an anthropologist would compile. Oh man. I'm a nerd. It's good, but not good enough. I should of just checked out the book so I could get through it faster. But I knew that if I read it, I would get to freaked out. Book scare me more than anything else. Some of the images from The Road still haunt me. ANYWAY. I probably will just wait for the movie to come out instead.
On a related not. I'm listening to Catching Fire. Definitely on a Hunger Games kick.Note to Jade if you are reading this: I hope it's not past due. I'm planning on dropping it off at the library for you!
I'm working on make a duvet cover/quilt out of some old sweatshirts from high school. I know it sounds lame, but I think it could look cool. Hopefully it will turn out something like this.
I drove to Provo on Sunday night, and I'm not leaving til Friday morning. It is super weird. Feels abandoned.
So here is something Christmasy for you. My favorite scene from one of my favorite Christmas specials: "Merry Christmas Mr. Bean!"
