Merry Christmas!!!

Today was so incredible, words can't even describe it. And they say a picture is worth a thousand words..so here are a couple pictures of my Christmas. :)

Christmas Eve

Eating our traditional Christmas Eve dinner

Broccoli, chicken, and cheese soup in bread bowls.

The Christmas Program!

Emily and Abby dancing and singing to Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Kylee playing "What Child is This"

Me playing "The First Noel" and "The Music Box"

Jessie and Abby playing "Jingle Bells"

Emily playing "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"

Kylee playing and singing "Mary Did You Know"

Abby and I playing "Silent Night"

Still Singing "Silent Night"

Jessie and Emily performing their self-choreographed dance to "Let it Snow"

The Sisters in their Santa hats! (Emily and Abby insisted that we all had to wear them allll day)

Our annual reading of "The Night Before Christmas"

Opening our Christmas Jammies!

Dad and the girls in their jammies

Mom and the girls! ....does Maggie (the dog) look upset to anyone else? :)

(our dog is a master photo bomber she shows up in a lot of random pictures)

Our family :)

Grandma Shelton comes every year for Christmas Eve and Christmas day.

It's tradition :)

The Girls with Grandma

(she got new jammies too!)

We figured out why Maggie was mad in the other picture, she didn't have her own Santa hat!

Christmas Morning!

"are we seriously awake at 6 A.M.?"

Emily Abby and Jessie had been up since 3....

Opening presents from Santa!

Emily's really exited if you can't tell... ;)

Grandma with all her presents!

(she collects teddy bears)

Abby the ladybug with her presents :)

Emily with her presents!

her current obsession is penguins..

Jess and her brand new cell phone! ..and the rest of her presents :)

Ky and her presents!

she got 8 new pairs of socks(among other things)...its a good thing she loves socks, right?!

My presents :)

so excited for my new phone!!

After Church we took some more family pictures in our new clothes :)

Dad and Mom

They're the best!

Daddy and his girls.

We love him soo much!

The Shelton Women. :)

We're a little bit silly..... :)

The Shelton's

2011

Me with my beautiful sisters. :)

...what?!

My parents love taking pictures of us :)

The best part of Christmas was being able to be back with my family. After pictures, my Grandma and Grandpa Curtis, Great Grandma Cutler, and Aunt Holly came for dinner, which was delicious. (Turkey, mashed potatoes, rolls, corn, stuffing, sweet potatoes, jello, crab salad, and chocolate pie. yummmm)

I also loved being able to go to church on Christmas. There is no greater gift to give our Savior, and no better way to feel the true spirit of the season. May we all remember why we celebrate Christmas in the first place.

Doesn't this picture put things in perspective?

Well,

I hope you all had a wonderful day and, as Santa says as "he drives out of sight"

"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Goodnight!"

Everything's funnier after midnight.

I just saw this on pinterest, and probably died laughing.

Seriously. I DIED.

Definitely one of my most favorite scenes from this movie, and one that's been quoted many a times. And it just got 10 bajillion times better.

It probably won't be as funny in the morning, but really. Right now I just cannot get over how much I love this. Anyways....

Just thought I'd share. :)

Home Sweet Home

Guess who's home??????

ok, so I've been home for almost a week but still.

I'm home!!!

Its so wonderful to come home and realize that things are still mostly the same. Maggie still jumps up on you and barks when you come in the room, my little sisters still say the weirdest things, the Christmas traditions have continued, and the Christmas lights are as crazy as ever.

My dad agrees. Last Sunday I was completely ready for church when it was time to leave except for getting dressed (as usual) and he said "Ahh, just like old times."

Yes, just like old times. That was comforting to hear.

Anyways, Its been fabulous being home, and I still have another week and a half!

Home, sweet, home.

(Do you think I've said HOME enough?) :)

bones.

I. LOVE. THIS. SHOW.

The End.

Here we go again...

Change.

Life's full of it.

No, not the kind that jingles in our pocket..

At this very moment I am sitting in the living room with all my roommates for our last night together. :( Ashland is leaving in 3 and a half hours to catch her shuttle, Rebecca leaves tomorrow(Thursday) at noon, And Alexsa and I are leaving Saturday morning. It seems like we just got here! and now everything is changing again.

...I used to think that graduating from high school and moving out of the house would be the biggest change in my life, and after that all the changes would be easier.

Boy, was I wrong!

With each passing day comes the realization of how naive I was. Life is changing constantly. 3 months ago I moved out of the house to a different state, moved in with strangers, went to church with all new people, started college, and became in charge of myself. Basically my entire life changed. And in just a few short weeks the process will start all over again. and after that, another thing will change, then another, and another, and another, and another.

Change.

Its never ending.

And sometimes I just wish everything could stay the same.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

"Everywhere you go!"

These were my thoughts as I walked down to take my child development final at 7:30 this morning. Yes, It is finally starting to snow!

Hallelujah!

I was all bundled up in my winter clothes, and although the snow was coming down fast and hard, I enjoyed every second of that 15 minute walk. When I reached the door to the Clarke building I caught a glimpse of myself in the glass and couldn't help but laugh, I looked like a snowman! completely covered in white. I walked in, ACED my final, and walked out to find...even more snow!!

The walk home wasn't AS wonderful because the snow was now coming down fast and hard towards my face instead of my back, but it was so beautiful I didn't care THAT much..

but it was a nice relief to walk into my toasty warm apartment. :)

The Christmas lights are on, the snow is falling outside, and I'm drinking a delicious mug of candy cane hot cocoa. My "Classical Christmas" music station is playing softly in the background as I study for my last two finals. In just three short days I will be home with my family.

Yes, It is beginning to feel A LOT like Christmas too. :)

bleh.

Do you wanna know whats the best feeling ever? finishing your final paper by midnight the night before its due, and not having to stress over it or stay up late finishing it.

Do you wanna know whats the worst feeling ever? still being awake at 4 in the morning for NO good reason at all.

....Good thing I don't have any tests tomorrow.

New Earrings.

Oh hi. this is me wearing my newest favorite earrings.

Where did I get them??

From my lovely roommate Alexsa. They were an early Christmas present. :)

They inspired this outfit.

I kind of love them A LOT.

And yes, I loved them SO much that I just had to take pictures of myself in the mirror so I could show them off.

I'm a girl. Sometimes I can't help these things!!

Have I ever mentioned how much I love Harry Potter?

Hello. I regret to inform you that

a no good, very bad thing has happened.

a tragedy of epic proportions!!

a great injustice to all men!

What is it, you may ask?

.....

I have never written a blog post about Harry Potter.

*Gasp!!*

Yes. I was as shocked as you are.

This MUST be fixed.

so. without further adieu..

Let me tell you a little about my self.

I am what some people refer to as a "potterhead" ..although I prefer the term "muggle."

I have read every book at least 8 times, (and most of them way more)

I have seen every movie at least 10 times

I started reading the first book when I was 7 years old.

In 3rd grade we played Harry Potter at recess. -I was Hermione :)

In 5th grade I was Hermione for Halloween.

Ronald Weasley was my first crush.

My ten year old birthday party was Harry Potter themed.

I would talk in a British accent for hours on end when I was younger.

I FULLY expected to receive an acceptance letter to Hogwarts when I turned 11.

Whenever I was told to envision my "happy place" I would imagine the Hogwarts Castle.

I used to have imaginary discussions with the characters.

When a new book would come out my dad, my sister and I would go to the store at midnight to buy 3 copies of the book so that we could all read them at the same time.

One of my most favorite memories with my sister is when we both laughed hysterically together for a good 10 minutes after reading a certain passage in the 3rd book.

I have read the entire series in 7 days. (a book a day)

Every time a new book or movie would come out I would reread the series up to that point and then watch all the movies again just to make sure I remembered "everything"

I went to two of the midnight premieres.

I have been to Harry Potter land in Orlando, Florida.

My favorite game is Harry Potter scene it, and I own a deck of Harry Potter uno cards.

I own a butterbeer mug.

Pumpkin juice is delicious.

"Mudblood" is a dirty word.

I have a key chain that proves I am a member of the D.A.

I have a shirt that proudly displays the symbol of the deathly hallows.

A Harry Potter poster is hanging up in my college dorm.

I have pages of Harry Potter quotes. and i can quote entire scenes and passages from the books.

just hearing the words "I solemnly swear I am up to no good" sends a chill up my back.

I cried when Sirius, Dumbledore, and Fred died. and when I finished reading the 7th book I cried for an hour.

I could probably go on a lot longer...but, you get the idea.

I LOVE Harry Potter. :)

Some might even go so far as to use the word obsessed. (haters...)

Anyways.

While I was scrolling through pinterest(my newest love) I found this thing called "The 30 day Harry Potter challenge" basically you post something on your blog about Harry Potter every day, for 30 days.

Yes!! now this is my kind of writing challenge.

So, sometime in the next few weeks(most likely after finals and Christmas time)

I will be starting the 30 day challenge.

I'm excited. :)

Oh hey...have I ever mentioned that I love Harry Potter??

“The stories we love best do live in us forever. So whether you come back by page, or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.” ~JK Rowling

Oh, the irony.

I received this gem of an email from my sister today,

• report cards‏

12/02/11

Reply ▼

Emily

To brad curtis, holly curtis, Rachel Shelton

guess what i got on my report card a 4.0 strait A yay yay yay im on the high oneral yay yay yay

I'm very proud of her! but the "oneral" "honor roll" thing just kills me!

(I think I laughed for a good 5 minutes)

Hahahahaha, I love my sister :)

Friday Nights in Rexburg

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Happiness J