The end to a GREAT Christmas

This year was not a very eventful Christmas. My sister and I both worked until 4 pm on Christmas day. My mom decided she wanted to come see us for just the night, after we were both off work. So she flew in just in time for me to get off work. I gave her a ride home and we waited for Chels to come over so we could open our goodies. One thing that must be said about myself (and sometimes Chelsea) is that after I get off work I am typically really irritable. So, I took a shower (I worked outside, which makes me even more irritable) and took a little nap. My sister came over after her nap and we opened presents. I hope that my sister and my mom enjoyed the presents that I got them, they really mean the world to me. (my mom and sister, not the presents). Then we went to see Sherlock Holmes with my cousin Mikey. It was AWESOME! I loved it. And I would definitely see it again... so if anyone wants to go...

Saturday was pretty uneventful... I slept most of the day (catching up from a difficult semester, I got my grades by the way... 4 A-'s and a B+. I am pretty happy with them).

Sunday was probably my favorite. I ate lunch with my BEST friends from high school! I love that when we get together after not seeing each other for SO long, we can talk like we have been talking everyday since the 7th grade. I love these girls, and i hope that we can get together more often. (the pic below is of us... Brittany, Ashley, Courtney and Carissa). And later that day I went to lunch with my friend Aspen, we met at the U. She is one of my favorite people to have lunch with because we laugh for HOURS! It seems that we get each other (possibly because we have the same major) and the jokes that we make that no one else understands are hilarious to us! So, it is always a good time. Spending time with some of my favorite friends throughout the years is what made Sunday one of the best days of the year! It was SO much fun. I hope days like that are in abundance in my life. :) After lunch I watched Julie and Julia with my sista... it is a SUPER cute movie. I recommend it to EVERYONE!

Family Shindig #1

This is the Parker Family party that is held every year on the Saturday before Christmas. WE get together eat yummy food and exchange "white elephant" gifts. Not everyone likes to be in pictures, but the few people that smile are showcased in this little photo extravaganza! I will be posting some of the Hansen Family party that is held on Christmas eve later. I hope you enjoy my crazy and WONDERFUL family!

Sisters and cousins (Sheri)

Bridger won the coveted blanket! And Sheri got this soft cuddly blanket from the gift exchange game. (we are a little nuts, but we enjoy each others company)

Sisters and their hubbys (Jami, Mike and Tagen, Eric)

Sisters again... Kyle and his niece Lucy... Also in the pic is Kyle's wife Jessica and his daughter Abby.

Cousins (Chelsea, Jami, Sher and little Bridger). and Sher and I again...

These wonderful people are Jenny, Laura and her cute baby Lucy. And Chelsea and Tagen

This years Gingerbread house...

Paris... in 12 hours

So... in a last minute crazy decision my mother and I decided to join some of my friends from work on a quick jaunt to the city of lights. It just might have been my favorite trip of all time... sleep deprivation, extreme cold, and some of the best people I know... equals a trip that I will never forget. As with my previous trip posts I am going to include a photo montage in this one... I hope you like all the amazing things that we saw... I was excited that it was my mom's first time in Europe. Everyone should see this city.. it is AMAZING!

My mother and I, just got on the plane in SLC. the second pic is of a unknown soldier, 1814-1818

My mother and I at Arc de Triomphe and of course the Eiffel Tower!

Me and Eiffel... and Eiffel all lit up! GORGEOUS!

Beautiful ride down the Seine River and Notre Dame

More Notre dame and the BEAUTIFUL Christmas tree!

This the stairs up to this beautiful cathedral... that I cannot remember the name of.. opps

And last but not least... the Louvre! It was so beautiful on the outside... as you can see. I just loved every minute in Paris! Everyone needs to go!

Black Friday

I am going shopping on friday, but I have set goals for myself...

Goal #1: find a good camera (you know to replace that one that went missing in September)
Goal #2: Find something good for Mom... how do you shop for the person that only wants her kids for christmas...
Goal #3: Find something for Chelsea, she has requested Christmas movies... Family Stone and Four Christmases. Wish me luck that I find them.
Goal #4: Go to my FAVORITE clothes store for their awesome sales (Shade).
Goal #5: Hope that is doesn't snow till saturday.

Ok those are the goals... they seem small, but they are LARGE, very LARGE. Wish me luck!

The London Eye

These are pictures that were taken when we went to the London Eye, it is this HUGE Ferris wheel that was tall enough that you could see the ENTIRE city. It was amazing and SO beautiful. It was super super close to Parliament... which you can see in some of the pics at the bottom. I have some other pics of Big Ben and Parliament that will be in the next post. The little girl in the pics is Sophie, she is the ADORABLE girl that my friend is Nannying in London. We hung out with her most of the time.. it was pretty fun. :) The London Eye was soooo fun.. even with my strange fear of falling/heights. (I like to push my limits). Anyway enjoy these amazing views. :)

PS. the very last pic is of the Imperial War Museum. The museum has the intense exhibit of genocide and the Holocaust. It was crazy to see everything they had and all the facts that I didn't really know.

Tower Hill and London Bridge

This is the way you walk into Tower Hill. (This is the castle that belonged to many Kings of England and was also used as a prison for those who committed treason). The second picture is looking out one of the wings windows at London Bridge. It was beautiful!

More of London Bridge.

This is one of the throne of Edward II. It was pretty... and then this is one of the guards getting ready to chop my head off like so many of the poor people in Ancient England.

Apparently Henry VI died by tradition on this spot. And then there is another beautiful picture of London Bridge.

This is a window in what was used as a prison... you definitely can't get out of that. And they kept their religious traditions not far from their prisoners lives.