Merry Christmas to all...

So I have to say that this was an EXCELLENT Christmas! The weather is now a cool 60 Degrees and it is sunny here in Cali so I can say that we are totally blessed. It was just the sisters and Mom and Dad this year, so we had a Christmas Eve open house with a ton of our neighbors and a few Jewish people. We like variety in the Barlow house. So, we decided that we would just wake up whenever on Christmas morning, which is just mean because I got up at 7 and had to watch TV for a couple of hours before I could wake the rest of the house. I just get so excited for Christmas I can hardly stand it, so I watched the greatest songs of the '80s on VH1 and then woke everyone up. I got one of the things on my list...slippers (I was a little disappointed there was no #3, but there is still time!). So, now for the rest of the week in California, we will be playing, shopping, and getting some well deserved R and R, so things are good. Merry Christmas to every one!

All I want for Christmas...

Okay, so I should be old enough to know that Santa is really not coming to my house on Decemer 24th (sorry if I ruined this for some of you), but I still get really excited for CHRISTMAS! I think that I get more excited for everyone to see what I got them than I am for getting presents. I have actually been in the mood to shop for the most perfect gift for everyone, so that has definitely helped. The last few Christmases I have been kind of bah-humbug, but this year I am just really excited. That said, any of you that are looking for what you should get me for Christmas, here is a short list:

1. Any Tom Hanks movie on DVD (except for The Burbs, Money Pit and Dragnet)
2. Comfy Slippers
3. A boyfriend
4. Victoria's Secret Lip Stuff-you know my colors
5. I don't really need anything, but just send me good vibes

Catch up with my crazy month...

Okay, Okay, so I know that it has been a while, but I wasn't feeling that interesting until I started to think about all of the things that I have done this month-so here's what I have been up to:

1. Went to a conference with work in SLC. Got to learn about diversity, communicating with co-workers, and many things about University policy. I have to say, though that my most favorite class was Yoga! Although I am not that flexible, one of my favorite things is stretching so that I feel tall!
2. Flu Shot. People, please, get one of these! It only takes a second and will save you from the flu! Seriously, I am not sure if it is all mental, but I know that these things work.
3. Went to Cali for the Kelly Clarkson concert! Laura, Jen, Chel and I went to dinner at the Cheesecake factory (there is a new white chocolate macadamia nut concoction that is quite possibly what heaven tastes like) and then to the concert. Besides the fact that it took us an hour and a half to go .2 miles to park and go to the arena, we had a great time. It just made me heart Kelly even more!
4. Learned how to change a serpentine belt and spark plugs in the Jeep. Next up? Finding the source of a coolant leak. Thanks Mikol! Also, 0 degree weather is really good on vehicles!
5. Decided that I love Donny Osmond on Entertainment Tonight. Although he is cheesy and all teeth, he makes me laugh and I am a little sad that Marie didn't win Dancing with the Stars last night...
6. Had Thanksgiving in Logan and cooked my first Thanksgiving dinner. Laura, Jen and I had Pork Roast, Mac and Cheese (in honor of Chandler Bing!), Corn Bread Casserole, Green Beans, and Sparkling Cider. Then we went to see "Enchanted" and again I say Patrick Dempsey. Hair. To end the day we had Brownie Sundays and then got up on Friday to go to the gym...
7. Had our first snow of the season yesterday! We got two inches and it is going to keep coming...I am excited to ski! I learned how to "swoosh" last year, so now I just have to pick up speed!
8. Finished my group project for my Intercultural Communications class. We had to get up and present how to do business in South America and got A's for our effort! One less stress done for the semester.

Happy Halloween! Here are a few shots of our party on Saturday night-we were at a house in Providence for the "Epic Party" of the year! There were some great costumes...I was an '80s girl and yes that is all of my own hair, Laura was Mrs. Nick Swisher, and Jen was a pregnant BYU student! Our favorite friends Joe, Brad and Craig were all fairies here are a few of our other friends too. There ended up being around 200 people there throughout the night. I don't think that we ever get too old for dressing up:)

Another of my favorite things...

This is another of my most favorite places in the world with my favorite people in the world! Here we are as sisters at the Oakland A's game. You could probably say that we are obsessed with the A's, but it is not like we are stalker obsessed or anything. We just love to keep up with "our boys" in their pursuit to become the best team in baseball. We love to go to Arizona around March and see them in Spring Training and we love to go to the beloved Coliseum to see our team play. There is nothing in this world like a warm summer night being at the baseball game with the fans and the smell of hot dogs and beer. We usually plan our trips home in the summer around who the A's are playing (I know, a little obsessed).
Enough about the A's-well, we will probably talk about them a lot more when they are playing again, but for now, we just have to settle into watching football. This weekend is the greatest Halloween on the planet and no I am not talking about the Howl (the infamous USU halloween party). Our friends Jentry and Mark are famous for their "epic parties" and they are throwing their 7th annual halloween bash. There will be costumes and donuts and lots of people and I am really excited about my costume! It should be a blast...

I have to say that my siblings can be proud because finally I am a blogger! You would think that being the oldest would mean that they follow my lead...but not so fast! I am usually catching up to them. I figured that I could start by talking about one of my favorite things in the world, which is being in California! I am here right now for the weekend and it is 70 degrees and sunny as opposed to Logan where it is COOOLD! I do love the fall colors of Cache Valley, because it reminds me that I do live in a beautiful place. It does mean, however, that winter is coming and for those of you that have not experienced a Logan, Utah winter the only thing to be said about it is that it is not for the faint of heart! It has been a great weekend, though, because it has been beautiful. I always love when that happens because I am a sun worshipper...I may be a wrinkled old lady, but I will be a happy one! Anyways, things are good in my neck of the woods and I am excited to keep in touch with you all!