I Am Team

Darren is in town for the holidays so we made plans to attend the Utah Jazz home opener. When I saw Gail Miller waiting to greet us at the door, I knew this was going to be a good night. People watching was at an all-time high during the game which helped when the Jazz were struggling. BUT, the Jazz did come away with a win and I can't wait to attend another game soon. 

Thurl Bailey and Billy Dean were accompanied by pianist Marvin Goldstein for The National Anthem.

Darren's sister Callee sat by this woman and feared being hit each time the woman spoke using her hands. Please note the green bottle of Febreez in her purse. 

Callee, Darren, me, and Meags

Go Jazz!

I'm Learning

In no particular order, here is a list of things I learned yesterday:

1) Finding the perfect bag and then seeing the $650 price tag makes the $120 bag look even better.

2) Edamame is disgusting if boiled too long.

3) Pinterest really does make me feel like I am crafty. Prepare for future posts about projects in the works.

4) One really can learn to dance. Courage is key. And maybe a small amount of letting go of inhibitions.

5) Movie remakes can be fun and entertaining, especially when viewed with a couple of favorite people.

6) Double header movie nights at the dollar theater rock.

7) Having a friend reveal a secret crush only to find out the crush is a friend of a friend: epically wonderful.

8) The lyrics "I know I've got to let it go and just enjoy the show" has me thinking...a lot.

An Idaho Christmas

The Holiday 'o' Fun activities have helped kindle the Christmas spirit within and for that I am most grateful. I usually dread the drive to Idaho during the holiday season but this year was different. No snow in the 801 and very little snow in B town. Sy and Avy Shae ran into the house, yelling my name and attacked me with hugs which is pretty much the best welcome ever.

I spent time reflecting on some of my favorite Christmas memories which include re-enacting the Nativity with extended family, Grandma B's peanut brittle, sleigh rides and caroling with Grandpa B, singing with the women's correctional center choir and singing with dad at the state hospital, and hiding random items in mom's nativity set on the piano.

 I failed in the picture taking department this Christmas. So much was going on and I obviously was too caught up in the moment to capture the events on film. Between making cookies, watching movies, lunch with cousins, reading, sleeping, viewing Christmas lights, and Harper being born, I took the following pictures of family members wearing Grandma and Grandpa Bingham's glasses and a cousins sleepover: 

Harper Rae

We were hoping that Harper would arrive before Christmas, but she had other plans. I think(know) that Pip became annoyed with my daily(hourly) pep talks to Harper, encouraging her to join our family. She arrived on December 28th with dark curly hair which was not okay with her older sister. "She has dark tangled hair like you Shae, and I wanted her to have my hair color." Luckily, Avry quickly fell in love with little Harper.

Travis, Avry, Harper, and Syden:

Aunt Shae, Avy Shae, Harper, and Syden:

 Grandma Lucy and Harper:

Grandpa Rufus and Harper:

 I love this picture. Pip was having a difficult time cutting some meat and dad stepped in to help. People may say the Mortensen girls are helpless, but if you really know us, we are fiercely independent and yet we will let down our guard with those we trust and love as represented below:

Baby Boy B

Ah, I just love spending time with my little friend Oliver and his parentals, Mindy and Jonathan. Mind and I work together and have become good friends while kicking our own trash at Kick Boxing and then baking muffins that taste like donuts and sharing a love for Amazing Race and So You Think You Can Dance. Oliver came a month early and spent time in the hospital but he is home and doing well. 

He's definitely a keeper. 

I Love You: A Sign

I was leaving a friend's home when I saw this and a smile immediately appeared upon my face: 

This I Believe: A Calm Voice

The call came that his sister was taken to the hospital and may not live through the night. He arrived at the ICU and found his sister lying unresponsive, yet agitated. Doctors and nurses said she had been fidgeting all day, somewhat responsive to touch, but had not spoken or opened her eyes. The brother approached the bed and began speaking words of encouragement and love and soon the sister's body began to relax and she appeared calm and at peace. Medical professionals noted the difference during this first visit and then subsequent visits and had no explanation.

I believe there is something powerful that comes through a calm voice. A voice one has known and loved for some time. A familiar voice reaching deep within, touching a soul unresponsive to medical care. Stirring memories of past experiences and so richly demonstrating the love which can exist between those whom we call not only family, but also friend.

This I believe. 

Best Peppermint Ice Cream

Lohra and I have been searching for the perfect peppermint ice cream for several years and while it's been a difficult task, we finally succeeded. And the winner is... Schwan's. I ordered the ice cream earlier in the week and was so excited when the Schwan's man arrived at my door Friday afternoon. He kept asking if he could come back in two weeks in case I wanted something else and I assured him that peppermint ice cream is all I'll ever need. I can't believe I waited until Sunday to have a taste.

The peppermint chunks(I dislike that word) don't become all gooey and gross like other brands and the ice cream is peppermint flavored as well. The ice cream is green which is usually a deal breaker for me but I am glad I overcame the fear of unnatural green items(aka green yogurt or any food colored with green food coloring-blech) and tried the goodness. 

I still have one unopened carton in my freezer to be eaten in the near future and there is always the option to buy more. Yum!

Rach, me, Simon, Shanny D, Meags, and Lohra

Best peppermint ice cream...ever

HOF + Holiday Specs= Magic

There were two Holiday 'o' Fun activities this week with the first one being a movie night. We watched Rudolf and The Muppet Christmas Carol. I will say that the latter movie followed Dickens classic quite well and included direct quotes from the novel. 

This picture was taken just before Simon was saved from the fire:

Tonight we ventured to Temple Square with my Holiday Specs and it was incredible. I stumbled upon these magical glasses a few years ago and I have continued to purchase a set each year as I end up giving several pairs to others enjoying the lights. My Christmas light experience has never been the same since discovering the blessed 3D glasses which allow one to see snowflakes, gingerbread men, Santa, angels, or candy canes in each  bulb of light.
Many people stared.  Some people called us names. Some were nice and we let them experience the magic. One of the best moments was when a girl was taking our picture and we all screamed when the camera flashed and the girl thought she broke the camera. I explained why we screamed and let her use the glasses and she was relieved to know she didn't need to buy me a new camera.

Taylor tried to sing at the Visitor's Center. Good thing the microphone wasn't on:

View of the lights through Snowflake 3D glasses:

Sharing the glasses with others:

Magical Glasses:

The claw or Crouching Tiger which is both ferocious and cute:

We then went to Hatch Family Chocolates for hot chocolate and steamers and spent hours waiting in line and talking to random stranger and then spent hours laughing and discussing all things current events. As we left, we had a nice little chat with the confectioners, Steve and Katie.

Circle Christmas

Most of the circle friendship gathered for our annual Christmas baking extravaganza. We decorated, baked, talked, and laughed. 

Pelos, me, B, Simon

Yum!

Pelos was an angry decorator. 

A Capitol Christmas

Each December, a group of individuals from the ACS day program sing at the State Capitol and I look forward to the yearly performance. Lt Governor Bell met with the group before the performance and the singers enjoyed the surprise visit. A couple people sang solos and another wrote and shared a Christmas story with the audience. 

Lt. Gov Bell greeting the singers

Jose and the Little Lady

Jose and the Little Lady are finger puppets my nieces received at a party over the summer. I may have used the finger puppets to encourage the girls to clean their room while visiting and I made up some amazing songs for the puppets as well.

 As teenagers, my siblings and I would hide objects in the nativity at my parent's home and then anxiously wait for my mom to find the items, which included a glow in the dark frog and a barbie. We decided to continue the tradition while visiting my brother and his family in the Pacific Northwest and hid Jose and the Little Lady in the Christmas decorations.

Brinner Girl

My parents and I made a trek to the Pacific Northwest for Brinley's baptism and confirmation as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. My mom played the piano for the meeting, I was the chorister, and my sister-in-law Tennille gave a talk on the Holy Ghost. It has been awhile since I have attended a baptism and it was a great reminder of the covenant I made when I was eight and continue to renew each week by partaking of the sacrament. 

Holiday 'o' Fun 2011

For the first night of HOF, we made advent calendars from little match boxes. It was a grand adventure buying any and all match boxes I could find in Salt Lake as store clerks questioned my need for so many matches. There was a windstorm last night and I was without power the entire day so the matches did come in handy. The calendar was filled with candy and random notes encouraging the receiver to complete a random act of kindness, text a friend a Merry Christmas message, or participate in a Christmas activity.

Filling the calendars

Christmas Tree Fantasy

Mindy and I attended Festival of Trees today and it was fun to look at the trees, wreaths, and gingerbread houses and see several people we know through work. I always call this event Christmas Tree Fantasy because that's what it is known as in my hometown. I have so many memories of singing with my dad and sister as people looked at the beautifully decorated trees. 

A few of my favorites:

Book tree

Charlotte and Lily's tree

Livi's tree

"Yule" Shoot Your Eye Out tree