It doesn't get better than this.

This year (or last year, rather) Brian gave me one of the most wonderful Christmas gifts I have ever received. He gave me a trip to visit my sisters and mom for a weekend. I flew to Vegas last Thursday and then my mom and I (and Danin) drove up to Utah where all of my sisters and my sister-in-law live. For the love--it was seriously the coolest weekend ever. I could have just driven around all weekend with my mom, talking and listening to cool music, and that would have been cool enough, but it got even cooler than that. The highlight of the weekend was Friday night. We went to P.F. Changs for dinner and then to an improv show in Salt Lake and then we spent the night together in a hotel. Man, there is seriously nothing greater than hanging out with my family, and especially with my mom and sisters. You wouldn't believe the juicy conversations we had. At dinner, we had secrets and confessions pouring out all over the place. Ok, Ok. I'll tell you a few of them, but you are going to have to guess for yourselves whose secret is whose (just so that i'm still invited to the next mom and sister reunion). Somebodies have been seriously tempted to get tatoos, somebody really wants to wear a bikini, somebody is a little drawn to the idea of getting high, somebody really wants a belly button ring, somebody else had one, someone else used to drink coffee... I know!! Scandalous!
Its funny because I remember my mom and I talking about whether we should bring our scriptures with us for our night in Salt Lake, and we both decided not to. But don't you worry. There was plenty of spiritual food that night--as always. We talked about the concept that love is a gift of the Spirit and that when we sin, we literally lose the capacity to feel love. Hmmm...so interesting.
I also had an enlightening conversation with Sarah on our way back to Orem. I know I've said it before, but I learn so much from her and I rely on her so much for understanding of the gospel. She really does have such a mature, sound understanding of the true gospel. And so do my other sisters... When did my my little sisters stop running around in tutus and gini gowns and start going to college and talking about adult stuff and teaching me about the gospel and becoming so interesting and fun? I must not have been looking. I mean, are you aware of how creative and hysterical my sister Laura is? Chels--you have definitely met your match. And my sister Audrey knows the words to all kinds of funny rap songs and she can beat her boyfriend in boxing. (Laura and Seth swear that she is a closet thug.) Does it get cooler than that?
And my mom is just a given. She's pretty close to brilliant--especially when it comes to the gospel and being a good mom.
And Kat might as well be blood related because she is so fabulous. On Saturday after lunch, we were all leaving and Sarah asked Kat if she wanted to come with us, and Kat said that she was going to do her own thing. Sarah asked what she had going and Kat said that she was going shopping, but that she liked to shop alone. Her honesty and frankness are so refreshing. I love it.
Anyway, the weekend really couldn't have been more wonderful. I can't wait until next year.