Thanksgiving is Officially Unlamed

I'll tell you a secret. I don't really like Thanksgiving. I mean, Thanksgiving doesn't make me unhappy, but it is probably my least favorite holiday. I am a big celebrator, and I guess the reason I don't really like Thanksgiving is because you celebrate it by staying home and eating. Lame! The worst part is that afterwards everyone feels too fat and tired to go anywhere, so you all just lie on the couch in your gluttony for the rest of the night, and I'm like..."This is a holiday?"

 Luckily, my parents and sisters agree with me, and every year we go on a quest to "unlame Thanksgiving." We have been working at this for quite a while, and I think we finally have it down to an art. This is what our week consisted of:

Lots of bookstores! The first night Abbie and I were home, we decided to all head to Barnes and Noble for some hot chocolate and book-perusing. It was a perfect cozy start to the holiday, and most everyone had something to read for the week.

Pies at Grandma's! The next day, my mom and sisters and I headed to Ogden to make pies. I'll be honest, I wasn't really involved. I mostly played Apples to Apples with Rachel and Lauren, but it was still a nice gesture.

Date night with Janie! Another confession...I am partial to my youngest sister. Rachel was working, so Janie and I went to visit her at Pace's and had dinner while we bothered her. Then we drove through the Layton lights together multiple times.

These, friends, are the Layton city Christmas lights. I drove through them seven times while I was home. It's because you can't just drive through the tunnel one time. You'd understand if you were from Layton.

The next day was actual Thanksgiving Day!

The day started bright and early with cheering at the neighborhood football game. Do we have an adorable neighborhood or what? The black eye our dad got during the game was a nice Thanksgiving Dinner conversation piece.

We watched the Thanksgiving parade at home and had dinner at our house. It was just our family and our favorite uncle, which means that my mom made EVERYTHING because she is just that champion. I mean, I cut the fruit for the salad.

#worstdaughterever



Then we headed to the zoo! Going to the zoo on Thanksgiving is the best because no one else is there. The animals are happy because it's not 100 degrees. You can talk to the animals because the only other people there are your family members and some Japanese tourists who don't know what you're saying.

Look how close this elephant got to me! Also, they have a new exhibit with seals and polar bears and such. I mean it's not SeaWorld but the seals are pretty cute!

We spent the evening with the Onikis. Aren't they cute? We played Just Dance and wrote group-effort haikus. Really hilarious ones.

Pretty successful evening, and we still had a couple more days to play. So...Rach and I went roller blading in matching outfits....

...watched High School Musical 3, and had spa night. Want to know the best idea ever? You fill the tub with hot water and bubbles and then turn off the lights and put glow sticks in it, then stick your feet in and pretend it's a fancy hot tub at a hotel spa.

Oh, this picture is from right before we had our spa night idea. I can't really explain it.

Saturday was small business Saturday so we headed downtown to our favorite bookstore! If you haven't been to the King's Enlighs bookstore in Salt Lake, and you like bookstores, and you live in Utah...I don't know what your deal is. It's the coziest place you will ever go.

We also supported some small businesses on main street.

Then we got to walk through City Creek and Temple Square. Which means it's offically Christmas and Thanksgiving is over!!!

Last thing...dinner at Pizza Factory. I'm so thankful for this week of celebrating with my favorite people - my family.

Top- Notch Tuesday ~ Counting My Blessings

10. having more than one place that feels like home 

Sometimes I feel like this is one of the luckiest things that can happen to you in your life. When I drive into Layton I feel like I'm coming home, but when I drive back to Logan I'm on my way home too. Down town Salt Lake feels like home to me because I was born there, and because my dad has worked in that city for a large chunk of my life. When I think about our little yellow house on Samuel's Pine Road in Chantilly, Virginia...that's home too. My parent's house in Layton. Every apartment I've had in Logan. USU's campus. I even remember the moment I first felt at home in Samoa...walking to the grocery store late at night in the dark and realizing I was perfectly relaxed. Some of my best friends' houses feel like home too. There are people who never really feel at home anywhere, who spend so much of their lives trying to find where they belong, and I've been lucky to have so many places that fit for me.

our first house

Lauren and my Dad in Virginia

Logan

 
9. good books and music

Every day I'm thankful for people who write beautiful things. I get to major in reading beautiful words and thinking hard about them. And I have to have music on the entire time I'm doing it. 

 

8. laughing 

Laughing is my favorite thing to do. If I could choose one thing to have happen to me every day for the rest of my life...I would choose to laugh until it hurts every day. I like real-life slapstick. I like when people fall off their chairs or slip on the ice walking up the hill to campus. My life would be very bleak if I could not laugh at the weird things that happen to me every day.

 
7. work 

I have had a job since I was 15. I'm thankful for the jobs I hated in high school because I learned a lot about being nice to people who aren't nice to you. Working at restaurants and at the mall taught me to be the person who makes someone's job easier, not harder.

I have been so blessed to have jobs during college that actually fit with my career plans. Teaching Supplemental Instruction for Sociology was hard, but it meant that I was already comfortable in front of a class when other teaching opportunities presented themselves.

And I love tutoring. I love hearing people's stories all day and finding out what's important to them. I love talking about writing. I even like sitting at the desk and supervising. I know that I'm incredibly lucky to work on campus and to have work off every weekend and holiday. My job is basically luxurious! 
 

Writing Center

work friends

 
6. education 

I go to Utah State University. That about sums it up! But really, I can't imagine having gone anywhere else. I have loved college so much. This university has given me so many opportunities and experiences that will always be important to me. I love learning, and I love learning about how to help people learn. Just going to school at all is a a huge, huge blessing...the fact that I go to a school I love and get to study something that excites me is even...more huge.

 
5. travel 

I took me until college to realize how lucky I was to have parents who took me places. As a child I didn't fully appreciate the fact that my family had been to the Statue of Liberty together, climbed lighthouses, walked across the Golden Gate Bridge, stood next to Niagara Falls, crawled through the Mark Twain caves, stood next to the White House, and stayed in beach houses. Now I know that most people just go to Disneyland and that's it. Disneyland is great, but I'm thankful for parents who love to try new things and take us on a new trip every year. My life will always be different because my Dad fought so hard for me to get to Samoa. I'm also thankful that I've been able to travel with friends. Nothing brings you closer to someone faster than being in a car with them for 13 hours straight! If you already like them, that is. This one requires a LOT of pictures, apparently.

San Fran

D.C.

Solvang

Oregon

San Diego

Florida

Boogie Boarding...everywhere

American Samoa

Samoa

Hawaii

 
4. friends 

I am thankful to still be close to friends from elementary school, junior high and high school, and every year of my college life. I have lived with a lot of girls. I feel blessed that so many of them have become such an important part of my life. These are the people who have been there for me through all my crazy ups and downs.

elementary school friend

best high school friends

freshman year

sophomore year

junior year

spring break buds

Samoa friends

Senior year!

3. sisters 

My five younger sisters are my best friends. They make me laugh harder than anything in this world and they are always willing to do crazy things with me. Abbie is the most loyal friend I could ever ask for. She always puts others above herself and comes to my rescue on a regular basis. Rachel inspires me every day with her determination and goodness, and makes me laugh every day with her crazy costumes, homemade Broadway musicals, and general cheery disposition. Lauren is my hero because she's not afraid to be herself, even in 7th grade. She's not afraid to be smart and to say that she wants to be a scientist. I would vote for her for president. Hannah melts my heart every time she talks about wanting to be a mom, and every time I see her acting motherly with her younger cousins and neighbor kids. And sometimes when I hear Janie's extra-loud voice on my phone when she leaves me a message ("This is Janie by the way.") I almost start crying because I can't handle the cuteness overload. Every one of them is so filled with unique gifts and traits that makes our family US. 

me and Abbie

Rachel

 
2.  parents

Okay, now I'm getting emotional! What can I even say? My parents gave me everything else on this list. They gave me a house filled with books and music and laughter. They gave me stories. They gave me my sisters and all of the adventures we've had together.

 My mom is the smartest person I know. She could've been anything she wanted, and she wanted to be my mom. She is good at celebrating and making little things fun. She's genuine. People feel loved and important around her because she is sincerely interested in their life stories. My mom taught me to laugh at myself, to keep things in perspective, trust my own choices, and to learn from it all. I can honestly say that I want to be her when I grow up.

My dad has always supported every one of my dreams. I've inherited his excitement for life plans and travel ideas. He has always had seriously busy church and work assignments, but he has always put our family first. He taught me not to be afraid of the world but to fully experience everything it has to offer. Everywhere we go, people want to give my dad free stuff. Like...weekends in their fancy vacation homes. He always finds the best parking spaces. I fully believe that miracles happen around my dad because he expects life to be amazing and for people to be good.

1. God

Every once in a while I say to God, "What is  going to happen to me? Can't you just tell me where my life is going? What is my future supposed to be?" And He always says, "Haven't I always taken care of you? Haven't I always turned every heartbreak into an opportunity? Just keep moving one step at a time."

When I decided to go on a mission, I was worried that I'd forget about the experience I had and change my mind back and forth every day until my call actually came. But I'm so thankful to say that every single day I've had little reassurances that I made the right decision. Preparing to go to the temple has been the absolute best thing for me. I've always been freaked out about going through the temple, but now I can see the temple as a symbol of everything God wants to give to me, and I know it's even more important than going on a mission. It's almost like I can feel God's excitement for me...like He is so anxious to give me the blessings of the temple so that I can grow and progress and be close to Him. Sometimes I just can't believe He is letting me go on a mission!

I am so thankful for this beautiful life, and for all of the people who make it that way. Happy Thanksgiving!

November Nonsense

November has been flying by for me. I really can't believe it's almost Thanksgiving! Here are some of the interesting things that have happened to me this month:

1. We adopted a grandma! My roommates and I adopted a grandma named Polly at a retirement home. We have gone to visit her four times and she is sooo great. I always feel inspired after we go talk to her. She is losing her hearing and her eyesight and it's pretty hard for her to move around, but she is still making goals and learning new things. She is taking Spanish and learning sign language, she's a good visiting teacher, she goes to the temple every week, she collects Coke paraphernalia...she is just great.

2. We created a thankful tree All month we have been adding to this tree on our wall. I think of new things to be thankful for every day because I'm having a beautiful life!

3. Friends and Firehouse Mallory and Kaitlin visited Logan and we had somewhat of a reunion at Firehouse. I love laughing with these people so much and I'm glad Mal and Kaitlin would make such a journey to have dinner with us! :)

4. I participated in making dry-ice bombs I've never made a dry ice bomb before. They're pretty loud, especially when you throw them into the water in the canyon. I really hope we didn't kill any ducks, because I've already done that this year. The canyon is so beautiful at night. I love the stars and the moon and the shadowy mountains...and I love explosions.

5. I went speed dating I don't even know what else to say about this. It is what it is. It's one of those things I've always wanted to try just to say that I did it...but I did not find true love.

6. I voted!! I am really proud about this one. I voted in my first presidential election! I waited in line for one hour to vote, but afterwards I just felt so lucky that I was able to.  A very small percentage of the people, let alone women, who have lived on this earth have been able to do so. So grateful for all the woman who fought so hard for my right to vote. 'MERICA!

7. I finished this.... I don't want to talk about it.

8. My youngest sister was baptized She is such a great kid. Abbie, Rachel, Lauren and I sang "Amazing Grace" at her baptism. Janie just beamed and beamed all day.

9. We went sledding The day of Jane's baptism, Layton had the best sledding snow I've ever seen. It was the PERFECT snow day.

10. I was in an underwater music video I really wish I had a picture to illustrate this. My roommates and I were in a music video that was filmed at the Sport's Academy in the pool. We got to try an oxygen bar, get in the pool in our dresses, and dance around to the DJ that was in the corner of the pool. It was so much fun!

11. I registered for my last semester of classes I don't know what emotion to feel about this. I had had three required classes left - Teaching social studies, Assessment and Curriculum Planning, and Teaching Literacy. I know, I don't want to take any of those classes either. I love being in the classroom, but I am soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo sick of taking teaching methods classes. Gag me with a spoon. So I'm also taking Langston Hughes, Mythology and Raquetball just for fun.

12. I tried Mexican hot chocolate Some friends and I had a lovely bonfire at second dam in the canyon. It's nice to be outside while we still can, and the food was stellar. I also loved hanging out with Lauren, Aubree and Mckenna afterwards because sometimes girls nights are needed!

13. I finally went off the high dive. Lauren was a swim buddy this week and since she was there I finally was brave enough to go off the high dive. I dived beautifully, I'm sure.

14. Basketball season! The best part of living in Logan is definitely Aggie basketball! The team isn't looking extremely impressive, but I love being in the Spectrum with people I like.

Last night after the game, we made sugar cookies and watched Harry Potter. And blew smoke rings with incense? Sometimes I can't explain my life.

Today has been a great Sunday! I taught relief society, which I actually like doing, and we visited two different retirement homes. Old people are our hobby. Tonight it VERY suddenly started POURING rain, thunder and lightning included. Basically everyone in my apartment complex ran outside to enjoy it. Spinning around in the rain (even if it was only for about one minute because of the freezing factor) made me feel blessed. Blessed to live where I live and to be young. And November's not even over yet!