Thanksgiving 2012

Wow...way too long in between posts. Maybe I'll be better next year....no promises though....

This year was the first time I've actually been able to visit my family for Thanksgiving in about 4-5 years. Way too long. It was so much fun to be able to go home and see everyone.

I was able to fly home on Wednesday (where I was stuck at the airport for 4 hours waiting for my sister to get out of school). We ran some errands for my mom and then went home. I loved being able to see my niece and nephew. They are just the cutest little kids ever!!!

Isn't he adorable?

Cutest. Niece. Ever

Cutest. Nephew. Ever.

We ate way too many desserts....

Too many pies....talk about a sugar coma

Played at the park a few times....

Jaser trying to get off the dino

Jase and Sammo

We also went black Friday shopping at Wal Mart. In Ridgecrest, Black Friday shopping isn't nearly as crazy as in other places but there were still some crazies out there haha. 2 of them are pictured below:

Jacob stole my phone and took about 40 pics before I realized what he was doing 

Let's just say we got a little bored waiting in line to get the tvs... Nicole and I ventured 2 different times into the toy section. Bad idea. Parents are crazy sometimes to get their presents. Also: Parents that bring their little kids to Black Friday shopping are insane. You're just asking for trouble if you do that.

The biggest reason why I went home for Thanksgiving was so that I could go to the Temple with my family to receive my endowment. This is something that I've been thinking about and preparing for over the last year. It was really cool to go to the LA temple because that's where I did baptisms for the dead for the first time and it's also where my little brother Jimmy went through the temple for the first time too. Here are some pics at the temple and then at dinner with every one:

Me outside the LA Temple

Los Angeles Temple

Ethan and I waiting for food. I was starving!!

Ariel and Don. Aren't they cute?

Nicole and Jase: He tries so hard to smile, haha

Dad and Zachy

Ethan, Sammi, and I

Ethan's Dinner: Check out all that meat!!!

  

We also put up the Christmas tree while I was at home:

Man Hater?

For those of you who know me, you'll know that recently I've been on a man hating trip. A few weeks a go a friend (yes male) of mine that asked me if there was a particular reason why I hate men so much and so often. This got me to really thinking about it. There is no legitimate reason for me to go on my man hating days as often as I do. I really don't know why I have so many days where men drive me absolutely crazy!!! Could it be that I work with too many men? Maybe. Could it be that I'm just a little bit bitter about the fact that I haven't been on a date in over a year? Possibly. Could it be that most of my single friends are now married and having kids? Maybe.

Even though I am often a man hater, men sometimes have their moments when I don't hate them so much. Last week, a guy that I work with willingly looked at my car (for free) because I was worried there was a problem with it. What a nice guy.  Yesterday, I was sitting in stake conference next to a perfect stranger and I'm still getting over a cold so I was sniffling a little. Stranger boy gets up and a few minutes later comes back and hands me a tissue. Afterwards, he just disappeared. I'll probably never see him again but what a nice guy. Today, I went out to eat dinner at Texas Roadhouse by myself and my server was a shameless flirt. It made me feel really good about about myself because I was having a downer kind of night.

I know I've said this before but I'll say it again: I've got the best boss ever. He teases me to no end and makes fun of me in front of everyone. But that's just how we interact. Of course if I didn't make it so easy for him to tease me he wouldn't do it so often...he says that the only reason he teases me so is because I like it and the attention. Maybe it's true. Maybe it's not.

Bottom line: I really don't hate men. Even though I often say that I do.

Paintballing Adventure

A few weeks ago I went paintballing for the first time ever. Okay well that's not the entire truth. This is the second time but the first time was so lame because we started too late in the day that I didn't really get to play at all.

I don't own any paintball equipment so I had to rent a gun and mask. There's a place in Provo that rents paintball at a 50% discount to Vivint employees. Cha-ching!! Love when I get to save money.

I went with bunch of people from work it was pretty fun. We went to a little place outside of Payson (Pine Forest, I think it was called). We had to take about a 15 minute hike to get to where we were going but it was worth it and tons of fun! I had no idea how painful it would actually be. A few times a had paintballs hit me that didn't explode and those ones hurt more than anything. Ouch! I'd totally do it again but I don't think I'd invest in actually buying some equipment.

Halloween Wreath

I'm not the biggest fan of Halloween but of course along with my recent kick of wreath making I made a Halloween Wreath. 

You take these:

And when you combine them you get this:

Fall Wreath Class

This last weekend I went up to West Jordan to my friend Jenn's house for a wreath making class. In June she had a 4th of July Wreath class and it was so fun. Such cute crafts. Love having craft afternoons :)

Take these

 And when combined you get this:

I need to get a wreath hook for my front door and then I'll put it out as soon as September starts :)

Wicked!!!

Outside of Capitol Theater in SLC

I've wanted to see the Broadway musical Wicked for years. I love the music from the first time that I heard the soundtrack but I've never really read the story.  So a few months ago when I found out that it would be playing at the Capitol Theater in Salt Lake I was so stoked!! I wanted to go see it the last time it was in Salt Lake but it didn't ever happen.

Me & Jenny

I was determined to go this time but I didn't want to go alone. A very good friend of mine was willing to go with me if I could get tickets. I didn't think I'd actually be able to get tickets because they ALWAYS sell it super fast. But luck was on my side this time. I was able to get some tickets that were a little on the pricey side. I was a little afraid that they wouldn't be that good of a view since I was buying them so late but I was wrong. The seats we got were in the closest box and were super close to the stage. We ended up trading seats with some people a few boxes up so a lady next to us could sit with her friends. It ended up being a good decision because our new seats were more centered and the view overall was much better.

Tickets!!

 Words can't even describe the experience. It was one of the most memorable nights of my life. It was so worth the money that I paid to see and I definitely want to go again if given the chance. There's something just so different about seeing the show live and hearing the music then listening to a recording. It was magical. I love, love, absolutely loved it!!

I love getting to see my niece and nephew. I got to see them for a few minutes today while they stopped in Utah on their way back home to California.They are just the cutest little kids I've ever seen. See? There's nothing quite like the joy and happiness on a little kids face when they are so happy to see you. Can't wait for the next 11 days to go by and I'll get to spend an entire week with them!!


Kids also so the...silliest things sometimes. For example: a few weeks a go my niece who is almost 4 asked me (this has been a nightmare of mine for the last few years and it's actually a reality now...) why I don't have any kids. I was kind of at a loss for a minute and didn't know what to say. So I settled with telling her the reason I don't have any kids is because I don't have a husband because kids should have both a mom and a dad. She seemed to accept that explanation. Like I said...kids say the silliest things.