I'll Be Home For Christmas

I am so incredibly excited to go home for Christmas! I am finally getting that college/real life feeling where people actually fly home for Christmas (no wonder they are always so excited). I think what adds to the feeling of excitement is that I get to leave this 70 degree weather. Not that I'm complaining because I have utterly enjoyed wearing sandals in December, but snow for Christmas is incredible. Of course Utah is struggling like always so even just weather where I can wear a jacket and a scarf would suffice.

My cousin Sam (who is the only one closest to my age so is ultimately the fave) is getting married over the break so having family from all over the country come to Utah will be amazing! SJ had some work to do in Utah so we're leaving even earlier which was fine with me! He has been feeling such a void not being able to perform so he has the vacation packed with shows of course. We're talking--stepping off the plane in Utah and rushing to get to one an hour later. It's going to be a fun ride.

Ps. we had a photo session for our Christmas card. I decided I wanted to send one to some family and close friends so Shaun cooperated nicely (haha). The tripod has been my best friend lately. From this photo excursion and then taking it along on my girls trip to the Grand Canyon, it never fails. I ended up only using a few of the ones we took but in order to get that few, about 50 had to be taken. I have the best (patient) husband ever. If you get one in your mailbox, you're special.

I don't know how to make the main picture of my blog SHRINK. 

It's bugging me!

bad.

i blame black friday

Well I have been sick. Sick since Tuesday night I believe. I went to the doctor on Wednesday to rule out strep so I could still maybe attend Thanksgiving if I was able to stand. Which was great because miraculously I felt all better on Thursday. 

     *side note: I am so grateful for friends and their family, who welcome strangers to their dinner table on an important holiday. One of Shaun's work friends invited us over to their Thanksgiving dinner and after about 45 minutes, we were apart of the family. I love that. I hope my family is the same. 

Thursday night arrived and we changed the shopping plan. We were supposed to be waiting in line for the gates to open to the beautiful Target at 9 but games of Werewolf got too out of hand. Long story short, at about 11:30 we made it to Target on our way to The Mall of Georgia. After people watching and eavesdropping for a good hour in the Forever 21 line I came to the conclusion that I am really so much more classier than at least 85% of that Georgian population... (long story)

We left The Mall of Georgia and much to SJ's dismay, the Banana Republic sales weren't up to par so we made the best-awful decision at 3 AM to head to the outlets. We got home around 5 and still were going strong with our online purchases, then went to bed shortly after. I woke up at noon the next day coming so close to what hangovers would feel like. So not worth it. 

Basically, that night KILLED ME. Threw me under the bus. My throat was down for the count and my body went slowly down with it. Shaun was hilariously kind taking care of me. I couldn't yell or speak for that matter so whenever I needed something I would play I-tunes from my phone and it would start playing on our Apple TV out in our living room so when he would hear some Michael Buble or Celine Dion christmas songs, Nicole needed something. I admit, there were some times where I was accused of being the boy who cried wolf...but I loved hearing my music outside and having the husband come running so can you blame me?

The decision about ever going Black Friday shopping again is still being decided. But I think that is how I am every year. But this year sure got me. I have never experienced something so sad and pathetic than being starving and eating just to fill your stomach. Not having the pleasure of your sense of TASTE. I have never had it totally 100% gone before. And that is just sad. Flavors are going up on my thankful list this year. 

Shelby

SJ & I love having the opportunity to be parents for the weekend, especially with our Lauren and Sam because it's a PARTY all weekend. 

 School lunches & performances

Having a friend all day who helps me with my fear of dogs..

Movies

Talent show time. 

"Family. Isn't it about time?"

I don't think I really understood how important family was to me until recently. I mean people always say "I love my family" blah blah. But they really are EVERYTHING. I was so blessed having mine so close through college. I kept forgetting that there were so many people in my life that lived several miles away from their families for the extent of their school careers.

Family has been on my mind a lot lately. Between my current lesson I gave in Young Women and the Holidays coming up, it's all I think about. When I look at people's '30 days' of things they are thankful for, I think about starting one. But I truly feel that I'd start with family as my day 1 and then by day 4 I'd be mentioning family again so I don't think I'll start that. Family trumps all in my book. I'm sad to think that as a teenager, that wasn't always the case. But I'm so grateful for the clarity that I have on that subject now.

SJ & I won't be going home for Thanksgiving. At first I was a little bummed but then I realized that I'll be spending it with the most important person of my family and that, ladies & gentleman, makes me one happy girl.