Happy Thanksgiving!

My work has been closed this whole week for Thanksgiving, so I took advantage of the little extra time to get some more hours at school. I want to graduate ASAP!

We have a Steam Punk themed hair and makeup show coming up this December, and yesterday I went to school to help with a little "preview" of the show. I think some of these photos will be put on flyers and posters to help advertise the event.

I worked on a team with two other girls, and this was our model:

Kinda, cool, huh? I don't know if they'll actually allow us to use the photo above... I'm not a big fan of guns, but apparently that's very Steam Punk. Don't worry, we have other photos without the guns...

 Today I celebrated Thanksgiving with Vanessa. First we went to my favorite spot up Provo canyon. It was lovely today. A little on the cold side, but very sunny :)

Then we went to Cracker Barrel. Who knew that Cracker Barrel was such a popular place to eat on Thanksgiving! It was packed!

Vanessa got a thanksgiving special, and I got my favorite: Blueberry pancakes, scrambled eggs and smoked sausage.

We were pretty full afterward...

Then we headed up another canyon around Springville/Mapleton, with a stop by a bathroom first. A cool thing about Utah: There are churches EVERYWHERE! So when you need a bathroom fast, it's almost easier to find a church and use their bathroom than it is to find a gas station with a bathroom. And church bathrooms are so much cleaner!

 So yesterday while I was talking to one of teachers at school, she mentioned that she saw a moose up Hobble Creek the other day. It is a dream of mine to see a moose in the wild!

So we went up Hobble Creek lookin' for Moose!

Moose tracks?

We also enjoy taking random photos of ourselves.

 Today might have been my favorite Thanksgiving of all time!

I'm Grateful

 What an eventful couple of weeks! Since it is the month of November, and Thanksgiving is close, I think I'll try to open with "I'm grateful" instead of "so...".

I'm very grateful that I was able fly down to Texas for a couple days. Holly's bridal shower was lovely, and I'm so happy that I was actually able to attend a shower before having to host one a week later.

I'm grateful for Texas sunsets. I can't tell you how much I have missed these. Yes, mountains are beautiful, but I'd trade a mountain sunset for a Texas sunset any day.

I am grateful for BBQ. Utah does not have very good BBQ, or very good Mexican food. I got to have both when I was in Texas. Basically, I'm just grateful for Texas. It's a hard state to beat. I have been to many other states, and Texas is still my favorite. Though Hawaii is pretty great, too...

As much as I miss Texas and sometimes wish I had never left, I am grateful for my friends here, and my school in Utah. Today we had a Thanksgiving feast. We had everything: Turkey, pies, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sparkling cider, eggnog, etc... Holly will not be in Utah for Thanksgiving, so I will not be able to spend the holiday with her like I did last year. This year, it's just me. It was really nice being able to celebrate (although a little early) with a group of girls that are my family up here.
We also dressed like Native Americans and listened to Indian flute music. It was lovely :)

I am grateful for my family, my job, my ward and my calling, my roommates and friends, a working car, technology that allows me to talk with my family easily, school, education, and a skill. Oh, and my rights and privileges. Lets hope I still have them in a couple years!

Happy Halloween

 Costume number 1: Boy Scout! Holly had this awesome military-style hat, and all I needed were the knee highs and I was set! Jenna was a pirate, and the other dude... I have no clue what his name is, I don't think we've ever met, but he made an awesome Joker and I really wanted a picture with him!

Isn't this the coolest pumpkin ever!? I carved it on a sunday night, set it outside of my door to show off, and the next morning as I walked out to my car to go to school, remnants of my beloved pumpkin were scattered all over the pavement. Some jerk went around smashing everyone's pumpkins the night before! On the Sabbath of all nights!

Costume Number 2: Peter Pan! I wore this one to school. A couple of my friend's dressed as Tiger Lily and Tinker Bell, and we managed to find a pirate to complete it.

And then we found a Rufio, which is even better!

All in all it was a very fun halloween. I had to work on Halloween night, but we were allowed to dress up, and I did my makeup Twiggy style again. I can't believe how quickly it came and went. Pretty soon it's gonna be Thanksgiving, and then Holly's wedding, and then Christmas! I can't believe it!