It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

We attempted to take a Christmas Card picture tonight. Unfortunately this is the best one on my camera- it is actually sort of cute! Notice the lights in the background. I now understand why my parents refuse to put them all around the outside of the house! It is a lot of work, and only put them around three windows! It is weird not to be at home and getting out all of the advent calendars and fun decorations! I guess this is when I start to begin my own traditions... how weird! I am getting so old!

Pictures from the best weekend ever!

I absolutely love this picture of Cara, my mom and I!

The happy couple to be- Eliot and Tracey

This is team TOG, aka "The Old(er) Guys"

These are just a few of the tangelos we ate over the past five days! My mom absolutely loved them too! (NOT)

This is a picture of me and my very best friend at CiCi's Pizza

Thanksgiving!

I think this picture pretty much sums up what a wonderful week it has been! So many fun things happened that it would take me forever to write about each of them, but here are some of my memories from the week.

Surprising everyone with my new hair color, seeing friends at Cici's Pizza, seeing Elaine and causing a scene because we were so excited to see each other, finding all of the changes in the house, McNeil Family, reminsising old times, sharing a room with Emily for a few nights, NERTZ, Tog dancing, Cara turning 16, cake, pies, orange rolls, 7 boxes of tangerines and Diet Coke, TOP TIER ONLY, El and Tracey getting engaged, laughing, singing, and of course more NERTZ!

Happy Birthday Cara!

B

Today is not only Thanksgiving but also my sister Cara's Birthday! Happy Birthday Cara! I am so glad that I am able to celebrate her SWEET 16 with her!

A few memories...

Wanting to name her dough dough head and telling my moms OBGYN (sorry mom), sharing a room with bunk beds, borrowing clothes, homecoming dress shopping in NYC, shopping in general, Driving to school together- I was a Senior when she was a Freshman, she helped me with homework once (only once) online conversations, watching her dance- she is amazing!, fishing for boys, and the list goes on!

Cara you have become such a beautiful young woman, I am so proud of you and all of your accomplishments! I hope you have a wonderful 16th Birthday!

There's No Place LIke Home!

I am so excited to be going home for Thanksgiving! Do not get me wrong- I absolutely love it out here in Utah but I am ready to see my parents, sisters and friends for a few days! I have one more day of school and then Tuesday morning I am out of here! There are a bunch of things I still need to do between now and then but... Maryland here I come!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

I really love Autumn- I think it is my favorite season. It isn't hot and it isn't too cold (knock on wood)! The leaves are falling and it is just so pretty outisde. It has been a slow week, everyone is sick or getting sick in my apartment and I am learning that it only takes one person to make everyone be in a not so happy mood! I think it goes the other way too, one happy person can change everyone too! I gave myself 5 minutes to be negative (thanks for listening mom) and after my class I decided to start listing the things I am thankful for... and it really helped to put me in a better mood! Here are just a few from my list...


1. My family-mom, dad, cara, emily, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins
2. The Gospel
3. My friends- near and far
4. Morals and Values
5. Technology
6. My cell phone
7. My education
8. Books
9. Hugs
10. Cute little kids- they are so innocent and adorable
11. Inside jokes
12. Ribbon
13. Pictures
14. Journals
There are many many more... these are just a few! One of my favorite things about Thanksgiving is going around and telling what we are thankful for- I am going to try and be more vocal about what I am thankful for, all year round!

Happy Birthday Aunt Cristin!

My Aunt Cristin is one of the most amazing people I know! She is my mom's sister and they have such a neat relationship, I hope that my sisters and I can have that same kind of relationship! She is so talented and is such a wondeful example to me. She can do just about anything, has a great sense of humor, is an amazing mother, and the list goes on! I have had fun getting to know my Aunt Cristin especially when we both lived in California. I have many fun memories of my Aunt! Here are a few....

Being a flower girl at her wedding- I got to pass out favors to the guests, playing school in her apartment with little plastic chairs, staying with her in California for a weekend, introducing me to scrapbooking- she helped me scrapbook my very first pages (she was so patient and encouraging when I was not so sure what I was doing!), she took me to get my first set of acrylic nails... and really the list could go on and on!

I am so glad that I have had the opportunity to get to know my aunt, not only as my moms sister, but as MY aunt and friend! Happy Birthday Aunt Cristin! I hope you have a fabulous day!