Thanksgiving Break

I think I appreciated this break more than normal. I don't know if I needed the break from teaching or I was excited for Travis to come visit, but boy was I ready for it.

My break started on Tuesday with a predicted blizzard. My principal sent us all home as soon as the kids left. I planned on staying to get some stuff done so I wouldn't have to over the rest of the break, but I left not wanting to get snowed in. Later in the evening, I regretted my decision of leaving as my roommate and I made fun of our "blizzard." It flurried a little...not even enough to stick to the ground. But let me tell you, the stores were crazy. It was like the world was coming to an end.

Wednesday was pretty relaxing. I slept in until 8. Cleaned my apartment. Watched Aspen. Planned a little for the following week. Then went over and helped Bradford prepare his turkey to be fried the next day. While I was over there, I got to see what his new house will look like and their lot. Then I don't really remember what I did the rest of the day. I just know it was the longest day of my life because I didn't have work to keep me busy and Travis wasn't getting here until late that night. Finally I went and picked him up at the airport. His flight was delayed so he didn't land until about 12:00. We stayed with his brother for a couple days in Farmington.

On Thursday I slept in again. After getting ready, we left to drive to Logan to have Thanksgiving dinner with his Dad's side of the family. They actually got some snow there and it was freezing. Dinner was good, but nothing compared to good ole Southern Thanksgiving dinners. I missed my fried turkey, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, mac and cheese and pecan pie. They did have cute little turkey favors that they made for everyone. After lunch, we went and saw Travis' dad's grave. It was pretty cool because he doesn't get to see it very often. That evening we went back to Devin and Kati's house. We watched Toy Story 3 and had dessert.

On Friday, we went shopping. This is the first time that I have ever gone shopping on Black Friday. It was crazy! We got up at our own leisure and didn't even get to the store until 11ish. Travis even took the time to play a game of ping pong with Devin. I couldn't believe how many people were there. I ended up buying a camera! I have been wanting one for a long time and I was given some money as a graduation gift to buy a camera, and I finally got around to doing it! I am really excited about it! It was a hard decision and it took me about an hour to decide even though I had done lots of research prior to going. Since I got a camera, of course we had to take some picture! By the time we finished shopping, ate dinner and charged my battery, it was too late to take pictures outside so we decided to go on a carriage ride to look at some lights at Thanksgiving Point instead. We got lucky because we missed the big group ride so we got our own little carriage. It was freezing, but I had a lot of fun. It was my first carriage ride ever!

First picture with my new camera. I like it a lot! (the camera and Travis)

Us in our personal carriage!

Me with our horse named Jody.

On Saturday, we finally got some pictures! Travis and I drove up the canyon to find a pretty spot. Unfortunately there was no snow, but we still got some fun pictures. Travis is a good sport to let me take pictures of him and to take some of me.

I voted this as the most artistic picture of the day.

After getting some pictures, we drove down to Jeff's house to watch the BYU vs. Utah football game. That's all I will say about the game. A bunch of Travis' friends came over to see him. After, a bunch of us went to the mall and the out to eat. (I feel like all we did was eat while he was here) It was exactly a year ago that Travis, Jeff, Caleb and I went to eat at Applebee's. It was a memorable night. We have decided to make it a tradition to go out to eat every year on that day. Then Travis and I left to go watch Tangled. He thinks that Rapunzel looks like me. It was pretty cute.

Travis, Caleb and Jeff after the BYU game

It started snowing Saturday night and I was praying for a real blizzard so Travis' flight would be delayed, but sadly it didn't. I took him to the airport at 5am. It was a sad parting, but it is only 3 more weeks until I see him again.

I will have to save another post to tell you about my drive home from the airport in the snow/ice. It was pretty exciting, so you will have to be on the lookout for it.

Teacher Help

Just because I haven't posted in a little while, I thought I would tell you about a funny/odd experience I had today. After school, a mom came up to talk to me. I was a bit nervous because I thought she was upset that I made her check her daughter in late instead of just letting her come into the classroom. This mom speaks little English, so in her broken Chinese accent she said, "teacher, I need your help. Tell (student) to sleep." I was so confused. I asked her if she meant go to bed at night. She said, "yes, I hope she listen you. She need sleep in bed." I asked a couple more questions and finally figured out that this student still sleeps in bed with her parents and not in her own bed...at 5 years old. The mom thinks that maybe her daughter will listen to me. I have had some weird requests before, but never one like this.

I Have a Baby...Kind Of

So, I moved into a new apartment back in August. It is a little 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom place in Pleasant Grove. I debated whether or not I wanted to have a roommate or not. After looking for a little bit, I couldn't find anyone to move in with me, so I gave up. Then after getting my first paycheck and realizing that teachers don't get paid as much as I wish, I decided it was time to start looking again. My friend Missy is moving in at the beginning of January so I posted online that I was looking for someone from September to December. Within the week, I had several interested people.

I made a verbal agreement with a girl named Alisha, she gave me money, I gave her a key, and I didn't see her for the rest of the month. In October, she came to pay rent again, she moved in a bed frame and a couple boxes, and I never saw her again. So, I have been living by myself and getting paid...a good deal if you ask me! For September rent, she paid it early and just left it on the counter. Then this past Monday, I got a text while I was at school letting me know that she was moving in and not to be scared when I get home and people are there.

Monday was crazy! I thought I had a lot of stuff! I think she has me beat! And...did I mention she has a baby? So guess what that means? I feel like I have a baby. I look in my apartment and I see my table, then I see a little kiddie table. In my living room I see my stuff, then I see a box of toys. Monday night was the worst. I woke up 4 times to a crying baby. I wondered what I had gotten myself into. Come to find out, it was because she was getting sick.

Well, it is now Sunday and my thoughts have already changed. Although she does cry when she has to go down for a nap, and sometimes there is a toy in the hallway, I love having her around. Today Alisha helped me cut out lamination and Aspen just played and loved being with the big girls. Then when she had to leave the room to go eat, she started to leave then came back to give me a hug first. It was adorable. Or she loves to just help me do the laundry or wipe off the table. Even though I am around kids all day, it is fun to come home to a kid you can pick up and hug. (plus, I don't have to do the dirty work like change her diapers!)

So, I guess what I am saying is, having a baby isn't so bad, but then again she isn't really mine.