The Day-After Letdown

You know that feeling you get the day after Christmas? That weird, melancholy, confusing, I-don't-know-what-to-do-with-myself feeling? Because suddenly all the gifts are unwrapped, the Coats and the Carpenters and the Chipmunks have stopped playing on the radio, its time for the tree to come down, and that magical Christmasy feeling is just *poof* gone. I woke up sort of feeling that feeling this morning. Why? Because Christmas happened last night!! Well, at least our super awesome roommate Christmas did. A few weeks back we decided that before we all packed up and headed home to spend the holidays with our families, we would have our own super special celebration. So thats exactly what we did. To get in the spirit, we threw on our footsie pajamas, BLASTED Baby It's Cold Outside, and then hunkered down in the living room with blankets and pillows and presents. As we ate candy canes, sang along to carols, and tore into the silly and wonderful gifts we purchased for one another, it truly felt like Christmas to us. I was surrounded by people I loved. I was filled with excitement and happiness. We talked and laughed and took pictures and laughed some more. I don't think I have ever been so elated about chip clips as I was the moment I opened my gift from Hallie. And the fat kid watermelon picture from Rachel. And the heavenly scented candles that i'll be drooling over for months from Christie. Once the gift giving was completed, we cozied down with ice cream and hot chocolate (ever had them together? try it) and then fell asleep watching Christmas movies. It was wonderful. It was happy. It was fun. It was marvelous. It was magical! 

Getting into that Christmas mood!

 Best thrift find ever by Rachel. That girl is impressive at finding the funniest/most random stuff.

 Soooo glad she liked the Spongebob soap I got her haha.

 Check it. Is that not THE funniest picture you have ever seen. It is now being displayed at a prominent point in our living room, because I cannot not laugh every time I see it.

 We even made the typical Christmas morning mess :)

And then played in it!

FAVORITE.

So sad we won't be together next semester. We are losing Rachel to a mission and Hallie to her man. I love you all!

Merry Christmas, from our awkward family to yours!

I may have felt for a short while today that I had transitioned to the post-Christmas mourning period, but then I remembered: real Christmas still hasn't happened yet! I have one more final to take tomorrow, and then early Saturday morning I get to board a plane to go home for 3 weeks and spend some serious quality time with my family. I cannot wait to walk into my house and smell (and then, of course, taste) my mamma's delicious cooking. And smell the real tree. And cuddle with my puppy by the fire. And hold my sweet new niece for the first time. And reunite with my friends and siblings I haven't seen in months. And sleep in my big cozy bed. Ohhh baby, it's going to be good. 

Where Everything's Made Up And The Points Don't Matter

As you can probably tell by my recent lack of regular posting, I haven't been feeling too motivated to blog lately. However, in honor of finals week, I feel obligated to join in with the rest of my college cohorts and contribute at least at least a little somethin' somethin' to whine about how much finals stink. Enjoy.

And for your viewing pleasure, see previous stressed out finals week posts below.

• StuDYING
• Surviving or Dying?

Almost There

0 more classes.

9 more breakfasts.

2 more loads of laundry.

3 more plasma donations.

6 more runs.

18 more times brushing my teeth.

1 more day at church.

2 more suitcases to pack.

6 more satsumas to eat.

1 more pretend Christmas Eve with my roommates.

5 more finals.

And then i'm going home.

2 More Days Until 25 More Days

So, good news: I saw a dog today (if you are a sad sad person and don't understand this reference, see HERE and go to the 50 second mark). 

No but seriously, good news guys: Thanksgiving is over and its OFFICIALLY time to start celebrating Christmas. Yes, in our apartment have been semi-secretly celebrating for over a month now... but now that the Turkey is gone and the radio has started playing Christmas music, it is socially acceptable to break out the Carpenters Christmas album and everyone can start spreading happy holiday cheer without being bullied for starting too early. 

This is, without doubt, my favorite time of the year. There is an almost tangible magic in the air. So everyone, I hope you are contributing to the special season by praying for snow, counting the houses with pretty lights, preparing for ABC Family's countdown to Christmas, starting in on your goodie making, decorating your homes, singing carols, looking forward to Santa's visit, and putting up your trees. No Grinchyness is acceptable in a time like this! Loosen those socks, enlarge your hearts, and making it the most wonderful time of the year!

Hmm, speaking of trees, I think its high time we get some new lights for ours...

Maybe Santa will bring some early!! :)

Thanksgiving in Texas

Last year and the year before, I spent the Thanksgiving holiday away from my family for the first time ever. Thankfully, I was still had wonderful friends around me to take me in and make it pretty special. However, the chance to spend a week with my family over the holiday this year was FANTASTIC. 

We played outside.

We made hard tack candy.

We did trust falls.

We went to school and bought a scantron from a VENDING MACHINE. Say what?

We spent a day at the park.

We grilled out in the summery weather in the backyard.

 

We made adorable candy turkeys.

We ran a super fun 8 miles in Dallas on Thanksgiving morning.

We ate a DELECTABLE Turkey Day feast.

We went to "cut down" a Christmas tree.

 Welcoooome to Texas...

 

 

This is why they pretend to cut down a tree and then buy one of the ones that are shipped in from the northwest :)

Found one! And yes, it is INSIDE the car.

We went to downtown McKinney to watch the tree lighting ceremony.

 

This is how Texas rolls. Making artificial snow for sledding in the streets downtown.

 

We fell asleep and looked drop dead adorable in the living room. And then let Aunt Nettie carry you to bed.

  

We played with beautiful long blond hair.

We played a lot of hilarious catch phrase.

 And then we got on a plane and headed back to Provo and wondered when we'll see Texas next. 

All I know is that its not soon enough :(