Thanksgiving Break...

Tuesday November 23 Jeff and I were hoping to get out of Logan pretty early because of the huge artic storm that was suppose to hit around 3pm...  we wanted to be in Bountiful at least before it attacked the North, Logan that is.  Unfortunately because of the "storm" we didn't pack the car the night before like we had planned because we didn't think we were going to be able to leave Logan that day anyway... little did we know that any of that the University was going to shut down the school at 2pm, and Allen (the boss man) was going to close the skyroom at 1pm, and my boss Jeff was going to let me leave as soon as I brought stuff down from the skyroom.... we still had to drive back home to Richmond to finish packing, pack the car, and drive back down to Logan and onto Salt Lake to pick up Travis. The wind started to blow pretty hard, enough to sway cars off the road, it was like watching the movie "Twister", seeing the storm brew right before your eyes in your rear view mirror... it was pretty intense, even though the whole time it all felt pretty unreal. 

We made it through the canyon and onto Travis' house in just under an hour, by the time we packed up the car, and made it to the gas station to fill up and grab some food, the "storm" had finally hit, it was blizzard like outside.  Luckily, it wasn't sticking yet, and there was more coming down than there was on the road.  Just before hitting Wendover, the storm was out of reach and we were in the clear. The drive to Nevada was pretty uneventful, boring actually, and I had to pee just about every time we came up to a service exit. :) yeah fun!

We arrived in Nevada, my parents' house at 2am and slept most of the day (well, I didn't cuz I had slept in the car- so I got up around 7am and went to go talk to my mom while she got ready to take my grandma to the dentist) 

Our time at home was much needed (for me anyway) it had been since May that I had seen my folks, and I forget how much I miss them until I see them and get to wrap my arms around them.  So many wonderful things to be grateful for... I truly do love my family and it is always a privilege and opportunity to see them, because it really is far and few between.  This year however we've been blessed to see and be with my family three different occasions: Travis' homecoming, the family reunion in Missouri, and Thanksgiving.  I most likely won't be seeing my family again until I have the baby at the end of January beginning of February.  I do wish my family lived closer, of course I've got Dust and Trav that live in Bountiful; which is nice- they just need to finish their apt so Jeff and I can come and stay with them.

Some fun things we did while with the fam: Mikke, Jeff, Travis, the girls, and I (excluding Lydia) went up to Reno to Scheels (it's an outdoors store similar to Cabellas, but bigger, they've got a ferris wheel inside their store and a huge aquarium that is part of the building's structure) we rode the ferris wheel.  We also went to the Candy Store or Chocolate Factory that the girls had been wanting to go to all trip, I don't think it is what they expected and seemed to be a bit disappointed, I know I would have been too... the candy just wasn't that good and it was way over priced for what it was.  We were going to go to a Donut Store, but it was closed, they apparently had sold out earlier that morning... dang it must be that good... so instead we went to In 'n' Out burger, the girls had never been there before; which was a real treat to watch... Ivy just scarfed down her burger while making delicious noises of enjoyment "ah this is the best burger ever!" it was really cute (I had never seen her eat so much so fast!) Norah liked her burger too, and Ayden would have liked her burger better if it had just been meat and bun- interesting, but each to their own, no wrong, just different.

I learned this trip with my family and Andrea's girls that I lose my patience pretty fast, which makes me kind of nervous about becoming a mom, will I lose my patience and niceness with my own kids? will I be as bad of a mom as I am an aunt? I love her girls, but realize that because of the distance I really don't know them and get annoyed (or perhaps I don't know how to act with kids, since I don't interact with them ever) easily when I am around them, they are very moody; which is something that I am just not used to (with them or with other kids their age).  This trip also made me realize that I do want to live closer to my sister so I can be more in her kids' lives and they in mine.  I want them to know their cousin, and want them to want to be around me and Jeff, to think we are cool, to not think I am mean and angry all the time.  I want them to get to know us, to hang out, and to have fun. :)

Some other things we did while there, we had a miracle berry party! a party that consists of this berry found in Africa that they've (the pharmaceutical company) made into a pill that you suck on to numb your bitter, salty, and sour taste buds, and enhances your sweet ones.  Then after the pill dissolves in your mouth you eat foods like: limes, lemons, dark chocolate, onions, grapefruit, and dill pickles.  Everything tastes sweet and delectable. the "buzz" lasts anywhere from 20min to 2hrs... Mine only lasted maybe 15 min (I think it is because I am prego)

Also, we took family photos (not professionally and missing two family members) so it was mostly for fun... and it was, just not for the girls, they got bored quick... but here are some fun pictures anyway!