what to be thankful for.

how was your Thanksgiving, everyone? mine wasn't too exciting, but it was good. we started the day off by hiking the Y. if you know me well, you know that i hate don't really like hiking. it took a long time to finish it. but it was still fun. then, we went to grandma and grandpa wendelboe's house. they live, of course, in Provo. everyone was at the wendelboes except Aunt Nanette (Ted's wife) and Taylor's kids (Savannah and Torben). Uncle Aaron brought Ann, his girlfriend. she's really nice and friendly. all we did at the Wendelboes was eat, eat, eat, eat, play games, eat some more, play more games, talk, eat, eat........ you get the idea.

Friday was amazing. I woke up at 4:30 to go to the Buy One, Get One 50% Off sale at Shoe Carnival. I bought 2 pairs of boots for just $30. (ok, ok, i used mom's $10 gift card to make my boots even cheaper.) they were pretty sweet boots. oh, how I love black friday. I went back to sleep, woke up 3 hours later, ate breakfast, showered, and got in the car to go to Salt Lake. we went there for 2 reasons: 1. to see saylor at the hospital, and 2. to go to "afternoon tea" at the Grand America Hotel.
a
t first, I was nervous when I went into the O'Brien's room at PCMC. I was afraid that I was interrupting private time. but it was such a great visit. Saylor and I talked about Justin Bieber, Christmas, shoes, TOMS, how she felt, school, and Thanksgiving. I think we both felt a little better after talking. she is supposed to come home today. you see, Saylor just had surgery on Tuesday and was in some pain when I came to see her. I didn't want to look like "oh you're in pain I can't stand to see you hooked up to IVS so I will just cry and freak out." I think I did a good job of staying strong and making Saylor feel at least a little better. although on Thanksgiving, nothing astounding happened, I was extremely thankful that I got to come and see Saylor. i'm thankful that she never gives up, that she seems to be recovering well, that she's always happy, that she helps me be stronger.
Ann invited the girls to go to "afternoon tea." it was super fun, but it was extremely formal. I was afraid that I would, like, spill everything all over my skirt and not be "proper." i had coconut almond hot chocolate with whipped cream. it was paradise. there were finger sandwiches, scones, and fancy desserts. i loved it, but i felt like i was going to explode.
that night, we watched 17 miracles. i cried.

i am thankful for the time that i spent with my family and with saylor this week. i am thankful for all my friends. my house. clothes and shoes. singing. tennis. all the miracles in my life. my family.

well, now i guess this means that Christmas is coming. i have to admit that i am a bit sad about that. i love the fall. i love drinking hot apple cider and watching the leaves fall. i love the colors. the smells. everything. and now, it's leaving me. i like listening to Justin Bieber Christmas music. playing Christmas music on the piano (except i do have a huge recital soon and i'm not prepared for it). driving around the Riverbottoms (the wealthy area in Provo) and looking at all the wonderful Christmas lights. decorating the tree. celebrating our Saviors birth. but everything else..... it just happens so fast. don't be offended at all, but Christmas day is one of my least favorite days of the year. we open the gifts...... and everything's just over. it's not exciting. after Christmas, all we really want is for the snow to melt. the decorations to go. to sleep. i like the Christmas season, just not the day itself. but that's just my personal opinion.