My best friend from back home, Ryan, left for his mission August 4th. I was able to pick him up from the airport and take him to the MTC. I was so excited to see him. I was going to go home for his farewell weekend, but tickets were too much. So it was really great to be able to see him for a hot minute before he left for two years.
Also, during the month of August, I had my first run in with the Propo (Provo Police). Unfortunately, the nice pretty yellow papers they put on your windshield aren't love notes, they're tickets. Apparently, the Propo doesn't like when your license plate is 6 months expired. AND! If you don't pay the tickets, they tow your car. I'll give you one guess on who's car got towed... $400 dollars later, I had my car back and I was $400 poorer. Highlight of my life...not.
I became an aunt again. Lacey had Baby T on August 17. I had the pleasure of watching Baby A for a couple of days. Now I have another little one to brainwash into thinking I'm his favorite Aunt, so far, so good!
September:
September was real, real good to me. I made my first trip to California and touched the Pacific Ocean for the FIRST time ever. I went with Katelyn and Debra to see our friend Maddie. She left for her mission on October 8th, so we made the trip to say our last goodbyes. San Fran really won my heart. It was the perfect way to spend my Labor Day weekend.
Oh! and
Sandygirrl and
DirtyDan made an
appearance in Utah for a week. Best.Week.Ever. We were able to have some
Sandygirl and
KatiePaige (only my mom can call me that!...don't even think about it.) time. It was so good to have my mom here. I really miss her. A lot. A lot. A lot. And just so you know Mom, the only thing that would have made it better is if you had brought Killer aka
Buddydawg. Just saying.
October:
One word.
Halloween.
Three words.
Wizard of Oz.
October also means General Conference. I was lucky enough to get another ticket to the Saturday morning session. Kylie, Sarah, Katelyn, and Ashley also had tickets for Saturday morning, and so we decided to make a day of it. I really enjoyed spending conference with those girls. Also, conference was quite baller this time. It always is, but I mean this time, it was just remarkable.
Also, I started practice for a Powder Puff game, which leads us too...
November:
Powder Puff. It was fun...until we lost. But we won't talk about it.
November also means Thanksgiving. I was unable to go home for the holiday, and the only time I'm not there, EVERYONE else in the family decides to go? Coincidence? No. Everyone thought I was going to be there, that's why they went. Talk about a big disappointment when they arrived...I'm only kidding. Kind of.
Don't worry. I didn't spend the holiday alone. Joey and Sarah invited us to their house in California, which happened to be only 45 minutes from Disneyland. Which we went to. Talk about dreams come true.
Even though I wasn't with my family, it was good to be with a family. Thank you again Whitacker family! It was a weekend I will never forget.
December:
With December came a lot of decisions. Earlier in the year I had decided to go home and serve a mission, but by the end of November I was really starting to doubt if that was what I was suppose to do. I already quit my job, and sold my contract to my apartment, so I should have gone home and stayed right? Nope. A couple of days before I left Utah, I got the impression that I was suppose to stay. Unfortunately it was too late to get airplane tickets and I had already promised people a ride back to North Carolina, so thus began the 34 hour drive home in rain, wind, and more rain.
Seeing that Danyelle's house is on the way home, I was able to visit with them for a night. Last New Year's I got to spend it with her and her family. It was probably the best four days ever. I always feel at home there, and it's always hard to leave. Luckily, we got there so we could spend some time with them before the girls had to go to bed. *lifespoileralert: I have the cutest nieces and nephews ever. sorry world.*
It was so amazing to be home for Christmas with the family. I was able to spend a lot of quality time with my mom, which was just what I wanted for Christmas. Talking to her on the phone sometimes isn't enough. I also got to see my sweet, sweet buddydog. Sometimes I miss him more than all the family combined. The night before Christmas Eve Mom, Dan, Tyler, Kenan, Kyla, and Corey watched A Madea Christmas. Best.Christmas.Movie.Ever. I forgot how much fun it was to laugh with my family. Especially Kenan and Dan. Ohh, those coughing fits. It just doesn't get any better than that. I went to Christmas Eve with my dad's side of the family for the first time in 3 years. I really have missed spending that day with my dad and Nanny and Papa J. Christmas Day was spent with my Mom's side of the family. I think the best present I got was playing baseball in the backyard at G-mas. I miss times like that. We may be loud, and a little redneck, but my gosh, I wouldn't trade Sunday's and Christmas at Nanny E's for anything in the world.
I was home for a month. It was the perfect vacation. It was enough time to visit everyone and still have time for my family. December rocked my socks until I fell in the eye doctor's office. Don't worry. That story is coming, but you have to agree, it deserves a post all to itself.
