This year we had a chance to go to Monticello for Thanksgiving. We usually do a on year off year, meaning that one year we'll do thanksgiving with James' family and Christmas with mine then the next is Thanksgiving with mine and Christmas with his. It works out really well and everyone seems happy. :) After work on Wed. I was able to take Dawn out for lunch for her birthday. After lunch and a little shopping I drove home to grab our bags and the dog then headed back to Salt Lake to pick up James. The drive wasn't as bad as I thought. We barely missed rush hour, hit just a little bit of traffic because of construction and then smooth sailing the rest of the way down. It was good to be back in Cello with Mom and Dad, we haven't been down there for almost a year. Wed was just relaxing and enjoying everyone's company. Thanksgiving day was filled with food, fun, kicks, video games and more. So to start...from the moment we woke up we could smell food being cooked. (One of my favorite things about Thanksgiving.) The whole house was filled with the smells of onions and garlic being sauteed, fruity jello's being made a of course the turkey. It was so great, Mom was able to divide up quite a bit this year so she didn't have to cook as much. Now for the kicks part. We were all sitting around watching TV and Dad came over and started to tease me. He had my hands pinned and my head burrowed in the couch and he was tickling and poking my sides. So I did what any wife of a martial artists does...I defended myself. I was aiming for his side but accidentally round kicked my dad right upside the head. Luckily I was also just wanting to tap his side so it wasn't a hard kick...but enough to make him see stars. I felt so bad, he said it was ok and that he just needed a minute. My brother Preston thought it was hilarious and it kinda became the running joke for the rest of the trip. Dad was fine and he even joked about it too. Saying that he still could see blue and gold stars when he went to bed. Around 3:00 everyone came over with their different dishes of food and after a few more preparations and a lot of people in the kitchen we were ready. :) We all sat down and had a prayer and then went around the table saying 3 things we were thankful for. This was a tradition that we did when I was younger and I loved listening to what everyone said. I also thought it was a great way to remember what we truly are thankful for and all the many blessings the Lord has blessed us with. Then dinner was eating, laughing,talking, joking, Preston made sure that everyone knew what I did to Dad earlier that day. The food was awesome and there was more than enough that went around. 
After the clean up, Loren (my brother in law) set up his X-Box and Rock band game while the rest of us looked through black Friday sales just for fun. The rest of the night was switching off playing the rock band game and playing cards at the table. The missionaries were able to join us later for some pie. I felt bad for the poor missionaries with all the music and games going on. Thanksgiving was a lot of fun this year, I love getting together with my family . :)
After the clean up, Loren (my brother in law) set up his X-Box and Rock band game while the rest of us looked through black Friday sales just for fun. The rest of the night was switching off playing the rock band game and playing cards at the table. The missionaries were able to join us later for some pie. I felt bad for the poor missionaries with all the music and games going on. Thanksgiving was a lot of fun this year, I love getting together with my family . :)
Yummy Pie!
What's this?
Yay! A new toy. :)
If tomorrow all the things were gone
I want to start with my family first. I am so thankful for my family and for the wonderful people they are. They have helped teach me the importance be being a family and watching out for each other. I am thankful for all the many wonderful qualities that every person brings to our rather large crew. :) I couldn't imagine life without them.
I found my second family when I met my in laws. (future at that time.:p) they welcomed me into their hearts and homes like I was a long lost daughter and sibling. I have learned so much from them. I have always felt like nothing less than one of their own. They have been such a blessing to me.
James I love you so much and I am so very blessed to have you as my husband. 
Then said our goodbyes to Mom and Dad and we were off. We stopped by Nikki and Justin's condo to see if they wanted to caravan...but they said it was going to be about an hour before they left. So we figured we'd call them to see where they were when we got to Primm. So we grabbed some gas, breakfast and then started our LONG journey home...around 12 hours to be exact. Straight home. We got to Primm and couldn't get a hold of Nikki but we did get a hold of Dad and he told us they were probably about an hour and a half behind us. So we figured we wouldn't be able to caravan after all. So passed Primm...Vegas....
Had our last quick drive by look and then we stopped in mesquite to gas up and grab some lunch and also to switch drivers. James was teasing me saying he drove California and Nevada so now it was my turn to drive Arizona and Utah. :p So off we went...again. Passed through Arizona...all 40 miles of it. Then St. George. We stopped in ...Fillmore I think to gas up and got a Cold awakening...literally it was SO cold. We were all still in shorts and flip flops. None of us wanted to get out of the car. :p SO that stay was very rushed and we even turned this heat on in the car for awhile. :p Well we finally pulled into the Salt Lake Valley and headed over to pick up Rosko from Craig and Erika's house. we got there around a little after 10:00 talked to Erika for awhile...gave her a cute little Shamu to say thank you and then off driving again to drop off Lisa at her house. Then off home. We pulled in close to midnight and we were DONE! :p We started around 9:30 (10:30 Utah time) in the morning and finished at midnight. But we were home the trip was over and we were...sad. :( But happy to be home too... it was all very bitter sweet. The next day we had off just to unpack and re coop a little before going back to work. Well I hope you enjoyed reading about our fun little vacation. :)
Ethan really loved this too although it was a little harder to let him touch the starfish cause we needed to keep them in the water. A few moments later everyone came back from their wet and wild ride. :p and boy were they wet. Abby was telling us how there was no maybe about getting wet. Apparently you go right through a waterfall. :p Nikki didn't seem to happy about being soaked through. So we decided to go sit and wait for the Shamu show...away from the soak zone. :p it did felt good waiting for the show to start. We weren't the only ones waiting. :p
The show started out with one of the trainers coming out to welcome everyone, to remind everyone for the umpteenth time. :p that anyone in the first 1 to 16 rows were going to get wet and then he talked about how grateful we are to live in a free country and how grateful the Seaworld and all it's workers were to the men and women who serve in our armed forces. he asked if you have or are serving in the military and their families to stand up. It was really cool to see all the people who stood up. All the families with their loved ones and those who served. We had two in or very own family. It was really moving. He then once again thanked them and everyone cheered. It was AWESOME! Then he left and a show started on the screens in the front. The story was about a boy he was sitting on the beach carving something then you saw a bunch of killer whales in the distance come up to surface. the boy ran and grabbed his boat and went out to sea as quick as he could and paddled close to this pod of killer whales. then one came up right by him and I didn't see a whole lot from there cause I was watching both the show and down below. Anyway I think there was this whole free willy thing. The killer whale jumped right by this kids boat. Anyway it showed a picture of this kid with the thing he was carving, a wooden whale tale that he made into a necklace. It showed him wearing that and then the trainer came running out and one of the whales came out a did a jump. :) Sorry I didn't get the little story right..but you get the idea. :)
Fun little spin
After this lady's performance all the trainers came out and had everyone out their hands in the air then link their hands together by their thumbs (like doing a bird shadow puppet) to make it look like a whale tale and then splash like a whale tale while chanting shamu, shamu. To get Shamu to come out...and get everybody wet. :p And sure enough...here he came.
This show was a lot of fun. Again I have tons more pictures and I will post them to facebook so if you wanted to see more. :) After the show Mom, Dad, James and I were very hungry. So we stopped at the shipwreck cafe for some lunch. Nikki, Justin, Barb and the kids went on to look at more stuff, while we ate. After we went to the aquarium and the headed over to the sharks to meet up with Nikki and the kids. The sharks were cool. you went into this building to find these "ponds" (I don't know what else to call them) full of all these sharks.
then you walked to where there was another moving walkway that takes you in this tube so you can see all the sharks above you. Well I really like sharks..I do...I find them fascinating...but I do get the heeby geebys being in an enclosed area with water and sharks all around me...I use to (and sometimes still do) have dreams about getting attacked by a shark...another reason I am so scared of the ocean. So I was doing good. remembering how neat this was and that this was sturdy and strong no way it would break. breath in breath out...then this lady behind me started talking about Jaws 3 and how the tunnel like this caved in and people were drowned (another fear) or "eaten" by the sharks...gee whiz thanks a lot lady. Despite my fear I handled it ok and even got a few really great pictures. :)
After the sharks we wanted to go to the Clyde and Seymour show. But the Wardell's had already gone so they went to go to something else while Mom,Dad, James and I went to the show. I had heard a lot about this show from Nikki and James and was really excited for it. While we waited there was this janitor (or so we thought) sweeping up some stuff in the front. Then we noticed something unusual about him. His hand holding the top of the broom was a prop. While his real hand was in his coat. He would squirt people with this little dolphin squirt gun or point to some empty seats through his coat...it was so funny to watch him. Then the show started. They had A Lot of fun stuff and I think this show was by far my favorite. They did a trick or treat skit, then they did a Halloween movie countdown with the wizard of oz, Star wars, Scream, Scooby Doo and then #1...Thriller. It was so fun. I loved it...they had this Cute little otter and the seal were fun.
After this show we just had a few more things we wanted to see. The Wardell family had gone home...I think the kids were either not feeling well or maybe they were just tired and had seen everything....I cant remember. So we headed over to the otters and saw them and the dolphins again. 
James found out on our map that you can feed seals and since that was one of the places we wanted to see we thought we'd check into it. The feeding station was closed at first but while we were standing there it opened up. :) Yay! for $6.00 you could buy a tray with one big fish and then about 4 or 5 little fish...a little pricey but worth it to me. :) I bought 2 trays at first 1 for me and 1 for James but James didn't really want to feed them. The trainer who was there talking about the seals and giving us information about them told us to always keep the fish hidden even when your trying to feed the seals. She said don't dangle the fish cause all the birds around us want the fish to and will swoop down and grab it out of your hand...boy she wasn't kidding either. I barely showed one of my fish and dad and I got a face full of feathers. Luckily he didn't get the fish. there was this one seal who stayed right by with his mouth wide open and anytime I would try and throw it to another seal he would intercept it. greedy seal. :p
After those 2 trays were gone...I...uh...well I went and got another one.
I went to the other side to try and feed different seal. I had 2 fish I threw to a seal get stolen by a stupid bird. So I closed my hand around one fish and stretched my hand out. Finally a seal saw me and came right over and I was able to feed him all the fish from my 3rd tray. It was a lot of fun. They are so cute.
For some reason this stupid picture wont right itself but I think it's so cute and want to share it...so yeah it's facing the wrong way and will probably drive me buts but oh well. After the seals James wanted to see the eels and bat rays. So we headed over there. the bat rays were really cool. you could reach in and pet them which was a little scary but once you got over that it was really cool...the eels (as they always are) were funny and kinda gross looking. But we had a lot of fun petting the bat rays.
That was it, we saw everything we wanted to see at Seaworld. We stopped by the souvenir shop on our way out...Lisa asked us to pick her up a Shamu and a hat. So we picked up those things for her then James and I got a little something and I grabbed a few extra things for some friends. Then we started to make the drive back home...I tried to get a picture of the San Diego temple at night but it didn't turn out very well. When we got back to the condo we gave Lisa her stuff and made a fun discovery about the hat we got her. The reason it was so expensive is cause it lights up with these cute little white lights..kinda fun. James and I really wanted to go down to the pier. Well Mom said that Rudy's (the restaurant on the end of the pier) was still open if we wanted to go get something. So once again Mom, Dad, James and I all piled into the car and headed out...just down the street though. :p After we parked we were really close by the house that was filmed in 
The pier was neat there was quite a few people out that night...mostly fishing. So we walked to the end of the pier were Rudy's was and had us some shakes. If you ever go to the Oceanside pier during Oct. and go to Rudy's...get the pumpkin shake...seriously it tasted just like a pumpkin pie..only cold. It was SO yummy! After the shakes we watched the guys fishing for awhile. Mom and Dad said just before we came to Oceanside they were walking the pier when a guy caught a shark. All we saw was some tiny fish, Star fish and a guy who caught and threw back a stingray...which was still cool. Something funny about all this. James leaned up against the rail and Dad pointed out what he leaned against...was kinda funny. 
After the pier we just went home, walked on the beach a little more and then went to bed. Lisa was kind enough to wash our clothes for us while we were gone to prepare for the trip home. :(
