Turkey's Not The Only Thing Gettin Roasted

All I know is the first couple days of this week were wack - trying to finish assignments and prep for a big test and then still pay attention to the new stuff. Foundations lab was more fun than usual because we got to roll around on a mat, but it was still rough before Thanksgiving break.

Terrible pictures always ensue. Love it.
And yes, I'm still allergic to games. 

Brandi and I drove to her grandma's place in Kanab, where I fell asleep real fast in front of the wood burning stove. Love.

Then we stopped in Panguitch to gas up and ran into Jake! (and family.) We made plans to meet up again in Beaver for ice cream and cheese curds (as one does). But they didn't want to have dinner at Cafe Rio with us too, so we just met some of Brandi's friends.

This is a candy cane factory that took us wayyy too long to figure out. 

Thanksgiving at Ben & Joy's was a party. Sarah, Emma, and Hunter were there, plus a couple of friends who didn't think joking about incestual cousin-dating was funny at all. Weird. I ate so many potatoes and watched MI3 before I could fit in dessert. Lauren even joined the party eventually.

My favorite of all the trees. 

We kept the new Netflix show The Final Plate on in the background all day and I warmed my toes up by the fire. Joy killed the Christmas decorations and Hunter killed our cousin date (feeding us steak and taking us - and Lauren - to see the lights at Spanish Fork).

I love how the whole fam knows that if I'm in UT, Lauren's hanging out too.

I did go running on the non-holidays, and Joy told me all about this lovely hill called Battle Creek. The uphill was a fun challenge. The downhill threatened to severe my patellar tendons from their attachment site. She promised to show me the easier downhill next go-around.

This is a view from the top.

After the run, I helped clean Joy's cupboards. (I love cleaning for her because she lets me throw things away.) Then we all went to Meg Hay's futsol game, which was freezing, but fun. And we ate delicious soup and rolls and Lauren and I went to the temple and the creamery (so we could introduce Graham Canyon ice cream). And we came back to a full house of children!

The literal weirdest. 

 So after a minute, we went to the Bellon's residence to finish watching the BYU football game - which despite the inspiring start, ended in disappointment. As usual. Then Lauren let me sleep on her couch underneath Hani and Donny and coming soon, Ronnie.

"Wait! Let me look at you lovingly!"

We made French toast and crashed a linger longer and wrecked a girl for her lack of geographical knowledge. And then Brandi and I drove for hours and hours and hours. We enjoyed a 4-for-4 on her grandma and didn't enjoy anatomy and told crazy stories all the way home.

Nice sky.

Friendsgiving

I'm in 'break' mode already and it's no good. Fun for me now, though. A group of amigas took a long drive up to Horseshoe bend early Monday morning (since we had no class). I loved it. I got to scurry all over the red rock and then had a great burger and ice cream afterwards.

It looks a little better in the afternoon, but then
there's more people. Pick your poison. 

Home. Vive la France. (#missionversary)

Then I took a nap. I'm doing that a lot lately. And then another group met up at the Institute for a few rounds of Ghosts in the Graveyard - during which I cut myself several times, but never got caught. So win/win/win. We convinced Alexi to make monkey bread somehow, so by the time we were finished, we had some delicious snacks.

My one party trick.

We cleaned up our "Ghost" setup straight into a fort in the middle of the room. We all snuggled up real close and turned on Nacho Libre - a classic. Which was much enjoyed until a few classmates arrived for some proactive help on anatomy.

"All of those things are my favorite things to do Every. Day."

Tuesday volleyball was good practice for Wednesday, although I still didn't do as well as I wanted. Also we lost. I keep getting extremely tired by the end - which means we have some really good rallies and I expend too much energy hyping.

AT in the works. Also if anyone ever says they have a high pain tolerance,
Do Not Believe Them.

My first ortho clinic was interesting. I automatically focus on muscle imbalances as an ATC, which is good, but I need to focus more on big picture kind of stuff. I learned some new things and tried some different techniques and it was a good time. (I also evaluated my friend with an EHL strain - which made me super hyped.)

Nobody else wanted to be ridiculous with me, that's fine.

The Little America hotel put its Christmas lights up this week, so we took advantage day 2. No free hot chocolate, but we convinced Jake to share his fries and buy us cookies. Mason taught me the friendship walk and I became a bench. We took some real nice squad pics in the lights and didn't even get frostbite.

Highlight for all but Sam, who hates dinosaurs. 

We hit up the store real quick and hung out at the Fisher's casa for a minute. Mama Fish is the nicest, Papa Fish is an admitted creepster, but we love him anyways. It was a good time with good friends.

Creepiest Santa you've ever seen.

Squad.

The activity of the century went down Friday night - a Bob Ross-instructed paint night. It took a lot of preparation and technical know-how, but it went really well. And with garlic bread and Capri Suns for snacks - where can you go wrong? Great turnout, even if the paintings didn't turn out great.

Who won?

Saturday was an early morning to the temple, but everyone made it home AND back. And we got Mexican, so the tradition stands. I took a nap while Brandi cooked a ham and then we met up for the Friendsgiving feast. Food makes me so happy.

Friendsgiving 2k18

We ended with Creed - a great, post-Rocky sequel that had me HYPE. Can't wait for the new one to come out and also the next time I can sleep on Mason's mattress.

The Fab Five (ANOTHER ONE??)

LIFE. IS. GOOD. My best friends are the cutest RMs. We cook and play sports and do missionary work. And I'm so glad they let me be their friend. I love them so much.

Mason and Jake hooked me up with rides to basketball and a surprise mission/baptism party for our friends Ramsi, Braylen, and Janelle. We watched part of the new Jumanji and ate ice cream.

Look at him. I can't handle it. 

Roger came in clutch for that Wednesday morning bball - even if I haven't quite figured out how to play him yet. Then Brandi and I got split up for complex cases this week and we both left feeling very frustrated. A feeling which continued through volleyball with Sam. I'm the hype man on the court, fo sho.

I finally got my car back - with tires rated 0/32 and dangerous bubbling. It's fine. I made it to the store and to Brandi's house, where Jake, Brandi, and I made some dang good enchiladas. Mason finally came in clutch with the brownies and his friend Jenna (who is the cutest). The missionaries loved it (probably) and we loved having them. [Also Jake did in fact bring his drill for my trebuchet, which I forgot.]

STUD. Date this kid. 

Friday I fixed my tires and my phone and life was almost set. I met the FOURTH amigo, Jason, who was visiting from Utah. We played some Nintendo 64 and I crushed at the throwing knives Golden Gun version. Is anyone surprised?

On the way to Brandi's, I got a ticket. (Still, nobody's surprised, although I was mad because it was barely 10 over and it was on a steep decline where I was trying to obey the law.) I ate some leftover enchiladas to feel better and we made Mason a Mutual account.

Mason also took videos of this whole thing
and maybe was a bit disappointed that I didn't cry.
(This ain't my first rodeo, kid.)

We headed back to the Institute for pizza and Hercules. 'Twas a good time. (Also, side note - I had my car back so I actually made it to Friday morning basketball again. Love.) We helped clean up - and only dragged our friends and not the chairs.

Saturday morning, we made waffles with Jason, Chase, and Mason who all had the cutest bedhead. And we went on a spontaneous hike in Sedona to the Devil's Bridge. The way up was nice, the way down was tolerable. I took a nap.

This was just as terrifying as it looks.

And showed. So that we could all meet back up again (with Jake, this time) for Janelle's baptism - which was the cutest thing I'd ever been to and I only cried like six times. I LOVE MISSIONARY WORK. The gospel is freaking true and I'm so happy.

Sunday was also fun because I did double church again so I could hear Mason's talk. Skyped the madre and MoriahGraceHutchins real quick. Did second church. Announced some things. Helped the missionaries out for a hot minute. And made it back for the RS meeting. Took ANOTHER nap. Made dinner. And then did ice cream and nice notes - which I think was a roaring success. 10/10 would do again.

Squad. 

Spooky Season

I folded and bought an air mattress for my bed. I don't love it. Jury's still out for a while. We'll see. 

The big news of the week is that my car is still out of commission with no foreseen return to play date on the calendar. Not because it's unfixable - just because it seems like there's terrible communication and no hurry to do so. As per usual, I'm in a fighting mood, so now the shop just won't answer my calls.

My teachers are better than your teachers.

But being carless is really only an issue for sports or recreational activities. There was no volleyball this week and no basketball Monday, I got a ride Wednesday, and missed Friday. It could've been worse, but it's not a habit I'd like to promote. Get my car done. Please.

It also put a damper on my Halloween festivities. Instead of going trick-or-treating all night, I went to Lizzy's birthday party at an Indian restaurant (not mad) and then went to the Clark's house. We chilled a while and I came out with pockets bursting with Reese's - the only candy I actually care about. So it turned out alright.

Stoop Dogg and Dr. Dray(naud's disease) #PThumor

We have tests every week and they're all so huge that they don't faze me anymore. I studied. I studied for future tests and current quizzes and took a test and also a nap. Grad school life, man.

Friday was the long-awaited PT Halloween party and it was pretty fun. Also, the costumes were a success and my only regret is that a walker isn't super conducive to the dance floor. Did not think about that one. But the kids did a great job and even made hot apple cider special for the Mormons. (Ahem. MembersoftheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints.)

Today someone checked out my IG and
said I was a huge nerd. Is anyone surprised.

Mason helped me solidify the base of my trebuchet, with future plans to continue. He taught me some math, wore a flannel to Home Depot, and has sent me the same picture of me ignoring an unhelpful garden gnome at LEAST six times.

Brandi and I did another movie night. We played Clue and then watched Clue. With popcorn and rootbeer floats. 10/10 would do again. Even if I lost Clue (barely).