Sleeping in a Forest

I am thankful we have a Christmas tree in our bedroom. 

It's a great tradition- try it out.  

We also put ornaments on this tree from all the places that Hunter and I have traveled.  

View from my pillow:

These friends of mine

I am thankful for these friends of mine.  

The Cardons and the Pears are seriously amazing friends.  

We had a super long visit with the Cardons.  They were here a whole week!  

We had one last night together this weekend before they had to head up to Utah until Christmas.  

We played games.  We ate pie.  We threw Madison around.  We had girl talk. 

Black Friday

I am thankful that this is how we started Black Friday: 

Black Friday has turned in to Gray Thursday.  I HATE that the stores are opening on Thursday night. 

 GRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.  

Sadly though, I don't have enough hate or discipline or self control to keep away from the stores on Thanksgiving night.  

It was a marvelous evening.  Hunter and I had a great time finding deals through out the night.  We even slept a little this year! 

Then we woke up and the Garners had our annual family picture on Friday morning. 

We threw JCPennys for a loop. 

I bet you can't wait to see how they turned out. 

Thanksgiving

I am thankful for Thanksgiving Day!  

We made it, folks.  Here are a bunch of snapshots from the day.  They are TOTALLY out of order and I don't want to fix that.  

Hunter's family eats at noon- my family at 4pm so we get TWO feasts.  

It was a great year as usual- and in fact maybe a bit better. Everyone was especially chill and in a happy mood.  

I am so thankful that I am a part of these families.  And that I have my Hunter by my side all the time. 

Mom and Dad. 

Abby on the scooter- she can't walk btw. 

Hunter looks tired- wow!  Didn't notice that before.  

Todd and Hunter

Hunter's Mom and Aunt Linda- what a pose! 

Nate and Heidi and Mikah and Maesyn

The Table. 

Great Grandma Dorathy (97 years old) and Me.  (and Linda is going to kill me )

A pixelated shot of me and Hunter post two meals. 

Thankful for Pie

I am thankful for pie.  And especially how it brought family together this past Wednesday night before Thanksgiving.

Hunter and I were able to host his family for the annual pie making "party".  It was awesome.  One of my favorite things to host is parties that evolve everyone cooking and making a mess together in the kitchen.  

And we definitely cooked. 

 And we definitely made a mess!  

The house was FULL of people- The Grinch was on TV- Pandora Christmas station on the stereo- kids running around crying and laughing- lots of talking among adults.  

Loved it.

And oh yeah- there was pie. 

My hairs

Today I am thankful for my curly locks.  And also for my hairdresser who keeps them fluffy and bouncy.  And that she did that today.

And I am thankful that Hunter's homemade haircut did not end with this:

And yes he shaves his head shirtless.  

5 days of thanks

Thursday 11.15   I am thankful for milkshakes.

Friday 11.16  I am thankful for Crate&Barrel.

Saturday 11.17  I am thankful for our brown couch.

Sunday 11.18  I am thankful for living close to our family.

Monday 11.19  I am thankful for DVD players.

Today I am thankful for Laura

I am thankful for my best gal pal- Laura.  

Here were are a year ago visiting.  She had just had her first baby a few weeks prior.  

So sad she lives in Utah.  Miss her all the time.  

She's that one friend who- we could talk for hours and hours about everything and nothing.

She taught me to smile, be positive and ask people concrete questions that really get to know them.

She's the friend that we figured everything out about marriage and babies- before we got married or had babies.  And now we happily admit that we don't shower every day or clean the bathrooms every week or want to talk to each other at all sometimes.  Haha!  

Love you, L. 

Yesterday I was thankful for Temples

I am thankful for the Lord's temples that dot the Earth!

Hunter and I have been to these together: 

Atlanta, Georgia

Boston, Massachusetts 

Gilbert, Arizona

Mesa, Arizona

Salt Lake City, Utah

San Diego, California 

Draper, Utah

Also: Snowflake, Arizona and Gila Valley, Arizona

Ticket to Ride

I am thankful for this memory board that hangs right next to my side of the bed. It holds tickets, fliers, photos and little paper memorabilia from Hunter's and my life together.

There are theatre tickets, movie tickets, party fliers, Disneyland buttons, love notes, national tour stubs from Boston and Georgia. Temple schedules, valet parking ticket from our honeymoon, conference tickets, business cards from some memorable restaurants and a sand dollar hunter brought me from when he was scuba diving in Catalina island 60 feet underwater.

When I'm dozing or waking its what i see. I love our dates. From our first about four years ago to the one we had this very evening. So many good memories. And lots coming!!

My students

I'm thankful for my students past and present. Even tho this has been a rough year- I have so many gems in my classes that make me laugh and give me hope.

Last Friday night I was able to visit mesquite high schools choir cafe night. The seniors this year were my first class 5 years ago!! So I know all the kids now basically from 9-12 grade. It was the funniest reunion night ever. I just kept seeing face after face of past students and now- new friends.

My Hunter

Last night I was chatting with an old friend and mentioned "my Hunter". 

My Hunter.  

My husband.

My love.

My companion.

My friend.

My shoulder to cry on.

My buddy to laugh with.

My favorite.

My sweet.

My everything.

My man.

I am thankful for MY HUNTER.