Hello Hello! So for my Thanksgiving Break I went back to my home in the beautiful, sunny Southern California. I was there for ten days and had a great break :)
PS, this is probably going to be my longest blog yet, so be prepared to read.
Day 1.
I arrived at the Long Beach Airport at 4PM-ish and waited about 25 minutes for my stupid luggage to come through baggage claim. I grew very impatient because I wanted to see my mommy! Once I finally got my luggage, Randy, Allison, my mom, and I went over to Ga's (My Grandma) House because our family from Orey-gun, Kathie and Gabby, came in town for Jen and Ben's wedding too! I hadn't seen them in two years and I was very excited that they finally came down. I was anxious to see the Gabster because I know she had to of grown a ton since the last time I saw her. We hung out and talked for a couple of hours and Ga made us dinner. Then I stopped by my Uncle Wayne and Aunt Laurie's house where we talked for a few and saw Uncle Wayne's reptiles, it's so cool to hold a snake! After about 30 minutes, we trekked on home and I changed and got ready to go to the CIF Football Game where the Loara Saxons kicked some major La Quinta butt! I had such a great time at the game and got to see so many friends that I haven't seen since graduation and even some favorite teachers of mine. After the game, Jessica and I went to In-N-Out, a total Saxon tradition, and then we went back to my house and hung out and talked, and then she left. I hung at home for about an hour and then headed over to see my brother DonE. We talked for about 30 minutes and then I went home and went to bed.
Day 2.
I was able to sleep in just a little bit and just hung out at home. My mom ordered pizza for lunch and then as soon as it came, I quickly at some pizza, and then went over to the Barnes' House! I was able to spend some quality time with my Courtney and the Barnes family for several hours. I had a great time. After several hours of hanging out, watching football games, and just talking, I went home and finally watched the 6th Harry Potter, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and then went to the movies with my mom, Allison, Randy, my sister Angela, and my Mommie #2, Peggy, to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. It was awesome! I absolutely loved it and can't wait for the second part to come out, but at the same time, I don't want them to end. I decided that I'm going to start reading the books though. I read the first and second one way back in second grade and I feel it's time to go back, start from the beginning, and read through all of them; the movies are great, and I know that books are going to be a million times better.
Day 3.
I woke up and went to church at my family ward. It was so great to see everyone, I really missed them, especially my little Ambria and Riane, I love those girls! Then, I went home and took a short nap and headed over to the singles ward and was able to see my good friend Jon-Michael. I was so glad to see him; I feel really bad because there were five of us, and then in the course of one month, we went from 5 to 1, leaving Jon-Michael to fend for himself without the rest of the Fantastic Five! We then went to a baptism, where I saw some more old friends of mine I didn't expect to see in a million years, and then went home and ate dinner. After dinner, my mom and I drove out to Mission Viejo to meet Kathie, Gabby, and Ga at this restaurant called Farrell's to get some ice cream, it was de-lish! They're really loud and rowdy and very entertaining, it's the hopping place and basically everyone there is celebrating their birthday. I then went home, dropped off my mom, and went and met up with my good friend Matt for a little bit, and then went home because my bed was calling my name and I was going to have to wake up early for Disneyland the next day!
Day 4.
Disneyland! After 20 years, I finally convinced my dad to go to Disneyland with us! We first went into California Adventure and went on Soarin' Over California because we knew he'd love it, but after the 45 minute long line, his back hurt, so he headed home. Kathie, Gabby, Ga, Aunt Laurie, Randy, Allison, my mom and I stayed in California Adventure and went on a couple rides and Gabby went on the Tower of Terror for the first time and absolutely loved it! She kept wanting to go on again, but there's so much to do in so little time at Disneyland for a 9 year old so we weren't able to go back. We headed over to Disneyland and waited in line for an hour and half for Indian Jones and it broke down, they had it up and running for about 15 minutes when it broke down indefinitely, so we got out of line, and my mom and I went home to have dinner, bundled up, and then headed back to Disneyland to meet up with everyone again. We went on a few rides, watched the fireworks pretty close to the front, went back to Indian Jones and waited not even 15 minutes this time because I talked to the people who were working the ride and got us to the front of the line, SCORE! After Indian Jones, we went to It's A Small World and watched the light show and then watched Fantasmic! which is where our long day finally ended, we were all exhausted! While we were walking back to the car, I saw Poreotics walking to the tram because they perform in a new show in California Adventure called Electronica. It was really cool to see them again.
Day 5.
I woke up early and got ready for my day. I headed over to Courtney's and then we went and got our eyelashes did. We then went to Chipotle, got ourselves some lunch, took some lunch to my aunt while she was at work, and then headed back to my house to eat our lunch and then hung out and talked for awhile. We then took Courtney home and then my mom and I went over to Nadine's and I got my eyebrows waxed, FINALLY! I started feeling like a gorilla, it really wasn't that bad, I just don't like when things about my appearance aren't just so. Once my eyebrows were waxed, I managed to re-arrange Sarah's room a little bit and wrote beautiful, heart-felt messages all over her mirrors, she loved it. We then left the Hainline's and my mom and I went to Joanne's Fabrics and then Target where I ran into my friend Jimmy! I had no idea he worked there. While I was at Target, I got a phone call from Nadine, Sarah's mom, once Sarah got home from school, so I was able to read her reactions as she was reading my messages and saw that her room was re-arranged, it was so funny!
I later went to the Block with Kari and it rained, but the sales were great and we had an awesome time! I managed to get a top from Windsor for $5, that's practically unheard of. We decided to leave the Block once all the stores were close and went back to my house, hung out, and made some yummy banana bread! I learned that Kari's favorite part was the top; we made three loaves of bread and she managed to eat the tops off of all three.
Day 6.
I woke up super early and then my Aunt Laurie, Uncle Wayne, and Ga all came to pick me up to head to San Diego for Thanksgiving and Ben and Jen's wedding on Friday! We stopped at Starbucks along the way where I got a yummy hot chocolate! My aunt started telling me that she heard that another good hot chocolate is their regular hot chocolate mixed with white hot chocolate is de-lish because Starbucks hot chocolate is dark chocolate, so when mixed together, the white chocolate balances it out and makes it super yummy, so if you've ever had it before, please let me know because I'm thinking I'm going to get it next time and I want peoples opinions if they've already had it! Okay, off my tangent and back to my day, we then continued on to San Diego where we met everyone at the Fashion Valley Mall. Aunt Laurie, Ga, and I got there a little early so we went into JCPenny's and met up with Juju and Betty, did some looking around, and then met Jen at Happy Nails, where we also met up with Carin and Erika and we all got manicures and pedicures for the wedding. After, we did some shopping in JCPenny's and Sephora and then headed over to have a lunch at the Cheesecake Factory, where my Uncle Donnie and Aunt Brenda joined us, as well as Erika's husband Juan. Lunch took two and a half hours, but I highly recommend the Carmel Chicken, it's so good! We then headed over to the North Chapel where the wedding rehearsal was and then we all parted our ways. I went with Jen to David's Bridal to pick up her dress and try it on for the first time since alterations were complete. I felt so special because I was the first and only person to see my cousin in her perfectly altered wedding dress before the wedding, it was a beautiful dress and she looked even more amazing in it. I couldn't wait to see her on Friday with her hair and make-up done and see her in that dress and see her husband's, Ben, reaction, as well as everyone else. I knew she was going to be radiant. We then all met up and hung out for the night, but we were all so tired from the day, we headed back early to the hotel, while Jen, Ben, Dana, Ga, and I headed back to Jen and Ben's house, I got ready for bed and hung out for a little bit, but I was still asleep before 10:20 PM, probably a record for me.
Day 7.
I woke up 12 hours after I had fallen asleep and took my shower and got ready for the Thanksgiving Day! We all headed over to the Hilton Hotel where a total of 27 people met up for one big family Thanksgiving Dinner! After dinner, we all headed up to our hotel rooms and figured out our plans for the next day, Jen and Ben's big day! Everyone went down to the Lounge, while I took Gabby to the jacuzzi and heated pool, we were there for about an hour before we decided to leave. I dried off and head up stairs to change to go the gym. I met my mom down in the Lounge and hung out there with everyone for awhile and then my mom, Aunt Laurie, and I went to the gym for about an hour, we had a great work out. I tried to go to bed at a decent hour because I knew I was going to be waking up at 3AM for some Black Friday shopping. I went to bed at about 11PM and then my brother came in after, woke me up at 12AM to ask me a question, and then I couldn't fall back asleep, so I tossed and turned until my alarm went off at 3AM.
Day 8.
Once my alarm went off at 3AM, I brushed my teeth, put my hair up, put on some shoes, and headed out the door with my mom to meet Juju, my aunt, and Ga in the Lobby to head to the Fashion Valley mall to do some Black Friday shopping. Initially, our plan was to only get a set of pearl earrings and necklace that Jen wanted to wear that day with her wedding dress, but instead, we stayed a lot longer than expected and didn't get back to the hotel until after 8. I was exhausted and knew I had a big day ahead of me, so Juju let me hang out in her room and I was able to take a two and a half hour nap. After my nap, I headed down to my room where Allison did my hair, I did my make-up, packed my bag, and I was out the door and off to the Chapel to finish getting ready for the wedding. We all got dressed, did our finishing touches to get ready, grabbed our bouquets and then took pictures before the ceremony started. Jen was absolutely gorgeous, no words could describe how beautiful she was, she was breath-taking and left us all speechless. After the ceremony, we continued to take pictures and then headed over to a great reception where we all just had a blast! Aunt Brenda, Uncle Donnie, my mom, and I then packed up all of Ben and Jen's wedding gifts and took them up to their room and then headed down to our own rooms. It was a long day full of fun, friends, and family, but my bed was definitely calling my name.
Day 9.
I woke up early to see my Aunt and Uncle before they headed back to Arizona and then we packed our bags, checked out, and were well on our way back to the OC. The trip went by really quickly because Randy, Allison, and I all conked out in the backseat. Once we got home, everyone took naps; we got home around 10:15 and I went straight to my bed and sleep until 4. My mom and I then went to run some errands, drove by the Simpson House to see if their Christmas decorations and then headed to Stater Brothers. We then drove back by the Simpson House because the first time everyone was out front, but we didn't stop because I looked retarded in the clothes I slept in all day, so I felt bad and drove back by to say hi. My mom and I then headed home and I got ready and went out with Hannah to the Block where I saw a bunch of people, including Sarah and Jessica while they worked at Old Navy. I managed to make a mess in the jeans, which was the area Sarah was trying to clean up, what can I say, I'm a good friend! Hannah and I continued walking around and walked in and out of a bunch of the stores as it rained and then we decided once all the stores were closed that we were done too. We then headed to Krispy Kreme and then did our tradition drive past Disneyland and Downtown Disney and then I took her home. Once I got home, I got comfortable and went to bed.
Day 10.
I woke up early and got ready for church. I went to my family ward where Kaitlin and I taught in Primary, I loved it! The kids there are so sweet, I just loved them. We then went to the singles ward, and then I went home and changed and then my dad, mom, brother, Allison and I headed to Ga's where we met Ga, Juju, and Dana for our tradition leftovers Thanksgiving dinner. Randy, Allison, Dana, and I threw old Christmas lightbulbs in the street, and then made the boys clean it up, it was really fun! I then set up Ga's Nativity Scene like I always do, and then we headed home. I then went to the Simpson's house and spent about two and half hours with them and then headed to Charles' house! We talked for awhile and then we started looking at stars through his telescope and he was teaching me all of these different astronomy facts, it was so cool! I love stars and the night sky so it was really cool to look at it through a telescope. I then headed to Justin's to drop off his hat and we talked for a little bit and then I headed home.
Day 11.
I woke up around 10, went shopping with my mom at Target and she bought me new Uggs, WOOO! I then went home, had lunch, packed my bags, and left for the LB Airport. I cried my eyes our leaving my mom, but of course once I got there and got through security and boarded the plane, I was just fine. The flight wasn't bad at all back to Idaho Falls. Allison and I were separated, but I was able to sit next to my friend Kaitlin's room mate Brooke and made friends with the other girl I sat next to, I was in the middle. I studied some psychology and learned some fascinating information about moral reasoning and then crocheted a new blanket I started. Before I knew it, we were landing on an icy runway in Idaho Falls. We got off the plane and headed for the baggage claim where my room mate, Irene, came running over to me and gave me a big old hug and she told me how much she missed me! I was so excited to see her. We waited at the baggage claim for what felt like forever and then Allison and I grabbed our luggage and we headed towards the car. We walked outside into 20 degree weather that later dropped down to 14, I missed the California sunshine and forgot that I would be walking out into snow. While I was in California, we had some really big snow storms, so there was tons of snow EVERYWHERE, including icy rodes. My FHE sister Courtney picked us up, as well as her friend Jessica who was on our flight too. We had a fun car ride home. I then hurried to my apartment, dropped off my luggage and met at the boys apartment for what I thought was going to be FHE, but was instead just some hanging out and quality bonding time. I then headed home, checked my mail, and just hung out with my room mates.
I had a great trip home and an awesome Thanksgiving Break! My semester is over in two and half weeks and then I will be home for four months! I am really going to miss the friends I've made up here, especially since we aren't all on the same track and I'm moving complexes, but most of all I am going to miss my FHE family, they're the best and I absolutely love them. But I will see everyone again soon in SoCal!
XOXO
Christin Grace
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