A conglomeration of happy events. For which I am grateful. {Better late than never.}

(these events are listed in order of appearance. not importance. of course.)

Carrie Underwood + Little Big Town = {Carnival Ride Tour}

Boy, oh, boy! I went to Carrie Underwood's concert with my wonderful roommates (even though Jess has moved since then...she's still our roommate.) {the sad, tiny truth is that I found out Coldplay was coming about a week after I bought the Carrie Underwood tickets...and I may or may not have wanted to buy those instead....uh...lol...oh well!} HOWEVER, this concert was great fun anyway; and Little Big Town?! Oh, helllooooo!!! LOVED 'em! I was surprised at how much I really did love them! A big "thank you" shout out to them for having a real soprano, a real alto, a real tenor, and a real bass...AND for having great, rich harmonies. AH!!! It's refreshing to hear singers who really appreciate what they're doing. And Miss Carrie is impressive in her own rights with those pipes of hers! Two enthusiastic thumbs up to her power-singing abilities! AND...she joined with LBT for their own rendition of "Paradise City" and I was nearly blinded by their powers of awesome. :) The only suggestion I have for them is to learn from Kung-Fu Panda, and remember: "There is no charge for awesomeness or attractiveness." I should have been able to go to that concert for free. Mehe-heh-heh-heh. :)

[* Savior of the World* ]

This is the second year in a row I have gone to see this beautiful play. Last year, I went with Woahn, Bingham, and Rees and we cried and cried all the way through. The people and the music just took us right back to Nauvoo, and we just couldn't help it! I want desperately to find the time to even be a little angel next year. {Please, please bless I can!}

The message is so incredibly beautiful, and I am absolutely in love with the way it is portrayed. I love it when performing crosses over into the heartfelt testimonies of those on stage and brings such a beautiful spirit to the audience. I especially love the first half; the portrayal of the birth of the Savior always overwhelms me, and yes, I sit there with tears streaming down my face the entire time. This year, I went with Cali & Bryan and Jeni. Thanks so much, Cali, once again for getting the tickets! I love these people, and to be there with them was just as wonderful as the last time I went. :) Best part of the holidays. :)

{Gilmore Girls live here}
This is a short goodness: Wal-mart is selling the Gilmore Girls seasons for $15 each. Yes, that's right. You can judge me all you want, but I love that show, and the witty banter all through it. I have been too cheap in the past, however, to buy them. However, my dream of ownership has now come true, and I have started my collection. Zippa-dee-doo-dah!!! I can sit down and live in Stars Hollow now whenever I want. :)

*^* Thanksgiving: my favorite holiday above any other. {Even my Grandma agrees with me on this one.} *^*

I really love Thanksgiving the most. Of course I love Christmas. That goes without saying. But I love the food the most at Thanksgiving. I count down to the turkey, the yams, and the stuffing. I can't possibly wait until Thanksgiving to have pumpkin pie, though. Just ask my roommates. We made two as soon as they started selling canned pumpkin for just a little cheaper. {I think that was in October} and it didn't stop there. I can't explain it. There is no excuse. And my dad makes the best pomegranate salad on the planet. Yummmmmm. :) *happy sigh of contentment* I am grateful it only comes once a year, though. I couldn't possibly keep up with my love of it if it came even once more in a year. :) AND it's always so much fun to have my whole family together. I miss my siblings way way way too much, and most of all, I miss bugging my brothers. :) {They secretly love it. I know they do.} We took some fun family pictures that day as well. Just ones we took our selves. I suppose we could pay someone to take the pictures; that way, we'd probably have at least one where Adam isn't making a silly face...hahaha...but that just wouldn't be true to life!!! I love it just the way we are. My family is crazy and weird. And I love us. :)

* Moment of silence, please *

The only sad part about Thanksgiving was I missed having my Alaina friend just around the block. :( I know you're having a blast in Russia, dear girl, but could you just come home quick? I miss you most on holidays. :) I just wanted to go on a walk through the leaves still piled up everywhere, pass the Phippen's house at least once [for old times sake, of course!] and eat chicken quesadillas with Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce while we caught up on all the crime shows with your mom. :) That's all I'm asking for.

[ ~ Pie - Face ~ ]

And, my friend Seth and his wife, Rachel, were in town through the Thanksgiving weekend. It was good to see them. I went over to visit on Sunday night; successfully interrupting their family scripture chase. Yes, I joined in, and yes, I won some tootsie-rolls. {So did everyone else. That's not the point.} Afterward, they had this miniature pudding pie-eating contest...I could only make it through two of the little pies before I thought I was going to puke. However, the third pie ended up partially on my face, and partially on Seth's little brother's face. [I still call him Turbo in my mind...I know he's growing up, and it doesn't fit as much as it did when he was little, but...give me a break. I still call the youngest Olsen child "Boy" in my mind too. Old habits die hard.] :)

[Framed and Finished!]

AND, my grandpa helped me cut the glass for my Nauvoo picture, so it's finally done!!! WOOHOOOOO!!!!! My dad helped me bind the back together as well, so I can now hang it on my wall, where it's been dying to be for months now. :) It's the best Thanksgiving present of all time. :) Could I be any happier?! I think not. :) I was going to post a picture of the final project for your viewing pleasure. But I've already put this post off long enough. Just trust me. It's beautiful. :) AND it only cost me a total of about $25. The prints are a good $300-$400. I feel pleased.