So Thankful!

This was my first Thanksgiving away from my family, and I am so grateful that I have such wonderful in-laws that I was able to spend it with. All of Mike's family is so welcoming and loving, and they quickly accepted me into the family when we got married. We all stayed at his grandparent's house in Alpine. I had to work Monday- Wednesday of this week, but then got the rest of the week off. I have never worked or went to school the day before Thanksgiving before, so I found the part of the day while I was at work to be rather dreary. Thanksgiving's past, my family would spend Wednesday cooking all the desserts & making bread, playing games, going on hikes and spending time together. I have decided I am never working another Wednesday before thanksgiving, because I would rather spend the day with loved ones.

Once I finally got off work, Mike and I went to the men's BYU basketball game. It was my first time going to a BYU basketball game, so it was pretty fun, especially since the Cougars won. After, we drove to Grandma & Grandpa Hilton's to stay there for a few days.

We woke up early Thanksgiving morning to run a Turkey Trot 5k with Dallin, Alyssa, and his parents. We all did great in the race, with everyone beating their time goal. Mine was to run it under 25 minutes. I ran it in 24:20. We all agreed tho, that we would have done even better if it wasn't so cold. The first mile, I felt sick and my lungs were burning. I do all of my training on a treadmill indoors, so I am not used to being out in the cold. Mike, who never runs (he bikes almost every day outside, and lifts at the gym), beat me by 15 seconds! Boys! Don't even have to train, and they are still faster. I was proud of him though, and how athletic he is. I got 3rd place for my age group, so I won a pie! That was my second goal, was to win a pie. When we arrived, and I saw over 800 people were running in the race, I decided I would just be happy to beat my 25 minute goal. Surprisingly, I accomplished both goals.

 After, we went back to Grandma's and she made us a big breakfast with cinnamon & orange rolls, scrambled eggs, juice and egg nog. Denae and Malcolm came and we got to spend the day with them, and her little baby belly. Mike's cousin Michelle also came to visit for a few hours with her little boys Keaton & Everett. They are the cutest little boys. In the afternoon, we had a wonderful feast.

Friday, we woke up and went to walk off some of the dinner from the day before. I also did an Insanity workout for the first time with Alyssa. We went to Salt Lake to shop at the Gateway mall and meet up with Mike's good friend he grew up with named Josh.  We went to dinner at Biaggi's, an Italian restaurant, and then to the JAZZ vs. KINGS basketball game. I know I will never be a Jazz fan, so I rooted for the Kings. Mike is a Jimmer fan, so at least I could justify rooting for the Kings, even though my one love is the Dallas Mavericks. The Jazz won by 2 points. It was a very close game tho, so it kept things exciting. Mike's cousin Emily and her husband Sam were also at the game! So we got to sit by them, and then went out for frozen yogurt after. They were in town from North Dakota.

I will have to continue the rest of the weekend in another post, for fear this is growing too long. I am so thankful for ALL of my family across the nation, for my incredibly good looking and athletic husband, for holiday spirit, for amazing food, for the opportunity to make fun memories, and all of the wonderful blessings in my life. Michael and I are truly beyond blessed.