Thanksgiving Break

The whole fam came out to Utah to celebrate Thanksgiving. Emily stayed with me one night, which meant there was a whole lot of just dancing happening.

Also, we made sock puppets together. 

Mark came to dinner with the whole fam one night. He and Matthew were wearing matching shoes, so I guess that makes them instant friends. 

Everyone wanted in on the shoe picture. Too bad we didn't all match.

We started Thanksgiving morning right by running a 5k. All the participants are pictured below (the toughest in the family it would appear): 

Here I am zooming down a hill. If only the whole race had been like this. Unfortunately, we rounded the first corner into the canyon and it was a straight vertical climb for the first half of the race. I thought I was going to die. 

But I survived! And as a reward was given a chocolate chip bagel. So worth it. Oh, and Matthew placed 3rd overall. No big. 

After the race we freshened up and then met Greg and Liss at the movie theater to see Wreck it Ralph, which we all loved. Then we head to my Aunt Merry's house for a most delicious dinner followed by a delicious dessert bar. 

The next morning started off early for my mother and I. We went to H&M at 5am only to discover that they decided to change their opening time to 6am. WHAT? We waited in line and got coupons, making it mostly worth it.

Later that day we hung out with some elves. 

We ate a delicious breakfast every morning such as the one pictured below:

Friday evening we had a family reunion with all of my mother's family. After that we headed over to see the lights at temple square, which were incredible as always. 

That night we were surprised by an early Christmas present: matching pajamas!!!! 

On Saturday my mom took us girls to see a sculptor who was friends with our grandpa. He showed us around his studio and explained how he casts his large bronze statues. It was quite impressive.

That night we had a progressive dinner starting with appetizers...

and ending with dessert at a French bakery.

I guess you could say life is good when you're a Livingston.

One Year

I don't know how, but it happened. I have officially been home from my mission for one year. 

November 8, 2011:

Hna Lee, Adams, Evans, and I about to leave San Diego. 

Tragic.

November 8, 2012

Hna Adams, Lee, and I (we called Hna Evans, who is in Idaho).

Luckily, we are still friends.

Election Day Parade Puppets

In my puppetry class we had to make Parade Puppets for an election day rally. We group made two boxing ballot boxes with elephant and donkey features. Here they are midway through the process:

Another kid in my class made a politician who played the ringmaster of the boxing match. Here are the finished products:

All the people it took to make them:

I spent most of the time in the elephant box fighting the other girl who was in the donkey one.

I switched out at the end and managed to get some photos of the action.

It appears that both sides lost in the end.

A political statement perhaps?

It was a way fun project that drew a pretty big crowd of students out and about in between classes. Success.

Guy Fawkes Day

In preparation of our celebrating Guy Fawkes Day, Mark and I made a papier mache dummy of Guy Fawkes. 

First, we made a mold out of newspaper.

We then covered the mold in papier mache. Matt came to help out at this stage. 

We hung him to dry in Mark's garage, hoping he wouldn't scare anyone too badly if they walked in and saw him hanging there.

The next day we painted him.

And he spent some time meandering through Mark's yard.

He had a tendency to sneak up and try to scare us.

When he finally dried, we added a face and cape.

Mark needed a Guy Fawkes mask of his own to properly celebrate. Here he is amongst some superheroes we ran into.

We added hair and a hat, and voila! Guy Fawkes.

We each posed with him and the mask. Mark:

Megan:

Me:

It seemed such a shame to burn him, but alas, that was why we made him. 

I think the pictures speak for themselves. It was pretty epic.