To Paradise and Back..

   It literally feels like yesterday that I left for Hawaii. I actually left a week ago and I am already back. I can't really figure out to to feel quite yet because it went by so fast. Obviously, I'm sad to have left a beautiful island with beautiful weather to come back to cold and snowy Utah. But, it is nice to be back in my own bed and be able to really focus on the things I need to without being distracted by the ocean and nice weather.
  It was a really fun trip! We won the tournament and played some awesome basketball. We really played well as a team and that is always a lot of fun. We beat some very talented teams, which is really good for us. It wasn't just all basketball (which I'm so grateful for). We were able to go to the beach several times, surf, shop, eat shave ice, go to a luau (amazing food), went to the Polynesian Cultural Center... it was fun! My parents were able to come, as well as my Grandparents! It was really fun to have them there since I never get to see them. I was grateful that I actually had time to see them! We are constantly on the go, but luckily I was able to spend time with my parents.
  We came home on the redeye flight last night. I will say this... those flights are absolutely brutal. Especially if you have a hard time sleeping on planes. I'm tall, so it is difficult to get comfortable and I'm a really light sleeper and the lady's overhead light that was on during the whole flight didn't make it any easier to get some shut eye. It was a long trip and a busy trip and I am exhausted!!

My grandpa and I at the Luau! 

Handing out necklaces at the Luau! So much fun! This was before I ate my entire weight in decadent food. The Hawaiians say... "Don't eat until you're full, eat until you're tired".... I took it literally. I could have fallen asleep at the table.

Mango smoothie by the beach? Yes please.

I would take the ocean for my backyard.

We beat the University of Arizona over in Hawaii and were lucky to have a lot of fans come out! Our football team was playing in Honolulu on Saturday, so a lot of BYU fans were on the island and came to support us. It was like a home-court advantage! Such a sweet win! 

   As much fun as I had in Hawaii.. I am glad to be back and to get back into the swing of things. That being said... SCHOOL is not one of those things. Just thinking of how much I need to do to stay caught up and have hopes of doing well, makes me quiver. Almost done. 2 more weeks, 2 more weeks, 2 more weeks....

  Also... I LOVE Christmas! I am really getting into the spirit of it now that I'm back and it feels like winter. I am loving pandora.com, listening to all the Christmas classics. I'm looking forward to all the movies, food and traditions! I don't get to be home this year for very long, so I'm trying to make the entire Christmas experience as joyous as I can, no matter where I am! It's a wonderful time of year. I can't wait to see all of my family and Travis!