Thanksgiving at Home far from Home

Does that title make sense? To me it does, because I honestly feel that Texas is becoming my home. I know I know we haven't been here very long, but man Texas is really growing on Dan and I. We really like it here! I must say that I am a bit surprised to say I like somewhere else other than Rexburg, but its true.

So this past week with Thanksgiving, well except for my dear Canadian friends and family who read my blog, to them it was just an ordinary day, but for you other readers it was a time to be together with family, and friends and say exactly what you were thankful for without sounding cheesy or foolish. Its a wonderful tradition which I love. But as we all know 2009 hasn't been a very ordinary year for Dan and I and of course Thanksgiving wasn't the exception. MY FIRST THANKSGIVING AWAY FROM HOME! To be truthfully honest I was completely dreading it. I hated knowing that my family was going to home on Thanksgiving doing the Mendenhall traditions like watching the Macy's Thanksgiving day parade while my dad has on this 1990's green apron chopping something. my mom preparing her amazing rolls and putting in the turkey. I could almost smell the sent of my house and the hustle and bustle to get everything done. It wouldn't be thanksgiving without all that happening at my house. So I was, I completely was dreading this holiday!

Thanksgiving day came, and I had an amazing day! It started basically at 8:00 am when Dan got up to go play some football with some friends. Of course there has to be a turkey bowl! I got up with him and started to prepare some of the dishes I was making for Thanksgiving dinner. I watched the Macy's Thanksgiving day parade, and had on a green apron. I guess some traditions never die. Dan got home, and we headed over to our friends home. All I can say is Thank goodness for amazing friends because I know it would have been a weird holiday without them! We finished making Thanksgiving dinner, scooped out the good sales for black Friday, and sat down for a delicious Thanksgiving dinner. My friend Lauren definitely knows what she is doing in the kitchen, she is such a good cook! We sat down at the dinner table and ate, ate, and ate! It was so good! We cleaned up and headed to the movies. We left the movies going our separate directions just to meet back up in 5 hours for the Black Friday Sales.

Yep thats right, Rob and Lauren went to go get in line at Sears at 3 a.m. while Dan and I held the line at Radio Shack! Rob and Lauren met up with us in line, and we started our shopping. We got some amazing deals! Holy smokes it was so much fun. My adrenaline was pumping like a mad women. It was great! we all got what we went for and walked away feeling exhausted but satisfied. The four of us had an early breakfast and then it was time to go back to bed! It felt so good to crawl back into after waking up at 3! Later that night we went back over to Rob and Lauren's for left overs and to watch a movie on their new flat screen and surround sound system. They hit some good sales for that. I am a firm believer that if you take those ad's and make a plan then you will get a good deal!

All in all it was a good thanksgiving. I can tell you that this will be a Thanksgiving that I will never forget. I hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving, and are getting ready for a very Merry Christmas! Here are some pictures. We didn't get a lot but a few!

Ha ha Lauren probably right in the middle of saying something

Yep, Dan just hanging out

Lauren and I finishing up Dinner

Lauren's beautiful Turkey!

Rob was very proud of his electric carving knife, He did a great job carving the turkey

The Boys doing the dishes

Me planning out the next days shopping route, and in the store plans!

AmaZiNg!!!

Words cannot express the excitement, the fun, and the laughter that my three sisters, sister-in-law, my mom, and I shared through our Journey in NEW YORK CITY.

This trip meant so much to me because I was able to see my family! I won't be going home for Thanksgiving this year, and its harder then I thought, but knowing that I just had the most amazing experience with my mom and sisters helps me get through. I honestly can't say the next time I am going to see my family, hopefully soon, but New York definetly was AWESOME. I love my family, and love being apart of it. I Love how close my family is, and how all my sisters and mom are my best friends, besides dan of course ha ha. Anyways I made this video to capture the basics of our trip, but if you don't want to watch it you can just look at some of the pictures I posted.

ENJOY! oh if you watch this video, make sure to turn off my blog music down at the bottom! also if you want to watch it bigger double click on the screen!

Street Market! Us chowing down on some watermelon

All of us girl eating at the Shake Shack, Best hamburgers ever!

Brooke an I on a chilly New York Night

Smiling for the Camera

Eating Lunch at Central Park before we hit the streets

Waiting for the Subway

Me and my mom at the statue of Liberty

OUR LIMO RIDE TO MEGS APARTMENT

After the Yankee Parade, Yankee's just won world series

Of course megan showing canal street who is boss

All of us at the Statue of Liberty

So happy to be in new york!

Here is how we slept every night, it actually worked out pretty well

all us girls at the airport

Surprised Anniversary

Now I am about to brag about the best husband in the world!

Dan and I are about to celebrate our 2 year anniversary on the 10th of November and really I wasn't expecting much this year, simply because it falls on a Tuesday which is hard for Dan to get away with School, and I will be in New York that week so really I was thinking dinner Tuesday night when I got home, and Dan got done with school, Do a little kissy kissy and call it a night. Really I had no problem with this. But Dan had a different idea.

Dan told me to be home by home 2 on Saturday, ya I had to go in to work for a while, but thats not the point. The point is he told me to pack some classy clothes for the evening and comfy clothes for the next day. I threw an over night bag together and got in the car. We headed North for Dallas, we pull into the City about 3:30 and drove into the hotel... Remember Dan planned all this. We were staying at the Adolphus Hotel right in the heart of the city. The rooms were beautiful. We did some stuff and I was told to start getting ready. about 6:00 I had my high heals on, my pearls around my neck and a huge smile on my face with the excitement of the night.

We strolled down the city, and I was honestly expecting to be heading to like an Olive Garden or some place like that, I do admit that Dan and I aren't the richest students out there, so going out to eat is a huge treat for us, but this was beyond expectations. We head into a restaurant called "craft". Owned by Tom Colicchio. Now the reason why this was the most greatest place to be and so thoughtful, is this restaurant you have to make reservations like 2 weeks in advance, and because I am a huge fan of TOP CHEF, It literally is my favorite show and Tom is the Head judge of the show, also a well known and respected chef. Dan knew I have always wanted to eat at one of his restaurants and here we were walking in to this place being treated like royalty.

This place, I cannot even put into words, was immaculate. The waiter's were so on top of things that we didn't even realize when our plates were being switched. I admit that half the things on the menu I had no clue what they were, but I didn't care I mean I was in Tom Colicchio's restaurant. We spent the next 2 hours eating, and eating and eating. I can honestly say it was the best food I have ever eaten in my entire life. Chef's like that really know how to treat food. I mean nothing needed salt, dipping sauces, vinegar, everything was an explosion of taste. I really can't explain it except that unbelievable. we received complimentary dishes for it being our anniversary which was a nice little surprise The bill came and I couldn't even look. ha ha I won't even say how much it was but know that we probably won't be eating a meal like that for a long, long while. after we ate, Dan took me to a movie theater to watch a little haunted film. I mean it was Halloween after all so he thought we would do something a little spooky. We went back to our Hotel..... Woke up had a great breakfast, and it was time to leave our little fantasy life, and back to our apartment.

Sorry I know that this was a lot of detail for a restaurant, but it meant so much to me that Dan would do something so great for me, and I was so excited. He works so hard, and is one of the smartest people I know, and I am not just saying that because I am married to him. He is brilliant and he is going to do great things in his life. I love Dan with all of my heart. Happy 2nd Anniversary Sweetheart!

Right outside of the restaurant

Inside at our table. We had our own little private setting, it was great!

simple night complex pumpkins

This story does not include many photos. It does not include a bunch of people laughing, hugging, or fake smiling for the camera. No This story involves two people who are madly in love spending a well deserved free night of pumpkin carving. No friends, no gimmicks just us, The Lancasters. We haven't had the time to do anything just me and him so we took the advantage of pumpkin carving and made it a full nights event. Dan and I love our friends dearly, we couldn't be more lucky when it comes to friends and family, But sometimes we get caught up in going with friends every weekend. Spending every free minute with people and hanging out. This year pumpkin carving was simple, and it was Awesome, I have to admit we do a pretty good job laughing and entertaining ourselves. anyways here are our pumpkins for this year. The turned out pretty good.

Dan's is the Pumpkin Scarecrow and Mine is the Skeleton Face.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!

Blogging about Stuff

I just got home from work and Dan just headed to Dallas for a 2nd interview with an oil company, so I am home all alone just waiting to head off to mutual. I don't think I told you but I was called into the young women's. Its great I love the girls, but about that later. I thought that this would be a good time to blog about my first adventure home. You don't have to read this first of all because its mostly just me reminiscing about my trip, second there are no pictures, and well there isn't a third so moving on.

I flew into Salt lake on Wednesday. The flights were awesome, I had all three seats to myself so I was able to lay down. my parents picked me up and we went to the hotel room. We did get dinner at California pizza. I must say it was so great to see my parents again. I know it has only been like 2 months and I am going to see them again in like 3 weeks but it just felt good. My cousin Spencer got married the next day.

Thursday: so we met up with my sisters and hubby's and went to the wedding. After the wedding we drove home. Mich came with sager which was great to be able to spend time with her.

Friday: was spent jammed in a car driving to raftriver for the reception. 9 bodies in a 7 passenger car doesn't feel so good when its for 3 hours. But we made it and survived!

Saturday: was general conference so what else is there to do besides shop! we loaded in the car once again and made the trip to Idaho falls for a little girl time. we had lunch and shopped at mini Bizzar which is one of our favorite places to shop.

Sunday: was a lazy but great day. we listened to conference which was really awesome this session. we ate so much and played some games. mostly mall madness because its my favorite game. Turns out my dad is really good at that game ha ha.

Monday: Mich went home, I had breakfast with our friend Adam and his girlfriend, Lunch with my mom, Mich before she left and my Dad and then Dinner with my best friend from high school Megs. It was so much fun and so good to see her. Even though we live forever away from each other, when ever we get together we just pickup right where we left off. We were at Applebees for about 3 hours just talking and catching up. it was really fun.

Tuesday: was a filled day also. I had lunch with the girls who I used to work with. Its always good to see them and catch up. Then Dinner was spent with my two very good friends Christy and Samantha. My friend Samantha is pregnant, ha she beat me, but we will catch up. So it was good to see both of them and here how there lives were going.

Wednesday: came to quickly. It was time to fly home. My dear sweet mother drove me to the airport and we said our good byes. We didn't cry I was very proud of ourselves. So I flew home and got off the plane and saw my perfect husband with a bouquet of flowers.

I am home now. I will admit that I was a lot more homesick this go around then I was when I first moved. I am much better now just a day or two of filling sick to my stomach, but things are now good. We couldn't be more blessed to have such wonderful parents and friends to support us. Dan and I are so lucky to have found some good friends out here in Texas, we just hope the good fortune keeps coming our way.

We dehydrate things!

Turns out dehydrating foods is the best most entertaining thing! One Sunday Dan and I are sitting in sacrament, ya know just chillin, and we look over and a little girl had a fruit leather. Dan turns to me and says that looks really good. We both instantly thought well lets get a dehydrator. I mean why not buy our own fruit, blend it and make a huge mess and sit and wait for 4 days to get fruit leather instead of walking down the street and get a box for $3.00. Oh no, here, us Lancaster's do it the cool way, and that's the dehydration way. we can make our own fruit leather. so we buy a dehydrator. BEST THING EVER. We have so much fun dehydrating foods. So far everything has turned out. Its great too because we get to add things to our food storage.

The dehydrator has the most soothing sound, practically saying "Everything is going to be ok once you have some of my delicious dried Cinnamon apples in you". I really think electronics and I have a connection. Dan made Terriyaki jerky and it was way good. Heck with the store brand our jerky frikin rocks!

Weekend Birthday for Dan, BIG 25!!

Well Hello, I feel bad because I haven't posted in a while but things have been a little crazy. but I am not here to talk about that today, no I am here to talk about my amazing husband's birthday. THE BIG 25! ha ha some of you will say wow that is still really young, and some will say wow thats old,(that would be Dan) but I just tell him that he has accomplished a lot being only 25, I told him he is a head of the game compared to a lot of people so it made him feel a little bit better, he tells me now all we need is a kid and things would be perfect, so we will see.

This big 25 birthday was not just celebrated one day but THREE days. Here is how the weekend went. On Thursday we went over to some of our friends house to have a Dinner for Dan. We were going to do it on his actual birthday, but well ya know things come up. ha ha anyways so we celebrated with our friends Rob and Lauren and just hung out all night it was really fun. Friday(September 18th) was Dan's actual birthday. Of course he had school all day, so I spent the day making a cake, decorating the apartment and getting his birthday gifts bought and wrapped. We went out to eat at one of Dan's new favorite restaurants and then came back for the rest of his birthday. I sang happy birthday to him, and gave him his cake. He feels pretty special because his favorite cake is chocolate forest cake, and I hate chocolate cake so he gets to eat the whole thing by himself, and he did!

Then what better way to make a guy feel young again? Take him to a rock punk concert where he can bob his head and jam out. Luckily I liked the bands too so it worked out for the both of us. We went to a Blink 182 concert in Dallas. Asher Rob, All American Rejects, Fall out Boy, and Blink 182 played. It was SO MUCH FUN! Dan and I are lucky to like the same type of music. I feel kinda guilty because I am in like the biggest Country music State and I hate country music, but you just keep that kind of information to yourself.

So we went to this concert, we were surrounded by weed smokers, and basically the whole night was awesome. I have never been so grateful for fresh air when we got out of the fair grounds. Dan had a great time which of course was the most important part. It was a great 25th birthday for Dan, and I can't wait for the next one.

These are just some pics of Dan's Birthday and the Concert.

About to open Presents!

The balloon I got him said "So many Candles, So little Cake" ha ha because he is old!

Uh, I can't remember what he is unwrapping but him just unwrapping gifts

Black Forest Cake! YEP I MADE IT ALL BY MYSELF

Singing happy birthday!

Getting ready for the concert to start. We were lucky because its been so rainy, but it actually turned out to be a nice night.

Fall out boy. I didn't get any of All American Rejects. I wish I did though, he was butt drunk and he did the show in nothing but blue skimpy underwear it was so funny!

Resting between band shows

Blink 182. They were really good live! Except for all the swearing. ha ha that got a little old