H

H is for HP and by that I mean Harry Potter. I love it. I spent many years thoroughly invested in those characters and I don't regret a second of it.

While stuck in the car waiting to get out of the parking garage after a concert, everyone pulls out their copy of HP.

Just look how it brings people together.

At the midnight showing of #6.

Birthday theme party

H is also for Honks (HONKS!) which has also brought us many a good time and many a cheap tattoo as seen here:

The best of both worlds: Honks tattoo at HP theme party.

G

I'm grateful for the letter g, brought to us by google. Not only is google the best search engine, and gmail the best email, the g has gotten me through many a boring summer job. Anything can be included in the gworld just by adding this beautiful letter in front. Give it a try. You'll love it.

Occasionally, when I go to type in a search term, my list of recent searches comes up, and I chuckle to myself. Some of my recent google searches: "caring for potted chrysanthemums," "national pygmy goat association," "IRC 215," "IRC 71," and "christina ricci."

Also, I want to share a list my dear sister sent me when I didn't post yesterday.

If you are struggling for something that starts with G here are some ideas--grandparents, gerbils***, goats (don't you girls have a thing for goats), games, gangstas, gatorade, genes (like the gene that gives us fat knees), gmail, gchat, goggles, glitter, gyms, gum, gummy worms*, green sippy cups with unknown contents**,

Joey Gladstone & Kimmy Gibbler, golf, grazing, green (you could use that sweet pic of you jumping all decked out in green), etc.

Also today, a special g-shout out to the Grounds Crew, who are so valiantly trying to keep up with the crazy snowfall that has not stopped in the past 2 days. I applaud your efforts and only wish you would come shovel my driveway.

Ok, g-see you later! (And for most of you, I probably will.)

*I would add gummy-vites. Crazy delicious. So much better than old people vitamins.

**This refers to a particularly scarring childhood experience.

***Meh. Maybe. Hampty and Jennifer? Were they gerbils? Actually, judging from Hampty's name, I'm going with hamsters. Whatev.

I'm grateful for Finals!!!

PSYCH! (They are ruining my [Jill's] life.)

F is for Fishtails.

Thanks Logan.

E

E is for England!

Anyone who knows me knows how I feel about England. I had the opportunity a couple of years ago to go on a study abroad there and it was the best. I love the culture, architecture, landscapes and basically everything about England. I met some of the most fantastic people and had some of the best experiences of my life there. Last summer I was able to go back with one of my brothers and experience it in a whole different way and I only love it more, so yay for England!

Tower of London

Tower Bridge

Oxford

Kew Gardens

Big Ben

Other things that we like that start with the letter E: Eggs. Jill makes a killer omelet. Ask her sometime. Come to think of it I don't know that I've seen anyone surpass her scrambled egg making skills either. Just sayin.

D

D is for Dancing.

I am grateful for all things involving dance. I grew up dancing and loved it (I'm having a flash back to that part in Girls Just Want to Have Fun when SJP is introducing herself to her new class and she says she loves to dance and everyone looks and her kind of weird) and I feel like I can say that I appreciate all kinds of dance...except modern, that's not really my thing. I love the occasional SYTYCD episode and let's not even talk about such great dance movies as Step Up and Step Up 2: The Streets etc. Also, who doesn't love a good dance party?

On a boat in NYC

Valentines Day and campfire dance parties

Step Up 2: The Streets

Ballet and Michael Jackson. Classic.

Now if only I had access to the footage from my Good Old Summertime Ballet Recital when I shouted at my friend Rachel on stage that she was doing it wrong. Good stuff I tell you. Good stuff.

Other things that we are grateful for starting with the letter D: dads, deodorant.

Now what starts with the letter C? Cookie starts with C!*

Actually, this post is about something else that defined our summer: Cotton Candy. Mostly Tear Jerker Cotton Candy(best $0.99 I ever spent...like 45 times). That stuff is magical. The moment I saw it on display in the Bookstore, I knew that it must be present at all major events of the summer. I was the saddest when they ran out and I realized they were not getting in a new shipment. It meant summer WOULD come to an end. But if you ever come across it, here is a piece of advice: get the puffiest bag you can find. It will be the most potent, and therefore, the most excellent.

Chelsea experiencing TJCC for the first time on the way to a softball game. The epitome of summer.

4th of July at Bear Lake

fireworks are more explosive with TJ Cotton Candy

at the Harry Potter premiere

Dave loves cotton candy more than donuts.

at the Mapleton Pioneer Day parade. "Mapleton is our town." This was confirmed when cotton candy was available.

Other C things: cookies (I had one for breakfast just this morning), Carrie, Chelsea (because she asked, even though she won't read this), Cindy, Cardio Cinema (I was in a bad mood last night until I went to the gym and Step Up 2: The Streets was playing in the CC. Cured my bad mood instantly. That and the kid wearing the shirt that said "24/7/365."), Christmas trees, coats.

* I just learned that today is actually the 40th anniversary of Cookie Monster's first appearance on Sesame Street. How perfect.

B

B is for Back-up plans.

I am grateful for the back-up plans in my life (e.g., Helaman Halls, BYU Law, abstinence, Logan, etc.).

They are champs.

Because what if things turned out the way I thought I wanted them in the first place?

Other gratitude-inducing things that start with B: baby animals, baby humans, Boyz II Men concerts, Book of Mormon, brothers, Banana Republic, boy bands.