Home for Thanksgiving!

After several exams and countless late nights at the library, Thanksgiving break began to sound better and better. I was lucky enough to have my classes canceled for the week and was able to leave for home on Sunday. However, my parents thought I was leaving that Tuesday, and the look on their faces when I surprised them was absolutely priceless.

Of course the first couple days over break I just had to spend my time on the couch watching the Harry Potter marathon, playing with my puppy, and simply enjoy being lazy. I hadn’t seen my little sister in over two months prior to Thanksgiving break, so I was more than happy to spend time with her while my parents were working. We had fabulous dress up parties, where she begged me to teach her how to put makeup on, and spent a lot of our time at Build-A-Bear. One of my favorite moments with my little sister over break was when she told me that she couldn’t wait to be a Zeta when she grew up so she could have best friends just like me.

Once Thanksgiving came around the corner, my family and I made our way to my grandmother’s house where we’ve spent Thanksgiving every single year. My entire family is enormous, and we all live in close proximity to each other, so let's just say it was a full house on that bright and early morning. My grandmother always prepares the most amazing and mouthwatering Thanksgiving lunch for all of us, and I am not exaggerating when I say that the second she is done setting out all of the dishes, there is an immediate fight and battle to be first in line for food. She makes turkey, ham, stuffing, five different pies, and side dishes galore. After everyone is done eating, traditionally we all gathered together to relax and watch a movie. This year’s movie was The Heat, which resulted in a lot of funny and shocked expressions from my grandmother. I cannot express how great it was to see my huge and crazy family on Thanksgiving. There was so much love in the atmosphere and made me realize how blessed I really was.

Ever since last year at Christmas I've told my mother that my family was not allowed to put our Christmas tree and decorations up without me while I was at college. So during the final days of my Thanksgiving break, my mother, sister, and I spent our time transforming the casual Donham house into the North Pole, and I would like to thank Pinterest for this. Putting up the Christmas tree has always been special to me because it brings our family together and we get to start the Christmas season off as a family.

Although Thanksgiving break flew by way too quickly, it was a spectacular time spent with extraordinary people. Even though my family does not do anything too big for Thanksgiving, all we really need is each other and we always make the most amazing memories. I could not have asked for a better Thanksgiving break and it just made me more excited to be home for Christmas. This is why I love the holiday season; everything is about being with your loved ones and being thankful for all that you have been given.

ZLAM,

Madi Donham PC '13