Cross-Eyed Sam

Halloween time is here again, and even though we aren't huge Halloween people, we did have some fun taking part in the festivities.  We got another pumpkin to carve from the same place we went last year:  The Pumpkin Patch!

Over the next couple of days we slowly chipped away at our masterpiece.

We decided this year we would go with a more traditional design as well.

Thus was born Cross-Eyed Sam!

He looked pretty great outside our front door.

The Silent Assassin

So we have been going to a few of Jake's basketball games lately, and it has been pretty fun.  Jake is that one guy that Anna is dating.  I don't want to praise him too much, but DUDE CAN PLAY!!!  You can tell that he has skill because he changes into special shoes before the game and changes out of them after.  Only serious ballers do that.  

The best part about Jake, too, is that you almost never hear him make a sound on the court.  He just goes about his business, dismantling the defense, breaking ankles, and using off-ball screens to softly sink the outside J.  He truly is a silent assassin.

We are silent assassins on the sideline, though.  DANG WE LOOK GOOD!

She just really supports him in everything he does.

Roll Tide!

Back L to R:  Elder Knight, Elder Street, Me, Elder Humphrey, Elder Pope Front L to R: Sister Gustafson, Sister Peterson, Sister Butterfield, Sister Madsen

My second district left earlier this week to New Mexico and Alabama!  The turnover is a little bit crazy.  I have now taught in one month the same number of districts that I taught in Spanish after four months.  These posts might become more consistent than my cereal reviews...

Trip to Disneyland

Sean and I took a last minute trip to Disneyland.  Sean had the weekend off work and some classes that were cancelled for Friday, and I was able to finagle my work schedule last minute and on Wednesday night we decided we were going to leave for California Friday afternoon!

Sean's parents were in California for the week for work and a vacation and we didn't want to miss a chance to get in some time with them and at Disneyland.

On the way up Sean commented that this would be my 4th time at Disneyland in the last 6 months.  When you say that it sounds rather excessive!  With our 3 day excursion in may and this last trip, he is right.  But it is also my 4th time to Disneyland in my life.

We took lots of video while we were there and made this little video to remember our trip!

Gilmore Glamour

Here is the family picture we took in August.  I think it turned out pretty well!  Click on it to see a larger version.

Hiccups

Never a dull moment!  Cory got a case of the hiccups and went to great lengths to find a cure.  As I sat doing my homework, all I heard was, "I need a straw! Hurry as fast as you can!"  This was the scene I found upon arrival.  Long story short:  It cured her hiccups.  These are the silly moments I think we should remember.

Acoustic Explosion

Cory and I both had the night off, and it was perfect timing because Brett was perfroming in BYU's Acoustic Explosion.   Listen, I have been a fan of Brett's music since "Two Dreams" hit the airwaves.  The performance was at The Wall, which is a fairly new lounge/cafe on BYU campus.  It was the first time I had ever been, and it was pretty legit.  Brett was one of five performers.  Needless to say, he ROCKED it.

As lead harmonica in his band, I committed to Brett that I would be ready to accompany him in the next performance.  Seriously though, Brett got the loudest ovation at the end of his set.  We should have sent around a pre-order list for a CD and capitalized on that momentum.

Great job, Brett!  Play "Two Dreams" next time!

Restart the Count!

Back L to R:  Elder Stone, Elder Mangrum, Elder Brown, Me, Elder Wangsgard.  Front L to R:  Sister Urness, Sister Johnson, Sister Cardon, Sister Page.

It is time to restart my district count at #1!  My first English district left last night after two weeks together at the new West Campus.  It was really awesome, and they are going to do awesome things in Fort Collins, Colorado.  It was different than I expected (maybe because it was 12 days, not 6 weeks) but the doctrine of the gospel is the same, and their purpose as missionaries is the same!  

Menaces to Society

My bros Brett and Kyle turned 25!  We celebrated with burgers at Red Robin.  Shane, Jenna, Zach, and Joanna were also there, but we forgot to take a picture.  I sure do love these guys, and am proud that they are halfway to 50!  Now, no pressure, but get married you bums, but don't settle, but also don't be too picky, but also have some standards, but don't be self-righteous, but make sure to have a double wedding so I save on air-fare.  

Concealed Handgun Class

My mom planned a girls weekend for Sarah, Anna, and I to come up and spend some time together.  I had really been looking forward to time with them and to time off work.

Anna and I drove up together and stopped at a smelly and fly infested gas station that we both quickly agreed we would not stop at on the way back.  We got in late Friday night, but stayed up chatting and catching up.

The big activity planned was for all of us to take a concealed handgun class together and learn about gun safety and self defense. We were up early on Saturday morning and headed out to a shooting range where they had what were called pistol pits where we were set up to take our gun class.

I wasn't nervous at all until it was time to actually shoot.  The brass shot out of the gun and flew right at my face.  I literally thought the gun had malfunctioned and I had just shot myself in the face.  After a minor freak out I looked around and no one else seemed to be having the same problem.  The whole day I had brass flying at me after every shot and a couple times when it would hit my chest and fall into my shirt and burn me.  It was not pleasurable and I had small burns on my chest later that night.  I was having a hard time enjoying myself, but was a good shot.  Sarah, Anna, and my mom were having a great time and feeling empowered.  I was about ready to give up.  It wasn't until after the 4th piece off brass burned me inside my shirt that the instructor gave me a different gun.  I shot it and...nothing.  He said that the new gun was set up so the brass shot out to the side more dramatically than the one previously.  It pretty much changed the rest of the day for me.

We all had tons of fun and it was fun to all learn together and cheer each other on during drills.  We are pretty much ready to fight anyone who comes at us now, except that Sarah is the only one that actually has her own gun.

I don't see myself ever wanting to buy a gun, it was a little bit scary sometimes to think that I could actually kill someone with what was in my hands.  I don't know if I want that type of power.

Here we are with all our gear, cheesing it for the camera!

Kellogg's Frosted Mini Wheats--Touch of Fruit

I am actually kind of over these cereal posts, but in the rare occasion someone actually brings up my blog in conversation, they always mention these posts.  I can't tell if they are mocking me or not.  Anyway, Frosted Mini Wheats - Touch of Fruit in the Middle was pretty good, but I think it is only for certain people.  Every time I ate it Cory scrunched up her nose as if it was giving off some foul odor.  I think that was her way of communicating she thought the concept was gross.  I give it a B.

Adios, Muchachos

I knew this day would come.  I have officially taught my last day as a Spanish teacher at the MTC.  I definitely do not appreciate the magnitude of that last statement, yet.  I have been teaching missionaries in Spanish for almost three years, and it has been life-changing.  So many people have had an influence on me while in the Spanish area, from supervisors, to other teachers, and especially the missionaries.  

The good news is that I am staying at the MTC, but will be teaching English districts.  An opportunity came up to follow my Training Coordinator to a new area he will be supervising, assuring me a job until I graduate in April.  It is going to be a big change, for sure, but a good change.  It is kind of fitting, as well, that the last district I taught had missionaries going to the Buenos Aires West mission, which is where I served.  I had never taught missionaries going to my mission up to that point.  So Adios Elderes y Hermanas!  And Hello Elders and Sisters.  Here is a look back on the missionaries that I was fortunate enough to teach.  These are only districts that I was officially assigned to, and there were many more missionaries that I was blessed to work with.

L to R:  Elder North, Elder Porter, Elder Roberts, Elder Hutchinson, Me, Elder Steiner, Elder Collins, Elder Lammi, Elder Michael

My 17th and last Spanish district.

L to R:  Elder Drollinger, Elder Hale, Hna. Allen, Hna. Lee, Hna. Southwick, Hna. Lauaki-Sablan, Me, Elder Page, Elder Andrews

16th district.

L to R:  Elder Platt, Elder Hawks, Elder Meldrum, Hno. Albaugh, Elder Hales, Elder Burnell, Me, Elder Mathis, Elder Bonham, Elder Ricks, Elder White

15th district.

L to R:  Hna. Dunn, Hna. Sorensen, Elder Mowdy, Elder Rios, Elder Jacobsen, Elder Atkin, Elder Callister, Elder Urbina, Me, Elder Roundy, Elder Borsboom, Hna. Wright, Hna. Oldham

14th district.

L to R:  Back - Elder Packer, Elder Cotter, Hna. Brox, Elder Beard, Me, Elder Maddox, Hna. Taylor, Elder Shaw, Front - Elder Jackson, Hna. Beu, Hna. Castleton, Hna. Peterson, Hna. Rane

13th district.

L to R:  Back - Elder Knight, Elder Barker, Elder Nieves, Me, Elder Arnold, Elder Ferney, Elder Nielsen, Front - Hna. Hazelgren, Hna. Krage, Hna. Layton, Hna. Gimenes

12th district.

L to R:  Front-Elder Webb, Elder Tensmeyer, Elder Parry, Elder Christensen, Me, Elder Moore, Hna. Workman, Front-Elder Olsen, Elder Hyde, Hna. Ogletree, Hna. Hamblin

11th district.

L to R:  Elder Swenson, Elder Richards, Elder Smith, Elder Gabbitas, Elder Stott, Me, Elder Paredes, Elder Huber, Elder Call, Elder Yates, Not pictured-Elder Woods

10th district.

L to R:  Elder Sixta, Elder Bradshaw, Hna. Matthew, Hna. Johnson, Elder Pollard, Me, Elder Egbert, Elder Bauman, Hna. Morgan, Elder Rock

9th district.

L to R:  Elder Ready, Elder Anderson, Elder Barrie, Elder Barrett, Me, Elder Dalton, Elder Sullivan, Hna. Bundy, Hna. Magoon, Hna. Williams, Hna. Flake

8th district.

L to R: Back- Elder Burger, Elder Rodgers, Elder Brown, Elder Huff, Elder Hadley, Elder Sines, Front- Elder Dias, Elder Bauer, Elder Billy

7th district.

L to R: Elder Strong, Elder Wynn, Elder Ika (crouching), Elder Holley, Elder Jones, Elder Oveson, Elder Durrant

6th district.

L to R, and Front to Back:  Elder Cowden, Elder Belliston, Elder Berlin, Elder Anderson, Elder Fry, Elder Beard, Elder Warner, Elder Baker, Elder Bowes

5th district...I can't find my picture with them anywhere, so I stole this off of Facebook.  It will have to do.  They are home now.

Back L to R:  Hno. Hollenbaugh, Elder Bliss, Elder Leavitt, Elder Hull, Me, Elder Tanner, Elder Guadagnin, Elder Allen Front L to R:  Elder Petersen, Elder Harward, Elder Larson, Elder Harris

4th district.  Home now.

Back L to R:  Hno. Hollenbaugh, Elder Gravelle, Elder Mikesell, Elder Daniel, Elder Alder, Elder Rapp, Me, Elder Sonderegger  Front L to R:  Hna. Jensen, Hna. Pixton, Hna. Bingham, Hna. Vaughan

3rd district.  All home.

L to R: Elder Saifoloi, Elder Hall, Elder Miller, Elder Hunter, Elder Rawlins, Me, Elder Archibald, Elder Day, Elder Allen

2nd district.  All home.

L to R: Elder Lundskog, Elder Kitchen, Elder Scoma, Elder Rasmussen, Me, Elder Forkey, Elder Stewart, Hna. Evans, Hna.  Perkins, Hna. Ollerton

My very 1st district.  They are all home now.

I am ready to make some new memories with missionaries speaking the language of the Restoration!

A Visit from Grandma Schiess

I love being able to spend time with family, and it is such a treat to have people come into town and visit.  My Grandma Schiess comes down to education week every year, and I was so glad that we were able to make time to see her.

We played phone tag for a while but we finally made plans to go out to dinner together. Sean and I picked up my grandma and her sister and took them to dinner at Mimi's Cafe.

I always enjoy my grandma's company, her quick wit, sense of humor, and sincerity are extremely enjoyable to be around.  She always asks Sean and I very seriously, "Do you still like each other?"  Luckily we do!

So glad we could visit, and hope that we can see you again soon!

Once in a Blue Moon

Cory and I headed up to Sundance to ride the moonlight ski-lift.  It was awesome.  It was actually a blue moon that night, meaning it was the 4th full moon of the summer.  I just learned from google that a blue moon is the second full moon in a calendar month, or the fourth full moon in a season.  It wasn't actually the color blue--just rare.  Check out the video!

Naylor Exodus

Reality just set in a little more.  Joseph and Abbey left Provo to start real life outside of the bubble.  I first met Joseph freshman year in 1100 Merrill Hall.  He was my Elder's Quorum President, I his secret third counselor.  We were home teaching companions, and watched Brad innocently find what lurked in Kelli Jo's top drawer.  He tried to steal Zach from me, and failed, so instead he stole Charlie from Shane.  We went on our missions and sent letters back and forth.  Then for the past three years we have lived together in the same apartment, or within 12 seconds walking distance.  Honestly, we have had more laughs and good times than I could attempt to summarize here.

Joseph has truly become one of my best friends in life.  Rarely do I feel deep connections to people, and more often than not I sever ties pretty quickly with my lack of keeping in touch.  I am positive Joseph will be a different story, though.  He pretty much initiates the keeping in touch, so I don't have to worry much about that.  Best of luck to the Naylors as they start their new adventures in the Washington D.C. area!

Hershey's Cookies'n'Creme & Honey Nut Cheerios Medley Crunch

I have proof that someone reads this blog.  While on our weekend trip to Wyoming, my parents bought two types of cereal that they usually would never buy.  They showed them to me and said, "Don't you like to try new cereals and blog about them?"  Why yes, yes I do.  So here are the two I tried for the first time (spoiler alert: and last time) in Wyoming.  

First, I tried Hershey's Cookies'n'Creme.  I was interested to see what this would actually taste like, and wasn't too surprised to find out that it didn't taste like Cookies'n'Creme.  It mostly just tasted like a blander version of Cookie Crisp.  Overall grade: C

The next morning I moved on to Honey Nut Cheerios: Medley Crunch.  I am already a fan of Honey Nut Cheerios, so I was expecting to like this.  The overall experience is basically like taking a bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats and pouring Cheerios on top.  I liked it.  My dad didn't like all the different textures.  Overall grade: B

Family Pictures

Cory and I took a weekend trip up to Wyoming for some needed vacation time, and to take some family pictures!  The pictures turned out great, but we will probably never have proof of that, because the photographer doesn't give out any digital files.  Trust me though, we look good, even though we had to brave the elements and go into some of the tallest grass my mother has ever seen.

Pictures were just one small part of the trip though, and we had tons of fun the rest of the weekend.  Dad, Chris, and I all went golfing on Saturday afternoon and it was a blast.  By the end of the day we were all hitting some pretty good shots, and it was overcast so we weren't dying in the heat.

The course in Powell is actually pretty awesome.  Half of it is their "Desert Course", which is the one we played on.  We were also the only people playing so we didn't have to feel rushed.  I was surprised at how well kept it was; much better than a lot of the Utah courses I have been to.  Good job , Powell.

Also, who could resist Wyoming's best frozen yogurt (and possibly their only frozen yogurt)?  We got to try WYogurt!

The rest of the time, though, was spent at home in my parent's new house.  It was really fun for me to be there and feel like we were making new memories in a new home.  We played games, watched movies, ate a lot of good food, and complained about how long it was taking the guys outside to finish the landscaping--everything you could want during quality family time.  

Dad made scones one night, and Mom made chocolate shakes.  Winning combo!

We also tackled as a family the somewhat daunting task of going through my Grandma Sherry's books.  We spent hours deciding what each person wanted to keep, and what to donate.  She had a ton of books, and a lot of the time had three or four copies of the same book.  

We also tried out my parent's new hot tub, which was awesome.  Ebin and Rhiannon never lost their enthusiasm in showing us the changing color option you could choose for the lights.

Mexican train is definitely our go-to game in the family!

By the end of the weekend, the landscaping was done, and the finished product doesn't look too shabby.  

Well, Hello

Feeling like it was time for a change, so we mixed things up!

Hope you like our face lift!

Dos Dozen Donut Challenge

As the summer keeps moving along, the reality that school is about to start and friends are leaving Provo is slowly starting to creep into my thoughts.  I try to take advantage of every chance I get to do something memorable with my buddies, even when that something is a little ridiculous.  I don't remember what specific day this happened on, but Joseph, Kyle, and I found ourselves at Krispy Kreme because of some promotion they were doing.  If you bought a dozen donuts, the next dozen was only like 75 cents.  I wasn't planning on getting any (just mooching off of Joseph and Kyle's 4 dozen) but in line our conversation turned to us questioning how many hot glazed donuts we could eat in one sitting.  I mentioned that I thought I could easily eat one dozen without a problem.  Joseph upped the number to two dozen, and thus a new eating challenge was born!  

Each of us bought two dozen and prepared mentally for the task at hand.  Joseph appropriately but unknowingly wore his "Every Day is Game Day" shirt, and this challenge was an affirmation of that lifestyle.  At any point in time you have to be ready to perform.  The ironic thing about this, too, is that Joseph has a history of folding under the pressure during eating challenges.  When my roommates and I did the Sensuous Sandwich eating challenge (24 inch sub sandwich in 30 minutes) Joseph gave up after a few bites.  He gets so nervous that he makes himself sick.

Here we are about to start.  Joseph had already started to psyche himself out, and he was the one who set the bar for two dozen.  So we started and after one bite Joseph said, "Uh oh, this is bad".  Literally Kyle and I couldn't even take a bite of our donuts because we were laughing so hard.  I started to cry from laughter.  Joseph had eaten like three by the time I took my first bite.  Then Kyle and I ate a dozen and Joseph had only eaten two and a half more.  

In the end, I ate 12, Kyle ate 13, and Joseph ate 5.5

I definitely underestimated how hard it would be to eat hot donuts.  After about 8, I hit a mental wall.  They started to taste gross, and by the end they just seemed to taste like the oil they were fried in.  The good news was that I had a dozen donuts to take home for Cory and I to eat for breakfast the next morning.  And although I felt sick for the rest of the night, I am glad I now have that funny memory of Joseph and Kyle downing donuts at our local Krispy Kreme.