When Slurpees Attack

Last week in Provo!  We have just been packing and getting everything ready for the trip to Tennessee.  One night we stopped by our local 7-11 for some refreshing Slurpees, and ended up with a funny memory.

Cory and I have been getting Slurpees at this 7-11 together since our second date over three years ago.  We are very familiar with the layout, and feel very qualified in operating the heavy machinery.  This night, however, that all seemed to change.  Cory got her Pina Colada flavor, while I filled my cup with a few different flavors.

As I was going to top mine off with some wild cherry, disaster struck.  I think we are all familiar with how Slurpee machines work.  You pull the lever out, and Slurpee comes out the nozzle.  You push back in and it stops.  I successfully completed step one.  Wild Cherry Slurpee was filling my cup at a rapid pace.  As it reached the top, I started to push back in to stop the flow.  

Nope.  Lever stuck. The Slurpee flow into my cup was as powerful as ever.  No more cup left.  Slurpee spilling over top of cup onto my hand. Correction, onto my forearm.  Time seems to be moving in slow motion, though only about 2 seconds have passed.  Cory comes over to see what the commotion is.  I jiggle the lever.  Slurpee stops flowing, but lever isn't pushed back in yet.  Irrational fear creeps in that my fingers will need to be amputated due to frostbite.  More jiggling.  Something gives and lever pops back into "off" position.  Simultaneously with popping action, massive air pocket pressure shoots out of nozzle, effectively creating a frozen Slurpee bomb out of my cup.  Slurpee shoots about 2 feet in the air.  

We are dripping.  Cory and I are dripping Slurpee onto the ground.  My shirt has Slurpee foam all over it.  Cory has it in her hair.  We both stand stunned with cold foam all over us.  The store clerk has either not noticed, does not care, or is pretending nothing happened so she doesn't have to clean it up.  It was funny about 10 minutes later.

It was almost as if the Slurpee machine, in one swift and violent action, yelled, "GET OUT OF HERE!  WE DON'T WANT YOU IN PROVO ANYMORE! JUST LEAVE ALREADY!"  Even our beloved Slurpee machine had turned on us.  As we walked out, a single tear rolled down my cheek.  Well, I thought it was a tear.  It was actually melted Slurpee dripping down from my hair.

A Day At Seal Beach

After Anna's Wedding and reception in Texas, Sean and I flew to California for a few days to attend Jake and Anna's Open House there. My mom joined us for the weekend and we had a fabulous time relaxing and enjoying the great California weather.

Sean hasn't lived in California for a long time but anytime we are there he has so many memories and knows the area really well.  He grew up in Long Beach and his Walker grandparents lived in Seal Beach.  Just like I got to show him around Texas for a few days he got a chance to show me around his hometown.  We drove by his childhood home on Pixie Avenue and when we visited his Grandma Wilma we saw the house he lived in on Greentop Street. 

The best thing was when he took me and my mom to Seal Beach for an afternoon.  He said his grandpa would walk the pier every day.  He even has a picture of him as a little boy with the seal beach seal statue.

We walked to the end of the pier and enjoyed the view!

There were tons of people fishing off the pier.  We also saw a proposal while walking along.

Sean says Seal Beach is more of a family beach, and doesn't attract many surfers.  This means it's never super crowded and is more quiet.  There were lots of families and little kids enjoying the water.

My mom and I just had to go out and get our feet in the Pacific Ocean.  The water wasn't too cold and the waves weren't very big so it was perfect for dipping a toe in.

After enjoying the pier and beach we walked out to Main Street and looked at some shops.  Sean took us to the Shell Shop.  He says he would always go there with his grandpa as a little boy.  It was a really neat little shop.  It definitely lived up to it's name.  There were so many different baskets of tons of different types of shells.  We bought a souvenir seashell Christmas ornament to remember Seal Beach, the Shell Shop, and Sean's Grandpa Art.

It was nice to spend time in California and we were able to see Sean's Grandma Wilma, Uncle Pat and Tania and his cousin Wolfe.  It's always a treat to spend time with family and with our little one on the way that also means gifts.  Thanks Pat & Tania for the fun stuff!

At Disneyland...Again

Fresh off of our vacation in Texas, we flew back out to California to spend a few days on the coast.  Of course, we had to spend a day at Disneyland!  This trip was going to be special, too, because Buzz would be coming with us.  Some of Jake's family work for Disney and so they were kind enough to get the three of us in the park for free.  We had planned to meet up with them in Downtown Disney, so we took a stroll while we waited and saw some pretty awesome Lego creations.  Here we are getting hugged by Lego Hulk.

Some of the Lego sculptures were actually pretty intricate and impressive. 

Once we were inside the park we headed down Main Street towards Sleeping Beauty's castle.  As many times as I have been to Disneyland, it never gets old to hear the music playing and see Mickey lead the marching band down the street.  I will admit, too, that from my father I inherited a love of giving tours.  Disneyland only indulges that trait of mine, because there is so much to point out and see.

It was a great day at the park.  I was really surprised that it wasn't crowded.  Most of the lines were only about 15 minutes long.  We basically got onto every ride that we wanted to.  Cory did great on her feet all day, and we made sure to get her a frozen lemonade when she wanted one.  Cory has never liked the big rides anyway, so the pregnancy didn't really stop her from going on the rides she wanted to.  As for the rest of the rides, Buzz went on them with me and we had a great time.  Here they are in line for Winnie the Pooh.  Buzz was rocking her sun hat all day.

I used to be the type of Disneyland guest that loved to get on as many rides as possible during the parades and shows, because lines are generally shorter while crowds gather to watch.  That all changed when I married Cory.  She loves the parades, and so we watch.  I actually have started to really like them again, too, plus Buzz had never seen it.

In the afternoon, we had pretty much ridden everything we wanted to in Disneyland, so we headed over to California Adventure.  We rode the Little Mermaid ride, and then Buzz and I rode the California Screamin' coaster.  I still had never ridden the Radiator Springs Racers in Cars Land so I went and rode it as a single rider while the girls took a picture and watched a quick show.  They even saw Lightning McQueen drive down the street.

We did a few more things in California Adventure before heading back to Disneyland for some dinner.  We had already eaten corn dogs for lunch, and Blue Bayou was booked, so we headed to the Plaza Inn.

We ended the night watching the fireworks show, and Fantasmic!  I was VERY disappointed, though, that Tinkerbell didn't fly during the fireworks.  It actually was really bugging me for while, and I was brooding silently.  I had promised Buzz a Tinkerbell showing.  I don't think she even thought twice about it, in the end. Overall, it was a great day at the Magic Kingdom, and it was the baby's first trip! Sort of...

Texas Vacation

Sean and I got to spend a whole week in Texas for Anna's wedding.  The first few days were spent running errands for the wedding.  Once the wedding festivities were over we did some more sight seeing and got to do some really fun stuff with my Dad, Kimberli, and brothers.  We stayed with them for a whole week.  It was great and so fun to get to hang out with them and be back in Austin.  It definitely feels like home there.  I was surprised how well I still remember how to get around.  Most of all, it was so great to have Seanie with me the whole time.  Showing him around all the places that are so familiar to me was a treat for us.

One of the things I miss the most about Texas is the food!  The first night we were in Texas we ate dinner with my Mom, Anna and Jake at Texican Cafe!  That is by far our most favorite Mexican place, of all time!  Still so yummy!

Sean had a fun request for one of the first days after the wedding.  He asked to go to the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library.  It's downtown and actually right across the street from where my Dad works at UT Law School.  I had never even been!  We stopped in to check it out!

They had a lot of cool exhibits.  One of our favorites was the replica of the Oval office during LBJ's administration.  It was a 7/8th's scale.  Super awesome.  They also had preserved Lady Bird Johnson's Office where it actually was in the library.  It was really cute.

Me and the happy couple...ok not really.  They had a whole section about the clothes and dishes and different things that Lady Bird Johnson had and wore while living in the White House.  I have always learned as a Texan to love and adore Lady Bird Johnson.  

This is the presidential Limo used during LBJ's administration.  Sean asked if he could drive it, but they said no.  Also you can see in this picture Sean's little sticker.  They gave them to us when we bought our tickets.  They said "All the way with LBJ."  We got to feel as though we stepped back in time and were big time LBJ supporters.  We probably would have been!

 This is Sean and LBJ.  I don't think Sean appreciated how much he was "leaning".  We really like the museum.  They had a hall with every president and first lady with pictures.  We definitely were getting some good baby name ideas while in there.

At the exit of the Library there was a statue of LBJ's actual height.  Sean got his picture next to the life size replica.  LBJ was 6'3", pretty impressive.  Sean was very intimidated, even though it was just a statue.  Sean has been collecting little bust statues of past presidents since he was a young boy, and really gets a kick out of places like this.  He already has LBJ from when his parents visited the library.

After our little tour we headed over to the UT Law School and met up with my dad for a tour there.  It was nostalgic for me to be back there.  We would go there a lot when we were little.  It still smelled the same and lots of things were exactly the same.  Dad is in a different office, but all his stuff is still there!

He then took us over to the University Co-Op and we bought a longhorn onesie for the baby.  We have to represent.

Tuesday I really wanted to take Sean canoeing at Lady Bird Lake downtown.  I have done this a few times and always have a good time.  It's super peaceful and so beautiful out there.  We went up early to beat the heat of the day.  The pic above is Sean with downtown Austin behind him!  He became a true Austin lover after this trip.

We took my brothers with us mini golfing one afternoon.  We of course headed to Peter Pan mini golf.  They had gotten a new paint job recently and everything was really nice and newly fixed up.  It was sweltering hot but we stayed in the shade and the intense competition kept us moving and happy!

Sean and I made a wager with my brothers that if any of them could beat Sean we would buy them a large size sno cone.  They were all up for the challenge and feeling very confident in themselves.

Davis gave Sean a run for his money with some great holes and even a hole in one.  But, in the end Sean had 3 hole-in-one's and never was over par on any hole.  He beat everyone! 

Everyone still enjoyed their sno cones.  Noah got grape and sour apple.  I am pretty sure he always gets that and I remembering him ordering that from me when I worked at a shave ice stand during a summer home from BYU.  I guess some things never change!

The last night Dad and Kimberli took Sean, Davis and I to see the bats at Congress bridge.  I hadn't been in a long time and forgot how crazy it is.  There are millions of bats that come out, and they come streaming out for about an hour.  Sean tried taking a video.  You can hear the bats but with it being so dark you can't see them.  They are moving so fast and they are small.  You can see them in person, but you have to be looking out against the sky.

We also got to attend a swim meet of Noah and Logan.  Noah is a stellar swimmer.  I had never been to a swim meet, so it was a lot of fun to experience it all!

Overall it was such a great trip and so fun to spend so much time with my Dad's family.  Lot's of fun memories and a fun time.  I am glad Sean and I got to be there for so long.

*Edit* September 22, 2014:

We were looking through the blog recently and noticed we never mentioned in this post that we also went to Six Flags Fiesta Texas one of the days.  It was a blast!

Cory didn't ride any of  the big rides with us, but she kept cool and happy with free refills on the Slurpee boot.

Anna + Jake

Sean and I got to be  a part of the sweetest sealing and wedding day of two of my favorite people.

We have had the chance to watch Jake and Anna grow their relationship into a beautiful love from the very beginning.  We love them both and it was such a happy day.  Both were smiling, beaming, and just the cutest ever!

We headed up to San Antonio for their sealing in the San Antonio Temple.  The sealing was great and so happy.  Anna of course was super gorgeous and I am sure Jake was stunned at how beautiful she was in her wedding dress.  Mom, Sarah, and I all got to help Anna in the Bride's changing room right after the sealing and it was just so hard to believe she was really married.  She just has always been my baby sister.

I was so worried about the heat, but somehow it was breezy and nice and cool in the shade.  The bridal and bridesmaids bouquets were so gorgeous and such a happy and fun pop of color.  I could not get over how super gorgeous they were!  Anna had awesome taste and a fab florist.

After pictures outside the temple we rushed back to Austin to start setting up for the reception.  We had so much help from so many friends and family and everything went off without a hitch.  The cakes were gorgeous, food table was super cute, and the decorations Anna picked out were so perfect and had a happy and rustic feel.

The first dance was such a sweet moment and the whole night was happy.  There were so many people to see and chat with and catch up with.  I haven't been to Texas in years and there were so many old family friends I hadn't seen in so long.  Always fun to see old familiar faces.

The happy couple being sent off!

Adventures of a Road Trip

Just driving down to California for a week long vacation/wedding extravaganza, and I couldn't help but share this.  I walked into this restroom at a gas station and found this.  It is a urinal.  A waterfall urinal.  I had never seen anything like it.  

1.) It was broken 2.) Even if it was working, this is disgusting to me. 3.) How many are supposed to use this at one time? 4.) Despite my initial disgust, I was also intrigued. 5.) After standing in deliberation for a few moments, I decided to use a stall.

All Good Things...

...must come to an end.

I have been anticipating this post for a very long time.  The last milestone as an MTC teacher: leaving.  I finished teaching my last district of missionaries, and had my exit interview.  I no longer work at the Missionary Training Center.

L to R: Sister Rasmussen, Sister Tanner, Sister Vincent, Sister Redford, Me, Elder Moss, Elder Richan

For a long time I felt pressure that I would have to summarize my experience once I was done.  I can't possibly remember, let alone recount, every detail of my time at the MTC.  So summarizing it would be convenient, but I don't think it is possible.  It is difficult when people ask me things like, "Oh, how was it working there?" or "Did you like it?"  What do you say?  "Yep.  Loved it."  Long story short: it is hard to describe the last three and a half years, and this post isn't going to be a summary of my experience.

It was definitely bittersweet for the last two weeks as I taught my last group.  I totally felt like I was on my A game, like an aging athlete that gives one final great performance.  That thought is actually the opposite of what the MTC is trying to accomplish, namely that the experience is for the missionaries, not to stroke the ego of a teacher on his way out the door.  Nevertheless, I felt like I was having some great results in the classroom.  It helped me appreciate in the moment how great my time has been there, and how much I have grown and changed as a result of the experience.  Also, the joke, "What are they going to do? Fire me?" never got old.  I said it at least twice a day.

As the days came and went, I couldn't help but think, "This is the last time I will ever teach this." or "This is the last time I will do this activity in the classroom."  Then, as we said our goodbyes on our last day, I half-joked that "I am not just saying goodbye to you, but to all missionaries I have ever taught."  For those interested, I didn't cry.  I had to be strong for everyone else.

The greatest take-away from my time at the MTC will be the many relationships I have come to cherish.  I taught 248 missionaries who served or are currently serving in 14 different countries.  Many have returned home, and some keep in touch through Facebook and other means.  The vast majority are still in the field.  I also developed close relationships with my fellow teachers.  It was really great to work with such high caliber people.  Lastly, I can't forget my boss, Rand "The Man" Erickson.  We had a good run together in the Spanish area, as well as the English area--working together for a solid three and a half years.  He taught me a lot through his example, and during our many discussions together.  Thanks Rand.

I am not sure when it will hit me that I am not going to be walking back through those gates anytime soon.  For now, I think back on the many happy memories during my time there.  The MTC is a special place where a sacred work is progressing, and it will always hold a sacred place in my heart.

Boiling Point Reunion

One last time before Sean and I head out to Tennessee, and leave Utah forever, I got to get together with these ladies.  So glad to see them.  I always feel at home and comfortable around these girls.  They are such amazing women, and now amazing mothers to two of the sweetest little ladies.

We ate yummy dinner, chatted, and caught up, and it felt as though I had never been separated from them.  I think that's how you know you really get along with and love someone.  It just feels as though no time has passed at all.

I got some good advice about motherhood, birth, and raising a baby.  Both Summer and Stefanie have had such different experiences and I enjoyed hearing all about both, and their advice and suggestions.

Maybe one day all 6 of us will be reunited again.  It seems nearly impossible, and Sean and I moving over a thousand miles away makes it even more difficult.

Love you two!

Anna's Endowment Weekend

Anna's Endowment weekend brought us all together.  So great to all be in the temple together! 

Now on to the next event, the WEDDING!