Swim Party

Saturday, we all went down to Mat’s house in Denver for a Swim Party (and to celebrate Mom’s b-day). We swam all morning- Mylie is a fish and Andrew can swim so fast with his flippers. Andi made amazingly taste sloppy joes and we all ate and had fun. It is always so great to hang out with family.

Missionary Experiences at CU

This past week I had the opportunity to go and run an Institute booth on the University of Colorado campus. It was the first week of school at CU, so the church always has a table set out with free material and information about the Institute classes offered. I was really confident at first that it was going to be an easy experience and that I would be fine; however the longer I was there the harder it was. It was hard putting my beliefs out for everyone to judge (especially since it was a group of my peers) and it was intimidating to talk to these people who so obviously chose a different way of life.
While talking to Erica about it, she said I was feeling the steps of a missionary; Enthusiasm, doubt, a lack of self worth, constant trial/error and then in the end satisfaction. It was really hard, however by the end of the second day I was able to smile and realize that even if I did not talk to every student (or even make eye contact) that the booth was there to help even one person think about Jesus Christ.
I ended up giving away a Book of Mormon (which I hear is a BIG deal) and giving away an institute schedule (I gave something to the only two people who would actually stop and talk). It was such an awesome experience and great for me to see the trials and faith of missionary work.

Lunch Date

Ben ditched out on work Monday (August 25) and we went on a lunch date. We went to KT’s BBQ- which is one of Ben’s favorite places to eat in Boulder. We ate on the Boulder Creek and then got to walk up the river and then down Pearl Street. He also drove me past his high school (Fairview), which I had never seen. It was such a perfect beautiful day and it helped us see how beautiful of a place we live.

LUAU Cake

Rachel’s friend Wendy had a birthday, so we threw a big Luau Birthday Party at our house. Rachel is AMAZING at planning parties with decorations, food and the works. Rachel made the cutest cake- a hula dancer. It was from a shaped pan and she did such a remarkable job decorating it, so I thought I would show it off for her…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDREW!!

Andrew turned 7 and had a Racecar Birthday Party. It was so much fun to hang-out with family (and the Wilson family) to celebrate Andrew in our lives.

"Don't get hurt!"

Ben went to play basketball with the men in our ward. As he was leaving I shouted to him, "Don't get hurt!" Which turns out to be a bad omen...
After jumping up to rebound a ball Ben landed on an apponents foot and sprained his ankle. He is swollen, black and blue and in a lot of pain. We are waiting a day before we go to the doctor to get a prognosis- hopefully it is good.

NEW HAIR CUT

I decided to cut my hair and take a chance. It is really short- I am still unsure I like it and I am getting used to it. I can keep it straight, flip it under, flip it out and... blah blah blah.
Here are some pictures (oh, but the one of the back of my head is crooked- it is hard to take a picture of the back of my head).
-Do I have a weirdly shaped side view??

Settlers Seafarers, Cities and Knights

Tonight we learned the intricate game of Settlers Seafarers, Cities and Knights. Although we had previously been introduced to the ‘normal’ Settler’s game we had not yet learned the insane rules and regulations of the ‘advanced’ version. After four hours of confusion the game was won (not by either of us, although Ben was close) and the mystification subsided.
It was defiantly an interesting game with a lot of trickery and deceit. I think we would both play it again- after our brains have time to re-solidify (from their current stages of mush). It was a fun night and an interesting experience.

One Year Out, Forever to Go

Yesterday was our one year anniversary. When talking and looking back last night we decided that we had a crazy ride, but that it was definatly worth it. We are so happy and we are excited to spend the rest of our lives together!!

CAR TROUBLE

(Sunday July 20, 2008)
We packed the car and prepared for the three hour trip to the Family Reunion at Bear Lake. We stopped in Idaho Falls for about an hour to help Grandma Lewis and then around 2:00 headed out. We made it about an hour when the car started acting up and died- on the highway two miles outside of Pocatello. We thought it might have been over heated so we waited about 30 minutes (with no AC on the side of the highway- ahhh) and then tried again. We made it about 20 yards and then the car died again. It was at this time we discovered that our fuel pump was out and the car was broken.

So…we continued the slow 20 yards every 30 minute pace to Pocatello where we parked the car at a dealership to be looked at and fixed the following day. Then we waited for three hours (in the parking lot) for Brea’s cousin to come (on his way from Rigby) to pick us up and take us with them to the Family Reunion.

It was a long day. We left the house at 1:00 and didn’t arrive at our destination until around 9:30 (in which time we could have traveled all the way home to CO) - but we learned a lot about patients and enjoyed being together.


**We left the car there and the fuel pump was replaced (urgg) and we got to get it back on Wednesday. Since then, its been running great!!**

SCHOOL'S OUT!!

Yesterday, Friday July 18 we finished the summer semester. Finals are over. Papers are turned in. We are both so relieved (it was very stressful towards the end of everything).
Ben might have found a new job for the fall semester and Brea won her Program Planning thing.
We are both so excited for the break. [We have 7 weeks off of school (between semesters) and we are going to family reunions and then to Colorado to work for a while. We will keep you updated!!]

One semester to go....

BODY MOVIN'

I was in an Improve and Choreography class this semester. For our final we each had to choreograph our own dance and have it preformed (we were not supposed to be in our own dance). I choreographed a dance to the Beastie Boys song, Body Movin’. I had some people who had never danced before in my group and it was hard at times but very worth it. The dance turned out perfect and everything (and everyone) looked great.

I was in 4 other dances that people in my class choreographed. It was hard because I had to learn how to dance contemporary, modern and ballet. I worked so hard and I really enjoyed it. I was even in a cha cha and Ben agreed to be my partner- he did wonderfully. (He has very good latin hips…) Toward the end we were practicing 3-4 hours a night and my body was sore. The performance (Wednesday July 16) went well. It seemed like such a short night for all the work that we put into it. It was so wonderful to be dancing again. I really enjoyed it.

*And Mom, Anne, Grandma Baker, Jesse (cousin) and David (cousin) came up from Utah to see the performance. It was so wonderful to see them and to have their support.

*Movies will come-once I figure out how to do it!!!

Health Promotion Program

Breanne was in a Program Planning class this last semester. In this class they were put into groups and had to plan a health program that would be implemented on the BYU-Idaho campus. Breanne and her group worked so hard and made a great program. They wrote a huge report and nailed their 15 minute presentation (they did very good). At the end of the semester only one program (from the 5 in the class) was chosen to be implemented on the campus. Breanne and her group’s program WON and their program was picked. They are so happy (they can now put this on their resumes) and they can see the fruits of all their hard work!!

Canoeing with Friends

We went to Rigby Lake with some friends to go canoeing. We rented two canoes and spent the day on the lake. We had hot dogs and smores and a lot of fun. The boys probably spent an hour and a half longer then the girls on the lake trying to sink the canoe like they did on Pirates of the Caribbean. It was a really fun day.
(And we didn’t get sun burnt to bad because we used a LOT of sunscreen.)

Ben at the Wind Caves

Ben went hiking to the wind caves near Driggs Idaho (actually he was in Wyoming)with two guys from our ward, Glenn and Brad. It was beautiful and he said he got to see some great waterfalls. The whole trip was about 10 miles including altitude. Ben is a little sore, but is happy he got back to the great outdoors.