Awesomes Christmas Ever?

The fact that so many people gave me so many awesome presents makes me feel really bad because I didn't buy anything for anybody, except the kids. It's true that we're more broke than we've ever been, but I also decided that we shouldn't worry, since we drew names with Geoff, so that part of the family was taken care of (I thought), and Meg made cute aprons for all the ladies in the family, which is a better present that I could have bought anyway, because I'm the crapiest present giver ever (awkward sentence). Also, last year was so crappy when it came to presents that I didn't worry. I mean, I got like a wind up worm, and stuff like that.

Lights at Temple Square

New Job + Vacations

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Narcissism alert: This post is all about me, and me alone.

NEW JOB: I didn't find a job at XYZ School after all (names were changed to protect the innocent, namely ME). It was a really weird situation. After a long and really nice interview (the principal and I talked for over an hour), I was told that I would be let know by the following Thursday if I got the job, that I was a very strong candidate, yada, yada, yada. Thursday came and went, and i didn't hear anything from them. The next Tuesday I called because the waiting was killing me. The principal said that she had talked to someone at my old school, and that they had told her that I was not a very good disciplinarian (that was a horrible sounding sentence, isn't it? Too many T's I think). She then proceeded to interview me for 30 more minutes on the phone. "Thank you." She said. "I feel much better after talking to you. I'll let you know by next Monday." That was like four weeks ago. She never called, emailed, or even texted me. I think it was for the better. Who wants to work for someone so unprofessional anyway? Besides, it was a 4th grade position, which would have meant going back to school for a couple of years just so I could get my elementary certification. Now, instead, I can finish the one class I need for my English endorsement, and then I can start my masters.

I found a job, though. I don't want to write the name of the school in the same post as where I wrote that stuff about XYZ. I don't want to sound all bickering and what not, although that was my precise intention.

VACATIONS: We are in California with my parents, Jonatan, Brea and Megan right now. They came to renew their passport, and we came along for the trip. Last week we had a super amazing 4th of July weekend with Brea's parents. We have tons of pictures from the parade, which I might just upload to my Facebook pretty soon. The weekend was so awesome that the jet ski collision incident doesn't even seem to have been so terrible, although it did kinda ruin half the day, especially for me because I felt so guilty for damaging Bob's nice jet ski, and for hitting Jonatan in the butt. All I got was a quarter size bruise in my leg. It doesn't seem fair!

Top Ten of Being in Church During Mother's or Father's Day + What We've Learned

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10. Meg's back from her relay
9. No super early morning meetings
8. When I say "Happy father's day," people start saying it back to me and suddenly stop, with a confused look in their eyes.
7. Meg still gets flowers and chocolate during mother's day
6. Brother S's daughter reminds us why we're probably better off childless
5. Barbara Bush quoted at the pulpit
4. Top 5 of Good Parents according to Bro. H's 6 year old daughter includes: "Plays video games"
3. Bro. B. (app. 70 years old) days we can be his parents
2. There's no license for being parents (unless, like us, you can't have your own children)
1. "Being parents is the best calling you can possibly have" (ouch)

Nothing New + Awesome Video of Maura

What can be new on Christmas in Utah? Definitely not the snow. It snowed so much that if you don't shovel within a couple of hours, you'll be stuck for the rest of the winter. Fortunately, somebody came and shoveled our snow. No idea who did it, but it was awesome. This is how it's looking outside.

We spent Christmas night at home, and Chad and Heather were there, along with Geoff, Amy, Cory, and Lil Heather. Maura had an awesome time, and provided plenty of entertainment for absolutely free!

Very, Very Late Halloween Party Entry

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We had a Halloween party at home. It was fun, and everyone dressed up (that's the spirit! And since it's Halloween, it's an evil spirit I guess).

We didn't carve this year. My finger still hurts from the last time.

Meg was an 80's girl, and I was... El Zorro! (Somewhat nerdy, now that I think). I didn't take a picture, so this one's from Heather's Facebook


Heather was a Medusa, Chad was a zombie, and Maura was a ballerina. These pics are linked from Heather's Facebook



Kemp was John McCain, and Rochelle was Sarah Palin (I'm linking this from their blog, I hope you guys don't mind!!!)

Their kids costumes were also way awesome, but I feel bad stealing more pics, so go check their blog!

Matias and Emily were gangsters, and Nico was a dinosaur. I'm uploading their pics as well as Alicia and Alejandro's as soon as I find my camera!

Our Awesome 2008 Washington Trip

After we went to visit Heather, Chad, and Maura, we had a few free days, so we went to see Geoff and Any in Winlock.

Day 1. The Falls:

The Burys learning how to whistle while fishing at The Falls. Unfortunately, they are not very successful

The dam at The Falls before going rafting... for three hours... against the windJack followed us for a long time
Day 2. Seattle:

In Seattle, we went to Jade Garden, an awesome Dim Sum restaurant. The food was amazing, and very cheap too.

Chinatown: We climbed to the 73rd floor of the Columbia Center, but the Observation Deck was closed, so we had to see through the office windows, which were kind of far
Day 3. Priest Point

Priest Point is a little park, for Washington standards, but it was beautiful
Day 4. Olympic National Park

This was our camping trip. We went for a hike on the first day, which was sunny and beautiful. The next day we went for a longer hike; it was rainy and a little colder, but it was a lot of fun The water looked so nice that I had to jump in. Unfortunately, I had no idea how cold the water would be. I was so numb after I came out that I couldn't feel my shirt when I put it back on.

Lake Powell

We went to Lake Powell last week, mostly to say that we went... It was beautiful, but very hot.

A cool gas station on the way there:
We got a camping spot in Halls Crossing, where we went swimming and spent the night. The water wasn't so great there. It was a little dirty and very wavy, because of all the boats so close to the shore.

The next day we went to Bull Frog, and the water was ten times better there. It was clean and the bottom wasn't muddy as in Halls Crossing.

To get to Halls Crossing we needed to board the ferry, which comes every two hours. We were lucky enough that both times, when going there and when coming back, we got there just a few minutes before boarding time. But since Bull Frog was so much nicer, it's not really worth the trouble or the money to go to Halls. Now I know for the next time.

Spring Break 2008

We went to Moab for Spring Break. We stayed in Green River, a tiny little town 40 miles away from Moab that was almost deserted; half the stores were closed, but not just closed: they looked abandoned!

Anyway, on Tuesday we went biking. The trail was very hard, lots of hills; the downhill parts were really fun, and some were so steep that they were pretty scary. The uphills were so hard that we had to walk most of them. The complete trail was 10 miles, but we had to go back after 3, so we did almost 6.

This week they have the East of Utah Jeep Safari, so there were tons of Jeeps in town, with the drivers showing their baby's might. Not their might, because all they had to do was push a pedal and steer. But it was fun anyway.

A little cemetary we say on the way there:
Biking (this is my first time editing a video, so I'm sorry if it's kinda crappy):

The Colorado River
And, best of all... Helper! A little town which took us like five minutes to drive through. There's no much in that town (we saw a toothless cowboy, though), but we found this butt-kicking giant dude who looks like a miner John Henry

Halloween Costumes 2007

Meg and I went to one of her friend's house for Halloween. Meg was a substitute teacher and I was a truant student. She looked much better than me, of course.



Credits: Glasses, earrings, and mask from Savers. Wig from Martha.