These are a few of the things that we've done...

Singing for hours in prep for a broadcast
Lisa's been running, subscribed to a podcast,
Dinner with friends, and games with them, too
That's just the start, we've named but a few.

Music at Scera, one evening enjoyed,
Worked lots of hours, we're glad we're employed.
Pioneer Village was interesting, true,
But stick with us yet, we're not quite through.

Family birthdays,
Jam-packed Sundays
Many photos shot
We're simply recalling the fun that we've had
Except for the weather: HOT!

And now, the photos, which are out of order:

Hudson Lights, composed of several former BYU Vocal Point members (of YouTube fame)

The Strike, a classy band from Provo and winner of the competition

Mayday RED

Some people we met. They went last year too.

Jaws the Watermelon eating gummy sharks

Friends with twins...seems like we're destined to be around twins!

One of the birthday victims

And some of the celebratory party

If you want a taste of what Nauvoo is like, go to Pioneer Village

A brace of ducks

Apparently we made the mother nervous and she called them to her

"Beards are the new black"

May 2013

Here are some pictures of the Provo City Center Temple at the end of April:

Thomas got to go on a Priesthood (Fathers & Sons) campout:

Thomas' parents came for a short visit when Jeff spoke at a forum at BYU-Idaho:

My parents came for a long weekend visit shortly thereafter. They joined us at a ward Pie Social (for which I made strawberry-rhubarb pie, my first attempt) and helped us host a ward Lemonade Social.

My dad also looked at the pathetic light fixtures in our apartment bathroom and ended up replacing them (yay!), and got us some flowers to plant in the front flowerbed, which my mom and I planted before they went back home :)

We finished up the month with a barbecue with the other members of the Elders Quorum Presidency and their families.

oxox

A few more things that happened last week

Last week was good but busy.

On Saturday, we went car shopping. I have a new position at work with less flexible hours, so a second car has become somewhat of a necessity. We bought a 2007 Hyndai Sonata that we're quite happy with!

Sunday was the whole chicken fiasco :)

Last Thursday I was able to meet up with our friends the Childs. Thomas was taking care of car stuff so he couldn't come.

On Friday I got to go to a baby shower for my old roommate Megan! Our other roommate Natalie also came. It was so fun to see them, and Megan and Evan will be fantastic parents!

Yesterday we participated in a ward service project and got to enjoy the beautiful weather as we did yard work in the neighborhood. It was a really nice relaxed day!

oxox

A brief stint in animal husbandry...

Last Sunday evening, we took a walk around the neighborhood.

Just as we were getting back home, we discovered a chicken next door at our landlord's property where they have their office. They use it just as an office, so we knew the chicken was not theirs.

We called around the ward a little bit to see if anyone we knew was missing a chicken. Nope.

A couple came by who was house-sitting for their neighbors. They thought they recognized the chicken as belonging to their neighbors. I carried the chicken down to their place (nobody else was brave enough to touch it). Then we saw the other chicken, still in its pen.

We called Provo City to see if animal control could come get it. Don't have an animal emergency on a Sunday evening, because no one is on call to take care of it...

We ended up borrowing a cage from some friends in the ward. We kept the chicken in our kitchen overnight. We fed her cornmeal mixed with plain yogurt, with some vegetable scraps (lettuce, strawberry tops).

 The next afternoon when we got home from work, the hen had laid an egg!

Unfortunately, we live in an apartment and cannot keep a chicken. Animal control came and got the chicken Monday afternoon.

But it was fun while it lasted :)

oxox

BYU throws great graduation parties!

So, I didn't walk at commencement or anything, but since I graduated in December I was able to attend the [free!] graduation celebration BYU puts on every year for graduating seniors (and their spouses & children).

We first went 2 years ago when Thomas finished school. It's a fun evening with free food, free games & prizes, awesome free entertainment, and a raffle with some great prizes.

The campus life museum brought some of their live critters out to this event.

We ran into some of our friends at the party.

After dinner and a game of pool, we were entertained by Provo band The Strike. They had a fun sound, obviously influenced by Maroon 5, Bruno Mars. We enjoyed their style and their brass.

President Cecil O. Samuelson addressed us briefly.

Then we were treated to performances by the BYU International Folk Dance Ensemble and their band Mountain Strings. They are always amazing.

Anyway, it was a really fun evening out for us, even though we didn't win anything in the raffle (darn!).

Oh, and I was really excited to get my mini diploma in the mail this week :) My real diploma came a few months ago, but this one fits in my wallet :D

oxox

Conference Weekend

In April and October every year, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holds a weekend-long General Conference, where church leaders, including our modern-day prophet and apostles, speak to church members. It is a highly anticipated event in LDS circles, and Salt Lake City, where the conference is held, booms during this time.

The addresses given focus on relevant counsel for individuals and families living today. Some topics touched on this weekend include:

• building strong eternal marriages
• coming closer to Jesus Christ by keeping His commandments
• maintaining high moral standards
• the significance of the law of chastity
• making our homes peaceful sanctuaries by keeping the Savior at the center of our lives

Thomas' dad came to Salt Lake with some friends from his ward for General Conference this weekend, and we were able to join them.

We went up on Friday night and went to the U and hiked Ensign Peak before catching dinner at Gateway Mall and then heading to Thomas' aunt's home for the night.

On the way to the U we saw this. It was across the street from a children's hospital.

Utah State's "U". "Enemy territory" ;o)

View not quite from the top.

Monument on Ensign Peak, where Brigham Young is supposed to have said, "This is the place," on coming into the Salt Lake Valley.

So... generally when we've asked people to take a picture for us, they've at least tried. Not this time. We asked this teenage boy to take our picture and he didn't even glance at the viewfinder. It was very odd, but something to laugh about :o)

On Saturday morning, we attended the first session of the conference at the Conference Center on Temple Square. It was wonderful to be there again! The Conference Center is a spectacular building.

Afterward, we went back to Thomas' aunt's home for lunch, and some friends of the Bradshaws from France joined us for a quick meal. A friend reporting to the MTC this week was set apart. Then we watched the afternoon session there before heading back to Provo for the Priesthood session and to go back home.

I was a little outnumbered...

On Sunday, we ended up watching the final 2 sessions at home.

In the afternoon, my dad and a friend who works for him came to visit on their way back to California from an adventure in North Dakota. They stayed for dinner and the friend stayed with some other friends and my dad stayed at our place for the night. It was good to have him here, though too short!

me & my dad!

Overall it was a great weekend!!!

oxox