Missouri Adventures

Last week we decided to venture into Kansas City to go to the Hallmark Visitors Center (you know, the people that make the cards). There was a fun exhibit with cards dating back to 1910, Christmas trees made of cards, and a machine that we could watch making embossed cards. There was also a small machine that made bows that we could then take home. I was very impressed because our visit was free and they gave us a recordable book on our way out. These are the books that you record your voice on and then a child is able to push the button and hear you read the story. I was excited about this, and in my excitement left it somewhere in the mall next door :( I guess we'll have to go back to stock up on bows and books!

Our adventure this weekend took us to some church history sites. We drove to Adam-ondi-Ahman in the pouring rain and I was worried that we wouldn't be able to stay long- it is down a dirt road and we would be walking in the dirt. Thankfully it stopped raining by the time we got there and wasn't too hot yet, so we lucked out! We were able to view the valley from two different areas and think about what had been there before and what will be there soon. At one point I even thought I heard a choir singing. As I listened harder Cody pointed out to me that the noise was a swarm of bugs over my head :) Both Cody and I had been here previously with our families, and we both remarked on how it had changed from what we remember. I'm sure it and we will change a lot more before we are able to visit again. 

View One

The view from our second lookout

 

This is where I heard the 'Heavenly Choir'

 

A butterfly on Cody's head

We then drove to Haun's Mill. Unfortunately there wasn't much there, just a stone plaque. We did learn from another family that drove up while we were there that the church just purchased the area a few weeks ago so maybe there will be more in the future. We drove to Haun's Mill behind a couple who are here on vacation from England. They were very nice and told us about their trip and conversion story. A few weeks ago they flew in to New York and are now driving across the country and stopping to see church history sites on their way to Seattle. They were converted to the church 30 years ago by a missionary who now lives in Seattle and they have come many times to visit him and his family. Where do you think their next stop will be? They are on their way to Omaha, Nebraska to go to the Winter Quarters Visitor Center where Melanie is! I told them to look for Sister Lamb and to tell her hello and that we love her. I really hope they get to take a tour from Melly!

Next up: Liberty Jail and the new Kansas City Temple!

Catch Up

I know...it's been a while and a lot has happened so I better get right to it. 

For Mother's Day we were able to do a three-way Skype with Melly who is on a mission in Omaha, Nebraska. My parents were in Utah, Melly was in Omaha at the Trial Center, and Cody and I were in Minnesota. It was nice to get to see Melly, I know being able to Skype is a relatively new thing so we are very grateful that we were able to see her while we talked. She is doing good and keeps us updated every week.

The next week we spent packing our apartment for our next adventure. As part of Cody's schooling he is required to complete a fellowship in between his first and second year of school. He was able to get the fellowship he wanted in Lee's Summit, Missouri at St. Luke's East Hospital so off we went.

Except I did not initially go with Cody- I had to stay in Minneapolis to complete a week of work and then I made a quick trip out to Utah to surprise my mom for her birthday. I finally made it to Independence (where our apartment is) two weeks after Cody and all of our stuff left Minnesota. It was a tricky couple of weeks living with only the essentials and no Cody :( 

 Cody really enjoys his job at the hospital and works with good people. He hasn't had a bad thing to say about the hospital and I haven't heard anyone say anything bad about it :)  Cody was fortunate to get to work directly with the CEO and he has trusted Cody with some big projects and good opportunities. I'm so proud of him, he has worked so hard and continues to work hard to support us now and in the future. 

Behold, The Video Extravaganza

A few months ago I was called as the Ward Videographer. Basically I was called to help the youth in my ward to make a video that would then be presented at the Stake Video Extravaganza. We spent several weeks writing, practicing, making costumes, and filming. Please keep in mind that this video was filmed in a grand total of 3 hours, on a small handheld camera, and edited with the most basic editing software. That said, I am very proud of the final product and had a wonderful time working with the youth to make this video.

 I have also uploaded the video to youtube and you can view it by following this link:

http://youtu.be/Kda9xWcyRtM

Enjoy!

Intramural Football

Cody keeps telling me that he is done playing football, and then he signs up for one more season. I don't mind as long as he doesn't get hurt- he doesn't have a good record though. 

This time is different because the teams get to play in the Golden Gophers Stadium and this appealed to Cody :) 

The TCF Bank Stadium at the University of Minnesota. 

The 'Minnesota Mafia' in action. 

Cody plays with some other guys in his program. They also played football in the fall and basketball in the winter. 

Team shot after a successful game.

Easter Weekend

I know this post is a little late, but better late than never!

Easter weekend also happened to be my Spring Break, oh how I wish I could have that week all over again! Only 23 more work days to go, but who's counting? :) 

For those of you that don't know, Cody is a golf nut. He talks all the time about quitting school and becoming a professional golfer, he dreams about golfing, and I regularly catch him taking practice swings in our kitchen (with and without golf clubs). The weather has been so nice lately that Cody has been able to play quite often- but not enough according to him :) 

On Friday we were able to go on a golfing trip to Red Wing, MN with our friends, Anna and Mitch. Cody and Mitch golfed and Anna and I drove the carts and chatted. I had a blast! It was a bit chilly, but it was nice to be outside and talk with friends. Unfortunately I was only able to snap two pictures before my camera battery ran out :(

After golf we drove to Prescott and had lunch outside on the patio. It felt so nice to be outside, I even got my first sunburn of the season. But that's not saying much because it doesn't take much sun for my nose to turn bright red :) 

Saturday I worked on editing the youth video for the Video Extravaganza and dyed Easter eggs. 

Behold the ugliest egg of Easter

This picture doesn't do it justice, it was pretty nasty.

Growing up we always got a new church outfit for Easter. My sweet mom sent Cody and I an Easter basket fully stocked with candy and a tie and dress for us to wear on Sunday. 

Happy Easter!

Summer Internship

It's official! Cody and I will be spending the summer in Lee's Summit, Missouri!

Cody will be doing an internship at St. Lukes East and I will be at the pool and working on our scrapbook :) We are excited to know where we will be going and I am grateful that it is only 8 hours away! (Cody applied to a few places in Florida that would have taken us 25 hours to drive to.) We are also excited because we will only be 4 hours away from Cody's parents who will be living in Oklahoma soon. Hopefully we will have plenty of chances to go visit them this summer.

We are grateful for the fun adventure that is ahead of us!

Video Extraveganza

I recently received calling #4 in our ward, that's right #4! Is there a record for this kind of thing? In case you don't believe me, here are my current callings:

1. Visiting Teacher

2. Relief Society Chorister

3. Ward Missionary

4. Ward Videographer

You read that right, I am the ward videographer- that's how it was read over the pulpit. 

Basically I am in charge of helping the youth to make a video. You may have heard of roadshows, well this is very similar except we present videos instead of actual plays at a night that is being called the 'Video Extraveganza!'. 

We had less than 2 months to pull this off, so we got to work right away. We brainstormed, wrote a script, and this week I finished the costumes. Our plan is to film this week, edit the next, and then we submit the video. I think I am going crazy! I have never edited a video, but I am learning a lot and hopefully this is not a total disaster. 

One thing I knew I could do was costumes. It is in my blood- my mom sewed all of our Halloween and ballet costumes, my sister is studying Costume Design and I like to be crafty at times :) As part of the video all of the characters are flowers. We decided to create flower headpieces for everyone to wear and I finished them this afternoon! I was so proud of my accomplishment that I took pictures and am going to show them to you now. Please be amazed! 

This is what I started with- some paper plates and a pile of cardboard cut into petal shapes.

Next, I used my handy, dandy stapler to attach the petals.

I then painted one side yellow.

The other side was painted blue, pink, or purple. I then finished them off with some acrylic so they look shiny. 

 

Overall it was a success! I can't wait to see how they look on camera!