Random Church Signs....

cans still have wisdom.  I passed one today that said "7 days without God makes one weak".  True - I think, and keep on driving.

Thanks to Texas....

Here is my list of things I may not have got into had I not moved to TEXAS.

1. TENNIS: Yes.. this difficult sport has become a weekly event for me.  I am aweful at this game, but due to current repetition I can finally return some of Brian's shots.  (yes, of course he's good at it.. what isn't he good at!).

2. PAINTING:  After the move, most of my favorite artwork didn't survive.  Brian suggested we go to the art store, buy some canveses and start painting.  Mine turned out like a 4th grade finger painting, but yes, I love it :)

3. BAKING:  i've done more and more experimenting with food than normal.  Recently I mastered homemade oreo cookies.  YES!

4. EATING: Houston is the CENTER of food.  There are so many different people here, they have to match, mix and swirl all types of food types together!  Our latest favorite, Tornado Tacos.  They are a tiny taco place off the 1099.  Their advertising boasts "Delicious Tacos of Mythical Proportions".  And yes they are.... YUM!

5. I LOVE APARTMENTS: I was worried about moving back into a tiny one bedroom apratment.  But look at the new benefits!  I have MUCH less space to clean, a free 24 hour personal gym membership, a free pool, hot tub and so much more! The complex is nearly empty and I never see anyone, so most of these amenities truely are just for me :)

More to come. Here's to trying new things!!

The Big Move to TX

Well, if you didn’t know by now, I no longer live in the “Best Snow on Earth” state.  We decided that life might be interesting if we sold everything we owned, cram all our stuff in a 6 X 12’ trailer and see how we would fair in good old Texas.

First thing I learned about TX is that within the year I will be 300 lbs.  There are food places EVERYWHERE!  I have heard that per square mile, Houston has the most diners anywhere.  And since there is such a variety of people here, you can imagine the mixtures of food cultures!

Here is the first new thing I have tested.  A Kolache.  This delicious treat is made at many of the donut shops down here.  It is like an unfrosted donut, with breakfast meat and cheese in the middle.  HEAVEN! 

So, when ya’ll decide you might want to come visit, I will have a nice warm plate of the ready for you to snarf!

Just a weee 3 years ago….

Yes.  It’s been 3 years.  Is this when the honeymoon is supposed to wear off? 

 

Hmmm.. Not yet!  Still love ya sweety pie :)

 

Leaf Elves?

Last night we finally got to take a ride on our bikes down the beautiful Alpine Loop.  Apparently everyone else decided to have an FHE adventure there to take family photos and stand dumbfounded in the middle of the trails at all the amazing colors the leaves were presenting.  We ran into (literally) a few old friends from the Belmont days and raced down the hill on our bikes as hikers continually ignored us and decided NOT to move off the trails.  In other words, it was a slow ride :)

Classic Brian moment: On the way up to the summit I kept insisting I smelt paint and for the life of me couldn’t understand why!  Brian looks over so matter-of-factly and says, “Have you seen the leaves?  They don’t change color by themselves, the Leaf Elves paint them!”.  HA HA HA! I LOVE him :)

PEZ

It started out as a gift…. And grew into this!

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I love how you never truly know everything about someone. They will always find some magnificent way to surprise you. When I met Brian's family they told me about the amazing PEZ collection. It wasn't until his cute mom left a giant box on our porch Aug 19th, 2009 did I truly understand the intensity of this collection.

Apparently back in the day Brian had accumulated a few PEZ dispensers as a gift. He proudly displayed them in a glass case in his room. Anyone who came into his room soon after immediately thought of him when they saw PEZ at the store.  Slowly his collection grew as the gifts kept coming.   I’d say it was quite an easy hobby eh?

Each PEZ character had been wrapped in tissue paper and placed in separate plastic baggies for protection. Here is the wonderful result of the unwrapped adventure.

I would be lying if I did not think this was quite the accumulations. Now we just need to find a way to display them or auction them off. Any bidders?? :)

Jackson Hole!

7/4/09 Day 1:

Attendance: Heidi & Brian Phillips, Devin Lindahl, Dayna Larsen, Ciara & Ted Bell,

Got stuck at work until 6:30 pm. Late start for a midnight drive. Met at the Bell residence by 7:35 (miracle). Got to Jackson by 12:15 (miracle). Placed tent in the middle of night 5 feet from a cliff (miracle I didn’t fall in).

7/5/09 Day 2:

Woke up and got food at Yankee Doodle. AMAZING pancakes - got me a full stack. Ted showed us what the photo of the bikini chicks in the boys bathroom looked like saluting the American flag (see pose below). Found out Spam has a 'season' (aka didn’t want to go to the store to get it today). Hilarious. Returned to camp and got dressed for Kayaking! 



(Ted in background with the Salute!)



Oh Brian….



The Double D’s

Skipped lunch. Ate early dinner at a sports grill in Jackson. Watched the Oklahoma vs. BYU game. Ashley and Ty left to have a happy anniversary night in a real hotel (not the wild outdoors).

Stopped for ice cream on the way to camp at the Chevron in Alpine. They really know how to scoop ice cream. Ask for Jack. Brian was told he'd get his free if he ate it on the spot. Mission accomplished. (He felt bad and paid anyway… good boy)





This cone weighed at LEAST 3 lbs and was made of 4 different layers of ice cream!!



 

 

 

 

Went to camp FULL.

7/6/09 Day 3:

Woke up LATE. Had breakfast at Yankee doodle again. Stole Brian's English muffins and switched them with Pancakes. Sad boy, happy wife. Egg sandwich was delicious. Back to camp to prepare to ride.



Hit Jimmy's mom about 2 pm. Rode it twice. Good times.

 



 

 

 

 

Ate dinner at a little Mexican place in Jackson that had salmon burritos. Delicious. Then roamed the streets of Jackson for entertainment. Ted replaced his Shants much to Ciara's displeasure..



Jackalope siting.





Went back to the Alpine Chevron for another round of ice cream. Made our selves sick playing on the BIG kids playground! Giant swings, Giant teeter totter, giant monkey bars and more!



 



 

 

 

 

Had a bonfire and roasted the mellows.



Fell asleep soundly. Massive rainstorm at 2 am. Dirty dirty rain….

 

 

9/7/09 Day 4:

Woke up by 9 am. Ate at the Yankee Doodle - again. Last round of pancakes! Determined 56* was too cold for Kayaking part 2. Packed up quickly and set off for home 11:30. Got to Ted and Ciara's by 3:30.

Ran up to Kaysville for the annual Phillips/Meaders croquet tournament! Big deal. Nicolai won for the second year in a row!

Drove home. Slept like a log.

End transmission.