Kennecott Copper Mine

My friend Heather is awesome. We're both the same as we like to find fun but inexpensive things to do to keep our husbands happy ourselves busy. May is free admission to the Kennecott Mine so she suggested we give it a whirl.

I've never been there before (such a bad Utahn) and having been asked about it many-a-time by foreigners, who always seemed to know more about it than I did, I decided it was time I saw what it was all about.

And there was certainly a lot to see: A hole so big and deep it can be seen from space, monster trucks as big as houses and the big tire! 

Plus, I can now sound educated when I try to tell people that Utah has one of the biggest mines in the world. (Because people who talk about mines = educated right? right.)

Here's the the hole, as much as I could get into the camera that is. Seriously it is miles and miles deep. They use open mining so you can see the whole process right out in the open.

Our asian pal made an appearance again too. He likes to tag along on our sunny outings.

Cute little Henry was such a good little trooper. Look at those blue eyes. Kennecott was his mid-nap entertainment.

 

 Kevin, on the other hand, was not as good as Henry...

he was making faces and saying the big trucks weren't super cool.

Oh Kev...

It was cool to learn about the mine and how much comes out of there, what they do for Utah and our economy and how concerned they are with the environment.

 

We loved spending time with Heather and Kev and doing something out of the ordinary. Thanks guys!

(Kev's asian friend came too)

expecting the inevitable

Change is a naughty word in my vocabulary. Always has been, always will be.

I cried when I moved to Australia, leaving dear USA behind.

I cried when I moved to America, leaving Australia behind.

While growing up, my parents planned a trip and suddenly our neighbors decided to join us (whose child was my best friend).

Did I get excited? No, at least not immediately. I had to process it and re-plan in my mind.

Planning is my key in life. I plan everything, thus change scares me. Honestly scares me. 

I know its an irrational thing because change is ever-present. And can be somewhat exciting if I do say so.

Nothing can be completely expected and routine in life, except for change. Now you see why change and I can have a love/hate relationship. I can plan on change, but then it is the change that upsets me.

So today that is where I sit. Torn by change. Both in a good way and a bad way.

Part of me loathes big mr. change whereas the other part loves him;

(ok not love, like is the extent of it)

But change today is good, allowing me to practice for the change that will come tomorrow, and the next day, and the next.

Preparing me for the inevitable.

So I guess this is just my vent, my rant, my thoughts, whatever you want it to be. 

But for me its my way of trying to accept change and its presence in human life. And to face it without the waterworks and a frown on my face.

I'll work on the frowning part first. Waterworks seem to be my thing. :)

Easter 2012

For Easter this year we were back in the land of white eggs and Sweetart bunnies.

(funny the things you begin to crave when you live overseas- sweetarts kaylee? really?)

So we set out to give Phil his first egg dyeing experience. We bought this cute "egg creature creation" dyeing kit this year which was a lot of fun. Plus we joined the Perucca's for joyous fun. 

Approximately 60 egg fun to be exact.

 It was the weekend/of before finals and I think that was reflected in some of our eggs...

Lovely.

We made some beauts...

 

and some not so beauts.

Braden was determined to make a "poop" egg. Such a boy. Such a boy.

Some celebrities even joined us for our egg-stravaganza. It was a party!

The guest list included...

Eminem, and jocey too!

Hillbilly Santa

 

grandma ethel...she's famous, right?

  

Kanye

And Prince William and Kate.

Oh and I can't forget the bogan and the Aussie who made the trip.

Who's the bogan and who's the aussie? oh I crack myself up!

We got to help find the easter eggs in the backyard the next morning with the fam.

Course Truman (parental's dog)  found the most. He made sure we didn't miss a single one.

 There's my  kid er man with one of his creations. He just kept going and going with those eggs!

He loves everything and gets excited like kid would. 

Makes life exciting. :)

Good Easter. Good Friday? Good Easter.

the -Y-

A couple weeks (months maybe?) back Phil and I hiked the Y. 

I feel like "hiked" is an understatement.

We conquered the Y.

Phil has been wanting to take the journey since moving here and quite honestly I was avoiding it.

Steep mountains and my out of shape figure just don't mix.

Buuuuuuut I gave in because my figure needed some changing too. It certainly was a journey but we made it. 

Check out that grin.

Finally a true-blue, hiked the Y cougar.

Rawerehwrwhrahrarlll. 

(Cosmo cougar growl, obviously)

We've vowed to make it a regular outing so the out of shape part doesn't come back.

They Y is huge, the view is awesome and the personal satisfaction can't be beat.

Phil even skipped on donuts afterward because he felt so great and Phil never skips donuts. 

Never, no Never.

Here is beloved BYU campus from the Y. 

♫ Loyal strong and true, wear the white and bluuuuuue! ♫

And Phil's vid. So all ya'll can enjoy the view from cyberspace. Without the hike.

Lucky.

Disneyland 2012

We were so lucky to be able to take our own little spring break (none for us poor BYU students) in late February. Where to? 

DISNEYLAND!

I love love love Disneyland. Like I could possibly live there. Really. Deep love.

And Phil, well he had never been. And we couldn't have that, so off we went.

See that clock?  Says 6:45? 

You better believe that it was 6:45 AM. Yup, leap day was a 24 hour day.

Yup, Phil's first day ever in Disneyland began at 6:45 am. And then continued for 11 hours before we tuckered out. 

Awesome!

Our first stop was Indiana Jones. We tried to give Phil the choice but he didn't know what to expect so anything was good for him, so he (really meaning the fam) chose Indy to start us off.

So I've been to D-land lots of times. (not enough!) and I've seen princesses walking around but I've never taken the time to drop in and see them. Specially now that they're in their own new area. Good ole Jocelyn gave us that chance.

Dreams do come true. At Disneyland.

 Belle

 

Ariel 

Tiana

 One of our favorites had to be the Wonderful World of Color show. 

Best show I have ever seen. 

Hands down.

 It took place all over Paradise Pier. 
From this...

To this...

The title of the show is written in the water mist...

Notice even the small globe lights around us even go with the show.

We spent our last Cali day at the beach. Phil and I have had 2 winters in a row plus 2 semesters of school so the beach provided much needed therapy.

It was a great trip. One that I wish could happen all over again.

Right now.

But until next time...here's some last photos to remember good ole D-land by.

 Three big kids + one seat + Whinnie the Pooh ride = priceless.

 The clan.

It's tough to be a bug.

A "screamin" monkey on the screamin roller coaster.

 THuuuuuunderrrrrr Mountain!

 Space Mountain. 

Consensus was that we could ride this 198752342598723 + W times and it would never get old. 

Those faces require no further explanation.

Best.

 I think Phil says it all in this photo.

Time well spent.

Magical place.

Happiness.

Dreams really do come true.

moments

There are few moments that stand out to me as both proud and humble moments but the ones that do are very special and personal.  Last night I was blessed to have one of those moments again and I couldn't help but feel overwhelming joy. Yes, this happened at none other than Phil's missionary reunion.

I'll be honest, I wasn't too excited for this event. I mean, I tried to be, at least to an extent as my dear hubs couldn't talk about anything else all week. But somehow the idea of being a little sidekick the whole night was hard to get excited about. The moment I met Phil's former mission president, President Maurer, I knew why we (or I) had come that night. I was experiencing a portion of Phil's life that I've only heard of until then. It was special.

Phil's mission president was such a great person whose love for Phil was great and endearing.  I felt it as he embraced us both and gave us his aussie grin. I still get teary thinking about it. I instantly felt loved by a man I had never met before.
The experience of the whole night made me yearn to have been a fly on the wall while Phil served in the great Perth, Australia.  Phil was diligent and hard working as his president wouldn't tell me anything but that. What a great time in his life, and I was humbled to be able to have personal insight into it last night.

When we all gathered and sang the "Australia Perth Mission song" the spirit was overwhelming. Being in a room filled with such amazing brothers and sisters, I felt a longing to have served in Perth myself. Because of the song? No. But because of the feeling that was there.

I've been running over it all in my head trying to pinpoint exactly how I felt and exactly how I still feel as I get teary just thinking about it. But it was special. It was one of those special moments as I learned to admire my husband even more but also became so humbled as I sat in the midst of great people full of the love of Christ. Phil beamed the whole night through and nothing makes me more happy than that. It was a special night and I'm grateful I got to be a part of it.

lesson learned

BYU is a funny place.

All the students have an close relationship with HBLL. 

and if you don't know what I mean, well, you're not a BYU student

Sometimes you see people studying their scriptures...for their upcoming test.

Sometimes you see people giving out free hugs. Yes, free ones!

And everyone just seems happy and smile-ly at BYU, especially when spring comes early.

Like today for instance, as I was walking to class a girl gleefully looked at me and what normally becomes a "who can look away the quickest" match actually wasn't this time.

She just looked at me and happily smiled and said "Hello!, It's a beautiful day!"

Indeed it was. A 62 degree day in March is beautiful. No argument there.

I managed to mumble something that resembled hello back as I was somewhat surprised and in shock because I'm used to winning those look away matches, not being confronted by my opponent.

After we had passed each other, for a moment there I thought, "what a peculiar girl..." and then continued on my way.

And then a minute later I found that I was the one smiling and I felt on top of the world.

Then I put it all together.

A stranger's smile made me feel that way.

Call me crazy but smiles are contagious. 

Yes, I learned that in primary but today, I learned it in college.

So do a stranger a favor and smile today. You never know who you'll impact.