Goodbye Blogger World!

This guy's off to Chile for two years!

...don't forget me...

A FANTASTIC TRAILER!

I've watched this several times by now, and am currently obsessed with it. The trailer for The Fantastic Mr. Fox! I thought it was awesome, hilarious, and FANTASTIC! WAH!!!! This movie is going to be epic. If you don't believe me, just ask me, I'll tell you. In fact, I just did. See what I did there?

Now, without further adeu, watch THIS:

So I was thinking...

Have you ever wondered if there are any Mormon Wizards at Hogwarts? I think there are. And I bet after they graduate and go on missions they do a really good job.

Just a thought...

Wizard Angst.

Well, the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince came out the other night, and naturally I was at the midnight showing. I was dressed and ready for some magical fun while we waited in line, and I wasn't disappointed. Here are some photos:

It was a good night.

Fantastic Mr. Fox!

Little do many of you know, there is a movie slated for release later this year based on one of my favorite books ever, "Fantastic Mr. Fox." I may or may not have read this book more than any other during the course of my short life, but the point is, I'm really excited to hear that good old Mr. Fox gets to outsmart Boggis, Bunce, and Bean up on the big screen. He's really earned it.

Woohoo! Get excited. And if you haven't read the book, I suggest you do so Asap.

Smorgasbord

First off, I just want to say that Jumanji is a really exciting movie.

My brother Matthew came with his wife Melissa and my two nieces Ashley and Sariah last week so they(Matthew and Melissa) could go through the temple with me for my first time. It's always fun when they come. Mostly because Ashley and Sariah really liven up the house. Here is their beautiful family...


In other news, my parents and I got to go to the Stadium of Fire for free last night. It made me feel very patriotic--especially when the Jonas Brothers came out, much to the delight of all the 12-year-old girls. The Founding Fathers would be proud. The JoBros did play a cover of "Sweet Caroline" which happens to be my favorite Niel Diamond song, so that was probably the highlight of my night. My Dad had fun, although he made it obvious that he wasn't a fan of SheDaisy or the Jonas Brothers, and Mom seemed to have really had a good time, especially since she got a free JoBros poster.


Obviously, it was a good Fourth of July. Here are some Jonas brothers along with some fireworks:






By the way, I got the opportunity to go with my Dad to help him photograph a wedding. It was a really fun experience which was a little harder than I would have thought. I'll try and post some pics later, but as for right now, "good night, and good luck!"

My Paterfamilia

That is my father. On the right.

I like this picture because he might have the biggest smile I've ever seen.

Also, he's a good guy, and I love him.

Happy Father's Day!

Also...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXJEDUainX4

Gotta love Buzz and Woody.

This is Wordy

So tonight I just realized that yesterday marked the one month anniversary of my return to Utah from my study abroad adventure in Spain. My initial excitement at being back in familiar territory has long since worn off and now I feel almost like I'm stuck in a rut. I'm laying in my bed right now thinking back on the past month and wondering what I've accomplished. The answer? Not a whole lot.

I got a mission call, got a job, and got a lot of tootsie rolls at Tim Abbott's birthday party tonight, but I can't help but miss the life I had in Spain. There was no shortage of excitement. One day I'd be in Sevilla watching flamenco, and the next I'd be in Valencia eating napolotinas and watching things burn. Now, I'm in Orem one day... and Orem the next.

It's getting harder and harder to simply hang out on weekends, especially as the male population of my group of friends go on their two-year-exodus' all over the world and leave me behind all summer. I think I need to find some new ways of diverting my attention that don't rely entirely on other people.

Hopefully I'll be able to live like my parents when I'm older. Since getting back from Spain, little more than a month ago, they have gone to Las Vegas, Arizona, Cancun, and are now BACK in Las Vegas. In the year 2009, they have been at home for MAYBE two weeks tops. They're like big Engergizer Bunnies.

I'm not saying all this to try and convince anyone that my life sucks. It's far from sucky. In fact, if anything sucks, it's me. It's not like there is actually a shortage of things to do, it's just that I don't DO any of them. I'm just so lazy that it's like I wait for pastimes to be laid, gift wrapped at my feet rather than make an effort to be productive.

Well, we'll see how things turn out, and if I can make it into the MTC on August 26th without having gone insane. I'll keep you posted.

And to end off on the right note, here is a blurry picture of me as Peter Pan.

Sand Dunes

Last weekend some friends and I went to the Sand Dunes for fun, and as a last little activity for Hiram who enters the MTC this week (He gave his farewell talk yesterday, and it was fantastic if I do say so myself). We didn't take any four wheelers or machinery like that besides the car, but we kept ourselves entertained by simply playing in the sand.


We even encountered a tiger!




We hauled a grill along with us, but for some reason, after trying for what seemed like forever, we could not light the dumb charcoal so we took the grate off and balanced it over the fire with a cinder block. We felt pretty innovative.


By the way, those were the most delicious burgers ever.

Found!

My senior year in high school, I made myself a longboard in woodshop. Randomly last summer I realized it was missing! I couldn't find it anywhere! And now, almost a year later, it has been recovered. Apparently,my friend Caitlin's brother had it hidden away in his room for some reason, but now, all is well, and it is back in its rightful owner's hands.


It's totally plain besides this little RHCP insignia on the back, but I like it!



And all is well in Orem.

Mom.

Happy Muddah's Day Mom!


You've done well.

The Call

After months of waiting and anticipation, it finally came! My excuse for a two year absence from my normal life. AKA my mission call! I opened it amongst my family today at about noon. And where am I being sent??? Vina del Mar, Chile! Spanish Speaking. August 26. Boo-yah.

Florence

Florence, AKA Firenze if you're in Italy. Home of the Uffitzi Art Gallery and Michaelangelo's David. After leaving Venice, this is where we ended our Italian travels. We started off by walking from our hotel to see the Duomo. The outside is covered in really cool looking marble panels. See for yourself!


This is actually the Baptistery and the Duomo. The Baptistery is known for it's doors, which depict several stories from the Old Testament.


Here are the doors! These are actually fake ones. The real ones are in a museum behind the Duomo.
Other than just seeing the Duomo, we did go see David, and the Uffizi, and on our final day we took a little trip to Pisa to see the leaning tower!



After a brief visit back to Spain to get our stuff, we ended our European adventure with some Doner Kebabs and Napolitanas. I was sad to go, but just as excited to come back home to America!

Spain wont stay Mark-less forever. I'll be back some day!

I stood in Venice

So about two weeks ago, my parents and I visited Venice for about a week. So here's my week in pictures!

This is the Piazza San. Marco. The shuttle boat from our hotel dropped us off here every day. It's also where the beginning of The Italian Job is shot!



Here's the Church in the Plaza. It's really unique because the interior is covered in mosaics. Too bad they don't allow pictures!


The pidgeons there were really friendly.


Obviously there are canals everywhere, which is nice because it eliminates the possibility of having tons of cars everywhere, making it very peaceful.



Venice is famous for it's masks. There are mask stores EVERYWHERE. They were probably my favorite part of the city.



There were even Guernica masks!


My favorite store.


It rained most of the time we were there.

Here's the Rialto Bridge...


...which passes over the Grand Canal.
And I just like this picture.