Too soon?

We figured this was the last time we could use Ken's idea for our Halloween costumes for this year, since outside of Chicago people probably aren't as familiar with the sad story of the Cubs underperforming season in 2003.

Meet Steve Bartman and Moises Alou.

Can you believe we have so much Cubs paraphinalia?

Cross One Off the Bucket List

Last weekend we got the chance to drive over to South Bend and see our Cougs play Notre Dame! We were joined by the male counterparts of the law school crowd and enjoyed seeing campus and watching the game. One of our friends that came with us at one point described it as "Disneyland for religious people." Here's why.

Touchdown Jesus (Sacreligious? Possibly.)

which (who?) is also visible from the stadium, of course...

we also found first-down Moses, complete with horns

and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

They also have some great football traditions. Their tailgating is legendary--a huge college parking lot bumper-to-bumper with cars and tents and lots of food. Before their games the entire crowd lines up along one part of campus as the players walk down an alley to get to the stadium, and then the marching band is followed into the stadium by the fans. And even though BYU didn't end up winning (surprise, surprise), it was still a close game and the stadium was full of enough BYU fans that Ken was satisfied.

Lil' Peanut

Can anybody guess what this is?

 



Dancing Fools

Our friends recently introduced us to the wonder that is Just Dance. I felt the need to share it with all of you, despite some strong objections from the party.

I believe this is one of those times when it is best to be behind the camera.

Particularly for something like this...



Flying Flowers

If you ever get a chance to visit the Butterfly Garden here in Houston, we would highly recommend doing so. This is how we spent a part of our Labor Day, accompanied by the Qualls, our good friends from BYU.

 

 

 

(I was recently introduced to Picasa, which lets you create these awesome collages, so you might be seeing more of these picture boxes in the future)

 

I will have you all know that as of this moment, I am completely caught up on all of my blogging. So be prepared for another six months of silence. :)

 

 

Just kidding.

 

 

Hopefully. 



Two and a Half Decades

Of the existence of yours truly. As in no longer in her early twenties. As in now officially in the middle of them. As in old.

 

Ken and I flew down to Houston the day before my birthday and unfortunately Ken had to work, but we were luckily still surrounded by fabulous friends and food. Susanne and her little Joshipoo treated me to a fabulous stracciatella cupcake at a local cupcakery called Crave, and since Adrienne was in town for a callback (congrats!) she was able to join us for the festivities!

 

 

Afterwards the three-and-a-half of us took a walk along some body of water and were nearly attacked by these odd, giant birds hanging around begging for food...

 

 

and so we fetched our hubbies from their "job" (as if it could be called that--being taken out for lunch everyday, making outrageous amounts of money for doing nothing) and headed to the Spaghetti Warehouse for some delicious pasta.

 

 

Who says old people can't have fun?

 



Birthday Buds

Since Ken left for Houston for his second summer internship before his actual birthday, we decided to celebrate it a few days in advance.

 

It began with some tasty stuffed french toast for breakfast

 

some presents

 

 

 

a big surprise!

 

 

which led to friends,

 

 

some of Ken's favorite food,

 

 

delicious cake,

a few babies,

 

and a loooooong game.

 

Dennis and Wendy, thank you for the best man I've ever met.

 

 

 

 



Summer in the City

We've had a few visitors this summer!

 

First, we had Owen, Anna, Danton, and Wendy stop by for a couple of days on their long cross-country drive from New York to Seattle.

 

Danton admiring himself in the bean.

 

We also had a week-long visit from my mom and Colton. Activities included an Independence Day barbecue with friends, a couple museums, a white sox blowout, and lots of R&R.

 

 

 

 

 And for all the rest of you looking to visit, you've got one more year before we take ourselves to Texas. Clock is ticking! We'd love to have you!

 

 

 

 



A Graduation and Some Church History

In May I got to go represent the Kenneth Young family at Owen's hooding and graduation from the University of Rochester Medical School.

 

While in New York we took the opportunity to visit some local church sites including

 

the Smith farm

 

the Sacred Grove

 

E.B. Grandin's print shop

 

the Whitmer Farm and Visitors' Center

 

 

and Hill Cumorah.

 

 

And here's Danton. Just because.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mother's Day

For Mother's Day this year, our good friends Nate and Susanne offered to host a dinner if Ken would contribute to the meal. Since neither believed that what we brought had actually been produced by his own two hands without my interference (I will admit to giving him detailed, hand-written instructions and hovering pretty closely while he worked), I thought I would give them, and you all, some photographic evidence.

 

 

Happy Seriously Belated Mother's Day.

 

 



Our Little Friend

One day we opened our blinds to find a little neighbor attached to our window screen.

 

 

 

Don't know how long he was there, but he disappeared after a few days.

 

Since we currently have no kids, anything cute that appears around our house deserves blog mention. Hence our pet bat.

 



Flight of the Buddha

Last Cambodia post, I promise. (finally)

Just needed to share the funniest (in hindsight) story of the trip. It begins with a large ten to fifteen pound buddha statue mom acquired in Siem Reap and lugged ALL over Cambodia. Our last day in Cambodia was going rather smoothly, until mom got swindled into taking a local (eek!) bus from Sihanoukville back to Phnom Penh. Since there was little to no room, she stowed it in the overhead compartment.

Not really knowing where the bus would leave us, whether or not we would successfully find tuk tuks to take us to the airport when we got there, and dreading the tuk tuk ride itself, a lot of things could have gone wrong but, miraculously, didn't! We found tuk tuks easily when we got to Phnom Penh, we found an English-speaker on the bus who told us where to get off, we got all of our bags off of the bus-

but left the buddha.

Ken and I climbed into a tuk tuk, and my mom and Colton climbed into the other one, and the last thing I remember is my mom turning around and yelling, "Oh no! The buddha! Come on, we're going to follow the bus!" We barely had time to motion to our tuk tuk driver to follow their tuk tuk driver before they took off on a mad dash through the streets of Phnom Penh. We lost them after about two minutes. Having no phones, no way of communicating, little to no cash left, and no idea where they went, Ken and I wandered around for about ten minutes before we decided we would meet up with them at the airport. Hopefully.

They finally did show up, but sadly without the buddha. Apparently they made it all the way to the bus depot and searched around some of the empty buses in vain. When we had all regrouped and realized we had a full three hours before our flights left, Kenny brought up the brilliant suggestion of calling the bus company. With the aid of a nice airport attendant and a bus driver who accepted $20 to hop on the front of a motorcyle to bring us the buddha, mom reclaimed her prize.



An epic finish to a wonderful trip.

Sand and Surf

Our final adventure took us to the small village of Sihanoukville on Cambodia's small coastline. Cambodia actually used to be much larger--much of Vietnam and Thailand's coastline used to be a part of the Khmer Empire before it was lost.

Most of our days were spent here

or here

doing this...

or this...

or this.

We did have a rather frightening morning when we thought Ken had appendicitis, however. So we took a brisk tuk tuk ride into the village to find the local health clinic, Ken had some blood taken and an ultrasound done, the doctor determined that he couldn't tell for certain, and we were given some antibiotics which were taken with many prayers hoping Ken could make it back to the U.S. without an abdominal explosion.

All's well that ends well.