Post semester wrap-up and Yellowstone!

Whew! What a semester! I'm pooped, but it was a good experience. Without boring everyone with too many details, let me just say that our company was (somewhat) successful in that I can at least say we ended the fiscal year in the black.

In other news, a couple weeks ago we had Alex's parents and his 3 oldest nieces come up to visit us. It was a short trip, but still quite fun. We took them all to Craigo's and showed them around campus, and spent a nice Sunday afternoon and evening playing games all together. Sorry no pictures, we were kinda slackers.

This weekend, Cindy's parents came up to help her sister Sharon move out of her apartment on Campus. As Friday night drew to a close we all gathered together to talk about what we could do the next day, and the lot fell upon the idea of going up to Yellowstone!

So to Yellowstone we went. It was a lot of fun. It's crazy that we're only 2 hours away from an Internationaly recognized park. We drove up and saw the Norris basin, Grand Canyon Lower Falls, and Old Faithful. Driving around was scenic enough as it was! We got some great pictures and videos of Buffalo and other sights around the park.

This is the "Green Dragon" geysur.

The whole lot of us

Here is us from the top of the lower falls

And some distance shots for perspective!

We also caught some buffalo on camera. Watch this video and you can hear him snorting at the passersby! This one is one taking up the whole road, but it sure made for some fun pictures!

We ended the day at Old Faithful. It made me feel so patriotic watching it! I know that america had nothing to do with the creation of this phenomenon. But still... we just rock! Anyway, here is a video my wife making a fool of herself waiting for the old girl to go off. If anyone can recommend a way that would let me rotate this video 90 degrees to the right gets a special thank you from me!

It was a great day! One that we hope to repeat someday in the future before we leave Rexburg for good!

Reese's S'mores

A couple notes about how to do REALLY good s'mores at home. Use Honey Maid Grahm crackers, it actually makes a difference in how enjoyable it is. Also, using Reese's P.B. cups in replacement of Chocolate squares will take your S'mores experience to a whole new level (credit of this idea goes to the Gates family cornroasts.) But don't make the same mistake I made last night. Make sure you take the black wrapper off the cup before you microwave it, it makes quite the mess when trying to do it after the fact!

Entertaining weekend

We have already had some good times this weekend. Yesterday, Cindy and I went to Idaho Falls to get some shopping done and had a good time. We went to Red Robin and picked up both CARS and WALL-E at Target. (both cheaper than advertised at Wal-Mart.) We had been meaning to get them to add to our collection and now feel like our Disney shelf of DVD's is much more complete than before.

Today we got to be in the Rexburg Parade for Cindy's work. We handed out fans with snoopy on them for metlife to spectators as we walked down mainstreet. We weren't exactly looking forward to being FORCED into staying in town for the 4th of July, but it was better than we were expecting. It was actually pretty fun.

After the parade we went to go see Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen. It was AMAZING! I liked the first one well enough. It had cool cars and explosions to keep anyone's interest. But the new one was soooo much better! It had a much deeper storyline and really had some twists and turns you don't expect going into it. I feel like the characters get a lot more fleshed out and a lot more things make sense. There are some plot whole's but still a very satisfying movie.

Since we went to Thunder over Louisville we knew we wouldn't be impressed with any fireworks Idaho Falls had to offer. So now we are making S'mores and going to watch Independence Day.

Group Co-operation

So, for somewhat of an update, IBC is going.... OK... Just OK.

You have 20 guys, that all get together doing what they each individually think is best. I'm sure if nothing else, this will give me good practice for dealing with similar issues in the real world.

Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow...

The weather has been getting really nice lately (or at least warmer). Since we moved, there has been a whole new neighborhood for us to explore. It has been nice to walk around the roads on another side of town. We try to go at least a few times a week on walks in the summertime.

Friday night I wanted to go on a walk, despite the fact it was looking like rain was about to fall. We had not gone on a walk all week so Alex agreed we'd head out. Alex went out in shorts, and I was wearing dress pants, haha. When Alex and I left it was raining, but because of the wind, we didn't feel the rain as much as what we could see coming down. When we crossed the busier street, (Viking Drive for those who are familiar with Rexburg) the rain was coming harder and harder and then it started hailing. We were having so much fun getting all wet and noticed we were the only ones outside. As we started walking down the street, a car pulled over to ask us if we wanted a ride. We told her, "actually we are just walking to enjoy the rain." She said, "You're crazy, it's supposed to get a lot worse, but okay!"

We had so much fun playing in the rain and we encourage everyone who reads this to play in the rain the next time there is a chance. It makes you feel like a kid again!

Anybody want a churro?

I am currently in what is referred to here at BYU-Idaho as the "Integrated Business Core" or IBC.  It is a group of classes that every business student here has to take together which consist of Organizational Behavior, Finance, Supply Chain Management, and Marketing.  Throughout the entire semester we are grouped up into Companies (of around 20) and then into Teams (of 4 to 5), which are used for group assignments and project etc.  

As a company we are also responsible for running a business during the semester.  The original idea that my company was going to do was "The first annual Rexburg Film Festival" which was going to include entries from anyone that wanted to participate, and be an all around fun filled event.  But long story short, it got shot down about 24 hours before we needed to make our pitch to our "investors" to get our loan to run our business.  So in that short time, the best idea we could come up with was "Sweet Stix" Churro company!

Which is how I came to become a Churro Salesman this semester!  It has been a learning experience, but very fun.  You never know what team exercises like this or going to involve until you're already waist deep into it.  

Anyway, if any of you happen to find yourself in Rexburg on a weekday between the hours of 11 and 3, come find our booth between the Library and the Smith building and buy a churro!  It'll take you back to the good 'ol days of Disneyland!

Nice weather on Memorial Day!

Memorial Day weekend has come and gone already. Can't believe it's already almost June. We are certainly enjoying warm days. A park close by recently opened a little water park for kids (for free) and it's been fun watching them. That would have been a child's dream to be so close to one of those.

We decided to take a visit to Pocatello on Saturday to visit my cousins Carrie, Zach, and their family. It was fun spending time with them, having hotdogs/hamburgers and playing a few games. I actually played Settlers of Cataan! Carrie's oldest, Makayla, had very loose front teeth that she refused to pull out. We kept trying to coax her to do it, and got one of them out, but that ended up being such an experience that she refused to let the other one come out. (it got really late though... 1:30 so we were all tired) It is definitely only a matter of time before that dangly front tooth is out! We had a great time with them and hope to see each other more often as we're only an hour apart. (we grew up 6 hours apart)

Sunday = it rained. We invited our next door neighbors over for dinner though.

On Monday, Alex and I headed down to Idaho Falls to meet up with my dad, and our Grandma and Grandpa Olsen. My grandparents are aging so it was nice to see and spend time with them. Alex and I went to Target to pick up a few things where we randomly bumped into Carrie & Zach! What a surprise! Carrie was telling me that they had a picnic lunch over by the Snake River.
I have wanted to take Alex there and walk around the river ever since we moved up here, but everytime we think about it, it's way too cold. So, after Target, we headed over there and walked the 4 mile trail around the river. Absolulty scenic walk. Geese and ducks were everywhere, then the beautiful falls, beach sand, temple view, fishing, and then swimming. It was such a beautiful day! And of course, we forgot our camera!

Well, back to school/work. But it was a fun weekend. Happy summer! We're going to go on another walk now!