Let the building begin!

Last weekend, Joseph and I drove to Galveston to spend a day at the beach. Plus, it was the AIA Sandcastle Competition. I found this out in the spring and was so excited to see the huge sandcastles. It was a hot day but I am starting to get used to that. Here are some pictures from the day.

This sandcastle was inspired by the Occupy movement. Basically, the people just left the sand in one big pile, put some signs up, and then partied the day away behind it. I was very shocked that it didn't win any awards.

This one was called "Cup-lete." It won the award for "Most life-like."

This one was very artistic and had some underlying meaning but I don't know what it was exactly.

March Madness of the Penguins!

Houston Astro. Right now, there is a big political ordeal in Houston about rebuilding the Astro-dome so there were a few sandcastles with the Astro-dome.

Sanderella

This was the 1st Place Winner. The DOW sandcastle won second!

Here's East Beach that we went swimming in.

We had a bunch of fun and enjoyed swimming in the ocean. Stay tuned for more Houston excitement as we're going to the Houston Space Center today!

If I Had a Million Dollars, I would...

In the early 90's, this song became popular. I recall growing up and listening to it on the radio. I loved it and as a kid, I always thought about what I would buy with one million dollars.

As I get older, reality sets in and I realize I will never have one million dollars to spend on stuff. But, yesterday Joseph and I enjoyed discussing what we would do with $1,000 instead. It is a much more realistic number and definitely achievable in our lifetime. This discussion came about because we went to the Galleria Mall in downtown Houston

 

 

 

What you see is real. It has an ice skating rink on the lowest floor. It is the fourth largest mall in the U.S.

As we walked this huge mall, we went to many stores where I kept saying, "Joseph I could easily spend a thousand dollars here." For instance, we went to a store called, "Lego" where they had every color of legos available by the bag, similar to buying produce at a grocery store.

Later that night, Joseph asked me, "What would to buy with 1,000 dollars?" Many things went through my mind: clothes, new computer, jewelry (that I know I would never wear)... It was all stuff. But then I thought about it a little deeper and would want to spend it on an investment. Not necessarily a financial investment but a hobby/interest investment. Perhaps, I would finally buy all the stuff to learn how to decorate cakes and take classes on it so I can bake my children birthday cakes one day. Or, I would buy a piano and take piano lessons and play the piano for my family. Or be able to afford photography classes and take amazing pictures of my family. I would choose to spend it on a skill that will last a lifetime. Then I said, "I care more about memories than materials." That is definitely true! Memories are what matters most in life.

So I ask you, What would you do with 1,000 dollars to spend?

Louisiana and Galveston

We've had some adventures since moving to Texas. A few days after we arrived, I left for Louisiana to visit my sister and see her graduate with her master's. My parents and brother also came to visit for the special occasion. I came a few days early to help my sister pack and to see the sights of the city.

Mississippi River view from the sushi restaurant we went to.

Raccoon digging in the garbage outside our hotel

Trescha's hooding ceremony

No family resemblance whatsoever!

The whole family.

After graduation, we went out for a traditional crawfish boil. I ate one crawfish and then had a salad.

Then, my sister, her boyfriend, and I went to visit New Orleans. It's been many years since I was there last. I enjoyed just walking around the French Quarter and seeing the downtown area. I also got to see the Superdome where the Saints play, which was cool.

There are guys like this all over downtown and this is their job. This man held this position for several minutes!

 Then, my sister came to Texas to visit me. We went to Galveston for a day to see the sights there. We went on a ferry ride around the island and also walked through the historic downtown. We also went swimming in the ocean and it was wonderful! I loved it and can't wait to go back soon!

View from the ferry ride.

Galveston is a port city for many cruise and we got to walk past this huge cruise ship! Can't wait to go on a cruise with Joseph some day!

Now, we're back into normal life again. Joseph started his second week at work and is enjoying it. The weather isn't too bad yet. We look forward to many more adventures in the upcoming weeks.

Don't Mess With Texas

We have arrived to Texas! I laughed every time I saw this sign while driving through the HUGE state!

Here is my nephew and I building a tower when we visited him in Austin.

Our apartment is very nice. DOW gave us some nice things when we got here as well as decorating the apartment. I took pictures because I know it will never look like this again!

Since here, we've discovered that food costs a TON more than Utah. We were quite surprised. Beef here costs almost 4 bucks a pound (at least at the grocery store we went to) where back in Utah, I was buying it for under 3 dollars. Milk is what astounded us the most. We're used to the Creamery milk at BYU being under 2 bucks. Here, we paid 3.50 a gallon! Oh well... I guess the cows here live more extravagantly than Utah cows.

We went swimming in the pool and walked around the property on Saturday. It is very big and very nice. We drove around our new town Sunday and loved it. It is a small tourist town, which makes it fun and exciting. Today, Joseph started his internship but I have yet to hear how it went. Tomorrow, I leave to visit my sister for about a week!

The Nomad Life

For the last week and next week, Joseph and I will be living the nomad life. We don't really have a place to call "home" because we can't move into our apartment in Texas until another week. While the nomad life has it's fascinating moments, we are people who enjoy having a home.

Joseph and I had some fun times this week while staying in Nephi. Moving was a huge headache and we've decided we will forever live in Utah because we can't move again. I love packing but I don't like the part of fitting the boxes into small areas (i.e. our car or the storage unit). But, all is done and all is well.

Tuesday, we traveled to Manti and enjoyed spending time there. We went on a carriage ride at night and saw the popular sights of the town. Some of the buildings there are still the originals from the settlers/pioneers that arrived in the late 1800s. We strolled down Main Street and I loved going to all the small stores and seeing what they had.

This is the lady with the horse. I couldn't get a better picture.

Then on Thursday, we went hiking in Nephi with Joe's dad. It was a very nice hike, not too rigorous and very pretty.

My excuse for the bad picture is the sun in my eyes.

Aside from that, I have been busy studying for my big exam next Monday. If I pass, which I hope I do, I will be an official recreational therapist. Hooray!

Post-Graduation Life

So I graduated last week! It was a LONG ceremony because we had over 700 graduates and I was number 689. That's what I get for marrying someone with the last name, "Wilcox." Joseph and I have been pretty busy lately. My parents came out from Wisconsin to visit and we had a blast. They arrived late Tuesday night and we went out to dinner. Then Wednesday, we went to the Bean Museum at BYU, drove up to Bridal Veil Falls, and enjoyed playing Parcheesi at our home. Thursday and Friday were graduation festivities. Here are some highlights.

This is my parent's dog who made the journey to visit Utah. She was so tired from being outside all day long. She could barely keep her eyes open.

Mom and me on graduation day in the dress I made by myself!

The whole family! Could not have done it without any of them!

Official college graduate, after walking across the stage.

On Wednesday this week, Joseph and I took a day date to Salt Lake City. We went to Hogle Zoo, Welfare Square, and went to the new mall, City Creek Center. It was an awesome day and much needed break from finals/craziness. We saw TONS of cool animals. Joseph decided he wants a pet Rhino and will name him "Stampy."

Geese just chilling out on the roof at the zoo.

I love spring time because all the baby animals are out and about. Baby geese were awesome!

Baby elephant at the zoo!

We got to see the elephants eating their breakfast. It was crazy to watch them all eat.

Baby rhinoceros eating. He looked like a garbage disposal just picking up whatever he could find.

This giraffe was being trained on how to get in the cage and out again. It was cool to watch the zookeepers training him.

I never realized how HUGE ostriches are!

Up close and personal with a tiger!

Aside from that fun, we've been... PACKING! It is one of my favorite things in the entire world. Today we fit all our boxes into our storage unit and move out of our apartment on Monday. It's sad to say goodbye to this place as we've lived here for almost a year and a half. We like it a lot and LOVE our ward but Texas is going to be amazing too.

Stay tuned for more exciting news soon!

We have been called to labor...

Texas awaits our arrival in May! We finally found out where Dow wants Joseph to work and we are ready to go on an adventure to a new land. Much of the process of finding out where we’ll live felt like waiting for a mission call, or at least I think so.

Our destination is Bayport, TX but we will live in Kemah, Texas.

Here is where we’ll be:

Here are some things I look forward to doing:

- Lion King Broadway- tickets are bought; we are going

- Fireworks every weekend on Kemah Boardwalk

- Visiting Houston (Zoo, Space Center, etc.)

- Visiting Louisiana to see my sister

- Visiting Oklahoma to see my brother

- Visiting family in Austin

- Getting tan

- Learning to surf

We are excited for the adventure!