The Zoo with the Cobabes

NASA part 2

NASA

We went to NASA when my parents were in town! it was awesome!

Update

OK.....So i finally got around to updating the blog. All that has been going on for me is pretty work..WorK....WORK!!! (like 60 hrs a week). Brett has been a good sport. I got sick on Tuesday, I thought it was just allergies, but it turned out to be a really bad cold. I couldn't have the day off, because things are so busy with work. It was kind of rough, but Brett gave me a blessing and I know that that helped. (And Brett made some insanely delicious homemade chicken noodle soup that was so amazing that the Queen of England herself would have dumped her tea and crumpets just to smell it!!...ok that was me, brett, who wrote that). But he's right, it was delicious. And today I came home and he had the house clean. So he's been very good to me. We are planning on playing hard this weekend, since we are so busy during the week.

Jed, our houseguest, moved out. He was here for only about 2 weeks, which was shorter than we thought, but it was still good. He was fun to have around. Brett and him were Wii buddies. (More like Jed was a Wii WEAKLING and Brett DOMINATED, that was me again, sorry marn for interrupting). We'll sure miss Jed (even though he's not a "real" doctor) and Jen and their whole clan!!! But, we got a queen size bed out of the deal, so we're happy about that.

Oh, and about Brett. He just received a position to start this Fall for one year to do research and therapy at the Texas Children's Hospital. It is a really renowned hospital for adolescent research and stuff. Also, he got his own personal research project approved to start collecting data later this summer. And, one more thing, one of his professors just got a big research grant and asked Brett to help her do it (that's a huge compliment). Its bilingual research so he'll get to use his spanish. anyway, thats my hubby!!!!

Houston is getting HOT and HUMID, but we're enjoying it here, lovin our house, and each other.

We couldn't go to Utah without seeing the fellas even for a little bit! Everyone was kind enough to fit us into there schedule. We all met for lunch at Cafe Rio. Not everyone was able to make it, but we appreciate those who did. Dave and Karlie came by the house later that night and some people we're out of town. It was good to see everyone and catch up. It's hard being away from all of our friends. Dan Yeates and Doug are both engaged to great women! Congrats to both!

Wes and the MTC

We flew home to Utah for Wes' farewell. He did awesome! The following Wed we took him to the MTC. Pics are of the fam and Marn and I with Wes, what a good lookin missionary.....Wes looks pretty good too! The picture of the bench is where I first saw Marnie in the MTC when we were both missionaries. Don't get any ideas...we we're both focused on the Lord's work. We thought it would be fun to take a picture where we first ran into each other in the MTC.

My Day

So I turned 26 yesterday!!!! I woke up to Brett making breakfast, we had a relaxing morning and got out for a fabulous lunch. I had been looking for a fun place to go and I found  a Japanese restaurant here called Shabu House that I had been to in Japan and was so excited to go. It is called Shabu Shabu and what it is, is were you have a pot of broth in front of you and they give you a plater of veggies and a plater of meat, now the meat is sliced really thin and you cook it all on your own. the give you two different kinds of dipping sauce, peanut and teriyaki. It was fun and delicious!!! Then we went Birthday shopping and I got some new clothes and Brett was so patient while I took my time browsing the stores.  It was such a great day!! 

U of H

Brett had a busy weekend, he was on committee at school that was in charge of putting on a psychology conference. He then also presented in it twice. The first was in a group of three and he presented his candidacy project and then he presented a poster by himself. He did a great job and I have to say I am so proud of him! He is doing so well in school.  

Dutch Oven Cooking

Brett got a dutch oven for his birthday, and last sunday we put it to the test. He has been getting it ready for a while by lining it with crisco and heating in the oven (that's called "seasoning" ). We are excited to try new meals in the dutch oven, and take it out camping. 

The Shrine Circus

The Circus

We went to the Shrine Circus last weekend and took the Cobabes. We had a blast!  I loved it because it was a old school feel. I especially loved the cotton candy and nachos!!!!!! 

Kings Firecrackers

These girls are amazing!!  This is a fun one to watch, you gotta see it to the end.  

An Apostle's Easter Thoughts on Christ

Easter Sunday

These are all the kids that are in our branch. This is covering nursery and primary (needless to say it is tiny!) The kids are great though and we had fun in church learning about Christ and the Resurrection. Then we had them go on a little hunt of there own. (they were all about the candy, and I can't blame them I would be too)

Easter Egg Hunt at the Talbot's

We colored eggs and had a little hunt with friends over General Conference Sunday. I love to see the kids get so into it!

Happy Birthday!

April 3rd Bretty Boy turned the big 24!!!!! Happy Birthday Honey!!!!! We celebrated by going to a Chilean restaurant and going to David and Busters for some games afterwards. We had the Cobabes & The Sorbers over that weekend for general conference and had B-Day brownies for Brett. It was a fun weekend!

Easter

I am putting together an Easter Lesson for primary (I am 1st counselor in the primary) and I remembered a lesson/activity that my mom would do for us when we were kids. She found it for me and I thought I would share….. if anyone wants to make it and do this with there family for Easter, it is really a good way to have the kids remember the reason for the holiday.

Spiritual Easter Eggs

12 plastic take-apart Easter eggs.

List of items to go in eggs with scripture references:1. Sacrament cup2. Small silver coins (2 or 3 dimes)3. Piece of rope4. Piece of soap5. Piece of red cloth6. Small nail7. Dice8. Jagged rock9. Piece of white cloth10. Round flat rock11. Spices (cloves, cinnamon stick, etc.)12. Nothing
Number eggs on the outside with a fine-tip permanent marker or stickersnumbered 1-12.Roll up scripture and insert in the appropriate egg with theaccompanying item.Display in a pretty Easter basket.With your family, open the eggs one at a time, in order, to share withthem the story of Christ's death and resurrection.This is a great "advent" style activity.The first egg is opened with the family. The scripture is read and isplaced to the side where the picture is then set up to go along with theegg. The picture and the contents of the egg are visible for a wholeday. It really makes you begin to think about what happened to Christ.And looking at the symbols in the eggs deepens the meaning.Each day you open an egg (in order) and display a picture until Easterwhen the last egg is opened.
Display picture of Christ on the Cross & At the Tomb.

1. Matthew 26:39 –Sacrament Cup

And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying,"O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: neverthelessnot as I will, but as thou wilt."

2. Matthew 26:14-15 – Three Pieces of Silver

Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chiefpriests,And said unto them, "What will ye give me, and I will deliver him untoyou?" And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

3. Matthew 27:1-2 - Rope

When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of thepeople took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him toPontius Pilate the governor.

4. Matthew 27: 24-26 - Soap

When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumultwas made, he took water, and washed his hands before themultitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just person: seeye to it.”Then answered all the people, and said, "His blood be on us, and on ourchildren."Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, hedelivered him to be crucified.

5. Matthew 27: 28-30 – Red Cloth

And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head,and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him,and mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.

6. Matthew 27: 31-32 - Nail

And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, andput his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: himthey compelled to bear his cross.
[And he was nailed to the cross, and crucified.]


7. Mark 15: 24 - Dice

And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lotsupon them, ...

8. Matthew 27: 50-51, 54 – Rock

Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top tothe bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, sawthe earthquake, and those things that were done, they fearedgreatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God."

9. Matthew 27: 57-60 – White Cloth

When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, namedJoseHe went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commandedthe body to be delivered.And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linencloth,And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock:

10. Matthew 27: 60, 62, 65-66 – Flat Rock

And he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chiefpriests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate...Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure asye can.So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, andsetting a watch.

11. Mark 16:1, Matthew 28: 2, 5 – Spices

And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother ofJames, and Salome, had brought sweet spices, that they mightcome and anoint him.And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lorddescended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone fromthe door, and sat upon it.And the angel answered and said unto the women, "Fear not ye: for I knowthat ye seek Jesus, which was crucified."

12. Matthew 28: 6 – Nothing

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said...


I love My Savior and am grateful that we can all live again after this life, and not only live again but have bodies and be resurrected to a perfect sate. My grandpa Metz just passed a way and knowing this truth brings me peace!

Detox

So today is day 5 of my cleanse. I have to admit I am pretty proud of myself! I didn't know if I was going to be able to make it past day 1. So for those that don't know what I am talking about, I am doing a cleans called "The Master Cleanse" or "lemon Diet" It is were all you drink for 10 days is a mix of lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper. It is supposed to give you all the nutrition your body needs to be healthy but by keeping it simple your body can use the extra time pulling toxins from your body. Everyone in my family has done it at some point and Brett and I tried it last year and only lasted 1 day(I think cuz we didn't have any real reason to be on it, we were just trying it cuz Meg and Steve were doing it). I decided to try it again cuz I have been on a sugar binge for the last little while and when I tried to stop eating as much sugar it was no use. This cleans is also designed to help break bad habits. So now with a reason behind the cleanse I am finding I am doing just fine, and I feel wonderful, light and clean!
-If you want to know more about the cleanse check out / or we have a pdf format of the book that tells you all you need to know. http://therawfoodsite.com/mastercleanse.htm
Good Luck Dad! (he is on day 2)

Brazos Bend State Park

So we are finally settled enough that with our spare time we are starting to explore Texas. Last weekend we went camping with some friends to Brazos Bend State Park which is known for alligators!!! Yep we camped by the alligators and other animals, we kept having a raccoon try to get into our camp and steel our stuff, he managed to get a tackle box and fishing reel. It was really fun to be right there looking at alligators in the lake. We spotted about 20 and everyone said that was not very many that on sunny days they are all out sunbathing. 20 was enough for us, we loved it.

So Mike and Lisa got the family tickets to come visit Brett and I in Texas. They were here two weeks ago. We wanted to give them a real Texas greeting so we made sure to dress appropriately (cowboy boots and hats and the whole get-up, Brett was actually trying to put pigtails in my hair but I stopped there) they were here from Thursday night until Monday afternoon. Here is a run down of what we did;

Herman Park(took a train around the park)
Holocaust Museum
Whole day at Galveston (rode the fairy and played on the beach)
Gave them a tour of UH
Had a Texan BBQ lunch at Pappas BBQ
Played card games
And just enjoyed each others company

Here are some pics of the trip;

Wes was the only one that was brave enough to get in.

Here is still a lot of damage from Hurricane Ike

We all loved the way the houses were up on stilts

Sod

So we got a backyard now. We had the missionaries over and they helped us with putting in the sod. It took all day but we did it!