Good Luck, Elder Buxton!!!

This last weekend was one for the record books! Friday morning Kennie and I hopped in Giuseppe (AKA my red Honda CR-V) and headed south for good ol' St. Geezy from P-Town. Unfortunately, we weren't more than five minutes past Nephi when I saw the blazing lights of the po-po pull up right behind me. BUSTED. My mind scrambled as I tried to compose myself. I won't reveal just how much I was going over the speed limit; instead we'll just say that the fuzz was pretty lenient in giving me a ticket for only going ten over.

Finally in George, Kennie, Jennie, and I reunited at the Olive Garden and spent some time adventuring around. After cruising the 'Vard and making a new friend in a Mexican pedestrian who seemed interested in our bumpin' Justin Bieber tunes, we made our way to Kaylee's new place of employment, Krave. A quick surprise and we were out of there, headed to my house for some down time until we later spent the night escapading with Kaylee.

Saturday morning came. After some deliberating, it was decided that we would leave George early so that we could get to Vegas in time to watch the United States vs. England World Cup game. Kennie and I set out for Vegas and got to Matt's a few minutes before the game started.

Note to self: never use Google Maps ever again. We got to the right place, but it took us about a half hour longer than it should have.

After witnessing the US pull a tie against England and eating a very satisfying meal of chips and salsa, Kennie, Matt, and I hopped in my car and drove out to Red Rock Canyon in search of some wild burros. It wasn't too long before we discovered some and promptly made our way out to the field to greet them, much to the attest of Kennie who at one point yelled, "They're charging!" Luckily, they didn't charge and we were able to get pictorial proof of our contact. Two things could possibly be happening in the picture above:

1) I'm impersonating a wild burro. If that's the case, then I'd say I'm pretty spot-on.

2) The excitement of being in such close proximity to such primitive creatures caused me to I have to sneeze really, really badly.

Later we met up with Jennie and her brothers, Adam and Ryan, and their friend Nate, fresh off the EFY scene. Although the Strip probably isn't someplace you'd want to go right after a week of intense spiritual enlightenment, or after any week for that matter, Matt was a great guide and drove us there so that we could see the fountains at the Bellaggio and whatnot. I mean, you can't be a visitor in Vegas and not go to the Strip, right?

Adventures at the Strip said and done, the gang piled back in the van and headed off to Jeff's open house. Full of good food, great friends, an awesome dance after-party, and lots and lots of laughter, the party was an absolute blast. Highlights included dance lessons from a five-year-old, the coining of the future Millennium High School (Home of the Falcons), and attempted mastering of the raptor run and roar.

(Right here I'd like to give a special shout-out to the amazing Doxey family. It's not every day that you meet a family so willing to allow six hoodlums to come and crash at their house on such short notice. Thank you so so SO much for all of your generosity and kindness! You guys are the best!)

And then came the moment we had all been waiting for! Elder Jeff Buxton, pre-missionary extraordinaire, gave his farewell address. Without a hint of nervousness, Jeff spoke like a pro and gave us all the more reason to realize just how blessed the people of Scotland are going to be to have him in their midst.

So, Elder Buxton, as you embark on the adventure known as the best two years, I want to just thank you for being such an amazing example to everyone around you. You are going to do extraordinary things as an extraordinary missionary! And remember, it's not goodbye, only so long for now!

God be with you 'til we meet again! :]

Pupusas, Anyone?

This last Saturday was eventful, to say the least. It all began with "light" cleaning checks, which basically entails a little tidying up here and there around the apartment and shutting your bedroom door so that the landlord can't see the messy abyss that lies within. After cleaning checks, Alyse, Anna, and I hit up the Relief Society picnic at Kiwanis Park. We met a few of the girls and did the usual for any RS activity: talked.

After laps at the RB pool, Alyse and I participated in a friendly little game called "Melonball" in the Regency pool. Basically what you do is get a watermelon, grease it up with Crisco, and then play water polo. Instead of throwing the melon into a net, you just hold it and touch the opposite side of the pool. It was so much fun! I don't know who thought of that game, but they are brilliant and should be given their own show on ESPN.

All those crazy shenanigans said and done, Alyse and I went to the home of our awesome friends AJ and Nate Morris for pupusas. You may ask, what's a pupusa? Put simply, it's paradise in food form. If I ever go on a mission, my one request is to go somewhere in which pupusas are a food staple.

Note to my roommates: GIRD YOUR LOINS! Pupusas are going to be a regular meal in the Regency 107 household come this fall!

Nate and Jacob taught Alyse and me the art of making pupusas. This was my first one! Not too shabby?

My first pupusa and me. How precious :]

Nate, Jacob, and me reveling in pupusa splendor.

Isaac and I threw it down on the Wii after going buck-wild on batches of pupusas. I'm convinced that he would be the Michael Jordan of Mario Kart if it were an official sport. The picture above is of us playing Rainbow Road upside-down. And yes, he kicked my butt.