The Mega Update

Well, it’s been a very long time since I’ve posted on our blog. We’ve been incredible busy the last few weeks. So busy that I haven’t even had time to read everyone else’s blogs! Today is finally catch-up day, and I’m going to give you the Cliff’s Notes version of we’ve been doing the last few weeks:

We were called as nursery leaders in our ward. We haven’t spent any time in there yet, but last Sunday they showed us where the treat cupboard (fully loaded with animal and goldfish crackers), and now we can’t wait to get started!

I was called to serve in the Columbus temple! Being able to serve in the temple was one of the main things I wanted to try to do while we were out here, so I’m very excited. I work in the office on Wednesday mornings. It’s a very small temple, so we do all the administrative things. We answer the phone, send faxes, manage the patron schedule, record the work that’s done in the temple, etc. It’s just really nice to be in the temple for a long period of time each week, and I’m learning a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff that goes on. It’s really great.

Baxter and I flew to Seattle for my sister’s (Laura) graduation — he was my second carry-on item. I was really nervous to take him. I hate flying anyway, and I just imagined it would be much worse with a little puppy. It actually wasn’t too bad — thanks to the sedatives I got from the vet. We gave him a tiny little pill before we left for the airport, and by the time we boarded our plane he was pretty much passed out. Being with the family was wonderful. They all loved Bax, well, except for Ginger (the old dachshund). Baxter kept trying to get Ginger to play, but she didn’t want anything to do with him. Though occasionally they got into barking matches and Ginger did teach Bax how to go in and out of the doggy door. We all had a really great time.

I got my hair cut. It had been driving me crazy for weeks and it really needed to be cut. So, while I was in Seattle I decided to take care of it. We ended up cutting 7 inches off! I really like it. It’s so much lighter and easier for the summer. And since I cut my hair, Toren decided he wanted to shave his head. I wasn’t too thrilled, but he convinced me that it would make him much sleeker in the water during Marco Polo. So, shaved head it is!

Today, Toren and I checked out the Columbus Zoo. It was amazing. We spent 2 hours there and didn’t even get to see it all. We did see some pretty amazing things though: manatees, koalas, tigers, snapping turtles, flamingoes, and (Toren’s favorite) grizzly bears. We had tons of fun and we can’t wait to go back and see the rest of it.

Well, that’s a pretty good overview of what we’ve been up to. Life is good. We love Columbus. The summer seems to be flying by, but we’re having a good time!