The Buffalo Run

So these past few months my brothers Jackson and J haven been training for a 50 K Trail Race on Antelope Island on the Great Salt Lake. Well, it finally came this past weekend. Our entire apartment decided to go and support them. We camped out Friday night, and then helped Christy take care of the kid's while J and Jackson ran on Saturday. It was freezing Friday night, and Saturday morning, and it was a little tough to keep the kids warm. Driving up to the island was a surreal experience, with the sun setting in the west, not in orange or yellow hues but silvery white. I looked like the edge of the earth. Then on the east the mountains reflected on the glassy water making it difficult to distinguish between land and water and sky. 

Jackson and J are my new heros! So Jackson, for a couple of weeks now has had a hurting foot, and we all had our guesses on whether or not he should do the race, but Jackson is the toughest man I know, and he was like, "there's no way I'm backing out." I know Jackson pretty well, and my guess is because of the price of admission to the race was up there he was not going to let it go to waste. The race ended up being about 32 miles, and it was a mountainous trail that would have been rough for any hiker, let alone a runner. It was rocky and steep, and J even had a run in with a buffalo. Jackson finished in five hours and three minutes, putting him in 14th overall, and first in his age devision (20-29 yrs). J made it in six hours and nearly collapsed in the arms of Christy after the race. Jackson was in excruciating pain from his foot, and had a rough weekend. We were all afraid that he had run on a broken foot or something and that the race had caused permanent damage. So on Monday he went to the doctor and he found out luckily it is just some severely strained and bruised tendons. He was one of those big boots to help him recover, but still, he is my hero all the way.

Antelope island from the causeway; the island is huge! 15 miles long, and covered in big mountains like the one in the picture. This is no tropical escape.

The mountains on the east across the water

The end of the world behind us. Matt Greer, Myself, Jackson, and Todd

The race is called the Buffalo Run because of the free roaming bison on the island

Just before the race started. Jackson is in the red, and J is just to the right of Jackson with a red hat. 

The Vegas Trip

So our family had a get together in Vegas for the MWC b-ball tourney. Everybody was able to make it, and it was also the first time that those of us up in Utah could see our cousin Parker who just got home from his mission. Unfortunately BYU lost out, but we were able to eat some really great food, and spend some wonderful time with family. J was way nice to let us use his timeshares, which we all loved. I think my favorite part of the whole trip was our 3 on 3 water basketball game in the pool. 

Desmond making faces on the sliding glass door.

Bo, Anna, Todd, Jackson, and I made a late night trip to the strip to see the last fountain show, and the volcano eruption.

The song playing was "Singing in the Rain"

Uncle Doug, J, Devin and Shelby in the back, and Marisa on the side

So Jackson and Todd had a "stache" competition, and grew them for several weeks. You wouldn't believe the scrutiny and persecution they endured those few weeks. Especially when my parents saw them haha!! They shaved when we got home from Vegas.

Jenny Doll Baby Won't Ya Be My Gal!!

I'm a little late getting these pictures up here, but they are of when my best friend/cousin/psychologist/pen pal/confidant/spy/example/buddy/ Jenny went into the MTC here in Provo. I met up with her family in the morning at the Creamery. We ate ice-cream and chatted before we headed up the road to drop her off. I kind of became Mr. Camera man, and I was so grateful to be able to be there with her, even though it was kind of rough. Smelling the laundry room brought the most nostalgic feeling ever, and I left that place with an overall feeling of jealousy that Jenny gets to begin what I've already finished. 

I noticed that the sticker they used for her Dork dot was a lot smaller than mine was. I must have really been a big dork. 

 

Jenny's hilarious "cow tag" luggage marker

Christmas Break Cattle Drive

This Christmas Break we had our favorite vacation activity: work! We had our semi-annual cattle dive, and the Lord blessed us with a nice layer of snow, and I'm not being sarcastic, because the snow kept the cattle walking briskly because it covered their food. It was a warm day too, so it basically became an all day snowball fight between Marisa and I. 

Father and Son

What guy could resist a cowgirl like this?

What guy could resist a cowboy like this? haha

Jackson kindly helped Marisa on to the treacherous, frozen pond. What a caring brother. 

Majestic.

Sergio being diligent and making us all smile like always.

Marisa 

J on He-Man

Savanna and Evelyn

Eevanna and Christy tearin' it up on ol' red, Eevanna's  favorite mount.

Despite the look on Evelyn's face she actually really enjoyed the whole thing, and she never cried which was pretty impressive since it was a long day and we finished just before sundown.

Our favorite cowboy Jackson.

Pictures of Kilene's wedding

These are just some pictures that J snapped off after Kilene's wedding I mention in the last post.

Evelyn being a little rugrat like always.

Grandpa and our new Grandma Dorothy. I'm hoping Grandpa will still be alive to be able to do my sealing too if he can because he is so hilarious! He had everyone way too rowdy in there. 

Aunt Marza only has two more left after Kilene. Of course you can see my Dad in the background on the phone.

Pizzeria 712 rocks!

I'm planning on getting some more pictures up here soon of Kilene's wedding, and hopefully of all of us going out to eat. It seems like another Brown family get together was determined by where and when our meals would be. Thursday night we ate at Goodwood with Uncle Phil and three of his daughters. J's family came, Bo and Anna and Maisey caught a ride with Jackson and I, and also Uncle John and Aunt Renee came with mom and dad. On Friday after the wonderful wedding (Grandpa Bowman did the sealing, and like always he was super romantic and very cheesy, but we all love him for it), we went to a nice deli at Thanksgiving Point where I had a very delightful "spicy-shrimp" salad. That night we stuffed ourselves at the reception. It was good so see so many Bowman cousins that we haven't seen for a while! I can't believe it's been since Graham's reception since I las saw Aleesha! On Friday, we all met up at J's, and then caravanned up to SLC, to the Gateway mall and met Uncle Dave and Aunt Cynthia at a restaurant called Dodo's. There I was impressed with my quesadilla quiche, and seafood soup. Uncle Dave is recovering from surgery (prostate cancer) and he looked really good. 

We got to check out Bowman's restaurant space, and what their doing with that. They're in the process of getting all the licensing worked out, but they hope to be ready to open in Late April or early May. Then we motored on back to the BYU for a basketball game. It was pretty boring, but we won so whoo-hoo. Afterwards we rushed over to Pizzeria 712, a gourmet pizza place by Bowman's house. He gets to eat there for free a lot, because at one point the owners wanted him to work there, but he kindly declined, but he said it is one of his favorite places to eat. So once again we feasted on wonderful, exciting food. I love our family get-togethers!! But aside from the food, it was really good to get to talk to mom and dad, and tell them what our plans are, and hear their responses. They are so wise.

Officially declared!

I always imagined the moment when I would declare my major as something very dramatic. Me, standing on a podium, in the Administration Building, raising my chin declaring in a loud voice, "I am a Facilities Manager Major!!". It didn't quite go down like that. The only audible sound made was the scribble of my pen on a small carbon copy sheet. I handed it to the receptionist in a small office I've never heard of, and then she tears off the top, and hands me the pink layer. "Is that all" I asked? "Yes", she responded. Then I turned around and walked into the falling snow. But I was actually really excited to declare, or change I should say, my major. I've only had two class periods of my Facility and Property Management class so far, but I have really enjoyed it. I also really enjoy the small class, and small program, because it allows for a lot of opportunity. 

Christmas break was most likely the best two weeks of my life. All of my family was home for the first time in four years. Jackson recently returned from his mission in Madrid, Spain. We actually organized ourselves enough to take family pictures too! The three grandkids kept us all laughing constantly, and the snow storm even gave us a real christmasy feeling. The pictures we took on J's camera, and it was a little windy and cold outside, but we think they turned out alright. All of us made it home alright, and Jackson and I, made it home is special style: the car we got for Christmas! It's a Camry, and we're very grateful to have it. Now I won't have to borrow my roommate's car so much.