Houston International Festival

This is downtown Houston.  I don't think I've ever been next to a building this tall, Ben has though.

Steel pan kids group.  They were so fun to watch!

Ben and I trying to play a few notes on the steel pan drums

All the ladies were trying on these $40 hats.  I thought I would too!

We ate some great Jamaican food.  Ben is eating Jerk Chicken in this picture.  The theme of the festival was the Caribbean, so you can imagine how many booths were selling Bob Marley stuff...

We got a funnel cake because mom in Iowa loves them, and we do too.  I got a snow cone and got to put all the flavors on I wanted!

This guy is Puerto Rican and he just looked to cool to not take a picture with.

We had so much fun walking around the festival and being out in the sun.  Granted we got lost getting into and out of the city, we still had a great time being together. 

A visit from the doctor and the nurse

We love the Browns!!! Luckily for us they live in Dallas, David is in med school and Laura is a nurse.  They came over for dinner on their way back to Dallas and we got to have a great visit.  The first time I met them was right before we all four went to the Festival of Colors in Utah while Ben and I were dating.  They came to our wedding and are great friends of Ben and now me too!  We have big plans on going to Dallas sometime sooner than later (we hope)!

Hebrews 12:1-2

"Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith”. 
I went to an awesome Women's conference that my awesome stake put on saturday, and this was a scripture that was shared that was an "ah ha moment" as Oprah would say.  Have you ever showed up to a church activity dressed wrong?  Well I was in my capris and bright colored shoes early saturday morning all ready to go to the women's conference.  I couldn't remember what the dress code was, so I researched online at our stake website to see if I could find more info.  I did have a flyer once, but gave it away to someone else... well long story short, I showed up and saw all the ladies getting out of their cars in dresses.  I thought about going home to change, but it is a 20 minute drive.  I did a full circle around the parking lot, and started to pull out, but decided to see what Ben thought first.  He is so sweet and ofcourse supported my coming home or staying there.... I quickly said, "This is silly, who cares how I'm dressed" and I pulled in again to the chapel building. 
As I got out of my car- sweet Cathryn Parker pulled into a spot and yelled from her window "stop stacie".  I thought to myself, "well maybe she has a skirt to let me borrow".  She got out of her car and was wearing pants!!! We laughed really hard, about the fact we both were underdressed and went inside together with our heads held high anyways.  We did some (not so silent) celebrations when we saw others who didn't get the memo either and were wearing casual clothes.  What a great day!  I heard a great scripture and also got to spend some time with a great friend.  Thanks Cathryn!

Youth service project

I had a really cool experience with the Young Women last saturday... in the rain.  The stake youth service project was to clean up the land where the new stake center will be dedicated next year.  The lot is gorgeous, with tons of trees and a pond.  The property is so big, that it actually going to be split in two and sold off (pond included).  For the first hour I picked up a MILLION cigarette butts along the side of the road... people people.. not only are you killing yourselves when you smoke your are killing the environment by littering.  The stake president spoke to the youth under a tree while it was raining, and it was a very wonderful talk. 

now THAT'S using your head

I love how Ben loves me.  He is so creative in showing me.  Tuesday night I came home to this!  He had shaved hearts into his hair.  It was hilarious!!!  I love how much he loves me!

Easter at the Parkers

This was such a fun Easter.  The Parkers invited us over to their house (they are on the far right).  Our other good friends, who just had a baby, the Mitchels were there too.  The Greens came too.  They are a family that just moved into the ward and are living in an "Extended Stay" until there house is ready to move into.  It was such a fun night visiting with these amazing families!  Ben was holding Teig and while holding him entertained him and us all while he did the little tea pot song and actions.  It was hilarious!  Cathryn did so great at decorating the table and making us all little easter baskets to take home.  We made fried bananas for dessert, which I learned how to do recently, and ate them over icecream.  It was a great Easter!!

Ninja Strike

We carried on the tradition of dressing up like ninjas and attacking friends with Shirkins (however you spell that) made out of paper.  The first time we did this we were dating in Utah and we attacked a friend of ours for his birthday.