August 7, 2006

Skim Boarding at the Park


So this was an adventure! Michelle, Travis and Ben, Lorissa and Ross Pence all went skim boarding at the park. There had been a huge rain storm in Tempe and the ground doesn't soak up much water and leaves these big ponds everywhere. So it was Trav's bright idea to go skim boarding on them. Very fun, but very, very SMELLY! To skim board you set the board on the water at the edge and get a running start and either slide on your stomach, knees or feet going for distance or technique (how long/far you can go before you face plant). Needless to say you have to remember to keep your mouth closed or it got filled with the disgusting sludge. We developed quite a crowd before we finished and smelt bad the whole way home.

2nd Victorian House


Michelle, Melissa Landon, Lorissa and Ross Pence (Kim Ning is taking the photo) visiting the 2nd Victorian style house in Tempe. This one was really pretty and even had a curved wall, I don't think they employed the best architect on this one.

Rossen House


Michelle has brought many of the Honeywell wives into her Jane Austen cult by making them watch as many of her (books as) movies as possible. They decided to get first hand experience by going to 2 old victorian-style houses in Phoenix that are set up in period style. This one is the Rossen house and the more interesting of the two. They had all the little appliances that people used and the interior decorating was beautiful: hand-painted wallpaper and gorgeous furniture. Funny story: We had to turn a corner to get into the dining room and there was this dressed-up mannequin off to the side and it about made Michelle pee in her pants! She thought there was some lady hiding in the corner... The tour guide said that happens all the time.

Temple


Shelly at the Mesa temple. This temple was specifically dedicated for the Lamanites and the inside is all decorated with images of the gospel being preached to the Indians and such. Just beautiful!

Mesa Temple


The Mesa temple is about 15min from our house and it is so pretty. You can immediatly tell which is church property beacuse it is basically the only place around town with actual green grass. Most everyone else just has rocks or some kind of cactus. We came here on a saturday with some friends to watch the new Joseph Smith movie. Unlike in Utah, we were able to just walk right in, no lines or anything.

Camping


Here's Travis and Michelle on our camping trip. It really is a beautiful area and we even had coyotes roaming around our tent that night. For breakfast we rediscovered the joy of instant pancakes mmhm.

Camping Arizona Style


Travis and Michelle went camping AZ style with Ben, Maritza and Brandon Naseath. Here in AZ you can't have a campfire due to wildfires (not that you really ever get cold or even remotely chilly for that matter) so we cooked our hotdogs and marshmallows over a small camp stove. We got there was past dark and left around 6am so that it wouldn't get too hot. Even sleeping was iffy cause it was SO hot we basically sweated all night long... We now know why winter camping is so popular down here.

Muscle Men


Ben Pence and Travis showing off their beefiness at the pool.

Cool Pool Party


No, this is not trick photography, Travis' head really is 3 times bigger than Michelle's. Travis and Michelle spend the afternoon at the pool in their new swanky Arizona digs. Since it usually is about 100 degrees by noon and rising, it's too hot to do much else besides go the pool during the day. Rough life.

Arizona Cactus


The national parks in Arizona are pretty funny, no trees, only cactus! They come in all shapes and sizes and here are some super tall ones.

Mexican Super Hero


Trav in his superhero pose on the rocks at the beach. What a cutie!

Rocky Point, MX


Trav and Shelly after a fun filled day at the beach. By this time we were totally smelly from the salt water and being outside all day, but it was worth it. Puerta Penasco was so beautiful, the water was warm and the weather was perfect.

Michelle and Lorissa


Michelle and Lorissa playing at the beach. We didn't realize a wave was about to hit us when this picture got snapped.

Ocean Fun


Shelly and Trav enjoying the ocean in Mexico. This was our first trip to Mexico and we wanted to experience everything we could, including drinking about a gallon of salt water. We decieded to try snorkling and Trav only found hermit crabs but Michelle found a school of small blue fish (which Travis didn't believe she actually saw)!

Puerta Penasco, Mexico


Michelle, Travis, Ross, Ben and Lorissa Pence enjoying a fun-filled day at the Puerta Penasco (Rocky Point) beach in Mexico over the 4th of July weekend. It took us about 4 hours to get there from Phoenix and we spent the day shopping, snorkling in the salty ocean and enjoying the sights of Mexico! No one spoke spanish, but Trav did his best haggling in Portuguese, which sometimes got some funny looks.. the body board was a successful purchase from the market.

June 12, 2006

Trav the Cheerleader


Travis remembering his cheerleader days jumping off the rock. (that's him in the orange shorts)

One, Two, Three!


Trav and Shelly brave the cold water to go down the water slide.

Slide Rock State Park


The Honeywell group at Slide Rock State Park in Sedona, AZ. We had a blast going down the natural limestone water slides.

Monkey-in' Around


Travis the monkey likes our new apartment in Tempe!

Montezuma's Well


This is us at Montezuma's Well. It's a natural spring that created a large pond. If you look close along the outer rim, there are little houses where an Indian settlement used to be.

Indian Reservation



Driving through the reservations in Arizona. It's too bad we gave the Indians all the good land..

June 5, 2006

Grand Canyon


Travis and Michelle visit the Grand Canyon. What a good lookin' couple!

Grand Canyon


The Grand Canyon.

Relaxin' Rock


We found this boulder on the way to AZ. Michelle always seems to find a relaxin' place where ever we go.

Colorado River




Michelle and Travis at the Colorado River.

Falling Rock!


We found this boulder about to fall over on our trip to AZ. Trav saved the day!

May 26, 2006

National Corn Dog Day


Travis prepping for National Corn Dog Day... boy does he look happy!