Bucket List & Barbecues

I'm finally connected again! For those of you that don't know, we're currently living with Mr. Mitchell's grandma to help out for a bit and the internet here was dial-up. Dial-up! Did you know that still existed? I didn't; I thought it had gone the way of speakeasies and flappers. We have progressed here, however, and now have high-speed internet. Until I didn't have the internet I didn't recognize how much of what is done in the world today relies upon it. I didn't even miss blogging. All I wanted was to see a stinkin' bank statement! Is that too much too ask? Apparently so when you're using dial-up. I'm sure you've all been held in suspense waiting to know what has been happening in our lives so, I'll share.

We decided at the beginning of February that we needed to get out of Utah for a few reasons: to keep our sanity and to save money. We decided to make a bucket list of things that would be worth doing before we left. There were actually quite a few things we couldn't squeeze in because they would involve travel, but we managed to do our local things.

First: a visit to the Salt Lake City temple.

Mr. Mitchell's photography skillz.

We had wanted to go because everybody told us it's worth the drive and wait to attend a temple session there and they were right. It was very cool and the inside of the temple was beautiful. Afterwards we walked around Temple Square for a bit and then went to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building for pictures and to watch the Joseph Smith movie.

Second: We went to the Provo Beach Resort. We have been fascinated with that place since it opened and we just never did anything there because it's a little expensive. Since it was our last month in the area we decided to splurge. We went and played mini-croquet (that's right...mini-golf is for losers)...

*Don't judge my face too harshly: Mr. Mitchell never tells me when I'm in his videos.

After mini-croquet it was time to get ready for the Flowrider. We had been on several dates where we would just go to the Provo Beach Resort and sit in the bleachers to watch people crash on the Flowrider or watch the people that were ridiculously good. It was, at last, our turn to try it out. It was expensive, but we'd recommend it to people. It was very fun and if you get cold they have a hot tub you can sit in. Warning: The crashing will kick your butt the next couple of days.

At this point in our adventuring I was dreading the crash - hence the unwillingness to move my arms in case they made me fall. Seriously, though, watch the video to the very end and see how hard I hit my head on the back wall.

Mr. Mitchell never lasted as long as I did, but he could at least start all on his own. By the end I was still using a rope to help me get out 'cuz I was too chicken to try getting out on my own. I say he wins.

Third: We went on a motorcycle ride all the way around Utah Lake. I about froze to death. It was pretty and it was sooo nice to be away from the madness, but our handwarmers didn't work properly and it got quite windy. Still, it was on the bucket list and we did it!

All of the madness is on the other side.

Sweet old Sinclair station.

We did a few other smaller things on our bucket list, but we have no photo documentation and so I will not bore you.

More importantly than our bucket list was making sure we said 'goodbye' to people that we'd be leaving behind. We didn't make it to everyone, and we're sorry for that, but perhaps we can squeeze a few in when we go back to walk in April. (BYU doesn't have a ceremony in December because of the weather.)

Our first goodbye was with some of the best friends I made while going to school in Utah. Heather and I were roommates our freshman year in the dorms and then lived together after that until I got married. Our sophomore year we roomed with Kristina and Liahona in Raintree Apartments. We fondly refer to that era in our schooling as the "208/210 Days." Why? Because we lived in apt. 208 and became fantastic friends with apt. 210 - where Mr. Mitchell just happened to live. Us girls lived together for two years.

Here are some flashback photos for your enjoyment:

Me, Heather, Kristina, Liahona & Mr. Mitchell on Ninja Day.

(Death to King  Henry.)

Kristina, Liahona, Heather & me after Liahona's luau performance.

Three of the four of us are now married and so we decided to have a parting dinner with the four of us plus spouses. It was quite tasty (thank you Mark & Liahona!) and we had a good time talking and playing Liahona's memory games. Team Mr. Mitchell, Mark, and Sabrina rules! (Even though Mark technically was forbidden by his wife to score any points. We still don't know why.)

Just the four of us.

Girls & spouses.

This picture might truly epitomize the relationship we have.

Here's a video for your enjoyment (Mr. Mitchell really digs pretending he's taking pictures while actually taking videos) of how ridiculous we are:

I love those girls - seriously.

Fortunately for me, my London Study Abroad group decided to have a reunion two days before we moved away. We had a pretty good turnout and it was so great to get to see these people and catch up. We also got to meet the first London baby - congratulations Alison & Weston! Mr. Mitchell did great in a room full of people that he mostly did not know and I was very happy to get to spend time with these wonderful, talented people and to meet the spouses.

I felt like I was being a nuisance with the camera and now I wish I had snagged more pictures - sorry Londonites!

Our last goodbye was at the house Mr. Mitchell lived in while we were engaged. There used to be a big Sunday dinner there every week with lots of people and then people were suddenly all over the country and the dinners stopped. Before we moved we were asked to come over for one more dinner with Bradley and Bryan. 

Bryan with his oh-so-tasty ribs.

We had a good last couple of weeks in Utah and we were so blessed to have so many helping hands around while we were packing. Collette - thank you for keeping me sane. EQ - thank you for your muscles. Dave - thank you for helping with the obnoxious stuff. 

We're both alive and healthy and we're looking forward to the summer. (Mr. Mitchell because of work; me because I want it to be warm.)

Day 7 of and Departure From Mexico

Our last full day in Mexico (Jan. 21) was mostly spent just relaxing at the beach house. Well, on my part anyway. It started with Mr. Mitchell and I watching the sunrise on the roof.

I have never seen a sunrise look so much like a sunset.

My mom, dad, Garrison, Ryan and Angela started the day off with a visit to a currently functioning Mayan church and cemetery. They said it was interesting because the church has all of these procedures and they have no idea why they do any of it. Odd.

Going from church to cemetery.

I like the bright orange one.

Is that a dog house in the cemetery?

When they got back they all went to the cenote across the street except for Angela and me. We hung out at the pool where they all joined us when they got back.

The boys taking a rest.

The parentals taking a rest.

This crab got cranky with Mr. Mitchell.

Mr. Mitchell took this video for me since I whine that he never gets enough pictures or videos of himself.

Dipping in the pool.

I thought it was pretty.

 He almost got her in there...maybe next time. 

The boys jumping in.

After we played in the pool it was time to pack up and head back into Cancun. We got back to the hotel and then headed straight out to eat. We were supposed to visit a taco stand that somebody in one of Garrison's wards owns, but we were too hungry to wait until they opened. We stopped at a McDonald's and then went to a soccer game that was happening right behind it. Jefe Pancho was the man who let us in and informed us he owned the place. He ended up being a bit sloshed and also told us that he was the "Big Jefe" at Xcaret and at Xelha. Busy, busy man that Pancho. (We seem to be missing the picture of him.) He also tried to convince any of the guys in our group to take his secretary home with them. I wonder if the poor woman has any idea she's being auctioned off.

Enjoying our snack.

Watching the thrilling half time.

Jefe Pancho let us sit with the team.

After the game we headed into downtown Cancun to visit the taco shop. It was soooo yummy! They make delicious tacos and things that I can't remember the names for. Soooo tasty. And each thing was about 50 cents. Talk about a sweet deal.

This is how they cook the fabulous meat.

We were their first customers.

While we were waiting for our food some guy's truck broke 

down so my dad, Garrison, and Ryan ran out and pushed it.

The cook that should've come home with us.

Garrison got to see some other people from the ward that showed up for tacos. It was great to see how much they loved him and were happy to have him back.

After he was done socializing we went back to the hotel, sat in their hot tub, and went to bed. Going to bed was sad because we knew that the next day we would be leaving.

Mr. Mitchell and I woke up grumpy thinking about being back in Provo. We went to church and were grumpy there. And we went back to the hotel to swap pictures and eat more food and we were grumpy there. And then we went to the airport and were grumpy there. We got a milkshake and that helped brighten things a bit. 

Our flight kept on getting pushed back and so we didn't get back until 12:30am. Our good friend Heather was waiting to pick us up even though she had to be to work that morning. We're so grateful she didn't ditch us and we know the candy bars were poor pay, but we hope she enjoyed them!

We're back home now and back in the swing of things. We had a wonderful time and wish we could have been there longer. Thank you so very much to my mom and dad who made this trip possible. And thank you to Garrison for having served faithfully and loving the people.

Day 6 of Mexico

The morning of January 20 found Mr. Mitchell like a giddy, little school-boy; this was the day he got to go scuba diving. We rushed everybody into the car and drove to Playa del Carmen. 

It was kind of tricky to find the dive shop because most of the streets were one way and about half of them were closed. We were, however, successful and Mr. Mitchell got dropped off to go diving. Unfortunately, we have no photographic evidence because the depth would have been too much for his camera and because he had the camera with him I couldn't get pictures of him getting off of the boat in his diving gear. *sigh*

While Mr. Mitchell went diving for a few hours the rest of us went to the grocery store for a bit of lunch and then hung out on the beach. There wasn't a reef at this section to break the waves so Garrison, my dad and I got to do some wave jumping.

I was excited to get to the beach. My shoulders started getting pretty

 burned so I wore my jacket when I wasn't in the water.

My dad kicking back before he jumps in.

There were lots of boats and jet-skis. (Or jet-skys as the ad said.)

Can you see us? (I'm in the yellow swimsuit!)

Getting ready to go pick up Mr. Mitchell.

Apparently people rent full-on beds at the beach.

After we picked up Mr. Mitchell we got some food and did a little bit of shopping. Garrison, Mr. Mitchell and I were on a hunt to find Mr. Mitchell a scuba diving shirt when we suddenly heard opera. We looked around and couldn't quite figure out where it was coming from... ... ...until we passed another restaurant. One of the patrons, who was clearly finished with his meal, was leaning back in his chair and singing at the top of his lungs while his wife finished up her own meal. He was rather rotund and looked quite at ease busting out his opera. It was a hilarious sight. 

We were also offered weed four times in about 10 minutes. They weren't even sneaky about it. They'd just walk up and ask us if we wanted some weed. (There was one guy who tried to be sneaky; he nudged Garrison and asked if he was shopping for something special and invited us all back to his store.) Garrison would always politely say no, give 'em a slap on the back, and ask us what about him looked like he needed weed. Mr. Mitchell was getting asked, too, so we decided they just aim for a certain age group of dudes. 

We really liked the ivy covered buildilng.

We were starving.

And we were quite taken with the purse rack.

This was the biggest leftover Christmas decoration we 

found while in Mexico. We parked our van by it.

They had these everywhere...really?

Ryan and Dad had some bonding time.

After a long day of beach playing, scuba diving, and shopping we were wiped out.