28 December 2011

Showtime!

Aaaah, the movies!

There are many blockbuster hits that arrived in the theater Christmas weekend. Mom, dad, Nick and I went to see one! Here is the treview (it's either a trailer or preview... I'm never sure which)

The film is called We Bought a Zoo and was very good! I recommend it. (If you were looking for an in-depth review, I'm sorry to disappoint)

Wanna know something crazy? This was the first time that I had been to the movie theater since... before my mission. The last film I saw was Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in July 2009. That's approximately 30 months in between trips to the movie theater. And want to know something else? I really don't like going to the movies. Here's why:
  • if you have to go pee during the movie, they don't pause it for you. 
  • sometimes there are very loud, large, white guys in front of you who like to laugh. Loudly. (this guy was pretty entertaining in and of himself! Ha.)
  • it's very expensive (I know Cedar isn't near as expensive as other places, but I'm po'.)
  • if you want popcorn and a drink, you'll have to give them some appendages (usually an arm and a leg)
  • there's no such thing as ample leg room.
  • if you take off your shoes your socks will get stuck to the floor.
  • babies. They are loud.
  • bright cell phone screens contrasting with the dark. Annoying.
  • my couch is better than those seats.
So call me a movie theater hater. I'll just keep using Netflix or Redbox or whatever and enjoy my movies at home. For a fraction of the cost. Where I don't have to wear shoes. And where I can consume lots of food and drink for free. Sort of.

Random photo from the mission!

Me and Elder Peterson behind the Capitol.
☮ ♡ ☺

27 December 2011

And now for your viewing pleasure...

Here are some pictures from the Christmas season this year. This post was supposed to be more wordy and cool, but I'm technologically challenged and can't seem to figure out what the cow I'm doing so I'm going do another post... Enjoy the pictures!
My eldest brother, Damian, papa, me at the annual Sorensen family Christmas party.
Me, Damian, papa, and Gail playing Hearts. I won.
Chocolate fountain with yummies!
 Sometimes I wear niece's hair thing. What are those things called? Clips? Sure. We'll go with that.
On the way home from SoCal on Monday with Tandy and the kids, we stopped to see the lights at the St. George Utah Temple.
The reason for the season.

Looking around at the lights.
Me and the kiddos.
Family! Grandma, dad, mom, me, and Nick Christmas morning!
This wasn't a Christmas gift but I did acquire it on Christmas day. Hooray for the accordion!

23 December 2011

I am an audio book

Move over Jim Dale! Mr. Liebhardt is taking over your job!

...Kind of. But not really. Let me explain.

On Monday, I drove to Utah from SoCal with my sister-in-law and and her three perfect children. She will probably say that they are far from perfect, but they're close enough. During the drive I read the first eight chapters of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone aloud to the children. The 6 and 8 year-olds were really into it and remembered details so well. The 4 year old, not so much. My voice was exhausted by the time we got home.

I wonder if you can get sick from overusing your voice. The reason for wondering is: I got sick. Nasty, nasty sick. So Tuesday I combated the illness with home remedies of gargling with salt and soda water, taking zinc, and chicken noodle soup. I had to get better fast because I had a grand adventure planned.

The Grand Adventure

{This is like a post within a post}

On Tuesday morning I dragged my ailing body out of bed at a reasonable hour to start my journey to the Provo and Salt Lake areas to visit some awesome people and spread some holiday cheer. And germs.

The agenda before I left:
Mount Timpanogos temple with Nick [✔]
ice skating [✔]
President and Sister Mansell (my mission president and wife) [✔]
wedding reception of a friend in Ogden [   ]
Temple Square [   ]
Bingham's (a missionary couple I served with) [✔]
The check marks indicate things that I actually did.  

When it was time to hit up the reception and temple square, I was physically exhausted (I skated for almost 4 hours with my friends Elise and Mandie) and still sick (although I felt loads better) and I wasn't in the mood to drive in the dark. So, sorry Mr and Mrs Chugg. I suppose I'll mail you the card I have for you. As for Temple Square, I'll be back up there on the 28th for the wedding of a cousin. 

Highlights of the trip: 
  • the temple!!!
  • ice skating-- I learned how to go backwards! 
  • visiting with Elder Tolman-- one of my former mission companions. We still call each other Elder.
  • visiting with President and Sister Mansell-- find me nicer people and you win a prize.
  • vising with Elder and Sister Bingham-- they're still Elder and Sister because they're super awesome and serving another mission! This time they're serving at the Family History Library in Salt Lake. And we made a lot of cookies. I also stayed last night at their house. They were very accommodating.
  • having a nap on my cousin's couch-- I was sick. I was tired. I needed a nap.
  • not paying for gas-- mom and dad bought the gas for this trip as a Christmas gift!  
This adventure was done between the 21st and the 22nd of December. Today is the 23rd and I drove home early this afternoon after stopping in Salem to see Elise's house and deliver Bingham cookies (angel thumb prints and white chocolate macadamia nut). 
    Where are all the pictures? Well, I left my camera charger in Maryland almost three months ago. I still haven't got a new charger. And my camera is dead. So that's why there aren't any pictures.

    Except for....

    The random photo from my mission!
    It's Elder and Sister Bingham! This picture was taken at their apartment on March 24th, 2011 when we were allowed to watch the BYU vs. Florida Gators game. They were finishing up their mission so we presented them with this shirt, signed by all of the Elders serving in AC (Anacostia) at this time.

    ☮ ♡ ☺