Fall Break

What a great long weekend I had. I have decided that little compares to spending a fun weekend away with my family. In a last minute decision we decided with our friends the Orgills to take off to San Antonio, Texas (7 hours away) and hit Sea World for two days. We left around 6 am when the girls were exhausted so at least some of the time we would have a bit of peace and quiet which worked for all of about an hour before "are we there yet?" hit my ears. But the ride down was actually enjoyable. We sang, we talked, the girls watched a new children's television show (which we all liked so much that I called the creator on sunday night and told him that I wanted our production company to distribute his show!) In fact we ended up reciting certain lines for the rest of the trip.

As we drove into Dallas Gale and the girls dropped on me that they had one "short" stop that they had to make. (Little did I know that this was all planned out) That short stop ended up being about an hour and a half and 5 ladies bought: 2 purses, 4 necklaces, 3 sets of earrings and some miscellaneous other items. And to think I was worried about how much food was going to cost at Sea World!~ What the girls didn't realize is that I found a favorite long lost drink. When I was visiting my brother in Utah a few months back he took me to an Asian lunch place that had tapioca drinks. They were great. Well, as I was waiting for the girls I explored and found a little place that made tapioca drinks! I immediately ordered a mango peach and I was a happy camper. The black round balls at the bottom are tapioca---.

So we arrived in San Antonio with no other major stops (don't ask me how I managed to avoid the outlet mall in Austin, but I did.) After swimming at the hotel pool and lounging in the sun we were starving so we went to search out some dinner. Of course what do the girls see first? LUBY'S. Now I hate buffet, food--can't stand buffet food, in fact I almost caused an in-law family melt down when Gale and I ran the St. George Marathon and I wouldn't (okay-absolutely refused) to eat at a buffet restaurant the night before. But I lost out and to Luby's we went. The Bray family and everyone in San Antonio over the age of 60. We had to take a picture for remembrance.

A couple of tips if you decide to eat at Luby's. #1-Know what you are going to order before you get in line. The mature patrons do not like to wait while you sightsee all the choices. #2-Get their rolls, they are great. #3-If you go on Saturday then you get one free children's entree for every adult meal, but it only includes one side not two. #4-You had better know CPR and the heimlich manuever if you work at Luby's because I guess things can happen---and have happened.

We had a really good meal. But people kept on staring at us, like we didn't belong. Youth haters. We tried not to flaunt our youth, but every once in a while you have to do a cartwheel or a backhand spring and run your fingers through your full head of hear and eat corn on the cob and not worry about your teeth coming out of your mouth. LOL!

So we spent the next two days at Sea World and had an absolutely great time. I love watching my children discover new things and have new experiences. Ava and Elle were just spellbound the whole time. Pure joy was coming at each different show. What brought Chloe and Olivia pure joy was the opportunity to leave the parents and go off with friends "on their own" to ride rides. (Fully equipped with a cell phone (so they could be tracked at all times) and no money (so they would have to return for drinks and food). Chloe and Olivia loved their free time. I think that Olivia especially appreciates it because she is getting it earlier due to Chloe being two years older. We all just enjoyed each other and laughed the whole time. There was no drama either. (or I have already blocked it out of my mind).

We liked it so much we got season passes. So I am sure we will be going back at least twice in the next year and a half to make it worth while. We will go back for sure in the summer time to enjoy their water park.
So a few things to remember from Sea World:

#1 - Fish, sea lions and other marine life smell. Especially when you touch them. (Except dolphins)

#2 - Frozen lemonade is manna and is actually what Moses and the children of Israel were fed while in the wilderness, especially during hot days.

#3 - Go when school is in session so you never have to wait in line. It made the trip so nice. Rachel Orgill put it best when after getting off a ride on Saturday when it was much busier said, "The rides aren't as much fun when you have to wait in line so long!"

#4 - Make sure you have enough hand sanitizer. Scary people make for scary germs to infiltrate your body. So let me submit the perfect picture of just one of our many sanitizing parties.

#5 - If you are in the first few rows of any show (shamu, dolphins, sea lions, etc) you are going to get wet. And no, to the three or four people sitting in front of us in each show the animals can't tell when your camera is out and when it isn't. Yes, grown men do get upset and cry when their camera's are ruined. Or at least feign a particle of dust in the eye.

The girls had a great time sitting front and center with their friends. Gale and I hung back to keep all the stuffed animals and camera gear dry.

#6 - Don't ride to many spinning rides. It can make you sick. Just ask Karen after a few rides--oh wait just one ride. (picture coming soon!)

So one of the highlights of my trip happened with Olivia. She wasn't tall enough to ride the great white so her and I hung back to wait for the others. We decided to play one of those games that no one ever wins and to my suprise I won a gigantic 6 foot bear. Olivia could have passed out she was so excited. I was so happy to win it for her because she was a bit down about not being able to ride the great white with everyone else. I told Gale on the way home. "No man will ever compare now!" She can't stop thanking me for winning her the bear! It was such a great moment for her--and for me.

The weekend went by to fast and it was time to get home. We decided to leave Saturday evening so we could go to church on Sunday and also the girls would knock out in the back and make the drive home a bit easier. On the way out we decided to eat dinner with Richard's cousin at the coolest steak house in Texas. It is complete with menu on the walls, great steak and some sights I will never forget. It was a fantastic dinner. The only drawback was the gentlemen at the table right in front of me. But the steak and beef rib was so good I didn't care. Pictures speak so much louder than words. You don't even want to know how we got this picture.

It was a great spot to eat dinner and it was nice to eat dinner with Richard's Uncle. We headed back to Oklahoma as soon as dinner was over and within minutes everyone was out. So I put on the Ipod and listened to general conference again. I almost made it through the whole conference again. We made it home around 2:30 a.m. It was so fun. I know we made some great memories and really enjoyed spending time with the Orgills. We will do it again!

A New Professors Rant on College Students which then becomes a Mini Van Commercial

I have to laugh when my students call me Mr or Dr. Bray. Since I teach mostly masters students with a few juniors and seniors thrown in for fun I look at them and wonder in my mind--"when did I become Mr/Dr.?" Was it the four children that turned me into Mr./Dr? Was it my sweet, hot wife who is turning forty this year? Is it the minivan? (Should I admit that outloud?) Since this is my journal I don't really want my posterity to know about the minivan, will they think of me differently now? The worst part about the van is that I went from driving a convertible mercedes to a Chevy Venture Van. Make that a maroon chevy venture van. Maybe it is time for a mid-life crisis so I can reaquire a better vehicle. You know its bad when the kids ask to take the "other" car and not the van when we are loading in to go to school.


Now the best part about this whole van thing is that today I was watching television while my oil was getting changed on the maroon chevy venture van and the news caster did a quick spot light on the new town and country minivan. It comes complete with 2nd row seats that swivel around so that the 3rd rown seat and the second row seat individuals can look at each other and have a conversation. How fun would that be? Maybe even playing cards as the middle arm rest turns into a small table. Like a small RV. My heart began to beat with excitement. But that's not all--included in this new and exciting minivan is a back up camera (easier to target the 12 year old boy down the street--i want to see his last expression in the little mini camera attached to the dashboard as my back bumper meets his filthy little mouth--wonder if they have tevo for those back up cameras) Just kidding!!! I don't want to see it happen-how barbaric plus it would make it harder to feign it was just an accident). Ouch that sounds so mean! Back to the minivan--once you get thinking about it your mind just can't leave the subject. But it didn't stop there. They had to mention the two DVD players that could play separate (yes let me say it again) separate movies just in case your children don't like the same movie. (Which never, ever happens in our house). And to top it off it comes complete with full airbags, electric third row seats that you just push a button and they fall flat into the floor and you push another button and the back hatch goes up and down and then there are two more buttons that open both side doors and one of the doors even has a window that goes up and down. (For those of you lucky enough to have a mini van the sliding doors never have a window that goes up and down). All this for the starting cost of 21,000 and loaded to the hilt for 36,000 I was enthralled with this new minivan and it was at the moment that I turned to the lady next to me and said, "how cool is that van?"...when I heard those words leave my very own mouth I gasped in utter horror, realizing my middle age was coming out in the excitement of the minivan accesory and options moment. Could I really have said such vile words? So I turned back to her and said, "You never heard me say that and I hope I never see you again in my life." She just stared at me--which at first I took as a compliment to how good I looked today, but then realized she either didn't understand what I said or she couldn't think because she was still ticked off at herself for buying the fuel pump flush for $100.00 that everyone knew she didn't need, but got talked into by the 17 years old attendant who just made $75.00 commission off of the $100.00 fuel pump flush sell. Let me attach a picture of the new Town and Country. Okay--I was just going to attach one, but to fully feel the luxury of this new minivan I have attached more.

Cool--huh.

Bad van rant--need to get back to the students. I am amazed at how bright and articulate some of my students are. They write incredible papers and really think about the subjects we are discussing. They are involved in class and provide a great learning experience. And then there are those who somewhat lack the previous skills. Let me just leave you with one example. Woops--sorry have to make this a cliff hanger. We are leaving for Sea World tomorrow (for Fall break) and I need to go pack and it is nearly 11:00 p.m.

Cupcakes are calling!

Its 1 A.M. and I can't sleep. I have so much on my mind. I also had to finish a redo on my IRB for my dissertation and I wanted to complete it before the week starts and I don't have any time.

Plus I heard the cupcakes calling me from the kitchen. I had to pull the frosting out and make sure that every bite I took had frosting and not just the top. Does life get any better?

Okay so you guess the real reason that I am still up----

Family Home Evening

We decided as a family that we were going to hold Family Home Evening on Sunday nights when we had more time to make it worthwhile, instead of holding it on Monday night and being tired after school, tennis, etc. Tonight's FHE was hilarious. Gale was trying to give a lesson on testimonies and how we can find out through the Holy Ghost the truth about different gospel topics. It was such a good lesson that kept on being interrupted by little 3 year old Ava's obsession with her armpits and her desire to brush everyone's hair. If she was not brushing everyone's hair than she would lift up her arms and scream out..."Does anyone want to see my armpits?" and then we would all burst out laughing. So much for spirituality! I don't quite understand her obsession, but the other day Gale, I and Ava were on a walk and after the walk I asked her if she had fun and she replied, "Yes, but my armpits are wet..." She cracks us up.


Elle and Olivia did a great Pictionary game where we guessed ways that we can serve others and then we made cupcakes. I love cupcakes. They were so good. I think we ended up eating more batter than cupcakes and then we kind of went crazy...picture will explain.

A beautiful Saturday!

At 6:45 a.m. Gale leaned over and said, "I have to get up, and make Chloe breakfast before school." I replied, "Go ahead, your insane, it's Saturday." and then I went back to sleep. I didn't wake up til 9:00 a.m. but it seemed Chloe didn't get her breakfast as she was still sleeping when I got up. I think Gale has been mad at herself all morning for that mistake!

It is beautiful and sunny today. A perfect 81 degrees. Elle scored 4 goals at her soccer game today. She was on fire! I even sat down for pretty much the entire game and didn't have to scream out instructions to her. She absolutely loves to play soccer and you see true joy in her face when anyone on her team scores a goal. The hands go up in the air and she just beams from ear to ear. Gale and I had to split up this morning with Gale taking Chloe and Olivia to tennis and I took Elle to her soccer game until Gale could meet up with us. Ava has discovered climbing chain link fences and decided that would be her activity for as much of the soccer game as we would let her.

After the game Elle, Ava and I watched the Biggest Loser which we had Tevo'd. We love that show. I dont' really know why I love the show that much other than when I watch it I want to be chubby so I can go on the show and lose weight.

The afternoon for the girls was spent at the Cordy's grandma's house swimming and riding four wheelers. Unfortunately, I couldn't go as our sink needed fixing, I needed some parts for the roof and I had to change something on my IRB for my dissertation--so Dad missed out. I sooooo badly wanted to take a nap, but I did my work.

I do wish I had a picture, but Gale looked so hot today. She looks so thin and beautiful. I never thought she would have kept getting prettier as the years went by. She is on the cusp of 40!

We hit our favorite Saturday spot tonight. Pops! We waited about an 1 1/2 to eat. Not such a good idea when a 3 and a 6 year old are hungry. So of course we had to buy 6 different kinds of pop while we were waiting to hold us over. We decided as a family our favorite was Jolly Rancher Green Apple Pop. Not to overpowering, and sweet. We are connisour's of pop now.

Back to School

Second block started tonight. I have a great class. We were out of control a bit, the class next to ours had to move downstairs because we were causing a raucaus. Just having a little fun that's all. The class is Consulting in Training and Development. A good class. I really do love teaching. It has been so crazy at home Gale and I still have not had time to really sit down and talk about France and the direction of the show. I guess that is what our Saturday night date is for!

Before I left for school I was getting ready and I layed down with Ava for a minute. I didn't have a shirt on and she said "Get your belly and your eyebrows off of me Dad." We laughed and then I gave her a kissing attack. I wonder if any child is loved more than our four girls. It is good for us to have some alone time with Ava during the day.

I forgot to post the girls first day of school pictures--so here they are.




Such great girls! Three great things of the day that made it fantastic:

1. A new gas station opened up next to campus and they have my favorite shakes that you mix right there! Had two of them tonight. YUM!!! So good.....

2. Chloe's fundraising is over. I hate fundraisers and I don't know how I get roped into them. Fundraisers are off limits in our house. We don't do them, but Chloe made city choir and they are having a cookie drive. Buy a tub for a $1,000 dollars each or something like that. So Chloe finds out that she is only three tubs away for the cooolest gift in the world. A see through alarm clock with digital display. Wow--can't live without that. So I ended up calling work friends and begging them to buy my child's wares. They did! So Chloe can now have the alarm clock she has always been dying for--or something like that.

3. I am married to the most fantastic woman in the world. I can't imagine my life without her. How did I get lucky enough to marry my best friend and only have it get better after 15 years of marriage.

These of course are not ranked in order of importance--as you darn well know that a good shake will always rate #1. Just kidding!

Bonjour Paris'

Today I took off for Paris and for the big Mipcom Jr. Conference. Since I have never really had a chance to check out Paris I decided I had better spend a day there. I love that city! I arrived and immediately found my way to the hotel. I dropped my bags off and headed for the sights. That meant taking the metro (train) around to all the destinations, which meant I had to buy a metro pass which meant that I had no idea on how to do that. 30 minutes later and a lot of "Do you speak English" I discovered how to use the metro and I was on my way. First stop. Notre Dame.



It is a phenomenal cathedral, which ushered in the flying buttress, very important for the Roman Catholics.

Check it out at night--Alex was driving me home and we stopped real quick to check things out.



After Notre Dame it was a quick panini lunch and a "Fanta" and I was off to the Arc de Triumph and Champs-Elysees'. So you would think that I would be impressed by the Champs-Elysees' but what really caught my eye was the car wreck I saw. Actually not a car wreck, a truck trying to head down to underground parking but didn't realize that he was to tall. I couldn't stop laughing! It was so funny. I don't think people thought it was that funny.






Some other great sights were the Arc de Triumph and the Louve of course. I think I walked close to 10 miles that day. I must admit that it just wasn't the same without Gale. I wanted to share it all with her. As I was checking out all the sights of Paris I decided that I couldn't go to the Eiffel tower without Gale, so I left it until I return with her. I did see it from a distance, but I saved going to the top until Gale and I can go return together. I sure miss my family. The girls would love it here as well.

After my touring Melinda who is one of our close friends had me meet up with a couple from Paris that she is close to, Alexis and Corinne. I was so glad I made the effort to go out to dinner with them that night. They are two of the nicest people you will ever meet. Alexis has started to learn English and Corinne is an excellent speaker. You would think with a bit of a language barrier that it would have been wierd, but I ended up staying for four hours. Corrine cooked us a great meal and we just sat and talked and laughed and looked up words in the dictionary. (you never know when a word will come up that we couldn't understand each other.) I had a blast! I am going to stay with them the night before I leave. Here they are. A bit of a resemblence between Alexis and I.

They have three boys and live in the nicest part of Paris. Corrine saw me take a liking to French bread and made sure I was stocked for the rest of my trip. It was then back to the hotel for an early TGV train ride to the South of France and Cannes.