I'm Gettin' Nuttin' For Christmas!!!!

We did this barbershop for our ward talent show. It's a song Vocal Point director Buck Mangum arranged and wrote. We borrowed it and made a few changes:)

Tis the Season

So I know that I never sit down and take the time to actually write stuff on our blog, I just post random videos of things. I realize that I need to write more so this is my attempt to do so, especially as it gets closer to the holidays and I just start to feel the spirit of the season.
Yesterday I was walking outside and it was snowing lightly and I couldn't help but just feel happy. Then coming in from the cold and sitting by the warm.... furnace, just brings back old memories of sledding and hot chocolate. What is it about this season that brings those good feelings?
Family, friends, food, giving, and most of all, a season dedicated to our Savior, Jesus Christ. How miraculous is it that 2000 years later we remember His birth and celebrate His life. His kindness, charity, and love literally extends through all time, including ours, and will continue to do so forever. Thats where these feelings of happiness and joy through this season come from.
And what better way to start out the season than by giving thanks for the things we have. It is no accident that Thanksgiving comes right before Christmas:)
This season Amanda and I will celebrate Thanksgiving in Chicago with my brother Brett and his wife Kinsey and their little boy Bently whom we have yet to meet. We are so excited! Excited to get a break from the craziness that is school and excited to be with family of course. After that there are 2 more weeks of school and one week of finals for me, and 3 more weeks of teaching 6th graders for Amanda. Then, it's off to Alaska where both of our families live right now to enjoy 2 full weeks of Christmas, New Years, and our 2nd wedding anniversary! :)
As for right now, we are hanging in there keeping busy with everything! While Amanda is very busy teaching, she also makes time to do what she loves, dance! Last Friday and Saturday she was in the Senior Showcase that the dance majors put on. She did an amazing job! As busy as I keep with school, I also try and find time to do what I love right now, which is sing! Vocal Point had their fall show last Friday night and it was such a fun experience to perform with them! And if course, Amanda and I also made time to go see the midnight showing of Harry Potter 7 part 1 last Thursday night. We are avid Harry Potter fans and the movie did not disappoint. It was especially fun as we dressed up and went with a lot of friends and family.
Tis the season. The season to remember what we are thankful for. To love. To give. To do something for someone else that might not be convienient to us. Something extraordinary. To be a little kinder. A little more patient. A little more Christlike. To be jolly:)

12 Days of Christmas

It's a little early, I know, but here is our fun 12 Days of Christmas song:)

Vocal Point Game Day BYU Football Game

Click here link to see Vocal Point performing at the BYU Football Game :)

God Bless the USA- Vocal Point

Vocal Point Heber City Show-Jump Jive

Our first show together out in Heber City on Oct. 20th. A great audience and a really fun show!

Funny Pepsi commercial

We watched this in my HR class today! A good idea to get a job? Haha

The Forgotten Man

Great Birthday Video

I was looking for a video to send my brother today to with him a Happy Birthday and I found this. I thought it was very clever and well done. Not to mention that it's one of my favorite movies! :)

Miracles

Take a second and watch this. A combination of different music videos to make one song! I've never seen anything like this! :)

Bobby McFerrin - This is amazing!

Jump Jive and Wail!

Mikey singing Jump Jive and Wail with Vocal Point out in Brigham Square on Sept. 17th!

BYU Vocal Point!

This year is the 20th anniversary of BYU Vocal Point! There will be a lot of neat stuff going on all year so stay updated by visiting our webpage at http://www.byuvocalpoint.com or visit our facebook page or follow us on Twitter. Don't miss out on amazing shows and experiences with us this year!

Anyone want to work for google? I do now

How valuable is Human Resources? Perhaps one of the reasons that Google does so well? I think so...

Saw stopping finger

Here is a neat invention to prevent your fingers getting chopped off when using a blade.

Learning

"Tell me and I forget
Teach me and I remember
Involve me and I learn"
-Benjamin Franklin

The nothing box

This is hilarious and makes a lot of sense. Some differences between men and women!

Ceri the missionary!

My little sister Ceri just got out of the MTC and is in the mission field in the Santa Rosa California mission! Here is the link to her mission blog where you can see some pictures of her! Wohoo! Go Ceri!

http://www.santarosacru.blogspot.com/

Seattle!

Well I don't have any pictures or videos and I haven't posted anything in a while because I have been pretty busy. I am up in the Seattle area for the summer time and I am managing a Living Scriptures sales team up here. There are 5 other guys on our team. After a week of work things are looking great! The guys are doing really awesome and actually out of all the sales teams so far, we are the #1 team right now! So that is exciting! They are a great team!
Amanda is still back in Utah finishing up teaching her 4th grade class at Govecrest Elementary in Pleasant Grove, Utah. She will be done the 28th of May and then head up here to join me for the summer in Washington! She is working so hard and is doing a great job! I can't wait for her to come up though!
We are both in good spirits and doing well and it's fun to be working and making the most of life's experiences!
Until next time!

Guitars Unplugged 2010 Full Show

Here is the entire show of Guitars Unplugged 2010. I come in about 10:10. There were two shows we did, and for my song it seems like the mixed the 1st shows video with the 2nd shows audio, because if does not match up all the time. But, the whole show still looks and sounds great!

BYU Guitars Unplugged 2010 from Pat Cox on Vimeo.

Darth Vader Thriller

I thought this was pretty funny! Darth Vader's got some moves!

Clog Final

My friend Courtney and I choreographed a clog dance for our final in our class. Here it is! :)

School Answering Machine

Saw this video the other day and thought it was really funny! Especially since my wife Amanda is a elementary school teacher :

Easter Weekend in Antimony Utah!

This year we had the Easter Bunny join us for our annual Easter Egg hunt! And Amanda got to be the Easter bunny! She did such a good job!


4-Wheeling in Antimony! So fun!


Amanda driving the 4-wheeler!


Riding Horses!

Into the Woods!

Directed by: Megan Dance Powell
Starring:
Baker…………………Dallin Allred
Baker’s Wife…………Kimberly Olsen
Witch…………………Nina M. Jonassaint
Cinderella……………Danica Donaldson
Jack……………………Woody White
Little Red……………Madison Price
Cinderella Prince………Justin Ryan
Rapunzel Prince………Vincent Powell
Rapunzel………………Nicole Chamberlin
Florinda………………Briana Chipman
Lucinda………………Emily Dance
Steward………………Travis Hancock
Narrator/Father………Mike Christensen

Here are just a few clips from the show that Megan directed and we performed on March 25th, 2010. It was really, really fun and Megan put in SO MUCH work to make this show possible! She has a gift and a passion for it and the show turned out amazing! Amanda recorded just some of the parts that involved Emily, Vince, and I. Megan has a copy of the full show that you can all see sometime. Enjoy!

Intro
Meet the characters!


Agony
Vince did such a great job as the prince! They are so funny and did such a good job!


The Giant!
Everyone stumbles upon the Giant in the woods!


Poor Narrator
Emily is so funny! "We're not that miserable!"


No More
Mikey also played the Father of the Baker. This song "No More" is amazing! Dallin (The Baker) does such a good job!


Finale!
What a great finale! Choreographed by the talented Megan Dance Powell!

They're on to us!

My mom sent me this... this is funny...

"A pebble held close to the eye appears to be a gigantic obstacle. Cast on the ground, it is seen in perspective. Likewise, problems or trials in our lives need to be viewed in the perspective of scriptural doctrine. Otherwise they can easily overtake our vision, absorb our energy, and deprive us of the joy and beauty the Lord intends us to receive here on earth." -Elder Richard G. Scott, "Finding Joy In Life," May 1996 Ensign.

Mikey playing at Guitars Unplugged

I wrote this song for Amanda about a month ago and played it for a try out in a show called "Guitars Unplugged." They let me be in the show that was here in Provo at the Covey Center on March 27th. The song is called "More Than Just A Home" and it's about the home that I will build for Amanda some day, but more than that, about all the memories that will be made there.

Goob Tricks!

Our kitten, Goob, AKA Bunny, shows us some tricks! We love our kitten!

AMAZING Dancing!

This dancing is unreal.

Amanda Tap Show in Draper

Amanda performed up in Draper on Saturday night! her coolest dance is the Michael Jackson dance. She is such an amazing tapper and dancer :)

Model House

I've been working on this project all semester. We are building a model house for my Construction Management 210 class. It's fun:) I like doing things with my hands!

Family Get Together

This past week we have had the wonderful opportunity to have Brent, Andy, and little Nash come down to visit! We enjoyed spending time together on Sunday for Nash's baby blessing! On Wednesday, we all went out to Five Guys Burgers and Fries. That same night everyone went to watch Megan's play she's directing "Into the Woods." Afterwards, we had some ice cream at Amanda and Mikey's place! YAY!!!! Enjoy a few pics:)

Little Nash


Nash and Bailey!


Proud Fathers


SUPER BABIES!


Megan giving us all direction at her play rehearsal Into the Woods!:)


Emily as a blind stepsister singing to Cinderella


Vince as the Prince!


Mikey as the Narrator about to get fed to the Giant!


All of us at Amanda and Mikey's place (except Megan and Vince who were still at doing Into the Woods stuff)


What special memories we make together and how fun it is to have a new niece and nephew! We love you all and we love it when we can all be together as family!

The Newest Edition to our Family :)

Hello everyone!
Amanda has been wanting a kitten for a while now, so we decided the time was right:) I put my name on a list at a local pet store so they would call me as soon as they got some brand new kittens. Well, they called, and... now we have a kitten! We haven't named her yet, but she is white and she has a little bit of orange on the tips of her ears. We've only had her a few hours so far but she's a lot of fun! We are excited!

Hmmmm... what's in here?

"Hello, will you take care of me?"

Amanda and our new kitten!

"Look how furry and cute I am and look at my pretty blue eyes!"

"Thanks for coming to see me! I hope to meet you all someday! Goodbye!"

Playing in her little house

How one man made a difference in Haiti.
This video was released the same day as the devastating earthquake in Haiti.
Awesome video... very inspiring.

Amanda and Mikey snowboarding in Alaska!

Here is a picture and a video of Amanda and Mikey snowboarding this past Christmas break up in Alaska.

This is a true story about how United Airlines broke someone's guitar and wouldn't take responsibility.

So the guy wrote a song about it. So funny!

For the past few months Amanda has been dancing with a tap group called "Foot Poetry." On Saturday, January 9th, she was in a show, and it was amazing!! Here are a few of the dances she performed! Enjoy!

Michael Jackson - Ode to the King

Ain't Nothin Wrong With That

Here is a list of 20 jobs projected to have high salary growth this year, accoring to data from CBSalary.com and SalaryExpert.com. The link is at the bottom. Facility Managers is #11!

1. Oral pathologists study the nature, cause and development of diseases associated with mouth.
Current salary: $188,577
Last year: $159,759
Percent increase: 6.83

2. Social medical researchers conduct research for use in understanding social problems and for planning and carrying out social welfare programs.
Current salary: $80,151
Last year: $68,480
Increase: 6.65

3. Pharmacologists conduct experiments to determine how drugs and other substances affect organ and tissues.
Current salary: $99,370
Last year: $90,012
Percent increase: 5.35

4. Toxicologists research the toxic effects products and ingredients have on living organisms.
Current salary: $70,273
Last year: $63,655
Percent increase: 5.35

5. Vocational training teachers teach personal, social and professional skills that meet the needs, interest and abilities of disabled students.
Current salary: $57,401
Last year: $52,982
Percent increase: 4.93

6. Academic deans develop academic policies and programs for college or universities, as well as scheduling courses and making course recommendations for students.
Current salary: $100,771
Last year: $93,126
Percent increase: 4.9

7. Social psychologists diagnose and treat mental disorders; learning disabilities; and cognitive, behavioral and emotional problems using different types of therapies.
Current salary: $85, 766
Last year: $79,272
Percent increase: 4.9

8. Early childhood development teachers use activities to promote social, physical and intellectual growth for children in child development facilities.
Current salary: $37,072
Last year: $34,418
Percent increase: 4.8

9. Insurance sales agents sell insurance of all kinds to new, prospective and current clients.
Current salary: $52,743
Last year: $49,121
Percent increase: 4.73

10. Credit representatives investigate customer complaints about service, billing or credit rating. They determine the accuracy of customer complaints and the company's responsibility for errors.
Current salary: $45,875
Last year: $43,092
Percent increase: 4.53

11. Facilities managers oversee all things concerned with the operation, repair, maintenance and construction of facilities, equipment, buildings and grounds.
Current salary: $94,491
Last year: $89,262
Percent increase: 4.38

12. Software quality assurance testers develop and maintain quality assurance testing methods and systems to make sure computer software applications work correctly.
Current salary: $75,129
Last year: $71,481
Percent increase: 4.23

13. Financial securities clerks perform duties involving computing and recording data on security transactions.
Current salary: $41,464
Last year: $39,459
Percent increase: 4.2

14. Food and beverage order clerks receive and process incoming orders for materials, merchandise, classified ads or services, as well as informing customers of payment information and preparing contracts.
Current salary: $29,607
Last year: $28,213
Percent increase: 4.18

15. Computer network analysts investigate and control the technical architecture of local area networks and wide area networks, in addition to recommending telecommunications and data network systems.
Current salary: $86,402
Last year: $82,809
Percent increase: 4.05

16. Purchasing directors plan and direct the purchase of goods and services, and oversee employees who buy and grade merchandise or services offered for sale. They also develop and implement purchasing policies, procedures and guidelines.
Current salary: $126,021
Last year: $120,850
Percent increase: 4.03

17. Public accountants perform general accounting, auditing, tax and consulting activities for their clients, which vary from corporations or governments to nonprofit organizations or individuals.
Current salary: $72,607
Last year: $69,670
Percent increase: 4

18. Accounts receivable managers ensure an accurate accounts receivable system, tracing and reconciling errors, correcting billing records, processing final bills, collecting accounts due, adjusting customer claims and more.
Current salary: $78,966
Last year: $75,797
Percent increase: 4

19. Government fire marshals determine causes of fires and explosions, especially when arson or other criminal acts are suspected, and enforce fire laws.
Current salary: $60,775
Last year: $58,336
Percent increase: 4

20. Retail store managers supervise sales workers in a retail establishment or department, and may perform management duties like purchasing, budgeting and accounting.
Current salary: $66,966
Last year: $64,998
Percent increase: 2.9

http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-2138-Salaries-and-Promotions-Americas-Fastest-Growing-Salaries/?cbsid=ada41ca010c44a6e901e7e17c71e954c-316057065-RH-4&sc_extcmp=JS_2138_home1&cbRecursionCnt=2&SiteId=cbmsnhp42138&ArticleID=2138&GT1=23000

My Facility Property Management Acceptance Letter