Stadium of Fire Get Together

Our yearly tradition is to go up to BYU and watch the stadium of fire fireworks.  We go up around 6 pm and bring our dinner and sit out on the lawn across from the Marriott center and eat, talk and play games with the Autrey's and McGriff's.  We always have alot of fun and get to enjoy the fireworks withouth paying the price of a ticket.  Erika really wanted to go inside, because of Jenny Oaks Baker playing, but not this year.  We had great food, which we always share with each other and the kids played volleyball and went and walked around campus until it got dark.  We always have glow sticks for all the kids and they love it, even though they are not little kids anymore.  Brian was able to see the F16 jets fly over as tradition for stadium of fire and we could also hear the music from it too.   The sunset was amazing, so I had to take pictures and of course of some of the fireworks.  We got home around 11:00 pm and then had to be up early for church at 9 am.  We will be doing somemore fireworks with the neighbors on Monday, when the 4th is observed.  Thanks again for the fun this year.

Riley back from Baltimore

Riley came home tonight from Baltimore.  He has been there since last Saturday and competed in the National TSA.  He was in the bridge building and flight competions, but didn't qualify. His bridge was too short and his plane didn't fly very far.  They also did some sight seeing during their down time.  On Monday, they took the train to Washington DC and went to the monuments and the Air and Space Museum.  Believe it or not, we did send a camera with him, but did he bring any back for proof and a memory of it?  Nope, not a single one.  I have obviously not trained him that well.  They also went to a Baltimore Orioles Baseball game.  All the TSA students sat together in the stands with orange shirts.  He was glad he went and is excited to go next year to Dallas Texas.  It was a good experience for him and he is learning what to expect at the competitions.

Pirate Island with Family

Sarah and her family are in Utah to visit all the family.  We decided to meet them at the new Pirate Island Restaurant in Orem.  All the cousins came, except for Jenn & her family and Riley was on a plane.  We had a great visit with each other and the kids played arcade games and won some prizes.  All the kids received a balloon sculture of some kind, and since Brian's birthday is coming up, they did one for him too.  It is a fish on a fishing pole.  We tried to get him to make a golf club of some kind, but not this time.  We spent about 3 hours there.  We will be seeing all the family again when my brother gets to town on Saturday the 10th of July.  More fun to come.

To the Living Planet Aquarium

Erika came to me and said she was tired of being in the house and wanted to do something.  We called her dad to find out if he was staying late at work and he said yes, so we headed up to Sandy at 5:00 pm to visit the Living Planet Aquarium.  They closed at 7 pm, but that was okay, because we really didn't want to spend more than a hour there.  It was really nice, because there were not alot of people there.  We didn't have to fight the crowds or little kids.  We just walked at our leisure and laughed and took pictures.  We really enjoyed the new penguin exhibit.  We stood there and watched them for at least a half an hour.  It was so cool to watch.  Erika even did the touching pools with the stingrays in it.  She is such a animal lover.  She loves dolphins and the ocean life.  Too bad we don't live closer to the ocean for her to experience more of it.  She will have to get an internship or something to go to San Diego or Florida to be able to do it.  Later, we visited with some family and then picked up something to eat and headed home around 9 pm.  We were eating Panda Express and she had picked up some toothpicks for us.  She asked me if I wanted mine, so I took it.  When I put it in my mouth, I told her it tasted like cinnamon.  She immediately opened hers to taste it.  She was surprised to find out that hers was just a toothpick and realized that I had tricked her.  We had a good laugh about it.  Thanks Erika for making me get up and out of the house.  We both needed the entertainment.

Elder Brown update

Well, here I am again writing to you and I always love it. It is the best day of the week when I can write to you. Well, I got to meet our new mission president yesterday. Yesterday was what we call Meet the President Day. President Sagers is way cool. His son J.W. came with him as well as Emma. J.W. was not too happy that he had to leave home and his friends to come here, but I'm sure he will get to liking it soon. President Sagers is very, very knowledgeable about the Scriptures. He told us that one zone conference he will teach us some things in Isiah and Revelations. I am way excited for those trainings. The Sagers are not too big on singing, but that's okay. They got here Tuesday at 2 p.m. It was interesting to think during those 2 hours that I had 2 mission presidents. Then I met the new one yesterday. WOW. Well that is my interesting fact for the week.

Well, Elder Proctor and I are planning on having a lot of fun on the 4rth of July. We are going to watch some fireworks at our Ward Mission Leaders house, and possibly watch some elsewhere. It is going to be a awesome day. I wish y'all the best on the 4rth. Oh, and by the way, if you are looking forward to the jets flying over, count me out! I have heard enough jets flying over that I am sick of them. It is starting to get annoying hearing them ALL THE TIME! I'm sure dad would say otherwise. He he...
Well, missionary work is going well. No new prospects coming up. Just working with the current ones. Transfer calls are this Saturday evening. I will find out that night whether I am staying or leaving, so don't send anything to me that will not get to me by the 6th of July. I will let you know where I am if I did get transferred next P-Day.
Well, that is all for this week. Talk to you next week, and I love all of you and thank you for your support in my missionary work. Talk to you next week.

-Elder Brown

Eclipse with cousins

A couple of weeks ago, the cousins decided that we should have a girls night out for the next Twilight movie.  While Erika and I were at girls camp, they had books our tickets for the midnight show.  I told them I wanted to see it, but I didn't need to see it at midnight, but it was all fun and to be with the family.  The movie theater was crazy and tons of women and girls waiting for the movie to start.  The screaming and noise was crazy in the movie. My thoughts were, "Why are we doing this again?"  Oh yeah, to be together as a family. The crazy things we do to be together.  Anyway, Erika and I were going to crash at my parents in Sandy, but we had to be back the next morning for Erika to babysit at 8 am.  We just drove home from the movie at 3 AM.  Thanks again for the fun, but next time lets all do a day movie.  The next movie to see is the Harry Potter.

Erika

 Erika loves to take naps on Sunday afternoons.  She always has this cute blanket that her grandma made her years ago.  I couldn't resist when I saw her sleeping on the couch.  She will be mad when she see it, but you are only 17 once and might not be able to take naps once she goes on to College.  Sweet Dreams!!!

Riley to Baltimore, Maryland

Riley is going with his school TSA (Technology Student Association) to Baltimore Maryland today.  He left at 12 pm on Southwest Airlines and will travel all day and get there at 8 pm.  There are 8 boys and 1 girl competing.  Riley is competing in the team bridge building and the airplane building flight.  He was excited but a little bit nervous also.  They will also be doing some fun tours as well. like going to Washington DC and the Orioles baseball game.  He had to take his own money for food and other expenses, which is a little bit scary, but we have to trust him and let him grow up.  It was hard to send him through security with a bunch a boys we don't know and his teacher that we have meet a few times.  They are due back on Friday, July 2nd at 9 pm.  It will be weird not to have him at home for a week, but at least he has a cell phone and we can call him and talk to him.  We wish him good luck in the competition.  The next blogs will be about his trip. (Hopefully he took some pictures)

Hiking "Y" Mountain

Today, Erika decided that she and her friend Jared were goingto hike to the "Y" on the mountain.  She could not remember where to go to get to the parking lot to the trail, so we drove up to it in the morning, so she wouldn't get lost later.  I have never been up to this trail and was so amazed at the sight.  The view was incredible and I asked myself, why haven't I been up here, especially since we live right here in Provo, by BYU.  Then I thought, I might not be able to climb up to it anyways, since the last climb up Timpanogos Cave was difficult.  So, I have made a goal to get walking more and walk up to the Y in the next few months, before it gets cold.  Erika says it is a pretty easy hike, but by the looks of the trail map, I questioned it and she also have been running with the track team and runs on the treadmill every day, so she is in better shape than me.  Anyway, Erika and Jared went up at 8 pm and it only took them an hour to get to the top and then they stayed up there to watch the sunset.  Now, that I have to see for sure.

Elder Brown update

Hello from me in Texas. Well, another week has gone by and I am sitting here e-mailing you. WOW! So Dad got the father’s day & brithday package that I sent. I hope that he likes it. It is very easy to shop for him here because I know exactly what he wants. (Dallas Cowboy stuff)

Well, I am so happy that y'all got to go to the Manti Pageant. That is way cool. I wish I could have gone, but I am here doing the Lord's work. It was nice to see Dave and Nancy as well in the pictures. Thanks for the pictures.
Well, nothing new has happened in missionary work, so there is not much to report there. Elder Proctor and I are still working hard. Our new mission president gets here this Saturday. President Thurston is going home this Saturday. I think their homecoming is in Sandy, UT on July 18 or 19, I can't remember, one of those days at sacrament meeting at 9 am.
So I am very excited for everything coming up. Next time I e-mail you, I will be with a new mission president. That is so crazy to think about. WOW! I feel like just yesterday I met him.
Oh, transfer day falls on July 7, my 9 month mark. I will get transfer calls the Saturday before the 7th to let me know where I will be going. President Thurston told me in interviews that I will most likely be staying here in Chapel Creek, but I can never be sure about anything. You can send me a package, just not a food package. I don't want to have to carry it around if I get transferred. You can send me anything else until then.
Well, that is all. Love you and I look forward to talking to you next week.

-Elder Brown

The Manti Pageant

Our neighbors, the McGriff's invited us to go with them to the Manti Pageant tonight.  Brian was not too excited and Erika and Riley could not remember when we went last time, which I figured was about 10 years ago.  We left at 5:45 pm and headed towards Nephi.  We took a different route, because the other one was just refinished with new asphalt, and the rocks were not set.  A few of our neighbors that came back from girls camp, got rocks slammed into their windshield and had to replace them, so we didn't want that to happen to us.  It took us an hour and a half and we arrived in Manti at 7:15 pm.  The traffic was really nice, no backups or stopping and waiting and the parking was only a block down.  We were glad that we went as early as we did.  We had a couple of hours to sit and talk and brouse around the temple grounds.  It was a nice warm night, which was nice for once.  As always, there were anti-mormons at the entrance of the pagaent, which seems not right, but I guess they have nothing better to do than badger us.  The pagaent started at 9:30 pm at dusk and was 90 minutes.  It was a good show and the kids eyes were stuck to what was happening on the hill of the temple.  We took blankets and jackets just in case, but really didn't need them, except to sit on.  Those hard folding church chairs are not so good after sitting on them for 90 or more minutes.  The cast in their costumes were walking around before the pagaent with the local full time missionaries.  It was really neat to see them up close in costume.  Most of them were youth.  It ended at 11:00 and we headed out at 11:15, knowing that we would be in a traffic jam, but to our surprise we were able to get out going North with no stopping or waiting for other cars to get out.  It was a really nice ride there and back and the we all seemed to have a good time together.  Thanks to our great neighbor's for inviting us to come along.

Mission stuff from Elder Brown

We received some papers from Cameron this week and this picture was enclosed.  We are not sure exactly where or what he was doing, but we suspect that he is at a member's party and that they had a mexican theme.  Cameron does love Mexican food, so we are sure that he was more than willing to join them.  The hat seems a little small for him, but it is fun anyways.  He also sent home a picture of his mission president and Pres. Gordon Hinckley and some other papers that look like they are from a zone or district conference.  He is funny at what he sends home.  Last time he sent a box with a bunch of pocketknives and a couple of key chains from old town Stockyard, Texas.  There was no note explaining anything, so we just have to guess sometimes as to why he sent it home. His 9 month mark is coming up soon.  We can't believe that has been that long already.  The time is flying by.

Elder Brown update

Well, it has been a great week so far. Yeah, my bike got stolen, but oh well. I have decided that if I get put in a bike area I will get me a bike. Until then, I will just wait. We sometimes keep our bikes inside, but if we have a balcony or something outside like that then we are to put them outside. The thing that was my bad was that I forgot to lock it up. So it was a target to get stolen and I just thought that it couldn't happen to me. Let this be a lesson to all. If you think it might not happen to you, just wait a while, it just might. I have ridden it twice on my mission, and now it is all gone. Oh well... I don't think I will see my bike again either. I don't know why people have to steal things.
Well, in missionary work. There is a couple that has finally agreed to get married after 1 year of investigating the church. They will be getting married this Sunday by the bishop and then hopefully we will get them baptized next weekend. It is a miracle! I am so excited for them. Their last name is the Godfrey. They are the nicest family that I have ever met. Irene's family is struggling. We are still going over, but they are not really interested anymore in learning the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is very sad, but we are still trying to work with them.
Oh, I am so glad that y'all made it home safely from Girls Camp. I hope all the rain didn't get to you. I know it would have gotten to me. I hope that you had a great time. I also hope Riley is doing okay.
Also, I personally think that the Geo's has seen it's days and it is probably time to retire it. Get a few pictures of it for personal records if you do chose to get rid of it.
Also, one last thing before I send this off. I just want to let all of you know that I love you so much and I very much appreciate all that you do for me. I am so grateful that I have a loving family who is very supportive of me and what I am currently doing. Thanks for everything.
Well, that is all for this week.
Love ya tons and tons!

-Elder Brown

P.S. I can't believe that it has been over 8 months since I have seen you. It is crazy how time is flying by.

YW Camp Reunion

Since YW Camp ended last Satruday, we have a tradition that the next Tuesday at Mutual, we have a Camp Reunion.  We give all the YW their camp certificates and well as some funny ones and I put together a slideshow of all the pictures that were taken at camp.  We invite the parents to come and I also give them a copy of a DVD of the slideshow.  We had a great YW camp this year, but the weather made it hard to make it to the end.  We had 9 YW and 4 leaders and 2 Stake YCL's.  It turned out good and we are all glad that it is over and we can now enjoy our summer.

Coming Home from Girl's Camp

It was still raining and we had to pack up all the camp gear and get ready to go home. The Young Women didn't get on the bus until 1:00 pm, but we loaded up everything and was headed back home at 12:00 noon I was so exhausted by the time we got home. I took a bath/shower for a while and then helped unload the trailor with all the young women's gear to pick up. We still had to clean out all the food coolers.  Erika and the Young Women were headed back to Provo and they drove through hail and snow on the freeway home.  We were all waiting for them at the Stake Center at 3 pm, but the buses were delayed because of the weather.  They came at around 4 pm and I picked up Erika and her equipment and headed home. Erika and I took a little bit of a nap and we had some dinner from Cafe' Rio.  It was nice to be home again.  And we had to prepare talks for tomorrow, since the Young Women were speaking about our experience at Girl's Camp at 9 am.  What were we thinking?  We all had a great time, despite the weather.  Erika and I are glad to have gone and also glad to have it over and done.  Now we can enjoy the rest of our summer.  YEAH!!!

A Rainy day at Girl's Camp

Friday was our Stake Hike's.  It started out as a nice overcast day, not too hot or too cold, but half was through the hike's it started to rain, around 11:00 am.  Erika led the 1st year hike, and I decided that since it was only 2 miles, that it was the best one for me to do.  I made it half way up the hill and decided that I couldn't make it up the hill any more, so I turned around and went back to the camp site.  Erika was just hiking and hiking and didin't even wait for me.  We had to have our flag ceremony times inside the stake pavillon, because it didn't stop raining all day and it was so muddy and cold.  The Bishopric came at around 4 pm and we had a stake fireside inside for a couple of hours and then we had our ward testimony meeting, in the rain still.  We were all drenched.  We have never had so much hot chocolate at girls camp.  We warmed up the water 3 times a day.  My assistant leader brought up a whole box of hand warmers, and they were all used on Thursday night, it was that cold.  I decided that I am not very happy when I am cold.  I had a break down in the middle of the day because I was so tired and cold.  I just wanted to be done with the weather and go home and get warm.  It was the coldest night ever to sleep.  I had my thermals on, my fleece pj's, my jacket with hat, gloves, two pairs of socks with toe warmers on the back and front of my foot, a fleece blanket under me, my fleece snuggie over me and my sleeping bag.  I feel asleep wtih my hands under my arm pits to keep them warm and woke up shivering and my hands were asleep from holding them so tight under my arm pits.  I have been that cold at girl's camp, especially since it started on Wednesday with the wind comine.

Elder Brown update

Thanks for all your e-mails. I hope Riley is doing okay with his braces. I remember the first week I had them on I had to eat soft foods because it hurt to eat hard foods. Tell him to hold it out, I know he can.
Well, in missionary work... Our baptismal date still is struggling to decide. Satan is working really hard on her because she has been talking with her friends and neighbors and they all have told her things about our church that are not true. We are trying to help her see that they are not true things about our church and that she should still be baptized. We are working with her though. Irene Flores, a recent convert, has had a tough couple of weeks. Both her and Javier's cars were impounded and they now don't have a car to use. I feel so bad because as a missionary we are not allowed to help them out. We are only allowed to teach them and encourage them. Bro Jones, our Ward Mission Leader has been generous enough to help them out to get their cars out. He is a way cool Ward Mission Leader. He is also very funny.
Everything in the red package I sent home is for y'all. I don't want it. It is free souvenirs that a member gave us from the stockyards. The stockyards is historic downtown Fort Worth. They have shops and food. We went down there on a P-Day and that member owns a souvenir shop and gave us free stuff. What was in that box he gave to me for free and want y'all to have it. Just divide it up evenly to who wants what and it's yours. I would keep the pocket knives, but it is against the rules. So I sent them home. I got the knives from that member.
Oh and one more thing. On Monday morning around 3:30 a.m. some burglars stole my bike and another missionaries bike that he had left there. I forgot to lock it up and they stole it. I was up around 4 a.m. with the White Settlement police filing a report. They said they will try to find it. When I bought it they gave me a serial number and that number has now been reported as stolen by me. So if the burglars decide to Pawn it, they will get caught. It was a very crazy morning. I couldn't sleep at all for the rest of the morning.
That is all that has happened the past week. Crazy huh? Well, I love y'all and I don't look forward to the rain. Apparently when it rains in Texas, it doesn't cool anything down, it actually gets hotter because it bumps up the humidity. AHHHH! Oh well...
Look forward to talking to y'all next week and I love you!
-Elder Brown

Another day at Girl's Camp

On Friday morning, our ward was in charge of the Flag raising.  Erika was the Stake YCL that morning also who conducted the meeting.  We also did a presentation on our banner and scripture and then we performed our YW Theme in ASL that we have been practicing for a couple of months.  As you can see, Erika has a hat and gloves on.  This day was overcast and a little bit of rain and cold tempertures.  I am pretty sure that all the young women wore two jackets all day and many wore hats and gloves.  We did some ward crafts inside the cabin, because it was windy and cold.  Luckily, we had two cabins, so one was to sleep in and the other was for our food and other items.  It was nice to have the extra room to go inside.  We made felt covers for the mini book of mormons.  The girls thought it was great and they were able to get some of their creative juices out.  I read them a story of "The Parable of the 3 Princesses." while they were working on it.  It is the story of three princesses who must leave their father, the King, and travel to a new place that is hard and much more plain than their amazing kingdom back home. The princesses are to work hard and build their own castles in preparation for their father to return and get them.  All the girls loved the story and knew what it was about when we were done.  We had our Stake singing trees that night, and our ward sang, "I Know that my redeemer lives."  I was a cold night, but a great spiritual experience for all of us. 

More Girl's Camp

On Wednesday, we were on our schedule and had some time to decorate journals and give the girls the backpacks that we stuffed with a brown hoodie sweatshirt, Tie Dye shirt, green blanket, green beanie, water bottle holder, 2 bandana's, a kazoo and many other little gadgets.  The hoodie came in very handy, since the wind started to blow and it was getting cold.  That night while we were sleeping, I woke up at 1:00 am to the wind blowing so hard, that I heard our camp equipment blowing.  My camp assists heard the same thing and woke up also.  The three of us put our jackets on and our shoes, and ran outside to see what had blown away, but to our astonishment, nothing was blown down.  We all heard something hit the side of the cabin, but only the trash can had be blown over.  I thought for sure our big canopy had blown and was on it's way to hit the two cars by our campsight, but it hadn't thank goodness.  Then all 3 of us looked at each other, and need to use the biffy.  We ran as fast as we could up the slight incline to the Biffy, with the cold wind blowing in our face, in the dark, and the other 3 people out at that time of night.  We all signed a big relief when we got back to the cabin safe and sound, including our canopy.  This was the night that the storm was coming in.  We knew when we left that there was going to rain on Friday, but didn't know about the wind coming.  The pictures are of Erika and Heather, helping at Waterfront as the Stake YCL's and the other is 5 of the 9 Young Women was came to our ward camp.  They all loved the silly songs, and they all are dressed alike too.

Sharri & Erika to Girl's Camp

This year Girl's Camp was scheduled for the 1st week of August, but our Stake decided to trade weeks and go the 2nd week of June, which is the 1st week that anyone goes to Camp MIA Shalom.  We weren't sure if we were able to go, because of the snow not melting soon enough, but we received the go ahead the friday before.  Erika was a Stake YCL's this year, so she did everything with them, including sleeping, driving up with them and eating.  She left at 6:30 am and the rest of the ward leaders left at 8:00 am.  Brian came and helped us unload our trailor and setup the canopy's and camp chef's.  It was such a nice warm, sunny day on the day we went up.  Erika and I both got sunburned on our faces and arms.  The rest of the Young Women rode a greyhound bus and they got to Camp MIA Shalom at 2:00 pm.  We had most of the morning to get setup and wait for the Young Women.  It was nice and peaceful.  We setup our beds and re-arranged some things.  The pictures above is the banner that our ward made.  Our Theme was Wisdom Warriors - O.W.L.S. Onward We Live Strong.  Our value color was green for knowledge.  So all of our planning was around knowledge and green.  Each ward had to make a banner and pick a scripture and then present it at our flag ceremony time.  Our ward had 4 leaders and 9 young women, not including Erika and her friend Heather, who were with the Stake.

The Wedding doll cakes!!

What was I thinking??  I volunteered to make these wedding doll cakes for a co-worker of mine.  The 8 small ones weren't too bad, except for having to try and get black frosting. (it was disguisting and running)  The big doll cake took alot of time and when we were ready to put the barbie doll in, the back of the cake split.  That is why we use doll picks, instead of full barbie's.  Then we had to transport all of them to Soldier Hollow in Midway, which was a 45 mintue ride through Provo Canyon.  We did alright, as you can see by the pictures, but setting it up was not so fun, especailly since my hands were shaking and the bride cake was melting and sinking into the middle.  At this point, I really didn't care what they looked like, I just wanted to be done and go back home.  I started making the cakes on Wednesday evening.  Decorated the 8 mini cakes all day Thursday and baked the big doll cake on Thursday night until 11 pm.  On Friday, I decoarted the wedding doll cake until it was done at 3:00 pm.  We had to be at Solider Hollow at 5:00 pm, but we were a little bit late, becasue of the road construction, but Aly & Wyatt didn't mind we were late.  So, don't ask me to do a wedding doll cake in the next six month, because I don't want to do any more.  It was alot of work and now I understand why people don't like to do it and stop doing it.  It was so stressful and crazy and now I am just tired.  Thanks anyways Aly for letting me do this for your special day.

Elder Brown update

Well, I am here again writing you an e-mail. I always like it when I can write home to you. Hope all is going well at home.
Well, we had a baptism planned for last Sunday, but it got cancelled. Valerie called us right before Sacrament Meeting and told us that she didn't want to get baptized today because she didn't feel like she was ready yet. So we moved it back. I'm sure Elder Hatch will have something to say to her about that. She is still interested in the gospel and is still learning. We go over often.
Our new mission president actually gets here on the 26th of June, right before board week starts. The old mission president and him talk for about 2 hours then the old one goes home right after that. The new one will start board week that Monday. I believe the first 3 months for a new mission president are the hardest because it is the time for training him on how he is supposed to run the work. I think I would die the first 3 months if I was a new mission president. You have to read a 600 page book on the mission and the mission president book guidelines. Oh well... I'm still excited for him to come in.
WOW! Riley with braces huh. Well tell him that the pain will wear off in the long run. He will have straight teeth and a wonderful smile. Maybe he will still have them on when I get home?
I am so happy for Josh, Laena’s son, and his choice to be baptized. Say Hi to everyone there for me.
Well, I got my first "real" Texas rain storm last night. It was raining so hard that I get drenched in less than 4 seconds. There was a river in the road. We couldn't even cross the road in some places because the water was so high. It was very crazy. Tell our neighbor, Bro. Autrey, that now I know what he means when he says raining cats and dogs. It is very crazy when it rains here. They have canal's in some places because there is so much water that it would instantly close a drainage system if they let that much water go through it.
Well, that is all for this week. Have a wonderful week and thank you for all that you do for me.

-Elder Brown

Riley - Braces!!

Riley was so excited to get his braces on today, not really, but it was time.  We took him at 9:30 am and he finished with a full set of braces at 11:00 am.  He asked for a McFlurry from McDonald's after we were done.  We didn't complain too much, but the next couple of days will be the real pain, with his teeth shifting and the bracets rubbing on the inside of of cheeks.  The next two years will be different as far as what he gets to eat and how well he brushes and flosses.  Both Cameron and Erika have had braces, so they know exactly how he feels.