Vegas and other such things

The trip to Vegas was a lot of fun. Chilly fun. It was the coldest Thanks giving weekend Las Vegas has had since 1933!! And we were there to watch football outside.  Crazy.  Matthew's team the South Weber Knights played their heart out, but they couldn't quite cut the mustard.  It was a great learning experience and the boys had a lot of fun playing under the big lights on the big field. We had a great time with my family and we were able to see a lot of the kid friendly parts of Vegas.  Ryan and Matt played a video game 18wheeler driving game.  I'm not sure which one of them had more fun.   The girls window shopped at the Forum Shoppes of Ceasers Palace.   We went to M&M world and shopped our way through 4 floors of stuff.  The wall of M&M's with 22 different Flavors was a big hit. We also went to Coke world and had our picture taken with the Coke Polar Bear.   

Mal and I with Green

Matt got a little excited...

Coke World

I Love seeing my family and wish we had more time together. We had a great time and have much to be thankful for. 

Last weekend Ryan and I and our friends Ross and Myra went to watch Motorcycle Ice Racing.  I know what your thinking...and yes.. it was insane.   a group of men and 2 women riders take their dirt bikes and 4 wheelers and decide to race each other on a short indoor track made out of ice.  It was cold inside and it smelled like exhaust, but Ryan and Ross had a great time. and i enjoyed watching.  What a rush. 

We went tromping around in the dirt and mud and found ourselves a Christmas tree.  I have made the executive decision that this is the last year for that. Its too darn cold to go trooping around the snow and mud to get a tree when you can buy one from a store that already has lights on it!  Oh well, we shall see what next year brings.  The tree isn't up in the house yet, it has to sit for a day or two according to my husband.  I'm a little concerned about the tree and how well it will fare with my very large puppy.

Speaking of Puppies....Harley had her 9 month check up a few weeks ago and after spending all day at the vet, she is healthy as a horse. And almost just as big.  She weighed in at 120 lbs!!  she stands about 30 inches tall at her front shoulders. She is doing wonderfully and is so much fun.  We love her very much and are so thrilled to be puppy parents.

Holiday seaons make me homesick....

Its my second favorite holiday of the year Thanksgiving.  When the whole family would come over to our house for the big dinner. Mom and I would fill our kitchen table with slices of bread to dry out for stuffing days in advance, and then spend time breaking and measuring them all into little cubes.  The kitchen and front room would switch places and we got to put the couch in the kitchen so that there was room around the table for all the family. Getting up with mom at 3 or 4 in the morning to stuff the turkey and put it in the oven so it could cook for what always seems like days. "You don't want an undercooked Bird" grandpa always says.  Then watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade waiting for all the family to come over.  Aunt Janiel making yams with layers of butter and brown sugar. Grandma making gravy thickening and all the kids trying to steal cheese out of the veggie try. All the older men in the family asleep in front of the football game.   The smells of that day take me home to a safe and very special house stuffed to the brim with family and friends.  That is a feeling i haven't been able to replicate, try as i might.

This years thanksgiving will be much different.  My family will be in Las Vegas.  Matthew is playing little league football and has been invited to play in the pig skin tourny in Las Vegas on Thanks giving.  So off we go to Sin City for the long weekend.  Im sure it will be fun, and I am very excited to be able to see my family.  Any vacation from the crap weather we are getting here in the great NW will be great.  We leave Wednesday morning and are sure to have a Thanksgiving to remember. 

Im kind of excited to find out what the BLACK Friday shopping is like in Vegas.  Not to mention thanks giving dinner buffet style could be amazing! And Matt could not be more excited to have Ryan and I there to watch him play some football. 

October come and gone

Amazingly i have managed to make it a whole other month without posting a word.  I guess it should make me feel better that no one really follows my life that closely to be concerned when i disappear.  I am sad to say that the harvest pumpkin gathering season passed me by compelely.  I didn't make it to a single pumpkin patch or manage to decorate my house at all.  I was sadly reminded of this by my husband who was glad he didn't have to help me clean up the mess. 

There has been a large amount of uncertainty for our family in the last month or so.  Bushwhackers, the dance hall/Bar/Resturant that Ryan's sister and brother-in-law have owned for the last 4 years is no longer in the family.  after long discussion and many many talks, Stacey has decided to turn it back over to the Original owners.   Saturday night was the last hurah for us. Its a very bitter sweet moment for me. 

When i moved to Oregon I quickly built a life and a suppourt group around the poeple i met at BW's.  My Husband being one of the most important.  I met him there, courted him there,  worked side by side with him there.  Its sad to see and end to another chaper of our lives. But on the other hand, i can't even begin to express how happy I am that our family time will be just that. FAMILY TIME. no more, hurry up and eat so someone can go to the bar, or the conversation revolving around that place and the business side of things.  It will definetly be a change, but one i will gladly except.

We have continued to paint every wall in the house that will stand still long enough. and we are arguing over carpet colors all the time. Its an adventure to own your own home.  I look foward to the holidays. 
We are going to be able to see my family again in November for Thanksgiving when we get to go to Las Vegas for a weekend. 

Fall Fun

I must have this stigma that i can't post on my blog if i don't have pictures that go with it.  SO thats why i haven't posted in over a month. Apparently my camera has found a new home in the bottom of my purse and its not going anywhere.   

Not a whole lot has happened. Ryan got a new job. He is working for Allied moving and storage. He seems to like it and the best part is, he has normal people hours and i get to have him home for dinner on most nights.  its great. We started another room in the house for the remodle.  Our bedroom.   it kind of happened by accident, one morning i got up and the wallpaper (that is only on one wall) was litterly falling off the wall. Time to just take it down.  I just started picking at it and pulling little sections, and off it all came. Easy as pie.  Now for all the glue still stuck to the wall....don't you wish you were us?

Fall has hit the great northwest faster than we had hoped. The rain has started and its no fun at all.  It rained every day last week and it was so foggy in the morning when i let harley out i couldn't see her in the grass. 
Our apple trees haven't produced a whole lot but the pears are falling off the tree faster than we can gather them up. We won't talk about the fact that its 85' outside right now and the humid as crap!!

Anyways, I will try to be better at taking more pictures so i feel like i have something worth while to post about.  K- Thanks - Bye

Hot Hot Hot

When the temp inside the house is hotter than the 96 degrees it is outside, its time to find a new place to hang out.  Portland has been hit with a heat wave this last week that has really been terrible. We don't have air conditioning either, just a bunch of box fans and open windows at night.

On sunday afternoon, thanks to Myra's great idea, we headed to the beach for some cooler weather.  We took the top off of Ross's Bronco and headed to Lincoln City.  We sure found the cooler weather, 62 to be perfectly clear. It actually felt COLD. and i had to wrap up in the blanket while we were driving because it got so chilly. 

Harlye hiding behind dad to get some shade

This was Harley's first trip to the beach and we weren't really sure how she would handle the beach, but lucky us, we have the best puppy in the whole world. Harley had a great time. She wanted to chase rocks into the waves but as the surf was headed back in she was afraid of the line of foam that comes with it so she would run out and play, and then try to turn herself around and run back to the dry sand as fast as possible.  She made it out the first few times, but the waves finally caught up to her and she was knocked over. She really isn't to stable on her feet for being so Big. 

Exploring the rocks, nice butt shot

Playing in the water

I tried and tried to turn this picture but its not working. I love her sweet face

We wondered around the beach and let Harley chase the seguls for a while, then we decided to head back home. The down side to going to the coast on a sunday afternoon is that everyone is headed home and back to work the same time you are. And its only a little two lane road back to town from Lincoln city, which in therory should be faster than Hwy 101 that goes up the coast.  We traffic was terrible, and it took us about 3 hours to get back home when it should have only taken us about 1 1/2.  Oh well, we sure enjoyed the ride and the beautiful weather. We all know Oregon so well, we will be soon missing the sun in our soggy winter rain.

The bad traffice following us home, it was just as bad linned up for miles in front of us as well.

we had a great weekend and love playing at the beach. So happy that we live close enough to day trip the beach.

Happy Anniversary

This weekend marks the end of the first year.  I can't believe how much we have been through and all the things we have done.  There are about a million things we could tell people never to do in the first year. All from first hand experience now.  But here we are. standing on the other side of the 1 year mark, still married.

Our little life together started 3 years ago and I love Ryan more every day. I know things have been rough and we have had a LOT of stress in out life, but there is no one else in the whole wide world i would rather have by my side through it all. 

Ryan asked me a few months ago if i had plans for our anniversary or if he could plan it all. Of course i told him to go ahead and plan away. And plan he did.  Friday night started the weekend and ryan picked up from work and took me to a suprise dinner. We went to the Portland City Grill which is a resturant on the very top floor of the tallest building in downtown portland.  It was beautiful. Ryan must have told them what he was planning because when we got to the table it looked like this....

Little confetti hearts and Red Rose petals. It was amazing. There was a card that said thanks for celebrating with us signed by our waitor and all the managers. We had a great time, watching the sun set from the roof and enjoying our time together. After dinner we went to a little place to listen to some live music with some friends and had quite a scare. 

One of the regular dancers from Bushwhackers was there with some friends dancing away when all of the sudden he hit the ground.  Must have been cardiac failur or massive stroke. Its amazing how quickly adrenaline takes over and you start to do things you later wonder how it happened.  I somehow was able to do CPR with another women until the ambulance showed up to help.  I watched, with about 120 other standby people as the paramedic's used the AED to shock him and take him out on a stretcher to the hospital.  Needless to say it was not exactly the way we planned on ending our night out.  (We found out early saturday morning that he had passed at the hospital surrounded by his family)

Ryan and i went saturday and saw Dinner for Schmucks and did some much needed shopping at the mall, just spending time together and being silly.  We were supposed to be at Ross and Myra's by 730 for part 2 of ryan's plan. We were in the kitchen just telling them the drama of the night before when the door bell rang and everyone looks at me.  Now why would i answer the door at someone eles's house?  Thats right i wouldn't!  so i knew something was up.  Cautiously I went to answer the door with everyone watching behind me. 

This is what i opened the door to find...!

Ry had planned it so that we would get to spend the night riding around in this amazing limo!  We picked up one other couple Mike and Jamie and we spent the evening driving from the Internation Rose Garden to Rocky Butte and all over down town. We had so much fun. Here are some of the pictures from the adventure.

L-R, Jamie, Mike, Ross, Myra, Me, Ryan

At the rose garden

O M G !  I got the wedding band for my ring!!! its amazing

The 6 of us up on Rocky Butte.  We had a great time. It was an amazing anniversary and i look so forward to celebrating many many more with my amazing husband. I love you Ryan!

SUMMER TIME

It has been beautiful weather around here the last few weeks. My birthday was last Sunday and Ryan and I had a great time with some friends at our house for a BBQ on Saturday night.  Its one of my favorite things to sit on our porch with the sun setting, surrounded by good friends talking and laughing. The dog getting attention from everyone and lots of love. It was a great birthday.  The phone calls from home and my family singing happy birthday to me over the phone was the cherry on top of a great weekend.

Ryan and I's anniversary is coming up at the end of the month and I have been debating about what to get him for a while. I thought about a WII, or a weekend at the beach, or a nice dinner....but really after all of that, the best thing i could think of getting him this year was.....I guess i will just have to wait and tell you after I actually give it to him so no one tells him. I wouldn't want to wreck the secret.

We have been spending most weekends at the Lake in Forest Grove called HAGG playing on the boat and enjoying the beautiful weather.  Ross has been attempting and failing at wake boarding, which is really funny to watch, but totally sad for Ross.  He is one heck of a snowboarder so i thought it would be easy for him. 

Here are some awesome action shots of the boys...and after many many attempts and quite a few falls and being dragged under the water, ROSS FINALLY GOT UP! It was very exciting.

This is the first time he actually made it out of the water.

I love this picture, he got out of the wake and it got a little squirlly....

And then he crashed....

Then Ryan had to give it turn. He can actually jump the wake but my camera isn't cool enough to take action shots.

Nice short shorts Ross!

I think this is Ross, really can't tell from here can ya

Ryan on his way down from jumping the wake.

Yes i wake boarded to, but i crashed hard and didn't want to go again so no pictures of me this time.  We have so much fun together, and what a better way to spend the weekend? 

CAMPING 4th of July style

Ryan's mom and dad have a tradition that they started way back when. Just after or just before they got married. This tradition involes camping at a secret little lake in Central Oregon somewhere between Detroit Lake and Sisters. It's such a big deal that 6 months prior to this camping trip every year the day is marked on the calender of when they can call to make the reservation.  4 camp sites, 2 motorhomes, 1 5th wheeler, 3 tents, 7 quads, 1 boat, 2 jet skies.....and a whole lot of family fun.

I have been lucky enough to go with ryan on this camping adventrue every year for 3 years now. Its turning into our own special tradition.  It also just so happens that the parents are always camping over the 4th of July and my Birthday weekend so its always a choice which weekend we will spend camping. This year we choose to go the 4th.  Ryan's good buddy Ross and his lady Myra came up with us as well.  The weather started out pretty crappy....per par for the course, it is Oregon after all.  We left home as soon as i got done working on Thursday. The drive up wasn't so bad except for the crap-tastic traffic. Apparetnly the entire state was headed South Bound on I-5 thrusday evening. 

It started to get pretty couldy and rained on us about 3/4 of the drive up.  By the time we got to the camp ground everyone had already turned in for the night to escape the rain so we made our rounds to say hello and unpacked the truck and off to bed we went.  Sleep was a little hard to come by as the wind rocked the trailer just a tad....and the rain made for great bedtime music.  Friday was pretty rainy and cold. Overcast most of the day.  We spent most of the day inside the trailor playing card games with Don and Donaly and reading stories with Dawson, Ryan's nephew.  Ryan and I took and epic 2 hour nap later that evening. 

The couldy rainy lake, and Mt Washington

Ross and Myra showed up friday night and we had a good time freezing to death around the fire. 

Saturday was beautiful. Sunny and a lot warmer than the previous day. After breakfast we went on a 4wheeler ride up Cash mountain to the old Forest tower.  Even though it had been raining for days the trails were super dusty and we came back from the ride very dusty and dirty. The guys had a great time. 

The picture is dark but there is a great dirt line across Ross's forhead.

The 4 of us after the morning ride.

What a better way to clean up and cool down after a ride than to go jump in the lake?  We changed cloths and spent the rest of the day on the boat in the lake.  We attempted to teach 5 year old Dawson how to water ski, almost successfully. He did such a good job. He only gave it one try but he was up for about 15 yards before he got a face full of water.  I was the lucky volunteer to stand chest deep in water and keep Dawson straight and floating before the boat could pull him up. I should have just stayed in the water at that point.    Ryan did a great lap around the lake on the skies and even did the "look mom, no hands" thing. to bad i was driving the boat and didn't get a picture of it. 

Ry and Ross enjoying the sunshinny afternoon.

Myra doesn't make her own body heat and froze to death even in the sunshine.  But if you look behind her and see all the snow still on the mountain...i guess i can understand.

Awe...look how cute.

The lake on Saturday afternoon.

Attempting to take a family picture. Harley was not cooperating very well. You get her better side....

Sun in the face. And Harley girl. Can't wait until she is to big for this kind of thing.

 We had a great day Saturday, sun shine, good friends, lots of fun things to do. We packed up sunday morning and drove home in time to do some laundry, shower and leave again. We headed to St. Paul for the annual 4th of July Rodeo and fireworks. 

Happy 4th of July friends!!!

And they lived happily ever after......

Thrid times a charm right?  I once again traveled home to Utah this weekend, but this time I took my husband and our pup Harley.  We left Wednesday at noon and stayed until Sunday.  It was a very nice longer trip.  Harley was such a good girl in the car. She slept a whole bunch and if she wasn't sleeping she had her head out the window eating the air.  Im so thankful that she was such a good girl.

Thursday Matt had his birthday party at the Roy aquatic center and Ryan and I spent the afternoon in the water watching 9 little 10 year old boys run around. It was a lot of fun and it was hot hot hot outside so swimming was an excellent choice of a party.  We got Matt a Utah jazz jersey for Matthews, he was so excited.  He sure loves the Jazz. Thursday night we spent at my Grandma's eating subs and playing ladder ball in the front yard.  Chantel and her boy Andy are the champs and Ryan and I tried really hard to beat them...but Fail.  here are some pictures of the event 

Trying to show up Andy with my mad ladder ball skills

The cheering section

Doesn't Ryan look happy to be here?

If i hold chantel back they might not win....didn't work.

Friday was Kevin and Amy's wedding. The biggest reason behind our trip to Utah this time.  They got married Friday morning in the Logan Temple.  It was beautiful outside. I took lots of pictures of the kids and couple at the temple grounds, trying my best to stay out of the way of the real photographer. I have lots of photo's so bare with me.

Im pretty impressed with my photo skills. It's like the leaning tower of Piza'

Notice the little girl in the white dress...STANDING in the fountain? yup, that's right, there was a small child playing in the water like it was her personal wading pool. No one know's where her mother and father were.

The happy couple freshly sealed...

The Coleman family.

My family with the bride and groom. It was on the shaddy side of the temple. a little dark if you ask me.

My hubby and I

I think this is the first picture of the 4 of us since my wedding.

I'm pretty sure we are all looking at different camera's in this picture. Funny.

They had the Wedding Brunch at a Park in Ogden and it was mexican food made by one of Kevin's co-workers.  Delicious steak, and salda's made by the family and friends. After the Luncheon we headed to Layton for the ring ceremony and the recpetion that were both at the Victorian.  I had never been to the victorian before and i have to say, i really like it. It was a perfect setting for the wedding. Outdoors, beautiful yard and such a fun way to send off the bride and groom.  here are my pictures of the event.

This is my new favorite. It captures them all perfectly.

These 3 girls were so funny to watch. It was a knock down fight for the flowers. Mallory ended up with it.

Congratulations Kevin & Amy! we wish you all the best!