Winter happenings

It has been awhile since I’ve posted anything. I’m not really as excited as I once was about blogging – this probably has to do with the fact we haven’t had Internet access at home for quite awhile and without it I don’t ever get around to posting pictures, which was the best part. Anyway, Graham and I have been pretty active for January, mostly busy with bringing up our huge (60+ lbs) puppy. Suki is only seven months old but she is very big, very hairy and more often than not, very dirty. It has been quite a chore trying to clean up after her and as Rita will happily tell you I’m not succeeding. We rang in the New Year at Kris and Sarah’s. It was the first time we had all hung out since they were engaged which I’m very excited about. We spent a Saturday introducing Suki to the Oregon Coast and she loved it! She was so tired she fell asleep as soon as we got back to the car to head home. We also spent the weekend of February 1^st on a ranch in Washougal, WA celebrating Carrie’s 30^th Birthday. The place was amazing, cozy and eclectic with hiking trails right out the front door. Suki came too and had a great time – she is definitely a city dog but she started to loosen up on our second day and I think she had a good time. Well that’s my re-cap, I would say I will try to write more but we’ll just have to see…

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas. We had a white Christmas (my first ever) this year and it is only now going away - the roads are finally all clear and the only traces of the snow and ice is on lawns and what was pushed into piles from the snowplows. When I dug my car out of my driveway last Tuesday the snow was 18 inched on the roof! It was a lot of fun but I'm happy to finally be able to drive again. Of course Portland is never prepared for snow so the roads were not very drivable which put a damper on my Christmas shopping. We had a very cozy Christmas with our friends and family who are within walking distance. With the snow, some of my gift giving plans never really happened. It was nice to put gifts in perspective and realize that being with friends and family are what really matter most.

Holiday Happenings

I have not been very attentive to my blog. Graham and I have been busy - all good things - we're both doing well. Here’s a brief overview of what has been going on in the past two or three months. If I ever get my camera and computer together again I will also post pictures, we’ve taken some really great ones…A must see picture is of Graham and me on Halloween. Graham went in an original Star Trek uniform (we used one of his really tight bike shirts to pull it off - hilarious). Luckily we had a place to go, Ann and Jimmy threw a great Halloween party. November has been busy with work for both of us and of course having a puppy is a never-ending chore but Suki is well worth it. We had Thanksgiving with family and friends. Thanksgiving morning we had fun joining hundreds of other people at the Zoo and doing the Turkey Trot. My mom hosted dinner and Kylie and her family joined us and brought lots and lots of food – that’s the point right? Besides our holiday events we have been going on lots of doggie walks – Suki is over 50 pounds – huge when you realize she is only five months old. We are having lots of fun with her and even the cats are starting to accept her.

September is over?

Graham and I have been busy. Suki our new puppy is definitely responsible for keeping us very active. Also, I’ve started taking a Spanish class on Monday night’s with Rita. A weekend ago, we said goodbye to Ashley – my cousin – she is living in Ukraine for two years for the Peace Corps. Her parents held a nice open house to say goodbye. We are all going to miss her. I’m sure she is going to have an amazing time. I can't forget to mention Oaks Park's Oktoberfest - Graham just barely lost the sausage eating contest this year - of course we were remined that Matt did win two years ago! With October come all the holiday festivities to look forward to...including some very tasty food which I'm already enjoying! Graham and I are already planning out our pumpkin patch visit(s?) and scary movie watching to get us ready for Halloween.

Summer went to fast!

I can’t believe it is September. Graham and I had a very busy but also a very fun August. We celebrated Graham’s 30^th birthday with a camping trip out near Prineville with Ann, Jimmy, Rita and Matt, and their dogs. The following Wednesday I went with my Mom and sister, to my Dad and Xandra’s home in Gates and visited my Grandpa Francis who has come down from Alaska. I had not seen my Grandpa for years and years - it was wonderful to see him. Also, while I was there I fell in love with a puppy (I know, it’s not hard to do…) that Dad and Xandra had been taking care of for a few days and who needed a home. I couldn’t resist, so Graham and I have a new family member – Suki! The following weekend we jetted off to Milwaukee, WI for Clay and Katie’s wedding. It was a full weekend…we went to Katie’s parents cabin – where I tried unsuccessfully to water ski, we met Katie’s family at brunches and dinners, played with our adorable nephew Jack and I even made it to Milwaukee’s Irish Fest! The wedding was beautiful and also a lot of fun. They had the ceremony and the reception at the Milwaukee Art Museum, which is located right on the lake. The following weekend I joined my Mom, Rita, Ann, Sarah and my Aunt Adrienne, along with six other women and walked the Portland to Coast. It was a lot of fun but I felt seriously sleep deprived by the end. Finally, for the last weekend of August – Labor Day weekend – Graham, Suki and I, went on a camping trip to central Oregon. We spent the weekend relaxing and I think we finally caught up on our sleep.

July 4th's Weekend

Forth of July weekend was a very nice three days off...but when are three days off not nice? Friday the forth, we went with Kylie for a nice hike on Sauvie Island. We also made a stop at Kroger’s for fresh strawberries. Independence day dinner - we went to my Mom’s and devoured all the traditional 4^th of July staples. Afterwards we walked to the bluff to watch the Oaks Bottom fireworks display. On Sunday we attempted a hike on Sauvie’s again, only this time we went with my mom and Abby (Rita's dog). We tried a new hike to the lighthouse. It was a miserable hike involving a very poorly maintained trail, mosquitoes, blackberry bushes and rain. We eventually made it home but we spent the rest of the weekend recovering.

My Birthday Weekend

It’s been a year since I got my digital camera from Graham on my Birthday and I didn’t even take any pictures...thank you Rita, for being a responsible camera owner. Anyway, even without the photo coverage to prove it - I had a great birthday weekend. Now for the next 40 days Graham and I are the same age – so exciting! We spent our 100+ degree weekend, trying to stay cool. We went to the Kennedy School for movies on Friday – I love that place. On Saturday, Kylie, Rita and I got Mani-pedi’s – I got gold on both my toes and fingers for my golden birthday – 29 on the 29th. After that excitement, we went home and hid in the shade with the sprinkler on. Sunday, my actual Birthday, we went hiking around Trillium Lake on Mt. Hood. Although there was still snow covering parts of the trail it was a hot hike and Rita and I even jumped in the lake to cool off. I ended my birthday with pizza, homemade ice cream cake and pink Champagne with friends. It was a very nice weekend.