... PA Trip 2013 ...

Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you know that I spent

a week and a half in PA with my sister Amanda's family!!

We had such an awesome time and I took, of course, a TON

of photos!!  Each day, I took a few minutes to jot down the highlights

of the day in my journal, so in order to keep this post manageable,

I thought I'd just transfer those thoughts over along with the photos

from the day!! So, without further adieu, I give you ....

My PA Trip … 2013

(Oh, and photo disclaimer: I didn't take our Nikon on the trip with me,
these are with a point and shoot camera OR my cell phone -
there just wasn't room in my carry on!!)

March 17^th

The drive to the Medford Airport -
 it was the first time we've driven to Medford during the day, 
so I thought it was picture worthy!!

Our selfie at the Airport before I headed in!! I definitely missed this guy!!

The Medford Airport was hands down the TINIEST Airport I have ever been to.

There were six gates, and I'm pretty sure each gate led to the same plane.

I've never actually walked outside to get on to my plane before,

so I took the following picture of my feet to commemorate the moment!!

It was SOOOO strange being held over at the Salt Lake Airport. 
I longed to run out of the airport and catch a cab to make a quick stop in Logan 
to see our families and friends, but there was definitely not enough time for that!

Plus, if I would have left the Airport, I would not have met my new BFF!!
So I was sitting there, playing Words with Friends with Nate,
and all of the sudden, MIKE TYSON came and sat right next to me!
Apparently he was on some type of trip with his wife!
I was too stunned to even attempt some type of photo OF him
(I think the most I would have gotten would have been his shoe, though -
I would have been too chicken to actually ask him for a photo).
I even had Nate send me THIS picture of him so that I could make sure I wasn't hallucinating.
Okay, so maybe he's not really my BFF, but it was sure a cool 20 minutes!!

  

Finally arrived!! 
Amanda looks so chipper and adorable and I look like I'd been flying all day!! :)
We had a fun drive back to her house and talked the WHOLE way!!

March 18^th

     

 

 

  




*** Hearing Ada tripping over my back pack when she came to wake me up at 7 before going to school
*** Running smack at Kaobe to give him a hug before he went to school
*** Watching Leiah run at me with open arms for her greeting hug
*** Watching Indy be her shy self when she first saw me - it didn't take long for her to warm up,
but she was funny about it!
*** Meeting Dexter!! Such a sweet little pup!!
*** Leiah's Dr. Appt - she was teasing the Dr. behind her back - Amanda tried to get her to stop,
but I had to hide my laughing!
*** Checking out Amanda's favorite Grocery Store - Wegmans
*** Having a belated GREEN St. Patty's day dinner of pancakes and eggs
*** PICTIONARY!
*** Seeing an actual snow storm this winter!
*** Making the rounds in the basement - boxing, ping pong, stationary bike, elliptical -
we spent a good 45 minutes hanging out down there!
*** Soaking in the Hot Tub with Amanda after the kids went to bed
*** Lots of snuggles and hugs!!         

March 19^th

Ok, so I look COMPLETELY awful in this picture, I was exhausted,
 but I was having such a good time getting schooled in Chess by Kaobe while the girls where in bed!

*** First solo day as mom to 4 kiddos
*** School delayed due to school meant getting directions from Kaobe & Ada
to their school - they were a little iffy, but we made it!
*** Snow in the morning and Rita's Custard after school
*** Getting my hair done by Indy
*** Seeing Leiah carry a GIANT sugar container and a spoon into the living room
so that we could sweeten her herbal tea - a packet of sweet and low is
actually what we used : )
***Kaobe CLOBBERING me in our first game of Chess
*** Poor Leiah and her cough sleeping on the floor of my room

March 20^th

*** Exploring different hairstyles with Indy & Ada before school!
*** Ada's dance class!
*** Yo Fresh Frozen Yogurt
*** Panera Bread & Chick Filet - I had dinner from BOTH places
because we have neither in Grants Pass!
*** Playing the piano with Indy & Leiah!!
*** Introducing JEM & the Holograms to the girls
*** more Chess games with Kaobe
*** Leiah sleeping sideways in bed!
*** Crazy Dexter trying to steal my lunch!
*** Being reminded by Leiah to NOT play with her pigtail braids!        
           

March 21^st
























*** Poor Leiah with her cough and not sleeping well did not want to get up,
so I had to pull her out of bed with her ankles - (don't worry, she was giggling)
*** Miss Indy being indecisive about her hair for the day
*** A nice LONG skype with Nate while the kiddos were at school
*** The hot tub mocking me as I tried to work!
*** RASCAL'S Arcade - bumper cars, climbing wall
*** Root Beer Floats
*** Helping Ada study for her science test
*** Being able to actually relax before bed        

March 22^nd & 23^rd

These two days were so quick and wonderful that they blurred all
together!! On Friday, Carlynne & her family came down
to spend the night, so we spent Friday evening and Saturday morning
with them!!

 (Beware, there are a TON of photos from these two days and they are very mixed up!!)

 











 




















 























*** After school swim on Friday with Ada & Leiah! Kaobe played on his
computer & Indy worked on a story she was writing
*** Getting ready for Lance & Carlynne to visit
*** Leiah falling asleep on the couch while waiting for them to arrive.
*** The first words out of Eva's mouth: "I'm going to marry my daddy, and he's bald!"
*** Meeting William again! He's SO big now and so adorable!!
*** Ada & Indy's reactions to Lizzie & Eva's spunky energy and messmaking :)
*** Poor Dexter being so good staying in Amanda's room while Lance & Carlynne were there.
*** Hanging out in the hot tub with Lance & Carlynne, then realizing
how late it was and remembering that 6 kids were going to be up early the next day!
*** Playing with Lizzie & Eva after they woke up before Amanda's kids were up!
*** Watching Leiah teach Lizzie how to play the piano!
*** Coloring Easter Eggs
*** Making Popovers for breakfast with Ada
*** Swimming in the hot tub with the kiddos
*** The impromptu lunch we had - sandwiches, cereal, pineapple, cheese,
cheetos - and William spreading it all over the floor!!
*** Having to say goodbye to the Carters. Why are we always doing that?
*** Lizzie & Eva asking if I could come to their house to play, and if I could bring Ada with them!!
*** Having pizza and movie night with the Osolu kiddos!
*** Skyping with Gramps, Grandma & Uncle Blake!     

I am such a blessed Auntie!! We had such a fun time with the Carters and
although their visit was short, I am so grateful that they made the drive
to come and see me while I was close!!  
     

March 24^th

After re-cuping from Friday & Saturday, we got ready for Amanda & Obeta to come
home AND a visit from the Trans!! (I got SO spoiled on this trip!!) 

Again - so many pictures and so out of order :)

 
































*** Breakfast at Dunkin Donuts
*** Old town Allentown - finding our way to the maill
*** Ahhh, a mall ... another thing we lack in Grants pass -
I actually got to walk around an Aeropostale!!
       *** Amanda & Obeta getting home - the kiddos were SO excited!!
*** Anticipating the Trans arrival!!
*** Swimming
*** Hand & Foot
*** Sniping lessons from Ty
*** Funny photos
*** Snuggles from the girlies
*** Easter Egg Hunt - Ty found the giant egg
*** Getting a very fancy hairdo from the girls
*** Having to say goodbye to the Trans, again - why are we
always doing that?     

Again, I am so grateful that Jess & Phuc took time to drive down and spend the 
afternoon with me! It was so good to see them, and even though the visit
was short, my heart was definitely full!!

March 25^th

  























*** Lunch with Amanda & Obeta at LongHorn Steakhouse
*** Hand & Foot with Kaobe & Ada
*** The Ugly Sweater Game - British accents necessary
*** A swim in the Hot Tub
*** Obeta teaching Ada about the stock market
*** Homemade bread and brownies (Amanda rocks)
*** Jamming to the 90's music
*** Hearing Obeta singing along to Hansen
*** LOTS of snuggles
*** Chess with Kaobe

The Long Trip Home

  



  



*** Panera Bread with Kaobe & Amanda  
*** Rushing through the Detroit airport only to arrive to a delayed airplane
*** Being SUPER disappointed about being delayed in Utah,
waiting FOREVER for a Hotel Shuttle,
and being crammed into a Shuttle with 9 other people -
all exhausted and frustrated that they didn't make their connections
*** Hanging out, once again, in the Salt Lake Airport
*** Finding Krispy Kreme donuts to take home to Nate
*** FINALLY landing in Medford
*** Being reunited with Nate!! I missed him SO much!!           

I had such a wonderful trip and I am so grateful that I was able to go
and to spend time not only with Amanda and her family, but with
Jessica and Carlynne and their families as well! 

I am so grateful for our families and for the fact that even though
we live miles apart, we are not separated by them!! I love them all so much!!  

... 13 Years ...

This post is a little belated, but earlier this month,

Nate & I celebrated our 13 year anniversary!!

Nate had to work, but we celebrated with a 

late night dinner at Blondies' Bistro!

We enjoyed a really tasty meal and reminisced about the last thirteen years!

It was a wonderful evening and I'm so grateful to be married

to such a wonderful man!!

First Friday

Have we mentioned yet how much we love Grants Pass?

There are so many things that the City does to make life pleasant,

and First Friday is another thing that we are adding to our Favorites list!!

Every First Friday of the month, the local artists come together

and put on an Art Walk downtown. There is food tasting, music,

and of course, amazing art! (By the way, there are also some

AMAZING building spaces here - my photographer eye

was drooling over some of the gallery spaces that we walked through!)

Anyway, Nate had they day off, so we decided to spend the day out

and about because it was GORGEOUS (high 60's - hello warm weather)!!

We grabbed some sandwiches at Luigi's and found our new favorite

sandwich shop!! Apparently, it's kind of a famous shop - people from all

over the world have visited the shop - but apparently we aren't the first

ones from Logan - there was already a pin in that spot!! :)

We headed down to Riverside Park to eat our lunch, enjoy watching

kiddos feeding the ducks, and play a little Frisbee! It was such a perfect afternoon!

That evening, we put on our walking shoes, headed downtown, and

joined the locals in admiring the amazing talents of those that live in the area!

We ended our evening with live music and light appetizers at Ma Mosa's,

another of our local favorites!!

Rascal enjoyed her First Friday too - she took a lot of naps!! :)

It was a perfect day and we can't wait for the next First Friday!!

... a Saturday ...

So it turns out there is a downside to having

an All Wheel Drive vehicle!

In replacing one tire, you must replace all.

Nate & I have been driving around with a

giant STAPLE sticking out of our front tire.

We tried pulling it out, but as soon as he

pulled it, air started whooshing, so we left it in

and took it to the tire shop!

Due to the placement of the staple, it couldn't be patched,

so we are now the proud owners of

four new, beautiful, deep treaded tires!

The upside of getting new tires?

We got to spend several hours wandering around

downtown a few Saturday's ago!!

I really just love downtown Grants Pass!!

We tried out another local restaurant, called

"The Laughing Clam" - it was good, Nate really enjoyed

his fish and chips. I didn't love my meal, but I'd go

back to try something different before writing it off as

a favorite! Plus, they have live bands, so I definitely

have to give it another chance!!

We stopped in at "Blind George's" to get some popcorn 

and ended up coming with with this GIANT bag because

they had a $5 minimum purchase when paying with a debit card ...

We made our way back to the tire shop and relaxed

for a bit (or played a lot of Words with Friends)

while waiting for the shop to finish up!!

 

Later that night, we took a walk down to our local market

to score some ice cream, and saw this beautiful sunset!

I really love it when Nate & I have weekends off together -

it doesn't happen often, but the simple act of doing mundane

things together makes them so much more fun and enjoyable

and I'm so grateful for such an awesome husband!!

Random February Fun {2013}

It's random photo time!!

Nate decided he wanted to attempt his own

homemade buffalo wings for the Superbowl!

As always, he rocked the kitchen! 

We were headed ... out ... one night -

I don't even remember where we were going,

but when I looked out my side mirror and saw the sunset

after a rainstorm, I couldn't resist a photo!

We rocked the kitchen again with these awesome gyros -

thank you Pinterest!!

And we had another beautiful sunset!!

We had a game night - we Battleshipped and Yahtzee'd

for quite a while - although we didn't keep score this time,

so I don't know who won ...

Nate grew his hair out!

This is one of my FAVORITE pictures of him,

I think he's so darn hot!! I mean, really, look at the guy,

how can you not love him?

And, we got our new fridge!!

(Hooray for tax returns!!)

When we moved into our apartment last Fall,

we hadn't noticed that a fridge was not included in our lease!

Given that we had just moved, we just ran to 

Home Depot and purchased the cheapest fridge we could find,

and it was tiny! We were super excited to get our big fridge -

who knew one could get so excited about that? 

Ooh - and now we get to keep ice in our freezer! Hooray!!

I branched out in the kitchen and made 

Sun Dried Tomato Pasta.

This is quite a feat for me, because I had not just

two pans, but three, cooking at once ...

I don't know how people handle more than one pan

on a regular basis - it just stresses me out!!

And here was my reward for making such a tasty dinner for 

my hot husband!! And yes, all of our spoons were 

running through the dishwasher when my need for chocolate hit,

so I used a measuring spoon ...

FYI - they are deep and hard to eat out of!! :)

We also celebrated Valentines Day, which I posted about

already, and we went out on the town a little bit - I'll post

about that next time!!  Anyway, as you can see,

our February was good and tasty!!

Gettin' Crafty: Split Pea Wreath

If there is any one thing that Nate & I disagree on

in this whole entire world - it is wreaths.

I love them. He hates them.

To offset this disagreement 

I attempt to find/make wreaths that

he only mildly disdains - I'm happy 

to stay away from those that he hates.

I'm pretty sure I helped him warm to

mild disdain on this wreath, because

when I saw THIS tutorial on Pinterest

I fell in LUHV!!

I hemmed and hawed for a few days about

whether or not to show it to him,

but the temptation was too great to resist!

So, without further adieu,

here is my new springy Split Pea Wreath!!

And here is a close up - please ignore the

gobs of and strings of dried glue - 

I'm trying to tell myself

that you can't really tell that they're there

and that the wreath is perfect just the way it is!!

 Anyway - I'm pretty happy with it!

If you end up making one, invest in LOTS of glue

for your gun (I probably used 100 sticks

for a mini glue gun) - oh - and

make sure you have LOTS of patience, too!!

Happy Spring!!