New Years Eve

Happy -almost- New Year everybody!

This is going to be short and sweet because I have some errands to tend to. I just wanted to hop on and say that we made it back from Sacramento safe and sound. We had SO. MUCH. FUN!!! Thanks for the amazing time and a Christmas blog will be coming shortly. What are all of your plans for New Years? Wes has to work tonight but we decided yesterday while at the grocery store that we would still celebrate before he had to leave. We purchased some Champagne, cheese, crackers, olives, and a baguette. We might give our brand new Pasta Maker a whirl. We shall see! Have a fabulous time celebrating, whatever your plans may be.
Talk to you again soon,

Sue and Greg Visit

Last week Sue and Greg came up to celebrate Wes' graduation! The fabulous time included: visiting some wineries (one of which was mine and Wes' favorite: Owen Roe), walked around downtown Mcmenville, went to several restaurants, saw A Christmas Story play, saw a movie at the Kennedy School, walked on Peacock lane full of Christmas lights. It was such a great time and we can't thank you guys enough for coming and celebrating with us. Here are some pictures:





















We are headed home TOMORROW!!! We can't wait to celebrate Christmas with you all. See you this week.

Katie

Wes' "Trap"

I arrived home from work the other night to mistletoe. Where did Wes get it? From Rand at Palios of course! ha ha I guess Rand came to his table with a box of mistletoe, gave him a little clipping, and told him to "bring it home for the wife." ha ha

Christmas time is here! Sue and Greg arrive tomorrow! Let the festivities begin!

Wes' Birthday!

This year Wes' bday landed on Thanksgiving, so, while that was awesome... it did mean that we would have to put off his Triple Berry Pie and special birthday dinner of choice off to another night. However, we did celebrate it on Thanksgiving day, and we did so by getting donuts!!! Wooo woo wooo!

(lots of donuts, its just so hard to choose!)

(and then he opened his gift from me)

And the gift was.... a sweater he wanted from Jcrew.
Begin the "sexy-sweater" modeling...

work it, work it
(no hes not actually smoking in the house and at 9 am!)

Then we carried on with Thanksgiving day to-dos.

A couple weeks later though, I made Wes a Triple Berry Pie as requested by the bday boy himself.






Happy birthday to you my 24 year old! A great time was had by all...

Our Thanksgiving...

Though most of you have seen pictures on Facebook, I tried to include some new ones in when this batch...



Our thanksgiving was a hit. We made our first ever turkey, invited my childhood friend and her boyfriend over (Kristen and Max), cooked ourselves a feast, and played games.

On the Menu:

-Turkey
-Grandma Fay's creamed onions, only we added peas into the mix as well
-stuffing
-mashed potatoes
-gravy
-rolls
-cranberry sauce

Our baby

Prepping the turkey

workin' the slippers and apron

and there she is...

Tadaaa!

and we ended the night with "Apples to Apples" and Apple Pie...

We had a great time and the food turned out perfect. The only thing that could have made it better was if you all could have sat at the table with us.

(awwwwwwwwwww)

We are thankful for our family traditions. We love you guys!!

Where to Begin?

Ok, the crickets have been chirping long enough... time to break the blog-silence with a series of posts that have been lining up since Thanksgiving. However before I get on to those, a blog needed to be written regarding Finals. This past week or two has been devoted to the finish line and I can officially say "I crossed it!" I am done with Fall Quarter 2010. Wes will finish tomorrow. (and I can't waaaaaait!)

Anyway, the purpose of this blog is to help me reflect on this quarter because it went by ridiculously fast. And like every quarter, its a trip to spend every waking moment of finals week pouring over projects, flashcards to being a free bird the minute its all over. All of a sudden, it doesn't matter if you remember any of it. Your classes pass through your mind and you realize that they are now in the past. They are over. It's strange.

This quarter I took my first ever business class. I wrote a 40 page business plan with a group of 6 people. We opened a tea shop called "House of Tea." We served loose leaf teas and drip coffee. Our coffee beans were to be imported from Peru. We met every sunday to work on that thing... now its over. Somehow, I was left with the graded final draft of it (we got a "B" on it by the way. *smiles*). So what does one do with it? Do I file it away? Do I trash it? A whole 11 weeks worth of hard work? Its hard for me to transition out of the quarter now that I am able to.

Don't worry to much though folks! Ha ha celebrating is happening and I wouldn't change my newfound freedom for another final any day. But it was a good quarter. Today, I submitted my final art project for my art class (the one I needed stories of lost items for). Here are some pictures of the final project:





It would take a whole other blog to really explain what you are seeing here. But basically, the message of the project was about creating new uses for old things. Things that can no longer serve for their original purpose. I posted stories of how objects were lost, etc...

It ended up being a success. Though simple it was, people gave good feedback during the critique today and the teacher even said that she would pass along some pictures of the project to a group of grad-students who are working on something similar. That was a huge compliment.

So there it is... the quarter is over... I now know how to sound all "businessey" and use words like: break-even analysis, variable costs, fixed costs, sole proprietorship, liquidity management, etc. etc.

What is next for us Portland-Sco's? Well, in honor of Wes taking his last final tomorrow, we thought we might finally go see Harry POTTER! when I get off work tomorrow.


Can you believe we haven't seen it yet? I can't! The last movie that came out we saw opening day, and I waited 5 hours in line reading the book.

Then this Saturday: Wes and I go on our annual Christmas Date which poses as our gift to eachother. Each year instead of getting eachother presents we go on one nice big date: out to dinner and to a Christmas Ballet.

-Sunday: Sue and Greg come up to celebrate Wes' graduation. Can't wait!

Looking forward to this holiday season with all you family and friends out there. We will be arriving into Elk Grove on the 21st!

Shout Out!

Happy Birthday To My Mom!

Hope you had a fabulous birthday. We raised a glass of apple cider in your direction. :)
Love,
Katie & Wes

Help On Art Project!

Hi Friends!
I have a couple blog posts coming your way soon: Wes' Birthday, and Thanksgiving deliciousness are in order. However! First I need to ask you all for a little help.

All that stands in the way of me and my winter break is one final art project due one week from today. I am creating the Museum of the Lost and Found. I know it sounds weird (because it is- the assignment was very unclear and... weird). Anyway, I am basically making an exhibit that revives lost items- reinstates lost items with purpose if you will. What kind of items you ask? Things that come in pairs, specifically, things that when you lose part of the pair it can no longer can function the way it was made to, for example: Shoes, earrings, knitting needles, chopsticks, socks, gloves, etc....
How am I "reinstating purpose?" By putting them on display and telling their lonely story of how they lost their partners. Originally I was going to make everyone's partners but my teacher said I didn't have to do that and cut my work load in half. so... not going to complain.

ANYWAY! I need stories!!!! I want real stories to tell because that makes it all much more interesting.

Ever lost an item like the ones listed above? Have any more items like the ones above that I can add to the list? Even if the story isn't interesting, I'd love to hear it! And you get the satisfaction of knowing your lovely story is being presented in one of my art projects. :)

Please post the story/item in the comments below OR send me and email OR contact me on facebook please. I would really appreciate! Pictures to come after I turn it in next week!

Thank you!

Katie


Remember this project? Kind of like this.... BUT I'm not making the partners... just presenting them with stories on elevated surfaces and fancy fabric.... or something like that...