First Day of School...

Finally, a blog! A blog has been posted! 

Everyone, today is our first day of school!!! Just wait... the best part is.... it's my first day of school at a University! And yes, there is a difference! for the past 4 years of my entire college education I've been in and out of 3 different community colleges trying to figure out exactly what I wanted to major in while battling math not once, not twice, not 3 times, but well, a lot of times. This quarter means many things for me:

1. goodbye community college, hello university!

2. I will conquer math once and for all.

3. Hello Art classes! 

4. Hello Full time school schedule. 

For this past year Wes and I were required to take no more than 8 units per quarter in order to establish residency for in-state tuition at Portland State. The year has come and gone and as previously stated, enter Fall quarter and we are back on track with full class schedules and 25 hour work weeks. After much planning we have put together the best schedules possible to manage all of this but inevitably we will be rocked a little bit. I am thankful that we were "forced" to go slow with school our first year of marriage. We have such great memories from this first year and will not have time on our hands like that for well... quite a while...  This quarter represents the starting line of two years (maybe 2 and a half) left of schooling for me, and one year left for Wes. 

As I sat in my two-dimensional design class this morning, in the presence of 20 other art students I realized that I am finally getting to do what I've always wanted to do. These art classes are the reason I am battling math, the reason I took african-american history, meteorology, sociology, english, etc... 

I am in the library awaiting my drawing class and can't help but celebrate this truth: I played the game and I'm finally doing what I want to do.

And on that note I leave you with a picture of Wes and Justin and I. Justin (Wes' bestfriend) stayed with us this past week. Justin has all the good pictures so I'll wait to post a blog with those but here is one to tide you over. :) Love you guys!

A Year In Portland...

My coffee from Palios

Our girl dinner (though the boys were right around the corner)

That's Right. Today is September 13. Which means that One year ago TODAY we spent our first day in Portland with our Parents. And at 9:30p.m. a year ago last night we were at the Avignon bar enjoying a very late dinner after our long drive to Portland from sacramento. It is so much fun reflecting back on this year, looking at old pictures and old blog posts. Here are some more pictures from the week we moved.

Wes and I at the Horse Brass Pub

All of us in front of the Horse Brass Pub

Walking back from The Little t: American Baker.

First night.

Our First front door. 

Looking back...

Best memory of the year: The first morning it snowed.

Worst memory of the year: The week when we decided we'd have to move and Wes lost his job. 

Favorite thing about Portland so far: the culture and the aesthetics.

Biggest change in lifestyle:  Being able to walk everywhere.

Favorite restaurant of the year: I think the winner is... Pok Pok. but it's so hard to choose!

Favorite coffee shop of the year: of course, hands down, Palios... We are loyal regulars. 

Besides these mentioned previously, there were so many highlights this year: the snow, Harry Potter, the many jobs, learning our way around town, church/ getting to know people, camping trips, Powells books, the gardens. We have sincerely loved this year. Thanks to all of you for reading our blog and riding this year's roller coaster with us. It was a crazy year... but we loved it. May the good times continue! :) 

Rediscovering Music.

This morning, oh wait... it's 5 pm...

I'm still un-showered and in my jammies and for the past hour have been working out on my living room floor to music that I used to love, particularly in highschool/freshman year of college. I know some of you (especially my brothers) would roll their eyes at some of the songs that I have listened to today. And with good reason, some of them are what you'd call "teen-pop" songs but oh how I love them. Songs like:

Cowboy Take me Away by The Dixie Chicks

Bubbly by Colbie Caillat

Oh happy Day straight from The Sister Act 2

On Your Porch by The Format

Hello by Schuyler Fisk

Chocolate by Snow Patrol

..just to name a few.

In highschool, well, and even today I find these songs to be so liberating. Today this may be fueled by the endorphins from my work out but either way I am enjoying myself. In highschool I used to LOVE either reading or typing the lyrics of the songs as I listened to them... it was like the ultimate act of poetry for me.  

Anyway, I thought I'd share with you my rediscovery of music today. I was forgetting about how truly amazing music is. Hope you are having a happy thursday. 

*Soon to come: Pictures from our weekend home in Sacramento. Rachel's wedding, Courtney's baby shower, and a day in Old Sac. 

The kids in our lives

There is something to be said about the amazing kids that have come into our lives over this past year. Whether it be through my nannying jobs or through the church we have met some adorable, and amazing little kiddos. While camping with some people from our Home Community this past weekend we realized just how much joy they bring to us. I got to snap some fun pictures of them and thought I'd throw in a couple from my nannying jobs as well so you can see just how lucky we are to have such great families around us here in Portland... enjoy!

This is Quinn... I started babysitting him when he was 4 months old. He is now 9 months old.

This is Braden. I started nannying him in May. He is 4 years old and obsessed with Spiderman. :)

This is Charlotte. I started watching her when she was 3 last september. It has been amazing to watch her grow and learn over this past year. 

This is Madeline and Veda, we met them through church.

Madeline playing at the Sandy River...

roasting marshmallows... little Iris in the background is Madeline's sister. 
And THIS is Juliet. Gorgeous isn't she? She is such a joy and is the youngest sister of madeline and Iris. 

And this is Maya. Another cutie from church. 

Can't wait to see what future nanny jobs hold in store. I love my job and these sweet kids! :) 

Portland Summers...

There's just nothing like 'em.... 

:)

People watching in the heart of the pearl district at Jameson Square...

The view from the Rose Garden downtown which I finally got to see for the first time last a couple weeks ago...

McMenamens: Edgefield when it was 107 degrees outside... the perfect escape...

From the yard we love around the corner...

And my favorite flower to garnish the neighborhoods this time of year...

My Trip Home

At the end of July my parents gave me a birthday present (a present that I asked for) which was a trip home for no reason other than to hang out and have some good quality time with Friends and Family. No rushing around a holiday or a wedding but just time to come home and hang out. With that said here are the few pictures I took while there. 

I could not wait to see Pepper (and bella) and hold her in my arms and kiss her on the head but for some reason every time I found her (and bella) she was a little aggravated.... I wonder... why.... hmmm...... This was me trying to take a picture of Pepper but some how Bella managed to squeeze her way in... 

;)

My Trip home happened to line up perfectly with Rachel's Bridal shower... This is my mother-in-law, sister-in-law and me after the shower... 

Annie, looking sort of awkward as usual... Cute one of my cousin Chris though... 

My first night in town My family and Wes' parents met up for some amazing mexican food (and perfect Margaritas) at Tres Hermanas in downtown Sacramento. You can certainly tell us three all come from the same parents huh? :) 

I had a great time, thanks again Mom and Dad!

Panther Creek

I officially dedicate this blog To my father-in-law who was so anxious to see these pictures that he called me a "sloth." So Gregster, This is for you.... I hope you like them! :) 

For any of you who didn't know, Wes and I decided to take a spur-of-the moment camping trip last wednesday (we did make reservations 4 days in advance) but it was just a one night trip because we both had wednesday off of work and Wes had to go to work on thursday by 2. So, on tuesday while Wes was working I cleaned house, unloaded our storage closet, went to the grocery store and made sure we were set to go camping. Being that this was our first time camping just-us, we were some what pleased with our choice to go for just one day. It was a great way to learn the things that aren't on your list of "to-brings" with out going a whole 4 days with out the items. Anyway, we were SO pleased with the campsite we chose. The whole time we kept wishing we could share the experience with others... the pictures don't do it justice but have a little look-see and check out Panther Creek.

Our campsite...

The Creek...

The Bridge...

6 games of chess later and who is the champion??? Me. Well.... actually..... ok... we tied.... I won 3 games and Wes one 3 games. ;)

Studying up...

Starting a fire...
Teriyaki "chicken" burgers... very yummy!

Morning fires... my favorite...

Now that's a log...