Nate is the coolest husband ever, I have to say. On Saturday morning I jotted off to BSF at 5:30am. I called him on my way home, around 9:45am, to see if he was up (ha ha, the man can hardly sleep past 6am) and to find out his plans for the day. He said he wasn't doing much, just stuff around his office. That didn't strike me as odd because he's, uh, well, obsessed. (love you, hon!)
So, when I opened our front door, the first thing I noticed was booming music. I made my way to the kitchen, but Nate wasn't there or in the family room. I glanced upstairs and spotted him in his work clothes at the top of the stairs. And then I noticed a ladder peeking at me around the corner. And then I smelled paint. PAINT. Wahoo! He was painting the upstairs hallway! SO exciting! And, don't worry, he got it done in a day.
Our house looks lovely :) And I have a lovely husband!
3.19.2008
3.15.2008
The Pearl
Before my move up to Canada several years back, I was really getting to know downtown Portland, mostly because one of my friends had sweet access - her parents had a studio apartment in the up-and-coming Pearl District. We'd stay the night in their apartment and spend the next day roaming through the city. I learned to love Powell's and the meat packing district. Walking all those blocks repeatedly, I feel like I saw a certain aspect of the city come alive. Now going to the Pearl is like entering a whole new world.
It's packed full of apartments and condos and quaint shops. One of my newest "treasures," introduced to me by Rae Ann, is Sip & Kranz, a Stumptown coffee shop located near Lovejoy. I think I'm so attracted to it because it's something new and different. I enjoy the coffee shops near my house for their specific purposes (one I meet editing clients at, another I always end up doing some BSF at while Nate reads), so this shop is fresh. And the Pearl isn't so far away from my house that it's unreasonable to drive there!
Nate and I used one of the fancy cultural passes from the library about a week ago and walked through Pittock Mansion. Yeah, just about as uninteresting as it was when I was nine. Don't get me wrong - if you live in Portland, you should take some time to tour the touristy spots, but some of them just don't need to be visited more than once. I love the Portland Art Museum so I'll continue to go there as often as I can, but not so much the Pittock Mansion. We do want to go back and tour the grounds, though - I guess some of the property has been set aside like a park. Well, the City of Portland does own the Pittock Mansion, so I guess that's why the grounds are public also.
But I digress. After the mansion, Nate and I visited Sip & Kranz together. So the pictures in this post are from that little trip.
That's all.
I'm done. :)
It's packed full of apartments and condos and quaint shops. One of my newest "treasures," introduced to me by Rae Ann, is Sip & Kranz, a Stumptown coffee shop located near Lovejoy. I think I'm so attracted to it because it's something new and different. I enjoy the coffee shops near my house for their specific purposes (one I meet editing clients at, another I always end up doing some BSF at while Nate reads), so this shop is fresh. And the Pearl isn't so far away from my house that it's unreasonable to drive there!
Nate and I used one of the fancy cultural passes from the library about a week ago and walked through Pittock Mansion. Yeah, just about as uninteresting as it was when I was nine. Don't get me wrong - if you live in Portland, you should take some time to tour the touristy spots, but some of them just don't need to be visited more than once. I love the Portland Art Museum so I'll continue to go there as often as I can, but not so much the Pittock Mansion. We do want to go back and tour the grounds, though - I guess some of the property has been set aside like a park. Well, the City of Portland does own the Pittock Mansion, so I guess that's why the grounds are public also.
But I digress. After the mansion, Nate and I visited Sip & Kranz together. So the pictures in this post are from that little trip.
That's all.
I'm done. :)
3.14.2008
March 13, our lost due date
The day has passed. And it was much harder than I thought it would be.
But I'm alive, and breathing. The song I've attached hits my heart hard.
And all I can say is, "By the grace of God go I."
But I'm alive, and breathing. The song I've attached hits my heart hard.
And all I can say is, "By the grace of God go I."
3.10.2008
A couple weeks back
Brunch! Leslie was in town doing some job searching, so we decided to get together and chat over sausage, eggs, and cinnamon rolls. I honestly can't recall the last time the six of us were together in the same room. I missed the last get-together but sent a message with Leslie to tell the girls I was pregnant - yes, it was that long ago! So her are some pictures from that morning...
Fun times! Thanks for hosting, Jen :)
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Fun times! Thanks for hosting, Jen :)
3.07.2008
Stephen was in town...
Yes, it's true! He came to town for a little bit and it was great to see him! We took a day to play around outside in the beautiful sunshine - well, the boys did anyway. Stephen and Nate decided to toss a ball around, and then Dave and Charlie Martin showed up and joined them in their game of catch. It was a bit windy outside, though, so Tiffani and I sat in her car and chatted :)
3.06.2008
Nate's Birthday Party
I had sooo much fun putting together Nate's surprise party! I worked on it for several weeks and had to keep all of the anticipation to myself...
His party was on Saturday, February 8th, about two weeks after his actually birthday. On Thursday night, Nate stayed up all night working on his tax information to take to our appointment with the most amazing tax lady ever. Okay, but he stayed up all night - which meant that he stayed home and slept on Friday, the day I had planned to use to do all of my cleaning and baking for the party. So Friday was shot! I cleaned the downstairs and then snuck out of the house and drove to Mom's with all my baking stuff to make the desserts for his party.
On Saturday morning, I went to BSF and Nate was called to help his mom with an errand she had to run at Ricky's storage unit. When I returned home from BSF, I raced around the house doing what I could before driving to Mom and Dad's to meet up with them and Nate to go to lunch. We took off for Olive Garden and Karen and Rick drove over to our house to finish getting it ready for company and to open the door for guests when they started to arrive. We were late getting back home, but that ended up being a great thing! More people were able to get there before us :)
When we walked in the door, everyone was waiting for us in the front room, and it was awesome! They yelled a mixture of "Surprise!" and "Happy Birthday!" and he turned around and looked at me and asked, "Are you kidding?" He was so surprised, and it's a rare day that I can keep a secret from him long enough to actually surprise him! I had a guest list out on the counter earlier in the week, but he somehow never spotted it...
But anyway, we had so much fun! It was fantastic to see everyone - it had been years since the last time I saw some of Nate's friends. We had a great time, so thank you to everyone who was able to make it to his party!
His party was on Saturday, February 8th, about two weeks after his actually birthday. On Thursday night, Nate stayed up all night working on his tax information to take to our appointment with the most amazing tax lady ever. Okay, but he stayed up all night - which meant that he stayed home and slept on Friday, the day I had planned to use to do all of my cleaning and baking for the party. So Friday was shot! I cleaned the downstairs and then snuck out of the house and drove to Mom's with all my baking stuff to make the desserts for his party.
On Saturday morning, I went to BSF and Nate was called to help his mom with an errand she had to run at Ricky's storage unit. When I returned home from BSF, I raced around the house doing what I could before driving to Mom and Dad's to meet up with them and Nate to go to lunch. We took off for Olive Garden and Karen and Rick drove over to our house to finish getting it ready for company and to open the door for guests when they started to arrive. We were late getting back home, but that ended up being a great thing! More people were able to get there before us :)
When we walked in the door, everyone was waiting for us in the front room, and it was awesome! They yelled a mixture of "Surprise!" and "Happy Birthday!" and he turned around and looked at me and asked, "Are you kidding?" He was so surprised, and it's a rare day that I can keep a secret from him long enough to actually surprise him! I had a guest list out on the counter earlier in the week, but he somehow never spotted it...
But anyway, we had so much fun! It was fantastic to see everyone - it had been years since the last time I saw some of Nate's friends. We had a great time, so thank you to everyone who was able to make it to his party!
3.05.2008
More work done!
This is from a little while ago, when Nate was home and able to get some painting done. We really enjoy the green from the front room and we had painted it into the downstairs hallway, but Nate and I agreed (after 1.5 years of the green hallway) to repaint to a more neutral color. So these pictures are from when he painted the staircase - the paint in the staircase matches the downstairs hallway, and the upstairs hallway will eventually be painted the same!
I have a fantastic hubby :)
2.28.2008
out of order
So I'm skipping several weeks and posting some stuff from yesterday...
I drove out to NoPo (like my slang, Rae Ann?) to meet up with the girls and Mom. We had plans to visit the Portland Art Museum for the "Dancer" exhibit. I've been so pumped about this exhibit - I think I'm going to go back at least a couple more times before it leaves the museum in May.
But I had to get some gas on the way to Rae Ann's place, so I stopped at this station just off of Portland & Interstate. I was blown away by what I paid for gas - and I didn't even fill up! I drive a Volvo sedan, folks! Grr.
[$50.00 for not even 15 gallons, at $3.43 a gallon]
This next picture is of Rae Ann and Ivy in the more contemporary, 20th century part of the museum. I don't think Rae Ann or Mom were nearly as bugged as I was by the guards in the place. I really enjoy the museum and go several times a year, and I'm usually pretty patient with their rules, but when this 20-something-year-old lady guard looked crying Ivy straight in the eyes and told her she needed to stop crying - correction, she couldn't cry - I about blew my top. It was good that we left when we did because I was about to become very ugly and they'd probably never let me back in the museum...
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On a lighter note, can you believe this weather? It's 60 degrees today, and it's still FEBRUARY! Praise God for sunshine - it's so heartening!
Up next: Nate's birthday party.
I drove out to NoPo (like my slang, Rae Ann?) to meet up with the girls and Mom. We had plans to visit the Portland Art Museum for the "Dancer" exhibit. I've been so pumped about this exhibit - I think I'm going to go back at least a couple more times before it leaves the museum in May.
But I had to get some gas on the way to Rae Ann's place, so I stopped at this station just off of Portland & Interstate. I was blown away by what I paid for gas - and I didn't even fill up! I drive a Volvo sedan, folks! Grr.
[$50.00 for not even 15 gallons, at $3.43 a gallon]
This next picture is of Rae Ann and Ivy in the more contemporary, 20th century part of the museum. I don't think Rae Ann or Mom were nearly as bugged as I was by the guards in the place. I really enjoy the museum and go several times a year, and I'm usually pretty patient with their rules, but when this 20-something-year-old lady guard looked crying Ivy straight in the eyes and told her she needed to stop crying - correction, she couldn't cry - I about blew my top. It was good that we left when we did because I was about to become very ugly and they'd probably never let me back in the museum...
On a lighter note, can you believe this weather? It's 60 degrees today, and it's still FEBRUARY! Praise God for sunshine - it's so heartening!
Up next: Nate's birthday party.
2.14.2008
most recent inspiration
So I spotted this pack of counting cards wall art at New Seasons last year sometime in October and it's become my baby room inspiration - I'm in love! Nate bought me this set for my birthday.
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These next two pictures only enhanced my excitement over this new theme. I found them at Blue Butterfly - I have the one that says "Hope," and I hope to pick up the "Miracle" sign sometime soon.
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These next two pictures only enhanced my excitement over this new theme. I found them at Blue Butterfly - I have the one that says "Hope," and I hope to pick up the "Miracle" sign sometime soon.
2.13.2008
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2.05.2008
Birthdays
So, my 25th birthday was in December, and Nate's 28th was just this past month. I had a plan in my head about how I wanted to celebrate his day with him - it just happened to end up that everything was, well, free!
We started out by going to coffee, which the Dutch Bros. guy gave us because it was Nate's birthday (actually, he gave Nate his and mine was free because we'd filled in all the little boxes on our punch card). We went to dinner at the Olive Garden and used a gift card that Nate's grandparents had given us for Christmas. We went to a movie ("Cloverfield"...craziness) and used tickets I had given Nate for Christmas. And then we ended the night at Papa Hayden for cheesecake and coffee, and used money that Mom and Dad had given me for Nate's traditional birthday cheesecake...I think the fact that everything was free was Nate's favorite part of the whole day.
Rick and Karen took us to dinner to celebrate Nate's birthday on the following Friday night. And guess where they took us - Nona Amelia's, only the best restaurant ever! The last time I ate there was four years before, when Nate took me for my 21st birthday. Don't worry - the spaghetti portions haven't diminished at all. I ate spaghetti for the next three days. It was awesome!
After dinner, we went back to Rick and Karen's and watched some TV with them. And Nate tore into a package from Ricky. He included two presents, one for Nate and one for me. Ricky, we love them! Thank you! The shirt fits me wonderfully, but Nate will have to get his ears pierced before he can really appreciate your gift...
Can you believe it? February is here already and March is just around the corner...
We started out by going to coffee, which the Dutch Bros. guy gave us because it was Nate's birthday (actually, he gave Nate his and mine was free because we'd filled in all the little boxes on our punch card). We went to dinner at the Olive Garden and used a gift card that Nate's grandparents had given us for Christmas. We went to a movie ("Cloverfield"...craziness) and used tickets I had given Nate for Christmas. And then we ended the night at Papa Hayden for cheesecake and coffee, and used money that Mom and Dad had given me for Nate's traditional birthday cheesecake...I think the fact that everything was free was Nate's favorite part of the whole day.
Rick and Karen took us to dinner to celebrate Nate's birthday on the following Friday night. And guess where they took us - Nona Amelia's, only the best restaurant ever! The last time I ate there was four years before, when Nate took me for my 21st birthday. Don't worry - the spaghetti portions haven't diminished at all. I ate spaghetti for the next three days. It was awesome!
After dinner, we went back to Rick and Karen's and watched some TV with them. And Nate tore into a package from Ricky. He included two presents, one for Nate and one for me. Ricky, we love them! Thank you! The shirt fits me wonderfully, but Nate will have to get his ears pierced before he can really appreciate your gift...
Can you believe it? February is here already and March is just around the corner...
2.02.2008
DCS Alumni Game
Surprise, there was an alumni game for Damascus Christian at the beginning of January, the little private school I attended for 12 years.
No one really knew it was happening until that day, but Nate and I made it a point to attend...and for our great effort, guess what - we were almost the oldest people there! There were some class members from classes that graduated while I was in junior high, but most of us were in my grade or the grades just above and below us in age. It was weird. And it helped me feel that much older. How grand.
Anyway, here are some pictures! Leslie, these are mostly for you, dearest :) Love you!
No one really knew it was happening until that day, but Nate and I made it a point to attend...and for our great effort, guess what - we were almost the oldest people there! There were some class members from classes that graduated while I was in junior high, but most of us were in my grade or the grades just above and below us in age. It was weird. And it helped me feel that much older. How grand.
Anyway, here are some pictures! Leslie, these are mostly for you, dearest :) Love you!
1.30.2008
December 26th
Christmas No. 7
[Leslie & Adam]
The day after Christmas was busy! Nate wanted to take a look at some trailers around town, I wanted to stop by some super sales at the mall and use our gift cards, so we tried to find a balance...actually, we ended up just going to the mall. My husband loves me.
I received a phone call from Kristin (friend from Ecola Bible School, roommate at Trinity Western University) as we were driving to the mall - she asked if I would be around later in the day: Grace was in town! Grace lives in Georgia and the last time I saw her was in late 2004/early 2005 sometime. I was excited to find out she was back in town for a little while! Kristin and Grace stopped by for a couple hours; it was so good to see both of them again.
Leslie and Adam arrived for our Christmas together just as Kristin and Grace were leaving...it was a mini EBS reunion!
Leslie, Adam, Nate, and I had dinner and then played our new board game, "Scene-It," from Raymond and Tammy, Nate's aunt and uncle in Clovis, CA. It was f.u.n.! Leslie and Adam are game fiends - we always play a game when we get together with them. Nate is very much not a game person...his resistance to games is amazing. Since he so dislikes games, I don't get to play until people like Leslie and Adam come around, and then Nate's a good sport and joins in. And even has fun!
We always really enjoy getting together with Leslie and Adam - they're a blast :) Leslie is finishing up her schooling in Pendleton, and then they'll be able to move back into the area! Well, kinda. Corvalis is closer than Pendleton, so that's a start. Someday I'll get them all the way back into Portland. I will.
You've made it through my Christmas recap! Way to go!
Thanks for following along...Until later, blessings!
[Leslie & Adam]
The day after Christmas was busy! Nate wanted to take a look at some trailers around town, I wanted to stop by some super sales at the mall and use our gift cards, so we tried to find a balance...actually, we ended up just going to the mall. My husband loves me.
I received a phone call from Kristin (friend from Ecola Bible School, roommate at Trinity Western University) as we were driving to the mall - she asked if I would be around later in the day: Grace was in town! Grace lives in Georgia and the last time I saw her was in late 2004/early 2005 sometime. I was excited to find out she was back in town for a little while! Kristin and Grace stopped by for a couple hours; it was so good to see both of them again.
Leslie and Adam arrived for our Christmas together just as Kristin and Grace were leaving...it was a mini EBS reunion!
Leslie, Adam, Nate, and I had dinner and then played our new board game, "Scene-It," from Raymond and Tammy, Nate's aunt and uncle in Clovis, CA. It was f.u.n.! Leslie and Adam are game fiends - we always play a game when we get together with them. Nate is very much not a game person...his resistance to games is amazing. Since he so dislikes games, I don't get to play until people like Leslie and Adam come around, and then Nate's a good sport and joins in. And even has fun!
We always really enjoy getting together with Leslie and Adam - they're a blast :) Leslie is finishing up her schooling in Pendleton, and then they'll be able to move back into the area! Well, kinda. Corvalis is closer than Pendleton, so that's a start. Someday I'll get them all the way back into Portland. I will.
You've made it through my Christmas recap! Way to go!
Thanks for following along...Until later, blessings!
1.28.2008
December 25th, #2
Christmas No. 6
[Dad's side of the family]
Dad's sister and brother who live in town came over to Mom and Dad's (along with their families) for food and a gift card exchange. It was such a nice way to celebrate together! Nate and I had to trim down our Christmas gift-buying list considerably this year, so the gift card idea fit our budget perfectly.
Pretty much the only time I really get to see or spend time with cousins on Dad's side of the family is at major gatherings, so it was fun to see everyone again. I have to say, I'm always shocked at how much older everyone is...It's amazing!
Another post about Christmas down; one more to go! Hang in there, you loyal lot.
[Dad's side of the family]
Dad's sister and brother who live in town came over to Mom and Dad's (along with their families) for food and a gift card exchange. It was such a nice way to celebrate together! Nate and I had to trim down our Christmas gift-buying list considerably this year, so the gift card idea fit our budget perfectly.
Pretty much the only time I really get to see or spend time with cousins on Dad's side of the family is at major gatherings, so it was fun to see everyone again. I have to say, I'm always shocked at how much older everyone is...It's amazing!
Another post about Christmas down; one more to go! Hang in there, you loyal lot.
December 25th
Christmas No. 5
[Nate's & my Christmas]
So, first off, our Christmas: Nate and I woke up and made breakfast together. We sat down and enjoyed that...and the tore into the presents! Stockings have become increasingly fun for me - I think I have the most fun picking out the little things to go into the stockings. Well, I have to mention this little story. Dad isn't a fan of Sudoku, but Nate picked out some Sudoku books for Dad's stocking this year. He tried to play a few puzzles while we were in Magone, but he got fed up with it. Nate thought it would be funny to give him some for Christmas, just to irritate Dad, I think. Well, after we were done with presents at Mom and Dad's I played a few of Dad's Sudoku games. I just thought I'd break the little books in, remind Dad how to play. Nate tried to rip them out of my hands a few times, but I was quick as a cat and ran away.
So, Nate gave me a few Sudoku books of my own for Christmas! I've never seen these books before (usually I buy the cheap little copies from the dollar store), and they're tough.
Nate was a creative gift-buying genius this year - not to say that he isn't on other years! Can you believe it, this was our fourth Christmas together. Time has flown. Rae Ann has this handy bill organizer that I'd been thinking about ever since Nate told me I was taking over paying the bills. I talked about it incessantly, even going so far as to tell Nate that I was going to take him to her house to see her bill organizer. I guess he knew exactly what I was talking about, though, since I got one for Christmas! He's so cute: He had me open everything in my stocking and the last little thing was a piece of paper literally wrapped up. I told me to check the coat closet, so I did. I'm usually pretty perceptive when it comes to presents, but I never saw this coming - I never expected he'd hide one in the coat closet.
This last picture is of my confusion when I opened a video camera. I thought we were done with the present opening and then Nate hands me this package. Never saw it coming! I was sooo excited, needless to say! We'd been talking about our desire to get a video camera since we found out we were pregnant, especially with Ricky not being around for the pregnancy or birth. We wanted to take lots of video and then send it to him so he'd feel like he was here with us. And then after losing Nathaniel, we still talked about it, although a little less. Nate needed to buy a new camera for his work, so we looked at video cameras at the same time, but I really didn't think Nate would buy one, not for awhile. This camera is such fun! I'm loving it:)
Our Christmas together ended on an unexpected climax: IT SNOWED! It's been more than ten years since it last snowed here on Christmas Day!
Christmas No. 6 took place at Mom and Dad's house with Dad's side of the family later on Christmas Day, so I'll be posting some pictures from that next...
[Nate's & my Christmas]
So, first off, our Christmas: Nate and I woke up and made breakfast together. We sat down and enjoyed that...and the tore into the presents! Stockings have become increasingly fun for me - I think I have the most fun picking out the little things to go into the stockings. Well, I have to mention this little story. Dad isn't a fan of Sudoku, but Nate picked out some Sudoku books for Dad's stocking this year. He tried to play a few puzzles while we were in Magone, but he got fed up with it. Nate thought it would be funny to give him some for Christmas, just to irritate Dad, I think. Well, after we were done with presents at Mom and Dad's I played a few of Dad's Sudoku games. I just thought I'd break the little books in, remind Dad how to play. Nate tried to rip them out of my hands a few times, but I was quick as a cat and ran away.
So, Nate gave me a few Sudoku books of my own for Christmas! I've never seen these books before (usually I buy the cheap little copies from the dollar store), and they're tough.
Nate was a creative gift-buying genius this year - not to say that he isn't on other years! Can you believe it, this was our fourth Christmas together. Time has flown. Rae Ann has this handy bill organizer that I'd been thinking about ever since Nate told me I was taking over paying the bills. I talked about it incessantly, even going so far as to tell Nate that I was going to take him to her house to see her bill organizer. I guess he knew exactly what I was talking about, though, since I got one for Christmas! He's so cute: He had me open everything in my stocking and the last little thing was a piece of paper literally wrapped up. I told me to check the coat closet, so I did. I'm usually pretty perceptive when it comes to presents, but I never saw this coming - I never expected he'd hide one in the coat closet.
This last picture is of my confusion when I opened a video camera. I thought we were done with the present opening and then Nate hands me this package. Never saw it coming! I was sooo excited, needless to say! We'd been talking about our desire to get a video camera since we found out we were pregnant, especially with Ricky not being around for the pregnancy or birth. We wanted to take lots of video and then send it to him so he'd feel like he was here with us. And then after losing Nathaniel, we still talked about it, although a little less. Nate needed to buy a new camera for his work, so we looked at video cameras at the same time, but I really didn't think Nate would buy one, not for awhile. This camera is such fun! I'm loving it:)
Our Christmas together ended on an unexpected climax: IT SNOWED! It's been more than ten years since it last snowed here on Christmas Day!
Christmas No. 6 took place at Mom and Dad's house with Dad's side of the family later on Christmas Day, so I'll be posting some pictures from that next...
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