Celebration and a Good Friend

Erik (the most wonderful husband ever :) took me to Portland to celebrate our anniversary earlier this week. 

We stayed at this gorgeous place. 

Ate at this fantastic restaurant. 

Snacked on the best cake ever accompanied by the best wine ever, 7!

Walked all around the city, and finally stopped for donuts and coffee.  

It was a great night. Many thanks to Alison and Kim for watching Henry. Alison is a great sister who is always willing to help! Thanks Al! 

Kim is a great friend, who happens to live just down the block. Kim is a relatively new friend, but she's the kind of friend I can't imagine not having around now. Kim is wonderful. You see, Kim isn't a huge fan of dogs. At. All. She is awesome and let's her little one play with Henry, which means she is around Henry too. 

But honestly, to volunteer to walk and feed him so we could spend the night in Portland. So. Nice. She pushed a baby jogger while managing a 6 month old puppy with more energy than anything I've ever seen. Kim, you rock!

One Year

One year ago (plus two days :) I married the man of my dreams. It was a beautiful day full of celebration with friends and family. I loved our wedding, everything about our wedding! I loved the flowers, I loved the location, I loved my dress, I loved our cake, I loved our food, but at the end of the day I loved most that we were able to share our love and commitment in front of God and those we love. 

I am amazed by how much can happen in one year. In one year we took a wonderful honeymoon, we celebrated the wedding of my brother and sister-in-law, we built a house, we got a dog, and we have experienced love in a whole new married kind of way!  

Babe, it's been the best first year of marriage I could imagine. Here's to another million or so! 

I love you big time, 

your wife

I love a good storm

True story. I don't know if this is normal, but I have wonderful and distinct memories that include thunder, lightening, rain, wind, and other stormy events! Apparently there was a huge storm where I live today, and I missed it. Is it strange to be disappointed about that? Well, I am. While some got to see lightening and listen to the thunder and rain I was at work...bummer. 

I thought it would be fun to reminisce of my stormy fun!

1. Hottmann wedding-Who are those crazy Oregonians who went outside when the storm started? Well, we sure thought it was fun!

2. Grad school-Many evenings spent sitting by my window listening to the rain and watching for lightening. I love it! 

3. Arches National Park-T, we did see that arch, nothing stopped us...not even the threat of being struck by lightening! Now, what was the advice on how to stand if we get struck?!

Anyway, thanks for letting me smile while remembering today.

Ranch Camp 2009

Hope you all enjoyed the long weekend. Erik and I were able to head back to John Day to hang out with family and also attend Ranch Camp! Some of our friends live outside of town on a ranch and were wonderful camp hosts. We got to do so many fun things, and best of all got to hang out with them all day. Thanks Justin and Lisa, we couldn't have asked for better camp counselors! 

Here's a quick glance of our camp experience...

Henry got to hang out with his mom and sisters. 

He wasn't so sure about riding in the back of the flatbed!

We doctored a horse. Okay, well maybe Justin and Lisa did, but we watched!

We toured the ranch, and got to see lots of super cute baby cows. Yes, I do know they are called calves, but baby cows makes them sound way cuter!

Lisa and I (and Henry too) on a break enjoying the view from the back!

We got to see lots of wildlife...Elk, Antelope, Squirrels, and Justin was sure we saw deer too

Getting ready for our horse ride

Looks like a natural, huh?!

The view from their porch, isn't it beautiful?! Erik and Justin are bringing the horses home.

Thanks again friends! We had such a great time, let's do it again soon!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day mom! You really are the best. 

If you haven't met Nancy, let me introduce you (via the blog...what else?!). My mom is an amazing cook, seriously...amazing! She is my pick for Top Chef any day of the week. My mom can garden like nobody's business. Her yard is full and beautiful. HGTV should get her number! My mom can decorate. Her home is a canvas for her incredible style. See previous HGTV comment :) My mom can put together an outfit! Her style expands far beyond the walls of her home. She is the cutest mom out there! But those are all the outer details. She is far more beautiful on the inside than her Manhattan chairs or her Ann Taylor skirts or her Japanese Maple...

My mom is the most welcoming person I know. She has the ability to invite anyone (and sometimes everyone :) into her home and make them feel like they are a part of the fam. My mom loves kids. And quite often, she loves the kids that don't appeal to adults. She appreciates their quirks and traits that others might view as annoying or goofy. She embraces the challenge of giving children the gift of a voice, and loves doing so. My mom loves her family. It amazes me how she blesses us by inviting us into her house and serving us, whether it is serving a meal, a listening ear, or a "how to" on gardening, sewing, or cooking!  Well, I could go on, but you get the idea. My mom is a wonderful, amazing woman with a kind heart. Mom, on behalf of all your kids...We love you!!!

Family Beach Trip

Today was beautiful! Even at the coast. Erik, Henry, and I took a mini vaca to good old Lincoln City today. As you can tell it was sunny. I know, shocking for April!! It was Henry's first visit to the beach, and he LOVED it. It took him a little while to get into the idea of the water, but after just a few waves, he was chasing and chomping them like a pro. It was a great way to celebrate the end of busy season!

Yet another self portrait...

Henry with his new friend Stick!

He's almost swimming!

I love this beach...and those boys!

Hope you all had a relaxing Saturday!

It has been awhile!

I know, I haven't posted in forever. I guess I felt like after we moved there wasn't anything exciting left to say! Okay, maybe that's a bit dramatic, so here's the update. Things around the house are going well. It's feeling more and more like home every time we hang something new, or move things around. It's hard to believe we have been in the house almost four weeks. It's gone by so fast.

We had a ton of fun last weekend. Erik mowed the lawn, I planted and weeded, we washed cars, Henry ran around like a crazy dog, everyone was happy! We also met my parents up at Mt. Tabor to take the dogs for a walk. Max (my parent's dog) isn't too sure about Henry, but they did great walking! After, we all went to Lucky Lab where Henry made some new friends!

All in all, things are great. We are definitely excited Erik will be around more as of next week (end of busy season). I think Henry is especially excited! I just don't wrestle the same way Erik does :) He's getting so big so fast.