Christmas Cookies

Each year I make Christmas cookies. It's been a tradition for as long as I can remember. This year my good friend Missy came over and we spent a couple of hours making cookies and trying some new recipes. Not all the recipes went as planned but we had fun and in the end all the cookies turned out delicious.

So these are the pre-oven cookies...

So these are post oven... not exactly as I had pictured them turning out.

But with a little creative frosting techniques the cookies turned out ok.

I thought it was about time to update my blog since there are few changes going on in my life. I am engaged and will be getting married December 28 :) A very exciting but busy time right now. Joel and I are very excited to start this next phase of our life.

I wanted to echo Zoe's post about the Oregon State football game and say it was fun seeing old Beaver Alumni. Even though technically I am not an alumni I did invest 2 years at the university and it was fun going back to the campus and tailgating with old friends. And Oregon State won so it was a great day to be a beaver
And thanks Zoe for the football pictures.

Becky's Wedding

Here's a few pics from her wedding. It was very beautiful and very hot. And it was fun to see old friends from Oregon State that were there.

Chloe Elizabeth

On July 21, Elizabeth gave birth to a healthy baby girl named Chloe. Congratulations to the Weigl Family!

Our New House

Ok so maybe it's also known as the Pittock Mansion...wishful thinking. It would be nice and the view is awesome.

Angel's Rest Trailhead

I just have to say that where we live is amazingly beautiful! Joel, Moses and I went for a hike in the gorge and I never get tired of looking at God's amazing creation. Here are a few pictures from our adventure.

Road Trip

ABQ-PDX road trip was fun even after 1 speeding ticket, a dysfunctional car that resulted in being stuck in the desert, twice I might add, a tow truck, mechanic shop, and just plain not starting. But we made back to Portland before I had to work without too many more problems. The trip started on July 4th when I flew down to Albuquerque, New Mexico to meet up with Joel, his dad and his extended family. Talk about jumping in feet first but I had a fun time with his family, watching fireworks, and seeing New Mexico for the first time, going to a baseball game, and taking a tram up a mountain. We spent 2 days there and then we were off to our next destination of Arizona. We stopped in Tucson to have lunch with my friend Michaela and old roommate at a great Mexican restaurant where they make fresh salsa at your table the way you like it which is great for people who are spicy food challenged like me. And then we walked around U of A campus since I haven't been back there since I left. And July is not the best time to be walking around Tucson by the way.... so stinkin' hot. I could have made a pool from the sweat dripping from me and swam in it. Then afterwards we stopped at my old work, Xoom Juice, for literally the best smoothies and healthy too and then we headed up to Phoenix to see my friends Jessica and Sean and stay with them in their new house. It is always fun to catch up with old friends and talk about the good ol' college days as well as make new memories. Then we headed to San Diego and enjoyed playing at the beach. Although the water was frigid. Joel braved the icy conditions but I chickened out; but it was nice to relax at the beach after many hours of driving. But it didn't last long because we were off to the San Francisco area to meet up with Johnny and Jamie. We enjoyed having dinner with them and were thankful for their hospitality as we crashed in their living room for the night. Then we were off the next morning for Portland. I only took one picture from this whole trip...lame I know but it was at the top of "mountain" in New Mexico.

Sarah's Wedding

One down, 9 to go... at least that's what my grandma said . My cousin Sarah got married on Saturday and the ceremony turned out great. The wedding took place outdoors in Oregon City and the weather cooperated and it was actually quite warm for a Memorial weekend in Oregon. Here are a few pics from her special day...

Graham, Sarah, Haley, and Nick

Jennifer and I ( aka Grandma's favorites)

Cousins Mandi and Heather (Grandma's 2nd favorite)

Nick getting the party started on the dance floor

My Parents

And look who caught the bouquet! First time ever.

And then Jennifer trying to steal it.

Jennifer and Grandma

My Dad and I

Sauvie Island

Even though I grew up in Portland, I think today was my first trip to Sauvie Island. I wanted to take advantage of the nice weather and be outdoors near some water in case I needed to cool down. So Moses and I headed over to the island so I could enjoy the sun and he could enjoy the water. I have to say that is was a very picturesque drive over. The sky was so clear that I enjoyed the view of Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Ranier and Mt. Hood the whole ride over along with fields of flowers. Moses had fun running in the water and trying to swim and then loved running up to me as I was laying on the beach and shake all the water off him right next to me. I enjoyed watching kite boarders, reading and basking in the sun to work on my tan. Usually I tan but my fair Oregon skin is not quite use to the sun yet and may have gotten a little bit toasty. I did the best I could to cover myself with sunscreen and I thought I did a good job until I got home today and notice some bright lobster red areas that I just couldn't reach. But hey at least my sunscreen worked in the other places and thank goodness for Aloe Vera with lidocaine. My roasted skin is all cool and numbed up now.

I've Been Tagged!

4 Things...
4 jobs I've had: 1. RN 2. Barista 3. Grad School assistant to someone ( I am not sure what the title was) 4. Shoe sales person, most boring job ever!
4 movies I've watched more than once: 1. Sound of Music 2. White Christmas 3. Rainbow Brite ( when I was a kid) 4. Wedding Singer
4 places I've lived: 1. Portland, OR 2. Gresham, OR 3. Corvallis, OR 4. Tucson, AZ
4 TV Shows I watch: 1. The Hills 2. The Office 3. Ugly Betty 4. Grey's Anatomy
4 places I've been: In the last month...1. New York City 2. Barcelona, Spain 3. Salzburg, Austria 4. Munich, Germany
4 people who email me regularly (doesn’t include blogging comments): I don't really email that much but I guess the most recent people: 1. Elizabeth 2. David 3. Jessica A. 4 Me ( I had to email myself a bunch a stuff from another computer.
4 of my favorite foods: 1. Mexican 2. Pizza 3. Fish 4. Fruit
4 places I would like to visit: 1. South America 2. Australia 3. Anywhere there is sun and a beach 4. Madagascar
4 things I'm looking forward to in the coming year: 1. Shelley and I want to go to a Yankee's game 2. Summer 3. More trips 4. and the things unknown
4 friends I'm tagging: 1. Anna 2. Becca 3. Stacy 4. Holly

The Big Apple

Another week and another trip for me...or so it seems lately. Although I think that this will be the last trip...at least for a while. I was able to go to NYC last week with Becca and we had a blast. I had been there a few times in the past but I have never been able to spend an extended period of time there. We went all over the city going to the typical tourist sites for Becca to see and then enjoyed a couple of Broadway shows: Grease and Phantom of the Opera, went to a comedy club and enjoyed sunny days in Central Park and tried to get on the Today Show. Here are some pictures from our adventure.

Times Square

Brooklyn Bridge

Central Park

The Great Lawn at Central Park

A cartwheel..oh why not?

NYC skyline from Staten Island Ferry

And what's New York City without the naked cowboy??