Karen's Bachelorette Party

Although originally planned to take place in Los Angeles, we ended up celebrating in San Francisco. 4 of Karen's college friends live downtown in the marina. Karen and I flew in Friday around lunch time. We had a great time, although the weather was not as nice as in Seattle. The Golden Gate Bridge was completely surrounded by a thick fog layer the entire weekend. Friday night we went to RN74 and cute restaurant that use to be a train depot station. They displayed the wine for sale using the same signage that the train stations in Europe still use, the flipping black and white signs. All of our food was fantastic! We enjoyed a few cocktails and continued on to dance. We even took a limo from the restaurant to the dancing! Oh yeah! We picked up some hotdogs outside the girl's apartment before hitting the bed around 2 am! What a great night! Karen even wore her Bachelorette sash and crown with veil after a few prodding and nudging from all of the girls!

Karen, the bachelorette!

(even took a limo from dinner to dancing)

Saturday morning we received pedicures. My big toe nail continues to grow and is almost back to its original condition. The pedicure definitely improved my feet! The yearly Oyster Festival was Saturday so we attended that. I even ate a dozen barbequed oyster. They weren't bad. And i found a new drink I like ~ ginger ale and vodka. Not bad! The festival was held at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge and all I could see was the base of the bridge. I was so disappointed, I wanted a good picture. The day had bits of sun, but mostly the clouds and wind kept us shivering a bit. That night we went to one of the girl's apartments that has a fabulous view of the Golden Gate Bridge (jealous!!) and had take out pizza and a dance party!

(if you squint you can see the base of the Golden Gate Bridge, lol)

Our BBQ'd oysters!

Sunday we went to breakfast at this cute restaruant that had a fabulous outdoor patio room (covered with heat lamps). I had Eggs Benedict, of course, but with the best rosemary potatoes ever! Sunday was spent hanging around. We had dinner at a very fun Chinese restaurant and then hailed a taxi to the airport! Overall a fabulous weekend and my friend had a great time!

Happy Birthday Christine!

Well Mother's Day and my sister's birthday happened to fall on the same day again. Which made for a great weekend. I was lucky enough to get out of working Saturday night, by requesting vacation for the last 8, and getting a friend to work the first 4 hours for me. My parents, my sister and her boyfriend, Tom, came over for dinner. My sister's boyfriend made my sister's favorite, pomegranate martinis. While we sipped those, I made our new favorite chipotle pepper fish tacos, while my mom made fresh guacamole. And my sister made a delicious amaretto chocolate cheesecake. We had a feast! Games were played and wine was drunk. I think I can say my sister had a great birthday!

The family!

The Pomegranate Martini, Yum!

Christine and her boyfriend, Tom

The beloved fish tacos!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

The next morning we went to my mother's house to celebrate Mother's Day! We sipped champagne, my mother opened a present or two and my sister made delicious Eggs' Benedict with thick ham! yummy! I want some more. After brunch, we all traveled up to Issaquah to celebrate my sister's birthday and Mother's day with our relatives. I gave my grandmother and mother my favorite truffles in the world. My mom and I found them while vendor shopping for my wedding. They are called Pink Peony Chocolates and they have about 16 different varieties now. Our absolute favorite is their signature truffle: dark chocolate caramel with sea salt on top. TO DIE FOR!! Happy Mother's Day Mom, you are truly the best!!!

Mother's Day Champagne toast!

Christine's homemade chocolate ameretto cheesecake!

For her birthday, I gave my sister money toward her mission trip to Mexico. She is going with some occupational therapy students from UPS with Push International. They refurbish old US wheelchairs not in use anymore and give them to children in need in mexico. She will also be doing horse therapy and will be practicing some of her new therapy skills with the kids. She left May22, I received a Facebook message from her and so far she is loving it!! Also wanted to say, Congratulations Christine for completing your first year of Graduate School! So proud of you!

March of Dimes!

A group of my work buddies and I walked in The March of Dimes walk to support healthy babies and prevent premature babies and birth defects. We walked about 6 miles around Point Defiance. It was a really early morning but we all managed to make it there and walk quickly...we were the last to start, first to finish! I busted out my fast walking I have learned from doing the 60 mile Breast Cancer Walk and my work buddies quickly caught on!

Wine Tasting

After the March of Dimes finished we caravaned over to Quincy, Wa. for wine tasting. I was a little nervous to say the least that we were going to make it over to Quincy in time. But, it all worked out. When we arrived to Crescent Bar the limo was waiting!! We piled in and had a great time (like always with my NICU friends). We went to 4 wineries and enjoyed tasting the wines! Then we came home and made 'TACOS, TACOS'!!! Thank you to everyone for making it a great time!

Martin Scott Winery

Cave B Winery

Jones of Washington Winery

The Month of April!

April has just flown by!

Easter was great! I didn't have to work so I got to enjoy the entire day with family. Morning was spent with my parents and relatives. I made quiches, my parents made ham, and my sister made Eggs Benedict with the ham! Delicious! I played a game of my new favorite addiction, Scrabble, and we also played a new interesting game called Hear Me Out. We were off to Brandon's sisters house to celebrate Easter with his side of the family!

April 11th we celebrated my grandpa's 79th birthday with him at Happy Hour at Stanley and Seafort's! Happy Birthday Grandpa!!!

Spring is here!

I welcomed in Spring with a few new plants to liven up the front of the house. The green planter (there are 2) are on both sides of the garage. The metal planter is on the walkway to the front door. I have more to plant...just need to start!!

Kelli's Baby Shower

Sunday morning we celebrated Kelli's baby shower at Angie's house. It was super fun. We decorated little onesies with puff paint for her daughter to wear. What a cute idea!! I made a diaper cake, useful and cute!!! 267 diapers...I wonder how long these will last? 2 weeks??

Dinner Club

This month's dinner club theme was Mediterranean. My friend made chicken, mushroom and fish skewers. We had Greek salad, wine and I made Baklava (for the 1st time!!) I was a little nervous to try making it, but it turns out Baklava is very easy to make and super yummy! I made a 9 x 13 " pan which was more than plenty for 7 girls...so I took the rest to work that night. Needless to say, the baklava was gone by 7:30 am!! Way to go TG NICU staff! I didn't want to take anymore of the yummy goodness home! By the way, when we started dinner club 1 year ago, there were 7 girls. Now there have been 3 pregnancies and 1 birth so far. Like at work, I think it's in the water....Jade just found out she's pregnant! Congratulations Jade!!! Another is due in May!!

Annie Rose and Jade (left) enjoying a cranberry martini concoction. Jade of course is holding the drink, just for the picture. No alcohol for Ms. Pregos!!

the Baklava ~ always yummy and never fattening!!

9th Annual Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Troll Stroll

This past Saturday was the 9th annual Troll Stroll in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood put on by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. It was such a fun event. You get your shirt and an envelope with 12 drink tickets for 12 different bars. You basically pub crawl from one bar to another, giving each bar their corresponding ticket for a 7 ounce beer of your choice. Needless to say, you can't drive after the event. There was a 10 minute rain storm during the event, I didn't know it would be only 10 minutes, so we got drenched going from one bar to another (and of course it was the bar furthest out of the group). After 3 minutes being in the bar, it had stopped raining and cleared up again....of course, and like a true Seattlite (sp?), I didn't have an umbrella. Oh well! It was a great event for a great cause! Thanks Carly for a fun day!!

Valerie (my friend) and me at her bar, 9 Million in Unmarked Bills. Her bar was one of the bars participating in the Troll Stroll.

MacKenzie and me after being caught in the 10 minute torrential downpour! Good thing we were a few beers in!!!

Alpental Snowboarding

Sunday was the last day of snowboarding for the season at Snoqualmie's Alpental mountain. It turned out to be an absolutely beautiful sunny and warm day! Some brave [male] snowboarders even went shirtless. To top it off, an auction was being held during the afternoon to support a loyal Alpental skier who had tragically endured a heart attack, fell into a coma and died at the age of 37. His girlfriend, was expecting their first girl at the time, and actually delivered her baby {without an epidural} on the day of the auction. There was such a huge show of support; it was so nice to see. A band was playing in their honor, so it was a very relaxing, fun time and a nice way for all the people there to show support for their friend.

My parents and I enjoyed the last day. Even stopping for my favorite: chili cheese fries. Thanks for driving and asking me to go up with you! I had so much fun; can't wait for next season. Although I think I got spoiled with this nice weather boarding; don't know if I'll be ready for Fall/Winter cold boarding again!!

Supporters beginning to get their groove on to the band's music!

View from the chair lift of the lodge's festivities!

Couldn't have asked for a more beautiful, warm day!!

Riding the chair life (of course spring riding in a hat and sunglasses)

My dad enjoying the last day of 2010 spring skiing!! He went without breaks for 5 hours!!

Brandon and I woke up Saturday morning to find there had been 20 inches of new snow at the BASE of Alpental!! On our way up I had called my parents to tell them about the snow (although fairweather sunshine skiers) and that they should come up. WOW ~ so much powder! Brandon got brave with the powder landings and worked on his jumps! There were spurts of sun, spurts of snow (a lot of snow)! Great day! After 3 hours, we took a beer break by the outdoor fire and I called my parents...they were on the chairlift..they had come up after all! We met them for a few more runs before snowboarding right down to the car (thank the new snow for snow covering the parking lot!) I can't believe just 2 weeks ago I was snowboarding in a sweatshirt and sunglasses...maybe we will have a season all the way into May!!

Bad iPhone pic, but wanted to catch the snow falling!!

After snowboarding we attended the 3 hour Easter Vigil Mass to watch our brother-in-law be baptized into the Catholic Church. It was a very special mass. Doug has been really renewed spiritually after completing this 8 month long course. My mother-in-law was his sponsor. You could tell Doug really was embracing the moment! Congratuations Doug!!