July 10

Well these two are off for new adventures. In Portland. With a new job. And, oh yea, a BABY!

We had a farewell picnic for them at Gas Works today - BBQ sauce and cupcakes included, duh - and spent a very pleasant evening with a set of banana grams and several mugs of tea.

Seve and Clint have cheered Markus and I on from the very beginning - they are a huge blessing to us as a couple as well as to us individually. These kids know how to have a good time and we will miss them terribly!

It's lucky for them they have a big apartment.

June 9

Happy birthday to my sweet girl!

 

Al, thank you for being such a constant in my life, such an encouragement, and such a joy. To call you travel buddy, roomie, and friend is an honor, and I appreciate you so much.

 

Your a fiery one my dear, I'm excited for many many more years of adventures and seeing you take the world by storm.

 

I love you!

 

Ps. For your thirtieth birthday, we'll bust these outfits out again (tans included). Just so you have something to look forward to beyond the massage, 5k, and leather pants that are going to happen this year.

 

 

May 29

I love this one. She came over for a bowl of chilli today, and we sat on the floor and attacked all of lifes problems with colored pens and a pros and cons list. And also tea (with coffee mate and sugar because that's the only way to drink it).

I feel like we made headway. Or at least we have a color-coded list which is almost as good.

May 24

 

Finally tried Joule. Drinks get an A. 

 

Best part of my evening? When Kali willingly drank from the straws that had just seconds prior been in my nose. True love.

May 8

Dinner with these two this evening! Excuse the old picture, but I was so engrossed in my delicious gnocchi that I forgot to document - ah well, it's good to live in the moment and not behind a lens sometimes, no?

We drank good wine and applauded Chris's abilities in the kitchen and talked for three hours. I told Markus in the car on the way home that I was giddy (he laughed) - but really it is these kinds of friendships that make me so thankful.

May 7

Photograph by Casey MacKenzie Photography

 



So remember when Tommy and Cynthia got married? It was a long time ago - almost two years ago in fact. Anywho, they left us for a while to enjoy newly wedded bliss in Asia teaching children English in Korea. That was after a quick stop in Hawaii, or course, working on a pineapple plantation. All that goes to say, they are back. And we are so excited!

Hannah, Stephen, Markus, and I got to go up to their beautiful new appartement and enjoy pizza and stories with them - and it was so refreshing. They have been sorely missed!

Ps. Tommy makes music mixes - get the latest one on his blog Coral as a Color. He's pretty cool.

April 30

...and then there was that time when Rachel Held Evans came over for dinner and wine.

It was one of those days that goes down in a girl's history as one that can only be described as first-class. It was beautiful out, work was going well, and Rachel-OH-MY-GOSH-Held-Evans was speaking at chapel. Of course her talk was heart warming, funny, wise, and empowering and my feminist little heart was crooning happy things. We met her shortly thereafter, all atwitter, breathlessly telling her how wonderful she was and could-you-please-take-a-picture-with-us-and-sign-this-book, and oh yes, would you like to come over tonight?

AND SHE SAID YES!! So after we all died minor deaths, whipped the house in order, and Olivia made soup, we spent an evening with Rachel, talking, laughing, asking questions, and telling stories - and truly, she is a woman of valor and so inspiring.

Eshet Chayil!

February 20

 

Today we had a rice buffet. Don't know that that is? For shame. It's when you make a pot of rice and and everyone brings a topping. It is also code for "today we get to eat whatever we want". Toppings included chili, Thai chicken, steamed broccoli, tatertots, potato soup, sriracha (there could have been no other way), and cheese. Brown sugar and milk would have also been acceptable choices.

 



And so a family dinner ensued.

Stephen brought the puzzle - soon in will be a picture of mosque minarets.

February 6

Today I made Jambalaya. There is no picture because there is no pretty way to capture stewed rice in cajun spice, no matter what they tell you. But it was delicious.

January 24

 We had a festive little gathering last night - full of laughs and good food and a little dog (?) named Bandit. We officially welcomed the Kyle's home with cider and African Soup (thank you Simply Recipes and Esther Bulthuis for making this possible) and it's just a plain old good thing to be surrounded by people who love each other a great deal.

 

Bandit deserves an extra picture, because though he's not a dog (he's a wild little beast who is more squirrel than anything else), he's just pretty dang cute and we love him. Not like Sarah loves him, but we love him.

January 21

Today was that extra day off that makes a weekend feel like a vacation. Especially when the day off is a Monday.

We found Phinney Ridge doesn't love being open on Mondays and that Archie McPhee's has a photobooth. And also that Alisa makes a damn good pot pie.


I will leave you with this:

I don't know who drew this, but I'm glad he or she did.

Happy Martin Luther King Day.

 

January 15

Baked potatoes, butter, group meetings.

January 14

Dinner with these two, and a final goodbye to our parents - sending them off 'Merican style with chilli, pie, and cool whip.