Catching up

I really need to get back with my blogging! I'm sorry it's been so long... AGAIN. (Haven't my last 3 posts said this?)

What have we been up to???

The first part of March I decided to try jogging/running. I've never thought that I liked running, but it's beginning to grow on me. It all started when a friend of mine invited me to the 1st Annual Fort Vancouver Run. Right about that same time, a co-worker of mine decided that she was going to try running too. We decided to run together a few times a week and to sign up for the 5k event at the run. On March 29th, I finished my first 5k (that's 3.1 miles) in 35 minutes & 36 seconds. I was 11th out of 35 for my age division and 43rd out of 151 in the women's division. It was really fun and I've been running 3-4 days a week ever since! Our next goal is a 10k in June.

We also went to a parent/teacher conference in March for Avery's preschool. Her teacher says that she is doing really well in her academic, as well as social, skills. She has made some friends and is always really excited to tell us about her day and show us her school work on Wednesdays.

Avery also started playing spring soccer a few weeks ago. (sorry, no pictures yet). The first practice, she loved it. The second practice, she cried 90% of the time. She's so funny, you're never quite sure what you're gonna get with that girl. We have had 2 games so far. Avery scored 3 goals last Saturday. We couldn't be more proud! Pictures to follow soon, I promise!

Blake is becoming quite the big boy lately. He is talking SO SO much and just being a "2 year old". Tantrums & all! We got his pictures taken at Flash last night. You can go here to see them. Type in our last name, and the password is "Blake".

Brian has been doing really well at work lately. He & his "partner" have had a few captures in the past month. Pretty exciting for him! He also has a couple of trips planned in the near future. A bachelor party in Seattle that includes a Mariner Game and a chauffeured van for the evening. And a trip to Dallas to see his best buds Eric & Cory.

Well, I think that catches us all up for now. I promise to be more diligent about posting!

Girls Getaway

Last weekend Amy, Shannon & I made a trip to Bellevue for some much needed "girl time". We had so much fun being together. We shopped, ate out, laughed, went to a chick flick, stayed up late, slept in late, and laughed some more! We had authentic frozen yogurt at Red Mango, that was yummy. I got some SUPER CUTE shoes. And we had some great, uninterrupted conversation! We decided that this definitely needs to become an annual, or even semi-annual event. Thanks girls, I love you!

Ya gotta love the Container Store
View from our Hyatt Regency hotel room
My cute shoes!
Self portrait
Our matching "green" water bottles. I didn't get the purple shirt memo.

Addicted to blogging!

OK, so I'm in the "addicted to blogging" phase of my life right now. It's just so much more fun than say, laundry. Anyway, I've been lurking on some friends of friends blogs and found this really cute idea. It's a tag, someone that you know gives you an assignment, and you do it on your blog and then tag someone else.

Keepin' it Real

Take pictures of the following 10 things. But there's a catch -- no prepping, primping, or picking up. The point is to see how these things/items/people exist in real life. Take your camera and just go for it.

1. my fridge - nothing too exciting here. Brian took the kids grocery shopping today, so it's nice & full.
2. a closet - I have so many clothes, why is it that I have nothing to wear?!?3. kitchen sink - Brian has trained me well. There's almost never anything in it.
4. toilet - Hum... yep, that's a toilet.
5. my favorite shoes - Franco Sarto's are the best!

6. my favorite room - all of the bedrooms in our house are my favorite rooms, but our Master takes the cake!

7. what my kids are doing right now - sleeping peacefully. (Strange look on Blake's face)

8. laundry pile - not too bad, just whites to fold. 9. self portrait - please excuse the nasty sweatshirt, it's 10:32PM 10. dream vacation - something like this:tag: Sheila, Amy & Jenni

30!

A couple of weeks ago, I celebrated the big 3-0. I thought that it was going to be much harder than it actually was. I still feel the same. In fact, I hardly ever think about my age. Who has time to think about how old they are when they have a full time job, 2 kids, a large house & yard to take care of, and a blog to write! All of these things that keep me busy are truly blessings, however time consuming. What would life be without them?

So back to my big day. That Saturday morning, after a wonderful pancake breakfast made by Brian & Avery, Brian told me to go hop in the shower. He had a plan. About an hour later, he had the car & kids all packed up and ready to go. I still had no idea what was going on. We drove to my parents house where we dropped the kids off for the day and Brian took me shopping. We went to Bridgeport Village (a first for me) and the Streets of Tanasbourne (including Nordstrom Rack). It was so much fun to just shop for me, being able to hold my husbands hand and not a stroller, and enjoying a relaxing lunch at PF Changs. Thank you hunny! (and thanks to Nani & Popi for babysitting).

That afternoon we had to hurry home because the festivities were continuing into the evening. (Thanks to Nana & Grandpa for babysitting)! Around 6:00 we met 3 other couples down at Henry's 12th Street Tavern in Portland for dinner and billiards. We had a great meal & tons of fun. After Henry's we stopped by one other bar down the street and then to Beaches for dessert. It was a wonderful day!

Sunday we had the family over for a BBQ dinner that Brian did all the work on. I received some great gifts, my favorite, fondue for dessert and even a surprise cake that a friend of ours made.

New dishes from Mom & Dad!

I guess if I had to turn (gulp) 30, there would have been no better way.