Quick Morning Post

I have to leave for work in 5 minutes, but I just wanted to say a quick hello!  Even though classes are over, things have still felt busy with work and Tyler visiting. It's been good though.  I've been sleeping a lot better now that I don't have to be thinking about school.  

A couple weeks ago I finished this quilt for my nephew or niece that is due to arrive on Sunday.  I'm really happy with how it turned out and I still can't believe I was able to squeeze it in while working and going to school.

Tomorrow I'm giving a presentation in a University ESL class in Toronto.  The topic is camping, which is easy to talk about, but they want me to talk for an hour and a half!  I'm excited but a bit nervous and I need to wrap up my slides and what I'm going to say tonight after work.  After tomorrow I won't have to worry about any 'school-like' stuff for a whole month till I start my Practicum class.  

Yikes I have to leave in 2 minutes! 

Hope you all have a good day!

a beautiful life!!

The 40th Anniversary is over, the cupcakes were a big success, and I am happy to not be stressing about them and be able to turn my attention to other things now!  I'll share some pictures of the party eventually.  I didn't take any, but I'm sure I'll get some pictures when they make their way to facebook to share with you!

We were BEAT Sunday night after everything though.  I started working on decorating the cupcakes immediately after church at 12:30 (which I had baked the day before), skipping lunch to get them done by 2:30 (how I decorated a cake and 60 cupcakes in that amount of time I can only figure is from my summer working at the wholesale bakery), then ran home to get all of our clothes, picked up the family and got to the "wedding" site at 3:20 - the ceremony was supposed to start at 4.  I had to quickly get the cake display set up, get myself and my children dressed for the wedding, and then go stand for the ceremony.  When I finally sat down, I had been on my feet for over 6 hours and hadn't eaten more than a muffin and half of a latte for breakfast.  I was sooo happy to go to bed that night!

Monday I started some MAJOR house reorganizing.  Jeremy and I did a lot more today, so I'll share pictures eventually.  We even worked on the yard for a little bit.  It is looking much better in here.  I even have paint for our guest bathroom and got the OKAY from Jeremy to paint the guest room.  The only bit I'll show you is in the lower right corner of the above collage.  I added some paper on the underside of our glass ikea desk to hide the top of the stand that holds it.  It has always been so ugly to me, and I don't know why I never thought of this quick fix!  Eventually I might change out the paper, but for now, I like the bright colors!

Yesterday after naps and Jeremy got off work we took a trip out to Guillemot Cove Trail.  It is almost an hour from where we live and is one of the most beautiful places to swim I have ever been!  

We went there when we were first married (we actually found it by mistake trying to get somewhere else) and hadn't been back there since.  Aren't we cute 5 years ago?  We were going to try and recreate the shot of me by the tree, but couldn't find it.

The trail is about 2.5 miles round trip, so not bad.  But there was a little muddy/swampy part we weren't expecting to get out to the water.  We made it - but we got covered in mud!  It was fun after I decided I didn't care haha.  I wish I had a better picture, but the water is CRYSTAL clear and warm, and you can see the Olympics right across from you.  Gorgeous!  You have to wear shoes in the water though, because its all rocks.  I think that is part of why the water is so warm.  Shea went in the buff, and I have some lovely naked shots to embarrass him with when he is an adult.  Yes, I am THAT mom.

Today Shea had a dental appointment - he did fine.  I love that they are so quick.  But he was scared, so they had him sit in my lap (while I had Hailey in a carrier on my front, I don't know how we managed, but we did!).  Then we went to our whole foods store, Central Market, and bought a bunch of produce.  Tonight I am planning on making an asian salad with baked zuchinni and potstickers (from Costco, of course).

I got the second season of Downton Abbey from the library about a week ago, and we only have one more episode!  Jeremy's parents borrowed it and finished it in like 3 days, haha.  I put a hold on it back in January and got it just in time, because I think the new season airs next month on PBS!  Its just as good as the first season, too!  Although there are a few random characters they introduce that I have no idea if there is really any more to them or not.

And, the most exciting thing that happened today is that I finally could zip up and button a pair of my pants today!  They are one of my larger pairs, but it feels so good to not be in elastic all the time haha.  I probably still have about 15 pounds to go  before I get to my pre-pregnancy weight, but I've been working out every day or going on a hike or walk, so I'm hoping that by the end of September I can fit in my regular jeans.  We'll see!

10 days off is amazing. I am so so so sad it is over!

Let me start out by saying today was insane! 

I woke up at 6:30, laid in bed till 7. 

Started a load of laundry, turned on a sprinkler, went swimming. 

Went to home depot to buy paint for the deck. 

Came home, switched laundry over, moved sprinkler, started more laundry, and painted first coat of deck. 

Went to Ambers to drop off her blender that I had been stealing, then home depot (yes a 2nd time!) , goodwill, top foods, target, costco, and then target.  SOOOOO many stores!

Once I finally got home, I ate lunch, painted another coat on the deck, made lasagna, cut up lettuce, strawberries and watermelon. 

Mowed the lawn , weed eated, weeded, trimmed 5 bushes/trees, and hacked back the blackberries. 

I was going to paint the steps of the deck but I decided to take a break.  I honestly didn't stop moving from 7am till 6:30. If I would have stopped I would have fallen asleep. 

And now for a photo dump. :)

I started looking at deck colors a few weeks ago.  I knew we wanted to paint our deck with what is called Deck Restore.  It puts texture on the deck to help make it less slippery when wet, and protects the wood.  I also picked out a new white for the railing, who would have thought picking out white would be so complicated! 

The other day I decided I needed to try on my wedding dress.  I do this every once and a while just because it is so fun. :)

My birthday was awesome.  Paul and I hung out together all day.  I woke up to sunshine, went to the pool, came home to Paul making me breakfast- coffee included, and then we chilled on the couch. 

For lunch we got Costco pizza and then went and got Bubble tea for dessert (so amazingly good!). 

Then we went to Lake Meridian and laid around.  I read my book while Paul fiddled on his phone

I got calls from both my brother and by padre, and then got to talk to my mom in the evening. I love family!  Oh and the teal lifeproof case (waterproof) came out on my birthday.  I had been waiting for it and Paul bought it for me for my birthday! 

When we went and laid in the backyard the friendliest neighbor cat came and hung out with us for half an hour, I just saw this cat today too.  He is always asking to be petted, so sweet. :)

In the evening we went to Redondo and watched the sun set.  There were a ton of people squid fishing, fishing, and crabbing.  It was quite fun to people watch. 

We saw the cutest little old grandpa pushing his wheelchair with his squid catching bait in the seat.  He pushed his chair right up to the railing and sat on top of the cooler and held his pole out in the water. My heart melted. 

On Saturday we went to Woodburn to shop at the outlet malls and then stayed in the nearby town of Molalla.  Before checking into our bed and breakfast we ate at our very favorite restaurant. I will never get sick of this place!    

We stayed at the bed and breakfast only one night, and it was quite fun.  I was bummed at first because it said our room had tv and it didn't.  I normally wouldn't care because I never watch cable but I wanted to watch the olympics!  

We went to Salem on Sunday, picked up my grandparents and drove to Lincoln City where our beach house was.  My Aunt and Uncle wrote me the most awesome little note on the cash they gave me, I almost didn't want to spend it, but well, I wanted new clothes, so bye bye money. 

We went to Depot Bay in the early afternoon and these were the clearest skies we had seen since we arrived at the Coast.  Apparently after Paul and I left on Wednesday everything cleared up though. Boo for us, awesome for the rest of the family who is still there through friday. 

This is probably the best picture I have of Paul and I in like forever!  And a pretty good one of my parents too.  We scored in Depot bay. 

Paul and I have different ideas of posing for pictures....

We got to watch lots of crab boats and whale watching boats come into the harbor.  There were awesome flowers scattered throughout planters everywhere, wish they were in my yard!  And these seagulls cracked me up because they look like they are the people the sign is talking about. 

An after dinner walk on the beach led to some awesome sunset and lighting. Someone had made a swing out of wood and a rope, it actually felt really sturdy!

Paul said I was crunching him, I totally don't see what is wrong with this picture. :)

So my grandparents moved into an assisted living about a month ago (a very nice beautiful place actually- Paul said he wanted to move in).  Anyway, they weren't able to take all their stuff (quite a bit though because their place is 1600 sq ft).  I got this coffee table and the side table you see in the background that my grandpa made years ago.  Love them both and so happy they are in my home!

The deck after its first coat.  I actually miss the cedar but it wouldn't have held up to the weather and it also didn't match the rest of the painted deck at all.  It doesn't look bad from above, but it didn't look so good in real life.  I still need to repaint all the white and the stairs.  It got to 93 today though and inside my house got to 83, so I had to call it quits when I got tired in the evening and just chill on the couch for a few hours. 

The paint I used on the deck splatters everywhere! I was a mess, and I didn't even clean up my legs before shopping.  I have been wanting pearl sprinkles for a longtime now and saw them on sale at safeway today and couldn't pass them up! 

I bought a rotisserie chicken at Costco today and Eleanor stared at me the whole time I ate part of it for lunch!  Oh and right as I sat down on the couch I got a text from Paul that said not to nap, haha he knows me too well, so I sent him a picture of me with my eyes closed! 

And that my friends has been my last 10 days. My husband just bought a motorcycle (eeeeeekkkkk) and I have to go back to work tomorrow.  I am going to Moses Lake Monday/Tuesday, so life will continue to be interesting.  

Lunches

Even before I got a job, I was very focused on changing around Joe's lunch, which almost every day is a meat and cheese sandwich.  Of course we love it when we have leftovers...but leftovers always get packed for his dinner.

I can't even eat meat and cheese sandwiches anymore, even though I hardly ever do.  I'm just so sick of making them.  And I think he's kind of tired of them too, but he never complains because he's grateful I make him lunch.

So then I got a job, and of course the first order of business is to hardcore revamp the packed lunch menu.  Last week I wasn't very creative, but this week!  LOOK WHAT I DID ON SUNDAY NIGHT.

Yes.  It's five lunches for each of us.  Sitting in the fridge and we can grab whatever we want for lunch that day (except I cheated today and took my egg mcmuffin for breakfast and my spaghetti for lunch...I'm thinking I'm going to have to make more of those ahead of time.  I also think they'd freeze well.

The menu this week is:

• Tuna sandwiches (tuna mixed and put in plastic containers, bread packed separately for optimum freshness)
• Egg salad sandwiches (same style.  I made one with a ton of pickles because I love them, and none for Joe because he doesn't like them.  I screwed up the labels though and he came home saying "Thanks for lunch honey, but next time could you not put as many pickles in?"  I was sad that he had to choke down something he didn't like, and even sadder that I had to eat a sandwich with no pickles in it!
• Burritos.  I've been converted to uncooked tortillas.  Obviously I cook them before I use them though.  I made these with chili con carne and, I know this sounds gross, but canned steak, which Costco carries now in the same type of container as tuna.  I packed the burritos with plastic containers of sour cream (Joe's had hot sauce too).  I made us each three burritos.
• Egg mc muffins - or rather, sausage mcmuffins.  Frozen cooked sausage patties from Costco.  English muffins from Costco.  Eggs from costco.  Cheddar cheese from costco.  
• Meatball pasta.  I have a policy not to pack spaghetti, because long noodles and tomato sauce are not a good combination for dress shirts.  But I made some smaller noodles, threw on a few frozen Costco meatballs, and covered it with jarred spaghetti sauce (vodka sauce actually, but same idea) and parmesan cheese.

I could totally eat this menu for lunch every week.

a week.

I've had a little bit of an exhausting week!  I don't know how that happened.  I mean, I feel good and full of energy today, but looking back I'm glad the week is over!  I accomplished quite a bit!  I worked out every day (and am starting to feel a difference in my energy level and appearance), I cleaned out and organized our pantry and refrigerator (it was bad...).  I took Shea to a few different play dates (we went to see his first movie in the theater - "Rio" at the $1 summer days for kids this week!  It was so fun and such a cute movie). And we went on a HUGE shopping trip.  I mean, I have never gone on such a big shopping trip - especially not with two kids.  We went to Winco, Costco, and Trader Joes and stocked up on a lot of things (hence the need to clean out my pantry!).  It is so good to have food again - especially healthy food.  We were waiting a little while to go shopping, so I was coming up with some weird dinners from what we had.

I even bought a bunch of a bulk snacks and divided them up into little baggies and labeled a snack drawer in the pantry. There are snacks for Shea and me when we have to run out the door to a play date or something that goes into lunch time, and stuff for Jer to throw in his lunch bag.  Making life easier, for sure!  I still need to chop up some vegetables and stuff and make one for the fridge - mainly for Shea, so he can grab himself a healthy snack when he asks for one.

Hailey is 5 1/2 weeks now!  She rolled over twice last night.  Not sure if that is early or not, but I have this crazy feeling she is going to be just as active or possibly more than Shea, because she is already trying so hard to get away when she is on her tummy!  I guess thats just how I make babies.  I keep trying to catch a smile on camera, but she I never get a smile when I'm trying to haha.  Oh well.  She is starting to smile and is a total cutie when she does.

Yesterday, I ventured out for a big trip by myself with the kids.  We took the ferry from Kingston over to Edmonds (this was so nice. I just put Hailey in a sling and she slept while Shea and I walked around the boat).  Then we drove down to visit my sister for a little bit.  The only disappointing thing was that Debbi (one of the main people I was coming out to visit) called and said her son was sick!  Of course!  So we ended up going to Newcastle Beach Park for a little bit with the lady my sister lives with and her kids.  Shea disappeared for 5 or so minutes and I thought I was going to break down!  He was there playing on the playground, and then he was gone!  We looked all around the park, and I finally found him on the other side.    Pretty sure he followed some kids over there, because that is what he tends to do!  Yikes.  I am so thankful nothing happened to him - its amazing what races through your head when your kid disappears.

After that, we went up to my brothers house and visited for a few hours.  I WAS going to take the ferry home ( and now I wish I had), but there was such a long wait and traffic looked worse going north, so I decided to just drive around, thinking it woudl take about as long.  Unfortunately, I did NOT beat the traffic like I thought I would and it took me 2 hours just to get past Tacoma.  We took a break in gig harbor so I could feed the baby and Shea could get out and walk around.  I was so tired when I got home.  We got the kids to bed, and then Jeremy and I drank some champagne and played carcasonne haha.

Today I am planning on relaxing, doing some yard word, and making a trial run of cupcakes for Jeremy's parent's anniversary party next week.  Its going to be so cute!  His mom bought dresses from Romy for all of the daughters/daughters-in-law and we are all the "bridesmaids".  The guys are all the "groomsmen" and the kids will be dressed nice too.  I'm pretty sure its all just a huge ploy to get all the family pictures she wants with everyone looking nice, but it will be fun.  She even bought a wedding dress.

Oh and this was one of my "brilliant" ideas to keep Shea busy one morning when he was driving me crazy demanding a lot of attention.  Paint diluted with water and paper outside.  He ended up tearing the paper and painting the rocks instead, and then I can't remember what he did now, but he ended up in time out and it didn't really buy me any time to do anything, but at least he had fun painting.

I was sad I didn't get to see either of you yesterday!  You guys are welcome to come visit any time too!  But I know you are so buys with your jobs.   I almost thought of calling you again, Angela, but by the time I was like "man, I should've stopped somewhere and waited out the traffic" I was already so far and didn't want to change plans on you again.  I kept thinking it was going to get better, haha.  I've obviously grown very spoiled with our lack of traffic over here.

job

I'm surprised how much I'm liking having a full time job!  I forgot how nice it is when you're only in charge of a 20 square foot cubicle, which has magically self-vacuuming carpet, self-emptying trash, and a dust-free desk, thanks to a cleaning crew that comes in.  I'm not feeling tired at work (except today I took two Benadryl because I was stupid and ate curry when my new coworkers took me out to Indian food).

Even when I get home I don't feel tired till I sit down.  I have had some moments of overwhelmation.  Laundry is the worst right now; this is only my third day, and I find myself washing a load in the morning and drying it at night and folding it the next morning.  I've been pretty good about keeping the kitchen clean and dishes done, and I've even "kind of" packed lunches the last couple mornings.  Joe has worked full days each day I have, so I can't really complain since I've been working 9-10 hours and he's been working 12 hours with a 1-hour commute each way.  And he works the next five or six days too.

I love my workplace.  I am so appreciated.  Pretty much everyone thinks I'm awesome, and you all know how much that motivates me.  Plus, oh my gosh, they love their employees and they have all kinds of reward systems for people that go "above and beyond" and they're technologically more advanced than Panasonic (ironic, right?) and they order any special office supplies you want.  They're like "Oh, does that pull-out part of the desk bother you?  We can remove that.  Do you want monitor risers?  Would you like these ones that cost $30 or these ones that cost $60?"  Ahhh it's so nice not to have people beating me down...I feel like I'll have the same workload as Panasonic but in a completely different environment.  My P coworkers WERE nice; just the management had them beaten down so everyone was so glum and half-dead.  I report directly to the HR head, and she is amazing with how she's made everything so simple for employees.

Oh my gosh, they have a kitchen.  With a dishwasher, toaster oven, Keurig coffee maker, free pop, free organic fruit on Mondays, jeans Fridays, "Fido Fridays" where one person gets to bring their dog to work (!), "thanks partners" where you give someone a thank-you card and they're entered in a monthly drawing for $50.  There's even better rewards for those who have outstanding performance - including a free paid day off! 

They're so relaxed.  As long as you get in 40 hours a week and you're there at the same time you have important stuff happening, they are flexible about what hours you work.  I've been working longer days since I started on Tuesday and won't hit 40 hours anyway; also, since Joe's been working I haven't really wanted to come home early.  They don't yell at you if you go 2 minutes under or over your lunch, or if you chat with a coworker, or make a short personal phone call.  They don't stand in front of the clock to frown disapprovingly at you when you're one minute late, and later call you into the office and talk to you about punctuality.

Look, I know some jobs you have to be punctual and take your lunch at certain times.  But in my Panasonic job there was no reason to force me to eat at a certain time.  I eat when I'm hungry and that's how I am such a good worker.  I'm convinced that's part of the reason I burned out at Panasonic.  They were so restrictive; I felt like I was always trying to prove that I wasn't a lazy bum or a thief.  Here, they give me the trust and respect I deserve.  Ah!

So, I'm an "executive assistant" for the chief medical officer, but he's out on vacation this week and next.  So basically I'm cross-training in every other department and helping a bunch of people with random stuff, which is cool because I meet more new people who think I'm awesome because I'm helping them.  Next week I will be working on an "executive" project, an HR project, a marketing project, and at the same time I'll be running the mail room and also covering reception in the afternoons!  Oh, and my main resource is going on vacation all next week.  Also the regular mail room person/reception backup is going on vacation all next week.  Sooooo we'll see how it goes.  She has to train me on mail tomorrow,but I also have to call fifty people for a marketing event.  I like this, though!  I don't get a cheering squad and sympathetic ears when I struggle with housework.  I don't feel accomplished and special and awesome.  Yesterday I unloaded the dishwasher at work because it was full of clean dishes, and dirty dishes were piling up in the sink.  And so many people were like "Amber, we love you; Amber, you're a gem; Amber, we're so glad you're here."  This morning at a meeting, one woman said "Darn you Amber, why didn't you interview two months ago when we hired that other girl who didn't work out?"  I was like "Um, I did interview, but they hired her instead."  She was like "Well we learned our lesson, didn't we!"  My manager is pregnant and I mentioned that I am sooo ready for kids, but as a couple we aren't, so that's why I took this job.  She was like "Um, remind me to thank your husband."

See what I mean?  How can I not thrive on this?

Just worked 7/8 days. I am a bit tired.

I love comfy new dress clothes.  When my mom was in town we did quite a bit of shopping and I definitely scored in the comfy clothes department!  

My dad is a little new to the texting world but he often texts me pictures on his bike rides.  He sent me these three pictures of a hawk that was dive bombing him. So crazy! 

I redid our mantel for the summer and love how bright and happy it is!  I have been thinking about printing stuff out at the library since Becca mentioned it months ago and I finally went.  I love the laser printers and free printing!

I made cupcakes for Kathy's birthday and they were AMAZING.  I will definitely be making this recipe again!

I got a package from amazon in the mail full of birthday presents!  I LOVE this babycakes maker.  I actually haven't put frosting on the cake pops because I was too tired, but I have eaten the cake balls (these ones are lemon and moist and delicious!) 

I also got those awesome red and white striped straws!! I love paper straws, and I have been saving my frappachino glasses so I can have cute little drinks.  I also got a donut pan so be expecting some awesome baked donut recipe's and reviews soon! 

Paul went on a walk the other night while I was at work and he picked me some flowers. I sure do love that man. :)  

I have been helping my friend Ciara with wedding stuff for months now, and it was super exciting to receive the invite in the mail!  It all turned out so adorable.  The backside of the picture is the wedding invitation. 

Kisses from Katie is a wonderfulllllll book.  It's about a girl, who grew up wealthy, who decided at 16 she wanted to spend her first year after high school in Uganda.  Her parents tried to talk her out of it, but she was persistent.  She now has many children in Uganda to call her own and she is 23 and doesn't want to leave anytime in the near future. (that is all I know from how far I have gotten in the book but I definitely recommend it!)

Paul and I have both been working like crazy (hence my 7/8 day stretch) and I have been missing him.  We went to Jason's coffee (definitely our fav coffee shop) just to spend some time together.  Do you see what time my phone says near that temperature?  12:30am and it was 75 degrees outside.  When I got home from work the next evening it was 83 degrees INSIDE my house.  It felt like a heater was blasting.  I have never been so glad that it cooled down for a few days in my life.  Oh and how wonderful it was to have a fire outside on our new deck, in shorts and a t-shirt, and laying on a comfy blanket. Summers are my favorite time ever. 

I now have 10 days off and am loving it.  So far today I have done basically nothing.  I made the bed, and started 2 loads of laundry.  The dryer is currently dinging for me to go fold clothes, but finishing this blog was much more important. ;).  

Becca I hope we get to see you this week!!