It's been awhile.....

The last month has been a little crazy so here's a quick little update......

1 Year Anniversary

Well - we did it! 1 year of marriage! We celebrated it by camping over the weekend and then going out to dinner at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. Bryce and I have been dying to go to Ruth's Chris for a long time now and it did not disappoint! Yummy steak, mashed potatoes and an excellent happy hour! I still can't believe how quickly this last year has flown by. But I'm looking forward to more anniversaries and more memories......

Camping

Bryce and I have had the chance to go camping at Nehalem Bay a couple times and we absolutely love it. It's just a little bit south of Manzanita and it's our own little retreat from the hectic lives we've currently been living. Our favorite thing to do is to wake up fairly early and have a yummy breakfast at our campsite. Then we drive over to Manzanita, get a cup of coffee and wander around that town for a couple hours. The rest of the day is usually spent out on the beach reading and listening to music. It always makes me realize how important it is to slow down and take some time to ourselves.

Cats

We have a new addition to our family - a hyperactive but snuggly cat named Sydney. She and Cheka are still trying to get used to each other and Sydney hasn't quite picked up on the fact that nightime is sleeptime........ NOT playtime. However, Bryce and I both adore her and think that she is just a real treat to be around.

Job Stuff

Things at work have been a little crazy and I was trying to pursue an opportunity at the University of Portland. Things didn't work out but I'm hopeful that something better will come along. I truly believe that things work out the way they are supposed to. So I allowed myself to be bummed out for 5 minutes, and then bounced back with a positive attitude. Something greater is out there waiting for me...... all I can do is try my hardest and ultimately I'm very proud of myself for making it down to the last two candidates.


Friends

This has been an eventful month for friends! Bryce and I got to celebrate Ashley's 25th birthday with everyone at our favorite Irish bar - Kells! It was a great time and it was good for all of us to be together again. Ever since we graduated from college, it's become difficult for all of us to get together because we all have jobs, new homes, marriages, relationships, etc. But I'm so happy that at least the entire "family" was able to get together for a fun night.

In addition, I've spent a lot of time with my old housemate, Chrissy Marquardt. She's from Jamaica originally and her entire family was affected by Hurricane Dean which swept through Jamaica a couple weeks ago. She's been showing me pictures of the devastation that has occured in Jamaica. Pictures of her home with the roof missing, of the car she learned to drive in stuck up in a tree, and the flooding. Luckily, everyone is okay and now they are in the process of rebuilding their home.

Also, I was fortunate to get back in touch with another old housemate, Maria Woodall. She was always such a dear friend the last two years in college and I was really sad when we somehow managed to grow apart. Luckily - due to the fun of MySpace - If found Maria and we have been able to catch up and even meet for coffee a couple times. She's now a proud mama and I got to play with her 4 month old son Leavitt who's a squirmy bundle of joy.

My friendships mean a lot to me and I've truly been blessed with some of the best friends I could ever ask for. It's been a good month!

Some other random stuff........

Here are a few more of the other things I've gotten to do this month.......

• Finally got to meet Ashley's dad for the first time in our 5 years of friendship! We went out to coffee and then shopped for books - always a good time!
• Went to a Mariners game with my father/brother/and sister-in-law. We went to Alki beach before the game and ate at the Pyramid Alehouse as well. Fun times!
• Saw the Bourne Ultimatum - It's great! Check it out!
• Went and watched the most recent Harry Potter movie with Chrissy and her younger sister in 3-D. Very cool!
• Said goodbye to my good friend Katie. :( She got promoted and is now working for the Rose Garden..... Lucky duck! We still call and talk every week but it just isn't the same without her.
• Went to a makeup party with Ashley. This was completely on a whim and was probably one of the most stressful situations that anyone could ever put themselves in. A bunch of women, squeezed into a teeny tiny makeup store and getting attacked from every which way with lip glosses, foundation, and blush! It was Ashley's idea and I went along with it to be a good friend. We left after about 10 minutes and ended up having a mojito at a nearby bar and talking for 4 hours. Much better. :)
• And we're in the process of buying home...... more on that later........

Anyways - hope everyone had a wonderful summer!