May 4, 2015

Summer 2015 Bucket List

The weather here has been really nice lately, in fact it has started to feel a bit like summer. When the sun comes out and the temperatures start to rise, I can't help but daydream about the summer adventures that lay ahead. Last summer we did so many amazing things, I'm not sure we will be able to top it. We can sure try though.

Without further ado here is this summers bucket list in no particular order.

1. Watch the local drag races.
2. See a movie at the drive-in movie theater.
3. Go kayak in the Puget Sound.
4. Go to a Mariners game.
5. Ride the ferris wheel on the pier.
6. Run the Dirty Dash.
7. Run the Color Run.
8. Run the Electric Run.
9. Climb Mt. Adams.
10. Climb Mt. St. Helens.
11. Climb one of the Sisters.
12. Explore the Ape Caves.
13. Visit Seaside.
14. Visit Astoria.
15. Go to Wild Life Safari.
16. Ride a camel.
17. Ride an elephant.
18. Camp in a yurt.
19. Fly in a biplane.
20. Ride the Apple Century (50 miler).
21. Ride the Newport Century (100 miler).
22. Hike Silver Falls.  
23. Go on a hot air balloon ride.
24. Hike Driftwood Falls.
25. Go white water rafting.
26. Go para sailing.
27. Visit the Medford, Oregon Temple.
28. Go to the Science Center in Portland.
29. Go backpacking.
30. Ride my bike around Crater Lake.
31. See the Spruce Goose.
32. Go camping.
33. Hike the Hobbit Trail.

I think the bucket list is off to a pretty good start. If you have any suggestions of places/things we should see or do in Oregon/Washington let me know, I'm open to suggestions.

What fun things do you have planned for the summer?

April 27, 2015

Family Photos

For some reason, we haven't made it a priority to take family photos every year. Don't get me wrong, we take lots of photos, we just don't have many taken professionally. We thought it was time we change things up a bit. We scheduled some time with one of our friends for a photo shoot. We couldn't be happier with how our photos turned out!










April 20, 2015

A Trip To The Portland Zoo

We decided to make a trip to the Portland Zoo. It was a really warm day, but we had so much fun looking at all of the animals! It's hard not to stand in awe and marvel at all of God's creations, He really is the master creator.

Here are a few of our favorite photos from the day.

Cheetahs.

Me & Andy.

Mr. Giraffe.

Andy & I.

April 18, 2015

Hendricks Park & Prefontaine

Friday night we went on a date to Hendricks Park, also known as the Rhododendron Park. The park is over 100 years old and it was absolutely beautiful! Most of the rhododendrons are in bloom right now so it was really pretty! We enjoyed walking around and looking at all of the vibrant colored flowers and the smelling their various aromas.





As we were walking on one of the trails we came across three deer, a momma and her two babies. The deer didn't seem to like being around us and they took off up the trail rather quickly. We kept walking trying to sneak up on the deer and Andy told me to stop and turn around. Unbeknownst to me there was a third baby and it was walking up the trail behind us. As soon as I stopped walking the fawn took off to join the rest of it's family. It was kind of a neat experience. I can only imagine what it would have looked like to anyone else in the park to see us walking down the trail with a fawn following us.

On our way home we stumbled upon the Prefontaine memorial. I had been waiting to visit the memorial since we moved to Eugene, so it was a nice surprise to finally visit it.

Me & Pre
If you don't know who Prefontaine is, he was an amazing runner who fought for rights for athletes. Look him up online, he said a lot of inspirational and motivational things during his lifetime. There have even been a few movies made about him.

April 13, 2015

Tornado

The weather today was pretty crazy! It was so crazy in fact that we had a tornado today, supposedly it was the first tornado to ever hit Eugene. The day started with sun breaks, then it rained a lot, and then it hailed and then we had a tornado.

Andy and I didn't know there was a tornado until later when we sat down to watch the news. Apparently, it touched down at the community college and flipped several cars over. And it also picked up a car with two people inside. Thankfully, everyone was safe and no major damage was done.

I'm really glad it was a small tornado and that it wasn't closer to out house than it was. Since I was a little kid I have been scared of tornadoes. I think I watch Twister one too many times.

March 29, 2015

Andy's Birthday

For Andy's Birthday he decided he wanted to pick up some flowers and starts for our garden. We made a trip to the local hardware store and came home with quite a bit of stuff.

Don't let the picture deceive you, the back of the car was full too!

Then we headed out to the coast and spent the rest of the day on the beach.

Going barefoot.

Andy & I.

You + Me = Us

Me & Andy.

Treasure!

We enjoyed our time together on the beach! Listening to the waves roll in is one of our favorite things.

March 1, 2015

The Flu?

After we took the missionaries out for dinner, I didn't feel very good. The next day and the day after that I felt terrible. I had a fever-- highest fever I've had in probably the last ten years. My body ached, my throat hurt, I was incredibly tired (I was sleeping about 15 hours a day), I was congested and I felt nauseous. I concluded that I had the flu. Monday morning I discover that I didn't have the flu-- I had white spots all over the back of my mouth and throat. White spots only mean one thing my friends, strep throat.

Andy stayed home from work and took me to the doctor. The doctor confirmed what I suspected, I had strep throat. I was prescribed some antibiotics and it was recommended that I take a lot of Ibuprofen and Tylenol.

Toward the end of the week I went into work for a few hours. It's been over a week now and I still don't feel 100%. Strep throat is the worst, I don't wish it upon anyone.