Week/end Away:

Tyler has left me and Clawdia alone for a week! He left this past Wednesday, but with a good excuse! We had planned a trip for him to go home to Santa Ynez a few months back- but it went sour with a call from his boss saying they need him to work :/ Luckily we banked that flight ( Thank you Southwest) and were able to cash it in when he volunteered off for a week of work to go "home" ! YAY! So he has been in California for the past few days, enjoying the sun, homemade meals ( we all know I don't cook for him very much!) and gets to play with his nieces and nephews! I can't wait to see pictures and have been begging him to take some! We will see if he came through tomorrow, because I pick him up at 6:30!
So what's a girl to do when the hubs is away?
I painted our guest bathroom ( I'll post pictures when it dries :) ) & as I was painting my grandma came over! She was headed up to the "cabin" for the weekend & said she wouldn't mind some company! I jumped at that opportunity, packed my camping clothes in a trash bag ( tyler took our only duffle bag!) & off we went. A cooler full of pendleton & coors light and some lettuce and bread! On the drive we stopped in at the Enterprise Safeway to grab some snackies & we were off to the middle of nowhere!



Above is the road that leads to the cabin!

We rode up the gravel road with drinks in hand and seatbelts off! ( I think that's my favorite part!)
I opened all of the gates as we talked and chatted, all while observing an amazing sunset setting behind the Wallowa Mountains!


You just can't get a better weekend away than by driving up to a place where your Coors Light can matches the scenery!


The weekend was amazing and relaxing! My allergies gave me swollen eyes & a chest I couldn't breathe out of, but you just can't complain when you walk 2 minutes to get a view with the mountains of the 7 devils on one side, the Wallowas on the other, and wildflowers from here to there! I sucked down more books than beer too, but that's ok, & the grass hid most of the ground squirrels, so there wasn't much to shoot at! :) The flowers though-- well just look yourself! Who wants to go with me next week?






An amazing weekend, but I can't wait for Tyler to be home tomorrow! HURRY 6:20 tomorrow.. HURRY! :) ( P.S. Tuna Sandwiches filled our bellies all weekend & Clawdia stayed with my mom & dad, he seemed to have fun , as he's passed out in the bathroom!

The Pull:

This past week has been nothing short of a challenging one, although really good in so many ways! Tyler got a 2 week vacation from work, where he has been twiddling his thumbs waiting for me to get off of work... okay maybe not- but he has been enjoying the sleeping in & not going to work at midnight every night! I have been consumed with the usual, and recent "challenges" have really made us reflect on where we are now, and where we want to be! I have been feeling the pull of me focusing something more than WORK all of the time. I am so blessed to have had two jobs & have been doing it fairly easily for the past 6 months, but this week was not an easy one. It was up and down, and even lower and then up again .. 888 < --- T87[ <-- Clawdia says hi! ( he has a habit of chasing my fingers.. ) anyways, it's time to listen to my heart... and start up a budget. I gave my 2 weeks at the other job, so that I could really focus on ITS :)!
YIPPEEEEEEE wooo hoooo... can we afford that.. who care's I'm tired .. and many more things ran through my head, but most importantly.. it's time. So make plans with me.. I can hang out on the weekends! YAY!
The blessings we have had have gotten us here, and I know that there are more to come- but it's time to start this chapter.
Don't even think it... no babies! haha
On another note.. to conclude the last post.. Tyler's birthday was a success!!! In addition to new tires & a leveling kit Tyler also came home with a lawn mower & a new storage cabinet for the garage! Banoffee Pie for birthday cake, with beer and ribs galore!!! We went shooting & then to the pool and then we took a 5 hour nap before bed hahah! Don't judge us, the beer was too good! We will take pictures for the 4th & hope you all are having a great weekend! :)
P.S. - I was serious about that hanging out! What am I going to do when I only work 40 hrs a week?! :)

Fun!

Tyler's birthday is tomorrow, and thanks to my mom, every birthday has to be a whole week long! This week for Tyler has had a few surprises and spoils! On Wednesday I had to get an oil change in my car, and Tyler was nice enough ( after I insisted) that he go do it for me while I was at work! Then I took his truck to work! Since he goes to sleep in the afternoon I snuck it over to my Dad's, who then took it to get a leveling kit put on!
At 11:20, when Tyler woke up, I said " Since it's birthday week, what do you think about giving you a little present early!"
Did he skip for joy? Did he jump up and down? Did he shriek with a " Ooooh oooh PLEASE!!!" ....
NO!
He said... " No, no thanks ... I just woke up, let's just wait."
:( I was SHUT DOWN! haha
Of course there was no way to get out of hiding the incredible lift from him.. so I had to think on the spot.. and BEGGED for him to let me give him a present early. ( I used the bait that I had already made his lunch for him, to give him more time!) He finally agreed, so I made him close his eyes and led him into the kitchen & then said " OPEN YOUR EYES!!"
He looked around and didn't see anything at all.. but it gave me a laugh & that's what he get's for denying a present!
I then kindly said ( after laughing at him, of course) to go look outside! He then saw his leveled truck & then came the shrieking, jumping and woo hoos hahaha!

Birthday week had just begun! Of course, I'm not good at secrets, so when we were out eating, Tyler started a truck conversation. What he wanted next that would make his truck even cooler! * He strategically parked the truck where we could see it while eating* He started talking about how cool new tires would be... and the proceeded to plan to go the next day and check tires out, see the deals ect... my eyes popped out of my head and I was probably a little squirmy because he had no idea I had already ordered brand new tires and we were getting them put on on Saturday! Finally, after trying to hold it in by drinking a ton of water * he's still rambling* I finally said HAPPY BIRTHDAY, you get new tires on Saturday, already shipped and payed for! Now will you quit making plans until your birthday is over!!!

Needless to say , he's a surprise ruiner! Now it's Saturday & the truck is complete! I will keep you posted on the surprises in store tomorrow!! :)
Happy 25th Birthday Tyler!!!!

The mop is gone!

Yes, I cut my hair! Woo hoo! I was so tired of drying that thick mess every morning, when I had much rather take the time to check Facebook or play with the terror Clawdia! so here it is:

What do we think? I know, short right? But I love it! Stephanie (Schwartz) did an amazing job & I hiiiighly recommend her if you are looking for someone new!!!
:) I guess it's that time of year for new things huh! For those that don't know, we also got a kitty ( as referenced above! :)
She's a cutie pants & tears up the house before she takes a power nap, then she's a wild woman again! Life is good here!

Just another perfect day!

Tyler & I get little time together, but the time we do get seems way too good! Because of these opposite schedules we have been able to do these amazing things:

∂ Have lunch together during the day! Tyler heads over to N. Plymouth at least once a week and brings me a delicious selection of fried something or other, and for that 1/2 hour we just get to be!

∂ Mondays & Tuesdays are date nights! Monday's for sure, you can usually find us sharing Dlx. Nachos at Brewsky's!

∂ Tyler going to sleep around 2 or 3 in the afternoon leaves me with the duty of making his sandwich! ( I think he just likes to have that excuse!)

∂ Saturday and Sunday mornings are usually left for trips to Boise, drinking at least a pot of coffee between us, or watching the random shows on VH1- :)

Thanks to the opposite schedules we have been able to make the little time, like a half hour, seem like a day & the every day to day, a date instead of just being. I would encourage anyone in a relationship to try it for a week, and maybe the week will turn to habit! To try making every time you see them a date! Take advantage of the little bits and pieces and hold tight! It makes them last longer! Life is good!

The AFTER!

Happy Anniversary to Tyler & I :) ( May 30th, 2009) Tomorrow- or in an hour- will be our 1 year anniversary! Can you believe it? I can't believe how fast in went! I know people always say that, but really, didn't we just move up here? Didn't I just graduate from college? Didn't Tyler & I just meet! The year has been amazing, and we have had so many incredible experiences. New jobs & careers even, a year full of saving money and now the new house! We can't say Thank You enough to my parents, who have helped us get a foot up on life & all of the other incredible support! THANK YOU!
Here are the after pictures of the house, even though it's still coming together- How appropriate to show them on a wonderful day for Tyler & I! Enjoy!

We're in... almost!

Ok- So Tyler & I might not be completely moved in, and we haven't stayed a night at the house- but we've had the keys for a week & are SO CLOSE! Today and tomorrow is the real move- where we can finally disperse all the goodies we have stored up in one bedroom over the year! Since the " After" pictures are coming soon, I thought I would post a few before pics. ( and a few in progress pictures as well!) Needless to say Tyler & I have been working around the clock! If I thought I was busy a few weeks ago, I don't know what I am now! It is the most gratifying feeling to have saved up a good amount of money- & to just shop! On the day we got the keys- which was Mothers Day ( yes that was her present!) - Lana & Marcus brought us a much needed cooler full of beer! It kept us going & soon we will be giving them beer out of our fridge! THANK YOU :)

Speaking of SHOPPING, two weekends ago my Mom & I went to Clackamas for a fully suburban loaded SPLURGE at IKEA * among other places! I got to see Heather, which is always way overdue & amazing! I was trying on some pants at the Woodburn outlets, when Heather bribed me to come out and CHANDRA & KENNEDY were there! SURPRISE! I jumped and cried, in pants with the tags on them ( bought them though- they bring good things :) ) I was so so so happy! I haven't seen Chan since she was 5 or 6 months pregnant & now Kennedy is already 3 months! Beautiful mom & daughter! I couldn't have asked for a more amazing day! Shopping with my best friends & a new baby! I could go on and on but it was an amazing trip!
Enjoy the pictures. The first nights stay is hopefully this Monday, which means MORE pictures for all you creepers out there ;) I'm one too! Don't worry!