Monday, December 26, 2011

Leaving on a jet plane!

Fairbanks to Seattle.
Seattle to Miami.
Miami to Belize City.
Belize City to Amergris Caye.

Yes.
We're leaving on a jet plane!
FOUR of them!
Ahh!
Cannot wait :)
What a fun adventure this will be!

Wishing I had the time to post all about 
our trip to Fairbanks 
and Stephen's amazing family,
it's certainly been a fun twelve days :)
Stories and pictures will have to wait 
'til we get back, though!

Hoping you all had a very Merry Christmas 
and that an exciting new year 
is heading your way :)



Saturday, December 10, 2011

OREGON!

My husband just left to go study with a friend 
(Anatomy test on Monday! Keep him in your prayers, please!) 
and I am already missing him terribly. 
He's a good one, that Stephen :)
Long lost photo we just found from when we were dating!

SO!
Our traveling continued into Oregon,
quite possibly my favorite state.
Once we arrived in Portland,
we sent Stephen off to spend his last day with his friends.
(His best friends from the fraternity are living together in Portland. Mini frat party?)
And as my parents heading to the coast with my grandparents,
I got to meet up with these lovely two ladies.
 
(Shout out to Melissa who actually reads my blog!... ERICA!)
Erica's family was in town and they invited Melissa and I 
to join on the dinner outing.
A very entertaining one at that :)

On Sunday the three of us headed down to 
Corvallis to stay at their humble abode!
These two hooligans had school on Monday!
(Certainly don't miss that!)
So I got to spend the next few days cuddling with them in their beds, catching up with them and all the Kappa ladies, teaching Madison how to eat a pomegranate, helping the Winder family move into their new home, going to Greekside, eating lots of yummy treats, and basking in Erica and Melissa's eminent joy and charisma :)
At Yogurt Extreme...my favorite!
You were right Madison! Your picture IS on the blog! :)

Though it ended with a sad goodbye, 
I was so happy for the opportunity to spend a few days with them!
Melissa and Erica are both so beautiful, smart, kind, loving, FUN...
(I could go on!)
I am so lucky to have them in my life!
Thank you for letting me eat your food,
use your shampoo, 
and sleep in your bed!
I love you both!

My parents picked me up on Wednesday and we headed for the coast!
(My very favorite place!)
The Oregon coast holds a lot of meaning to my family.
Not only did we go there once a year ever since...I was born?
(It sorta became my second home over the years. My mom was hooked from the first time she visited when she was younger, and I guess that love runs in my blood, too. As I got older, my mom and I went to the beach a few times, just the two of us. Though I love my dad and Ashley, those might have been my favorite trips :) )
but the summer after my 8th grade year
we made a trip to the coast to spread 
my Nana and Papa's ashes into the ocean.

And this year!
We got to spread my dogs ashes into the ocean!
A little corny, maybe.
But I grew up with those dogs.
Two Great Pyrenees. 
Ani and Storm
They were the best dogs...EVER!
And the reason I want big dogs!
So cuddly and loving and sweet...
And a little bitter sweet it was...

And then my mom got attacked by a wave :)

So basically, 
we did some of this...

A little bit of this...

Of course some of this...

And a heck of a lot of this...

I had a blast with my parents!
As we usually do together!
It meant a lot to get to spend some 
time with them at the coast. 
I hope they know how much fun I had,
how grateful I am,
and how much I love them!


And then!
I got to come home to Alaska.
Where a clean house and 
a happy husband were awaiting my arrival :)

I hate that it takes writing a blog post 
for me to see how blessed I truly am.
Probably why I always end my posts with a 'thank you'...
This life may be short, but it is beautiful
and I'm so happy 
I have such an incredible family 
to share it with.
And such good friends, too!
They say love doesn't make the world go round, 
but it makes the ride worth while.
Well, let me tell 'ya!
I am on one hell of a ride!

Warshington

As my aunt calls it.
But before Warshington...

Last time I left off we were in Idaho.
This is me writing my last blog post.
Being productive... Obviously.
We loved every minute with my family
and (again) are so happy we were able to be there!

And while we were, my mom was sweet enough 
to take our Christmas card photos!
Though it took longer to do my hair than it did to take the pictures...
We LOVE how they turned out!
 
 
 
 
We grabbed our Christmas lights and spent about 
twenty minutes out in our front yard at sunset!
Thanks, momma! 

And as always when we go to Pocatello,
I like to visit Ashley at work :)
Stephen was a huge hit :)

Our Thanksgiving travels took us to Prosser, Washington
where my daddy and his family grew up.
Always love being in the company of the Ryan crew :)
We're a large and loud bunch, 
but I wouldn't have it any other way!
On a walk through the never ending wheat fields with husband and sister!
The whole fam damily :)
The weekend was full of laughter, love, and Just Dance.
Yes. 
A lot of Just Dance.
(A dancing game on the WII that I am terrible at!)

Can't help but feel blessed when surrounded by such amazing people, especially during Thanksgiving time. This has been a big year for Stephen and I (understatement of the century!). We truly are so grateful for all that we've got to experience this year and for the people that have shared in those experiences. Writing a simple 'thank you' on a blog post doesn't quite do it justice, but to my parents... We (literally) wouldn't be where we are today without. You have given us so much...more than we deserve. And more than my college education, our beautiful wedding, all the wonderful gifts and help in our new adventure, I want to thank you for loving us, to no avail. You are my heroes, my role models, my best friends... The reason I am who I am and the reason I want to be better... We are so grateful to have spent this Thanksgiving time with you; I couldn't have imagined a more perfect way to spend our time :) This Thanksgiving, 
we are thankful for YOU.

Another thing to be thankful for?!
BABIES!
And cousins turning 21!
My aunt Shannon threw Ashley a baby shower while we were there!
Everything pink for the baby girl :)
Fun games, good company, cute gifts, 
and yummy ice cream sundaes! 
Boys being pregnant :)
Opening presents!
We also got to celebrate cousin 
Spenser's 21st birthday
Though the town of Kennewick wasn't exactly "poppin'",
it was fun to go out with all my cousins :)
My favorite part of the night, though?
My heart to heart with Spenser 
in the back of the car 
over a bag of Gardettos :)
Birthday boy!
Blow job shot off of cousin Carson!
First drink of the night!
The next day, Ashley left for Idaho and the two of us, 
my parents, and grandparents headed for Oregon! 

I always love going home... 
The smell, the warmth, the cats!... 
And I loved getting to see my family for Thanksgiving :) 
So grateful aunt Shannon let us take over her house for a few days!

Week two of my vacation will be in a following post :)