Update

As you may notice besides the new blog layout there is now a baby ticker at the top. Josh and I are officially starting our family. We found out Thanksgiving morning that I am pregnant, we told our parents that Thanksgiving weekend, depending on when we saw/talked to them. It has been hard keeping it quiet from most others since then. We told the rest of our families when we saw everyone for Christmas and now work and friends know so its out there!

So far we've had 2 doctors appointments, one before Christmas at 7 weeks where we got a couple pictures of the tiny little peanut inside and then one just this last Friday. Our latest appointment they used the doppler and after the doctor told us repeadidly that it can take a minute to hear the heartbeat and even if they don't hear it that doesn't mean anythings wrong, at 11 weeks sometimes you hear it sometimes you don't. After about 10 seconds, we heard it loud and clear! About 160 bpm it's going strong. Next appointment in another 4 weeks. Until then we wait...

We are slowly but surely trying to get our house ready for a baby, mainly by rearrainging our guest room and trying to figure out where to put everything that is currently in there, along with all the cat stuff... In a couple months we'll find out the sex of our little addition and then the fun will really begin! I'm sure August 6th will be here before we know it! I'm already not looking forward to a long hot summer in my house... ugh.

From our 7 week appointment... a bit tiny still

Christmas Festivities

So it's only just over a week past Christmas, and I'm posting already. I'm impressed. Christmas eve day we went to Pat and Wayne's house for an early dinner before heading off to church in Gresham.

Christmas morning started with Josh and I waking up early as always to open stockings with each other before getting ready to leave. We were at Pat and Wayne's house a little after 8, with much more ease than last year I must say. We did stockings with the Bergers before Pat's family joined in for breakfast and presents. With everyone buying for everyone, all 15 or so people... there were quite a few presents. After a couple hours of presents everyone started dispersing to their next destination. By 1 pm we were at Wayne's side of the family in North Plains for some pot luck style lunch... and about 40 family members! Luckily no presents there. After eating we snuck out to head to my step-mom's side of the family... in Troutdale. The drive does suck most of the time, but in the sun this year it was actually a nice break from all the family chaos and a chance for me to talk to my mom since she stayed in Colorado this year. By the time we got to our next destination everyone was ready for presents... luckily we draw names and then do a white elephant. We had a bit of dessert, got some leftovers from dinner even though we weren't there... and off we went to my dad's sisters house, only because it's a mile away. We got there and of course they were just sitting down to dinner so we warmed up by the fire (50 mph winds in 20 something degrees is not fun!) We exchanged presents between Josh, me, my dad, and Kaye before my aunt, uncle, and cousin joined in on the fun.

After leaving Troutdale we finally headed home... after being out for 12 hours it was nice to be home. We put in a movie and fell asleep! It was a great Christmas, with lots of family, but next year we are looking to change things up... not quite sure how yet but it will happen! Below are some pics from the day.

Wayne played Santa... for a while

Another nice part of the drive out east... the mountain was out!

Josh and Matt playing for the Championship... Josh won a close match


Cousin Eli played both Josh and Matt and lost which is what created the championship game... although he later played Josh again and won.

Cousin Regan playing with Pat's toys!

Pat got Jesus and Mary nut crackers for Christmas...

Regan loving her Hello Kitty hooded cape from Santa

Gage decided to help his sister open her toy chain saw from Santa

Oh Christmas Tree...

I can't believe it's already December 21st... officially winter! I'm not sure where the month went. This is the first December I've worked full time in I don't know how many years... which of course has created a bit more stress with preparing for Christmas. I'm used to going out during the days, early in the month and getting everything done before the crowds set in. Not this year. I am happy to say we are a couple of gift cards away from being done with all shopping! It gets a bit hard when you have more than 20 people to buy for. Plus the normal joys of Christmas, got all the decorations up the day after Thanksgiving, after black Friday shopping of course. Also made our yearly trip to the Delplanche Christmas tree farm... got our tree up and decorated, lights, ribbon and all. I'm hoping we'll have time to enjoy the holiday and the 4 day weekend it brings with it. Merry Christmas everyone!

Our tree

Some of my favorite ornaments... mostly from a small store in Coeur d'Alene

Love the jellyfish

and the Poker chips

Gotta represent volleyball

Santa's boot

Cable car from San Fran

Looks like Santa came early

Photo Catch Up

So it's obviously been a loooonnng time since I've written anything. I decided instead of writing about the last 4 months, I would just put photos up. Here are photos from the rest of the trip in July until Halloween. Not many photos since then. We had a great Thanksgiving and lots of family birthday get togethers... as always. I will try to be much better about updating - just for you Jason, since I'm pretty sure you're the only one who checks this. Until then, enjoy the season, and try to stay warm!

SNL theme Halloween party - Schweady Balls skit...

Ducks vs. Washington State - Cold but beautiful night

Great game

Tailgating for the Ducks vs. Utah

Annual Frybackyard Olympics... Yep that's gold my partner and I won at Lawn Darts

Skipping the first day of school - At Lincoln City with my mom

Lombard St

Giants Baseball game

Ghirardelli Square

Cable cars in San Fran

In San Francisco at the 21st Amendment Brewery

Kayaking in the San Juan Islands

The rest of the trip

I realized I never finished posting about Orcas Island and our trip back home. Tuesday was our second day at Orcas and just happend to be our 2nd anniversary. We started the day with a boat ride around Shaw Island off Orcas where we saw an unusal boat... great photo opp...

After we got back we headed into town and walked around the shops (all very expensive) and then headed back to the house. In the mornings when the tide is low there is a rock ridge right off the house and later in the day people go walking on it when they keep getting further and further away from shore but no more than knee deep (as long as you stay on the ridge). We headed out there, and of course Josh had to skip rocks towards the shore instead of from the shore.

After dinner we went kyaking (me for the first time) around the sound by the house. Just the fact that I even went was huge for me... if I'm on the water the bigger the thing under me the better in my opinion. Even though I loved our boat when we had one, I wasn't the one behind it, always in for the ride. After kayaking we decided for something we could do together, take a ride in a little row boat. We each rowed a bit, then I just took over. I loved rowing, just randomly to nowhere for a while.

I am still hoping to get the pictures of us kayaking from Josh's cousin so hopefully I can post those eventually.

On the last day we took the boat out to a reef and walked around with all the creatures it has to offer. I wish we did that every other day we were there, it was quite fun exploring the reef with family. I think the child Amy would have been jealous of me at that moment. I used to love looking around at Haystack Rock on the coast, this was way better than that, and there wasn't anyone else there but our family.

After we got back to shore off we headed back to the ferry to start our long drive home. Apparently our GPS thinks we can drive on water... sounds good.

The Ferry and 1st night at Orcas Island

Josh skipping rocks as we wait to board the ferry at Anacortes

On the ferry on our way to Orcas Island

Another ferry making a stop in the San Juans.

After arriving at the ferry terminal at Anacortes early and finding out it was running late, we finally drove onboard and off we went. I loved the ferry and had never been on one before (besides the tiny Canby Ferry, whoa). The views of the islands were beautiful and the weather was perfect with the breeze off the water. We got to the house right before sunset and had a great view our first night there. A nice relaxing night after driving from Cle Elum through Seattle and waiting for the ferry.

Our first Sunset on Orcas Island

Not a bad view from the beach at our house

I wish I could sit and watch this every night.

Sitting on the deck after sunset

Downtown Roslyn and Ronald

The closest towns to where we were was Ronald, and Roslyn (where Northern Exposure was filmed). Not much in these towns. A couple bars, Cousin Ryan and Melinda went to a couple, one was so sketch Ryan didn't want to leave Melinda alone while he went to the bathroom. And some of the locals asked Melinda if Ryan was a Seahawk... sure. Josh and I drove through the town and were back to our cabin in 5 minutes. We loved the Ronald Fire Station below. Good thing there wasn't any fires.

Ronald's Fire Station

Roslyn Movie Theater

Josh outisde the Roslyn Brewery, we got there an hour before closing time, but it said it was closed anyway... sad

A lady inside saw us sad outside and let us in, now Josh is happy with our Growler.