Lazy Sunday

Football

Laundry

Cross-Stitch

Nap

Kiss

Read

all things I enjoy on a lazy Sunday afternoon

Upcoming Travels

If you can imagine, hear this statement -

"I have never been outside the United States of America"

...nope, not Canada, nor Mexico...

First, now that it's out, I can never use this as a Truth in 2 Truths and a Lie - Dang! ;)

Second, this is soon not going to be true of me any longer.

I can't say much about this yet - the details are sensitive.

Here's the jist...

We're going to Africa!!!

We don't know exactly how it's all going to work out financially and such, but with God's blessing...

AFRICA!!! :)

Yay!

Hotels in Seattle

Our 2nd Anniversary is coming up and we'd like to spend it in the city -

Which hotel is the BEST, in your experience, or that you've heard and WHY?

THANKS!

-Melissa & Nic

My Baby Sissy's Wedding!

The past few weeks have been CRAZY and totally fun! 

I threw Amy a personal shower...

Lots of Ladies - Lots of sexy gifts!

Here's My Mom, Amy and me at the shower...

Then there was Amy and Scotty's Wedding!

(all pics courtesy of Hannah and Nicki) 

Here's Scott escorting his Mom 

Chris escorting our Mom

The Bridal Party Precession

 

  

  

  

Here Comes the Bride

 

Amy and Scotty

 

Giving the Ring(s)

 

Sand Ceremony

(Perfect for outside instead of the Unity Candle)

Excited for the Kiss!

Kissy-Face

They Did It!

...And I snuck a walk back down the aisle with my Honey!

 

Another Shot of the Beautiful Bride

"Faith Hope & Love

The Greatest of These is Love"

"Thank You, Everybody!"

 

The Wedding was perfect!

Another Day, Another Mariner's Game

We're going to another game tomorrow night - boy, do we love to go to games! It's the perfect date - inexpensive (all we pay for is dinner, the tickets are from Nic's work), fun, relaxing. This time it's -

(Obviously the Mariner's)

VS.

Can't wait until after work tomorrow - I LOVE spending time with my husband. He's the BEST! I think I'll go hang out with him RIGHT NOW. Great idea ;)

The Wedding is Getting SO Close!

I am so excited for this weekend! My sister is getting married Sunday afternoon, and there are so many fun things going on in the next few days ;) I threw her a lingerie shower Sunday afternoon - it was a blast! And I'm throwing a bachelorette party for her Friday night - it's going to be great! We're going to one of her favorite restaurants, then going to play mini golf and then we're going to stay at a hotel for the night. I'm super excited for the slumber party...I haven't been to one of these with more than my sister in a long time, so I can't wait!

Mariner's Game

The Mariner's lost to the Yankee's, but we enjoyed ourselves in the Office Max suite! I got the tickets through work - yep, I work at a hospital, go figure. The hookups are everywhere :) Anyway, they served us dinner (for free!). We had bbq pork sandwiches, pot stickers, egg rolls, and chicken kabobs - yum!

Our Weekend Away

We ended up going to the Chewuch Bed & Breakfast in Wintrop. It was fabulous! On the way out we stoped in Leavenworth and had brats for lunch, and gelato for dessert. Once we got to Wintrop, we were able to do a lot of relaxing and yet kept pretty busy enjoying Lake Pearygin, horseback riding, picnic lunches, romantic dinners, a few movies, and two attempts at a hot air balloon ride...

Here are some photos as promised:

My First Time Horseback Riding

The View at the Top of the Mtn.

Mounting Up to Head Down

Two Mornings we got up early to go for a hot air balloon ride,
and both mornings the trip was cancelled due to weather.

Our second morning, we got this far...

Then our pilot put up a balloon to see what the wind
was doing and decided to cancel -
We were definitely bummed, but glad to be safe!

We took a quick potty break and found this quick hike down
to a river on our way back home.

Surprise Weekend Away

I can't wait for tomorrow - Nic is taking me away for a surprise weekend!

We need this too much. Lately, with all the call I've been taking and the sickness we've both been battling, it'll be so nice for us to get away, both relatively healthy, to enjoy each others company. I'm excited to have my honey all to myself.

Yesterday, at work, my boss told me that the schedule for 'tomorrow' was looking really light, so if I'd like I could have the day off, so I accepted. Needless to say, today has been great - I rose at 8, showered and texted Erin to see if she might meet me for another of our spontaneous Walnut dates, and she was available - The Lord is good! After our marvelous hang out, I walked up the street to get a manicure. Went across the road to Tully's and used the internet for an hour and then headed out to Discount Tires and got my tires balanced and rotated. While they were working I walked to Chipotle and had a steak burrito, yum! Then went a little further to get an Iced Grande NonFat Chai Tea Latte...mmmmm. Picked up my car... Went to Nordstrom's to buy some sandals for Amy's Wedding! Drove home to do some laundry and tidy up our apartment. Nic got home around 5 and we did a little work on the coffee table he's making. I decided to sit down and look over bills and see if I couldn't get some paid. Can't find the PUD bill and the statement online is a month old - ??

Anyway, I'm totally just rambling now. Maybe this'll get me back into blogging, though :)

I'll be posting pictures and telling of the excitement of our weekend when we return next week!

FAM and Family

Yep, so far this is really working out great for us. We both know it's best for us to wait for the little ones. I feel so much better, too, now that I'm a few months off the pill. It was really messing with my psyche. I was a little worried that I might get pregnant right away because this has happened to other people, but we're being (maybe a little over the top) really careful.

So, Amy's wedding is coming up fast...just a few months away! We're ecstatic about Scott and Amy getting married! I only wish we lived closer to them so I could feel like I'm helping out more with wedding plans. We do what we can, though :) And next weekend we'll all be out at Ocean Shores for Memorial Day. Mom & Dad, Scott & Amy, Nic & me, and Chris! We always have such a blast all of us getting together for some lazy beach hang out, crazy board games in the evenings, community club swimming and spa, perhaps some ping-pong and pool, running out to the end of the jetty to enjoy the warm sun and beautiful waves rolling in, delicious dinners, maybe some mopeding, wet suits and boogie boards, for sure, beach combing, kite flying, laughing and laughing, good conversations, late night movies, sandy hot dogs on the beach, just some great family time. I can hardly wait!!! Plus, on our way out there we're going to the Mariner's game, I just love Mariner's dates with Nic. We have such a good time sitting and laughing without a care ;)

New Hair Day is a Success!

I'll post pictures later or you'll see me :)

Tuesday is New Hair Day

1. The perfect first memory of the day: Nic gives me a good morning kiss
2. 97.84 basal
3. Rise and shine for a happy Tuesday!
4. Starbucks Chai and Everett Herald to bring to work for SUPER QUIZ (just call me Jason)
5. Dr. Wolfe + 6 Endoscopy's + in betweener crossword puzzle = 6 slow hours
6. Got off work early (1300) - Hooray!
7. Made an appointment with Salon Savvy - I need new hair

Off I go!

Busy as a bee

Looks like I still don't have much time to update...maybe tomorrow I'll have time. But I could say 'maybe tomorrow' about many many things!

Tonight is our community group and I'm making Apple Crisp...hopefully it turns out!

Work is always crazy, but I am enjoying it nonetheless...Praise Jesus!



God is good.

Here's Lately

These past weeks have been nuts. We feel like nuts, crazy-persons.

Maybe it'll slow down? Everyone who I tell that to....laughs.

But I don't laugh. Things need to chill out! I have a 4 day weekend coming up here, later this month...that'll be incredible. And we have plans to go to Ocean Shores. Sigh, that will be the most enjoyable part of this year, I think. We'll be able to SLOW DOWN and enjoy each other. Forget about our crazy life back home. Go for walks on the beach. Maybe rent a moped! Watch movies, read books, lazy around. Ooo, thinking about this makes me so eager to get outta here!

Things are great despite the craziness. Work is going well, for both of us. We soak eachother up when we're home in the evenings. Spending time together and with our Savior is a must.

I'm going to try and blog a lot this weekend. I feel like I have a handful of things that I could use writing out and thinking about in more depth, so that's what I'll try and do. But I'm on call Saturday, so we'll see how busy that keeps me...

Movies

Hey we're looking for some good movies to add to our Netflix queue - Any ideas?

The last movie we got was Fireproof and it was great! We definitely recommend it. It may take some people a little effort to get past some of the acting, but overall, it is inspirational and worth seeing.

Baby Shower for Christie

For those of you whose e-mail address' I do not have:

Please check out the Evite for the Baby Shower I'm throwing Christie (Terreson) Carioto next weekend!!

I know it's late notice, but I hope you all can come so that we can shower her with our love and gifts and bless her heart at such an exciting time in her life!

Girls Retreat 2009

Here we are - Nicki, me, and Cyndi (They were the directors, and I the go-fer) - This weekend with all 89 girls up at camp was a blast!

For more pictures see LBC's Website

February 14th

Happy

Valentine's

Day

Budget

We have finally made ourselves a written, all-encompassing budget!! It's very encouraging to have sat down and thought of every penny that comes in and every penny that goes out. I think this will be a baby step in the right direction toward getting those school loans paid off quickly! We have attempted at a budget before but just weren't into it. This time, we carved out some time and were intent on doing it right and working at it until we were happy with the written plan. Sure, we will have to tweak things here and there because of something we may have forgotten or an expense that isn't monthly, but we've got a start, that's for sure! We were really excited to find that even though we owe money for school, our 'budget' allows us to give a little extra money where the Lord has led us. Amazing how He'll make a way for things that should be priorities to us.
We are really eager to use this plan to get our debt paid and start saving up for either or both of us to go back to school. This time, saving beforehand and paying cash so we don't have to take out any loans!! Sounds incredible, doesn't it? Goodness, we think so too. Seems like with the guidance of a written budget and a little 'gazelle-like intensity' we are able to see the light at the end of the tunnel!

Four by Ten

Today I started my first week of 4/10s. Pretty easy so far considering I got off at 4:30 instead of 5:30, but sadly, when I got home I found that Nic isn't here. My cell phone has been crapped out all day, so I wasn't able to check in with him to see what he's been up to today, otherwise, we might both have been at his parent's house enjoying some sweet family time tonight. Oh well... Anyway, back to the four tens...I was a little afraid of what is proving to happen. So I have switched to only working four days. This sounds wonderful at first, but that only gives me 4 days to put in 40 hours. The problem here is that often...well I don't want to say often...sometimes, the day ends 'early' so it's looking like although I'll be getting the benefit of only 4 days a week, I may be seeing a cut in pay due to less total hours worked. It's all in His hands. I'm not going to worry about it!

I love Him like a hawk

I absolutely love this bird. Everyday on my way home from work I see a hawk perched like this one. They're so awesome...and I don't mean cool I mean awe-some...They cause me to be in awe of God's beautiful creation. I look at this bird and think of how it is so sharp and can only imagine how intent it is upon whatever its prey. I can't even really describe how it makes me feel to see this fascinating bird. All I know is that it puts me into a bout of worship. Praise the Lord for that!

It's been awhile

Goodness, it's been quite some time since I've written. Not because there's nothing to write about, but for the very reason that I've been too too too busy!

+ I had a great birthday. Nic bought me some Dansko's for work. We went to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory downtown. Dave and Kami came over to celebrate the coming of the New Year with us...And Kami made this incredible and huge e'clair. It was a Very Happy Birthday ;)

+ I got a job. Same one I had, only this time: 4 ten hour days a week instead of 5 eights (I was per diem before); Benefits, which include the normal medical/dental/vision/etc, AND they pay a chunk of money toward my fitness center, I accrue PTO (PAID time off - this is amazing), and lots more. I just love it there and I am excited to work there a long time. Well, until the Lord brings something else or moves us. However He leads, we will follow.

+ Nic's gramma Priscilla (the Gramma who is graciously allowing us to reside in this beautiful condo in Edmonds) was here to visit the past week or so. It was great to have her - Nic and I always love to spend time with this sweet woman.

(okay, this may not seem epic to you, but you weren't there)
+ We took our Christmas tree over to the Meyer's and in combination with their 2 trees had an AMAZING fire. I'm talking 20 foot tree standing straight up...the two smaller ones as 'kindling'...the flames were incredible. And, I mean, we all realized the seriousness of a Christmas tree going up in flames in seconds...here's the lesson: take your Christmas tree out right away - if that thing catches, your home is going down.

+ A while back my mom and I made meals and tonight I fixed up the Shish Kebabs. YUM!