Finally a few pictures from the wedding I was in last weekend.  

The beautiful bride and the hansom groom on their get away.

Some Seattle Christian friends

We were a little excited about the wine, and our feet were hurting from the 4 1/2" heels, so we killed two birds with one stone...

The bridal room was freezing

The beautiful bride and me

It wasn't supposed to be posed, but it kinda looks like that...

Karin was absolutely stunning, and it was an amazing wedding.  It was so good to see everyone.  It actually kind of made me miss Seattle... and I never thought that would happen.  

Back in Cali...

Well, Sunday night I flew back to reality.  It was a great trip to Washington though.  The first three days were spent with some of my closest friends from high school.  We got to celebrate Chris and Karin getting married and it was a gorgeous wedding.  

Wednesday after I arrived Katie and I got to hang out and just catch up.  It was great.  Oh, and I got to experience the renovated version of South Center.  What a difference.  Then we met up with the bride only to go meet up with the rest of the bridal party to get manicures and pedicures.  Two of my favorite things to do.  Then the girls hit the town for Karin's bachelorette party.  So fun.  Well, minus the dress in the freezing cold weather.  One of the highlights from the day: we were driving, it was about 50 degrees outside and Karin thought it was warm enough to turn on the air conditioner.  Call me crazy, but that is no where near air conditioner weather.  

Thursday was the start of another busy day.  Katie and I ran lots of errands in the afternoon.  Then we had the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner.  By the end of the meal Katie and I both had sore fingers from trying to crack all the crab.  I actually punctured my finger at one point and saw blood.  We then headed to Issaquah (where Katie and he husband live) for the night.  Upon arrival Kasey asked us what we wanted to do, we both looked at him and said "VEG!"  

Friday was another early morning.  Considering I wake up at like 5:45 every day I don't know why anything is ever considered early, but it is.  Katie and I attempted to get ready before heading to the hotel to meet the bridal party.  Let's just say that about an hour and a half later we both had our hair pinned back.  It looks so easy, but do not be fooled.  The twist and pin combination is not easy.  Then back to Seattle we went.   And yet again we headed out into the cold in dresses to take pictures.  I am not sure why people in Seattle think this is okay.  And to top it off, the grooms men were complaining about being cold.  HA!  Oh, and that their feet hurt.  Given, I love love love heels.  But by the end of the night after wearing 4 1/2 inch heels my feet were killing me.  But it was so worth it, they looked so cute!  

After the wedding I hitched a ride to Federal Way where I spent the night at my cousin's house.  I have not slept that soundly in a very long time.  I am actually not sure how I even made it into bed, but let's just say that I hit the bed, realized there was no pillow, said "oh well" and promptly fell asleep.  Saturday I got to hang out with my best friend Shannon.  We just laid low as she had homework and I was still trying to re cooperate from the events of the wedding.  

And to end the weekend on a high note, I got to drive to Bellevue (which I do not highly recommend doing if you can avoid it... I got a bit claustrophobic on the 405 freeway.  How do people drive with only 2 lanes and when all the drivers are barely going 60?)  But in Bellevue were my precious nephews, and of course my sister and her husband.  I could seriously hold those boys for days!  On another high note, they come to Cali tomorrow.  I jokingly tease Kim that once they get here they won't get to hold the boys, but I am kinda serious.  

With them coming to Cali there will be lots of fun events, from Disneyland, to a hockey game, to hopefully being able to go to the beach.  If only we could get back to where it was a month ago where it was in the upper 80's.  Now that is my kind of weather.  

Scott was there as well.  It was really good to see him, it has been forever.  

Cullen is in the tan and Jackson is in the white.  

                                                  We are pretty much the best aunt and uncle ever, hands down!

The best photo of Cullen ever!

                                                                                 

Photos are courtesy of Kim and Brandon and their shnazzy new camera.  All in all, it was a great trip, only to be followed by a great week of being home.  Given I am a little tired, but it all has been worth it.  And now for Kim, Brandon and the twins to arrive!

Here I come

So in about a day and a half I get to leave for Seattle.  I am soo excited.  One of my best friends from high school, Karin, is getting married.  So not only do I get to go to one of my favorite events ever, a wedding, but I get to hang out with some of my best friends. 

 A few of my fears of the week/weekend:  THE WEATHER.  I am seriously trying to figure out how to wear dresses and be dressed up and still be warm.  I guess that might be my only fear, but it is pretty much consuming my thoughts.  I am seriously not sure how it is going to work because it is in like the 60's here during the day and I am freezing ALL the time.  The only advice I have been given is to wear a peacoat.  Well what about my exposed legs?  So that is my current dilemma.  

Also, how to possibly get all the clothes and shoes I need to Washington for this trip.  And then there is the added drama of possibly having to go to New York straight from Seattle.  As for when I will find out, could be that day.  We will just have to wait and see.  

Oh, and Kimmy and the boys come in like 9 days!  What more could I possibly want?  A wedding with some amazing friends, and then all four of us girls get to be reunited.  Prepare yourselves.  

Cookies

So I found this new recipe for some Valentines Day cookies, and I made them about two weeks ago and sent them to Jon in Iraq, and Renee and Anna could not keep their hands off of them.  Renee kept trying to convince me that Jon would want her to have one.  Anna tried to join that bandwagon, it so did not work with me.  So I decided to be a nice sister and make them again, this time for them.  

I also found this recipe for this "healthier version" of rice krispie treats.  It is made with yogurt burst cheerios and white chocolate.  They were pretty tasty.  But by far the jam cutouts had the most positive feedback.  

Well, it is Superbowl Sunday, and I guess technically I am watching the game, although unless I look at the TV I don't think I could tell you who was playing  :-) Other than vegging on the couch while the game has been on, I have had a pretty productive day.  

This morning I went to church, which was an amazing sermon on 1 Corinthians 1.  It is a great series thus far, and we are only 3 weeks in.  After church Anna, Grandma and I went to In and Out.  It was pretty good, except for the fact that the closest one is 15 minutes away.  Then we dared to venture to the pool.  But by the time we got there most of the pool was shaded so we only got to lay in the sun for about 45 minutes, but I will count my blessings and be thankful considering the weather most of the US is facing.  I believe it was last Thursday that Orange County was considered the hottest place in the country.  Pretty crazy, but I loved every minute of it.  After the pool I started to make the Valentines Day cookies that I am sending to Jon.  Pictures will come, the dough is still in the chilling stage.  

Now I am trying to motivate myself to get up and pack.  I leave tomorrow afternoon to go to San Francisco with the family that I nanny for.  It should be pretty fun, I have not been there in like 10 years.  But getting up the energy to head into the city with an 8 month old is pretty hard  and rare.  

But today is the first day of February which marks the month that Kim and Brandon and the babies come to visit.  It is only like a little over three weeks till they come.  And while they are here we are celebrating Grandma's 70th birthday.  Which always brings out relatives which calls for a good time.  Yesterday two of my grandma's cousins and their spouses were here to visit her.  We went out to eat at the Claim Jumper and they thought we were hilarious.  I have yet to figure out why people find us so funny.  I would not mind being an outsider and watching the interaction once. My sisters and I have this endearing quality where we all try to speak over the other.  So it tends to get rather loud when we are all together.  Luckily they had us in a private banquet room so we did not have to fear about disturbing the other customers.  It was a great lunch.  Hopefully everyone will come out for my grandma's birthday.  If not, at least it will be my sisters and I together again which always calls for some good times.  And now we have the added blessing of the babies.  Which by the way Kim, I would just like to say I told you so, because today when we were at the pool Renee kept pulling the "well I have not seen them yet" card.  She is like I should get to pick them up from the airport, I should get to do this, I have not seen them yet. Blah blah blah.  Anyways, my point is that I TOLD YOU SO.  Well, on that high note, I really need to get motivated and go and pack.  Thankfully it is a short trip which means that I don't have to pack all that much.