Pacific Science Center Visit

Bruce and I took Ryan and Katie's boys (Ashton and Owen) to the Pacific Science Center this weekend because the Harry Potter exhibit was in town. It was a special event that you had to purchase timed tickets for because there are way too many Potter fanatics!

The PSC was soooo busy, it wasn't really as fun as it could have been. All the gadgets were being used by loads of people, there were lines, adults and children alike were being pushy. The boys were so well behaved and really wanted to try everything. They were patient and let us shush them into another exhibit to try and get away from the crowds.

The most fun was the butterfly and bug area. Apparently, not a lot of pushy adults want to hang out in this area. The PSC workers had roaches out of the cages that you could touch. At first, none of the boys wanted to touch it. Then Ryan got brave enough to put a finger on it so Ashton had to be brave and do it too. Owen, like me, decided there was no way he was touching that icky thing. After we came back through and on our way out, they wanted to see the roaches again! This time, Ashton bravely stepped up and held one. Blech! Not to be outdone, Ryan held one also. Now Owen decides to be a big boy and holds one too! He didn't hold it for very long and wouldn't take his eyes off of it, but he did it!

The exhibit for Harry Potter was pretty neat. They had the actual props from the movies and some information about them. It would have been a lot better it not for the pushy, rude, fanatical Potter fans that were really ruining it for the kids. When we began, Ryan and Ashton were trying to see the person telling us about the tour and to see the "sorting hat" that was used in the movie. When there was a gap, adults would plug it up so Ashton and Ryan couldn't see (we were the last to be let in in this group). Rude!

The woman asked if anyone wanted to be sorted and a girl up front was picked. She asked for a 2nd volunteer (adults were raising their hands even though she specifically said "child."). Ryan was on his tippy toes in the far back jumping up and down to just see and raise his hand and HE WAS PICKED!! Yay! He never gets picked for anything - even at the zoo shows which he'd seen hundreds of times! We were happy for him, but have no proof. It was a no picture zone!

Ryan was sorted into the Gryffindor house so he was really excited the rest of the weekend. Ashton and Owen weren't really familiar with the movies. Ashton didn't try to get sorted but talked with Ryan about the props as they passed them. Owen was done with the exhibit before it even started. It was kind of scary with darkness, fog and spooky sounds - not to mention the weirdos who were walking through the exhibit pushing little kids around.

Anywho, here's some of the pictures!

First Snow!

Wow! We got snow early this year...and bitter cold. Hello! Is it supposed to be 18 degrees around here? I don't think so! It wasn't even the cold and snow but a wind storm on top of it! Talk about starting winter (unofficially) with a bang.

I braved the snow Monday morning, maybe 1/2 an inch and no ice. I worked all day and watched the snow fall and saw 3 kids. I was so bored. Then during my last kid of the day, the snow apparently decided to dump with huge golf ball sized flakes. I kicked the kid out early and told his dad to drive safe home that I was outta there.

I actually liked driving home in the snow. I liked to hear the crunch, it was fresh and I couldn't feel the ice and I was essentially alone on River Road heading towards Tacoma. Everyone else was stuck in a line waiting because 512 and Meridian were crazy and no one could get up the hill. (Just another reason I don't live in South Hill). While in the valley I watched transformers blowing in the hills and lighting up the sky. It was spooky and beautiful at the same time. Then I got onto I-5.

I-5 was scary. There were people that were trying to drive quickly and merging in and out of lanes and tailgating. There were semis in the fast lane stopped to chain up because of the ice. There were cars on the side of the road filling up with gas. There were 3-4 4X4s in an accident together where one of them lost their canopy. It looked dangerous to have so many people standing on the side of the road with crazy drivers thinking they were invincible driving around. Sadly, minutes after I got off the freeway, a man was killed by another car after he got out of his car on the side of the road. So sad.

I was fine and almost home when, right off the exit, there was a sheet of ice. I was trying to stop slowly (I had a red light) and the cross traffic miraculously had a red light as well. My car wouldn't stop and started sliding down the hill on the ice just as the cross traffic light's turned green. I layed on the horn and slid my car carefully around the corner where there was traction to right my car and continue on. I was feeling pretty lucky that the light had taken so long to turn for them but I also felt like I was done driving and wanted to walk the rest of the way home. I continued on, though, since it was only about 19 degrees and blowing pretty hard. I was fine but shaken. I know I'm a weenie. I don't try to deny it.

It was hard to sleep that night because we were both up watching the news and talking to friends stuck in the traffic that was monopolizing the news. Our friends took 10 or more hours to get to their homes because Seattle was a virtual parking lot. Then a friend on facebook had fallen down the stairs and couldn't get to the phone so she had posted on facebook for someone to call 911. She and her daughter were home alone and her husband, who, ironically, works for 911, had just left for work. It took him hours to get to the hospital. They were really proud of Shannon, their daughter, who let the paramedics help dress her and rode in the ambulance with her mother. Her mother broke her femur and is stuck at home until her doctor in Seattle could make it in. After that, she'll have an ambulance take her to him in Seattle. The drama of the evening kept us up and worried and we didn't fall asleep until right before it became Tuesday.

All night the wind blew hard and our lights flickered a bit but stayed on. In the morning we looked and found lots of fresh snow, but we were amazed that there weren't branches all over our yard since the gusts were around 50 miles an hour and sounded like it was pounding our house.

Bruce shoveled and swept our driveway so we could get out. My dad had a surgery schduled for really early in the morning so we were up at 4am checking road conditions. He was stuck in Port Orchard without electricity and didn't know what the roads were like. They made it to the hospital around 6am and started surgery by 8am. We went to visit in the afternoon when the roads were clearer and he was out of surgery and recovery. He looked good, but complained of pain. I can't blame him. I think I would be miserable if my entire knee was just redone.

Other than that, we stayed in the house all day. The conditions around the area were so cold and so trecherous in some places, Bruce's work cancelled everything for the day. He got the week off! A second mini-honeymoon for us :)

It was a little staticy with the cold, dry air :)

Halloween

Happy Halloween!

It kind of just snuck up on us this year so we didn't really do much of anything for Halloween. Of course Ryan had his costume and we got some candy in case we happened to see a trick-or-treaters but we didn't really have anything else going on. Of course, I wouldn't take back this month for anything. It snuck up because of our wedding and honeymoon happening and I didn't want the fabulousness to end!

I couldn't just let the holiday get away from me, though, so I made sugar cookies in Halloween cut-outs and Cinnamon Monkey Bread just for the kookiness of it. Bruce helped me frost the cookies (and Ryan jumped in in the end) and they were the cutest things :) I made them cute and Bruce made them "scary."

Pictures to enjoy:

The Honeymoom

I heart Aruba. We flew out on an overnight flight on Thursday, 10/14, and made it to Miami the next morning where we had a 5 hour layover. The flight to Miami was interesting because there was a medical emergency in the middle of the night. Luckily there were nurses and doctors on the plane and the staff was professional and calm, so we didn't get too worried. We made it to the gate on time without the person having real difficulty so we were happy for the passenger, as well as for us.

While in Miami we discovered that it was possible we wouldn't be getting on the plane at all at that time. Luckily, 3 people gave up their seats and were assigned aisle seats across from each other. We didn't get to cuddle, but at least we were next to each other and on our way to Aruba.

When we first saw Aruba from the air it took my breath away. It was exactly what the pictures showed. Beautiful white sand and turquoise and blue water. It was 3pm when we arrived so it was pretty hot. Our room wasn't ready and we had to eat a late lunch at the time share, La Cabana, while we waited for it to be cleaned. Mind you, we were still dressed for Seattle weather in jeans and tennis shoes so we were HOT. Also, we hadn't slept since neither of us sleeps well in less than ideal environments, not to mention the medical emergency in the middle of the night. So we were a little cranky too (but not to each other :).

When we got our room we changed and went out to the beach. It was stunning. Huge amounts of white sand, clear water, cabanas for the shade. We got cabana number 10, Bruce's favorite, of course and we hopped in the water.

The honeymoon centered around the water. It was too hot in the sun so we basically sat in the pool or the ocean for hours (like hippos), snorkeled, went on a variety of boats and had fun on the waterslides. Snorkeling was my favorite. I was ok with fish, as long as I had a mask on and they weren't swarming me. Take the mask off and I was grossed out.

We did try to go shopping for gifts one day....that did not last long. We couldn't do it so we turned around and went back to the beach. This was after we went on a submarine excursion.


We had a lot of lovely and romantic dinners. We had them on the beach in the sand, on a private pier and in open-air restaurants all at sunset. We saw almost every beautiful sunset and even got a lightning show one night.

We swung off a rope into the water from a pirate ship in the evening following a snorkeling tour from a glass bottom boat:


One of our favorite days was when we went to De Palm Island - an all inclusive island with a water park, snorkeling, a sea trek, scuba diving, swimming and eating/drinking, of course.




Of course, we did more water activities but not a lot else. La Cabana had the best pool and had a slide, a water volleyball section, hot tubs and waterfalls. We spent a lot of time on the beach and at the pool. I could add more but I want to keep some things for just Bruce and I to share. Don't think dirty thoughts! I'm talking about the things we saw, said and did. It was the best time of our lives and we're ecstatic that we got to share the best time ever with each other.

Wedding Day

Yay! We finally did it. We got married after a 2 year, 2 month engagement. It was emotional for all of us, we had a lot of fun, but I'm glad it's done.

The day began, for me, around 5am when I bolted upright out of sleep thinking "we need lighters, pins, something old & something borrowed." I got out of bed to find the "something old" which would be a saint pin that was my Grandma Donna's which made it's way north after her death a few years back.I went back to bed to get some more "beauty rest" before the hoopla began.

When I did get up it was a rush to get everything ready and to my friend Stephanie's house where I would meet by friend, Shannin, to get ready. Stephanie was so nice - my sisters, my mom, Robert, Shannin and her hairdresser friend, Amy, and Shannin's daughter took over the house to do hair and make-up. I thought that 2 hours were enough to get ready, but I was running to the venue and got there exactly on time. The photographers and Bruce's parents were there when we showed up so we rushed to the bridal sweet to get started.

The "blur" that everyone talks about started there. I had no idea what was going on with everyone else and I was being directed by the photographer while Bruce was (I assumed) getting photographed as well. I wanted to have a sweet moment with Bruce before everything got too crazy. That didn't really happen since the craziness began as soon as I left my driveway, but I still needed a moment with him before seeing everyone else.

They staged "the moment" of course, but when I tapped him on the shoulder it was all over. We were crying and hugging and kissing and then the photographing began. We got to talk to each other under our breaths while we were being directed. Sometimes they suggested things like twirling and dipping but we were too overwhelmed for anything other than holding each other. This was the man I was going to marry in just an hour!

Photographs continued on with the bridal party, parents, both sides of the family. It seemed to go on forever. My cheeks hurt, my throat was dry, I just couldn't wait to get started. Everyone looked so good, the centerpieces were better than I could have imagined but I still just wanted to get down the aisle.

Walking down the aisle was a blur. Everything but what was immediately beside me was a blur. Bruce said it was the same with him. This didn't stop until we came home. I can't even recount all the things that happened that day because it was so emotional. Some bits are crystal clear but a lot is not. Bruce and I were crying when we said our vows to each other. I could barely talk when I said my vows to Ryan. He was crying, Bruce was crying, I was crying...what a bunch of babies.

Bruce and I ate food, but didn't taste it. We hadn't eaten all day but weren't hungry when we did sit down to eat because we were so worked up. (Both of us had been forgetting to eat for days because we were so busy getting the last minute things done). We greeted people but didn't really get a lot of time to talk to anyone but each other. Even then, I don't think we got a lot of time with each other.

The first dance was mortifying for both of us. We were discussing during the dance that we should have chosen a really short song because neither of us like a lot of attention on us. We cut the cake and it was delicious but then we barely had any. We were toasted by the bridal party, which made us tear up. We were both really moved by my dad's little speech in which he said that, as we grew up he always told us that "boys are bad" but that we've shown him that not all boys are bad and that Bruce was welcomed to the family. We still get teary eyed thinking about it. It really meant a lot to both of us because, well, boys ARE bad, but Bruce is good :)

I wish I could write a better blog about the day, but it is impossible to contain the emotions of the day into words. All the things people say to describe the day are right "swelling hearts" "it's all a blur" "it goes by so fast" "tears flowing" "butterflies in the stomach", but they are just words and phrases that try to capture the feeling but really can't because of the enormity of the feelings. We have beautiful photos to help us remember the day and bring back the memory of the feelings, but I can't imagine being able to have those feelings so collectively ever again. Bruce was right, I'm glad we didn't elope. I think that, although it was A LOT of work, it helped us really feel like we were making the big change in our lives, not just moving on.

I love that my family has officially increased in size. I love that I'm officially a step-mom to a really great kid. I'm excited to see what the future holds with us because, although I knew Bruce and I were going to be together for always, I feel better knowing that we vowed before others that we will be partners forever.

Rehearsal Dinner

After 2 days of running around like a chicken with my head cut off, we finally had the rehearsal dinner this evening. It was so chaotic having 20 people at the house but it's family and friends so it's ok, right?





We ate dinner and when I called everyone's attention, tears suddenly came to my eyes out of nowhere. What am I going to be like on Sunday if I can't just go over things with my family!?!

Finally we got down to business. We talked time lines, placement, cues, expectations, the works. After most people left cousin Jacquelin took over and started directing Des and Britt on how to walk down the aisle. She used martini glasses in lieu of bouquets:












We had the music, the bouquet Kristin made me from my wedding shower and the ladies (and my dad and Ryan, of course). Ryan and Allison were so cute together practicing their moves down the aisle.





We all had a sleep over because Bruce was having his bachelor party at Mike & Des's house. We watched movies, ate dessert, and played games.

Bachelorette Party

I'm not a "bachelorette party" sort of girl; however, I have lovely friends who believe I should have one. Even if I had been getting married at 20 years old I didn't want to do the "typical" party where there were penis necklaces, crazy drunkeness, and lots of trampy girls running around. That isn't me and has never been me.

If everyone had the means, I would have loved a girl's weekend at the beach in a rental house where we could play games, walk on the beach and fly kites or something total relaxing like that. I guess I'm low key :)

My friends Stephanie, Lindsay & Jessica threw me a party where they took into consideration all my likes (lemon drops, white chocolate macadamia nut cookies, gummy bears, games) and my dislikes (drunken debauchery, inappropriate behavior, noodles, coke). The plan was to go to Lindsay's in Seattle and play games, eat and hang out before going to a comedy show. Stephanie created a "naughty" game based on Cranium. It was awesome and hilarious so no one wanted to leave for the comedy show so that we could continue to play. Playing involved sculpting "sex-related" items (The Crab, 69, etc.) or acting out porn movie titles (Saving Benjamin's Privates). It was hilarious and we could be really good at the games without being gross, which is what I appreciated. Of course, we had to pin some hoses on firemen before the end of the night but that was just plain silly. I won!



When we were done, we decided to go to the International District of Seattle to do private karaoke. I'm not really a bar hopping girl and I've never karaoke'd so it seemed like a good idea. It's always scary to step outside your comfort zone but I still try to do it because you never know - it could be something you LOVE. At first I was hesitant and unsure. I didn't know what the heck this was about, even though I have watched others do it before. I didn't realize how much harder it was to sing when the singer isn't singing it and it's all on you.

Thank heaven's for Lindsay who was REALLY into karaoking. She was serious about it. It was like she was on stage in front of her fans. It was hilarious. Katie and Brittany were awesome to watch too! They sang "Baby got Back" and really really got into it. They were dancing and singing. It was so funny! When I did it I thought it was fun but I'm definitely no pro at it. I don't know the words of really familiar songs when I'm not just singing along.

We left for home relatively early (11pm) and I was in bed by 12:30. Perfect for a girl who is usually sleeping by 9:30. It was a fun and memorable night and I'm glad I did it because initially I said "no way." I love my friends. Here are some pictures: