Hello Everyone!

 

Well, once again I have been lax on updating my blog. So much has happened since September that I hardly know where to begin.  So...I will begin at the beginning.

 

In October, Bob and celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary on the 8th. We went to Seaside, Oregon where we had rented a house for a long weekend along with our best friends Sue and Gracie who celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary on October 1st. What a wonderful time we had! We played numerous games at the arcade, ate a lot of terrific food, did a lot of wonderful shopping and enjoyed our days on the beautiful Seaside Beach. It was the perfect way to celebrate our anniversaries!

 

Later that month, my mama and papa bear came up from Gulfport, Mississippi for a week long visit. We had so much fun! We went to Newport, Lincoln City, Timberline up on Mt. Hood, and many more places!  They had a wonderful time meeting some of our dearest friends and basically had an all around good time. It was sad for me to see them go back home, but I know that no matter where I roam, I will always be my mama's baby girl. I love you Mama and Papa Bear and we hope to see ya'll again soon!

 

In November, we were busy with Thanksgiving and all that goes with it.  My dear friend Courtney and her fiance Mike came over, and we had tons of fun eating the traditional Turkey dinner with all the fixin's!

 

In December, it was my birthday and Christmas. On December 12 I was 29 for the 3rd time (for those of you that think I won't admit it, I'm 31), and Bob had a wonderful birthday party for me on Dec 8. Thank you to everyone who helped me celebrate my special day. I actually received an early birthday gift on Sunday, December 9. The title of this blog entry actually comes from a song by Yael Naim, a wonderful singer and songwriter. The rest goes:

 

I'm a new soul
I came to this strange world
Hoping I could learn a bit bout how to give and take
But since I came here, felt the joy and the fear
Finding myself making every possible mistake

 

Why would I quote this? Well... it's for the newest love of my life. He has black hair, brown eyes, and the cutest tail you've ever seen! Did I mention he has four paws also? His name is Markee's Beautiful Bailey, or Bailey Boo for those in the know, our new Black Lab puppy! He was born October 22, 2007 and as I write this will turn 6 months old 1 week from today. He is now 55 pounds of pure trouble that I wouldn't trade the world for!

 

Christmas was a wonderful occasion celebrated for almost a week. Bob's grandmother came down from Salem one evening, and we enjoyed having her to our home. We look forward to her being here again soon!

 

On December 22, Bob's sister Andi, her boyfriend Rick, and her two sons Erik and Cole were here to celebrate. Erik had come down a few days early to help me bake Christmas cookies and we sure did have fun! I hope it's something that we can do together for many years to come. We had a good time on the 22nd playing games, opening gifts, eating Christmas ham and having an all around good time! We love you all! On a side note to Andi: I couldn't ask for a better sister (you're much closer than a sister-in-law) or dearer friend than you! Love you!

 

Not too much happened in January that I recall. In February, we had a Super Bowl party! What fun it was to have all of our friends together for such an event! I must admit, I tend to watch the Super Bowl for the commercials and the half-time show, so excuse me if I have trouble remembering who even played! :)

 

Later that month, Bob and I went to Portland with our friends Geno and Laurie and Ken and Amelia to see Jeff Dunham in concert. What a great performance and an all around cool weekend! We ate at the Greek Cuisina, went to the Portland Zoo and saw one of the best comics on the circuit right now. An all around wonderful time!

 

That same weekend, Bob and I were in Silverton to see the marriage of two of our friends, Richard and Andrew. I just want to say that we wish them all the best in the world and we hope they have many more years of love, happiness, and laughter. Best wishes to the both of you, and thank you for inviting us to be a part of your very special day.  It meant more to us than you will ever know.

 

In March, Bob and I went to Lincoln City for the BCA pool tournament at Chinook Winds Casino. Bob and the rest of his team had a great time and all said they can't wait until next year! We rented a house in Lincoln City once again with our best friends Sue and Gracie. It was a beautiful house and the best part was that it was dog friendly, so we got to take our little Bailey Boo! He had a wonderful time on the beach, and we look forward to many more happy years with him and our dear friends.

 

Also in March, we were able to get together with Rick and Andi for some grown-up time and some yummy sushi. We ate here in Corvallis at Tokyo Steakhouse and Sushi Bar. This is a wonderful restaurant that is worth checking out! Rick had to work Easter, but we were able to get in some more time with Andi up in Salem. We had a fun time eating out and trying our luck at Spirit Mountain. One day, I'll win that jackpot! :)

 

April has so far been pretty uneventful, and I really don't see that changing. However, tomorrow (April 16) is a special day! Our friend April is celebrating her birthday! So, happy birthday April! Even though we don't get to see each other as much as I would like, I want you to know that you are never far from my thoughts!

 

Well, all for now. I say this every time, but I really do have aspirations to be better at updating this thing. :) Until next time, ya'll take care and I hope to hear from all of you soon!

 

Love,

Alanda

 

P.S. I am going to post some more pictures, and I will have even more of Bailey once I figure out how to get them off my cell phone! :) 

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Hello Everyone!

 

Well, according to the dates on my blog, it's been about a month and a half since I updated my site. Where does the time go? I am on Spring Break this week from college, and so I have been pretty busy doing some spring cleaning and also (to the dismay of my husband) some spring shopping! :)

 

First, I would like to send out some congratulations. The first person is my wonderful friend Courtney.  Courtney moved here from Texas, so us two Southern girls have been learning the ropes of the Pacific Northwest together.  She is getting married next June (where I will be the most awesome bridesmaid EVER for her!), and her and her fiance Mike just bought their first house, AND got a puppy! Way to go guys! I am very happy for the both of you! :)

 

Next, my friend Tiffany has announced that she will be getting married to her wonderful fiance Joey next September (2008).  Tiffany was a bridesmaid in my wedding, so it was with great honor I accepted her request for me to be one in hers.  I look forward to this happy day and I hope that I can carry out my bridesmaid's duties better than anyone in history. 

 

Bob and I have been spending a lot of time with our friends Sue and Gracie (as usual).  We are so glad that we have friends that we can hang out with and spend time together.  We look forward to our weekend trip to the coast with them next month. We love you both very much! Also, a belated happy birthday to Gracie who had a birthday on March 5. We love you Grace and we wish you many more happy birthdays! :)

 

My friend Chuck also had a birthday at the beginning of this month on March 3.  Happy birthday Chuck! I love you very much and I thank my lucky stars that I have a friend as good as you.  We have been through a lot together, good times and bad.  I look forward to sharing many more memories with you.

 

Bob and I went to a BBQ last Saturday and had a great time.  It was at his sister's boyfriend's house, so we were able to meet a lot of his friends and even some of his family.  Thank you so much Rick for inviting us and for the yummy wings and BBQ chicken! I also want to send out a very special message to my sister-in-law Andi: you are not just my husband's sister, but truly one of my best friends.  I love you chicky! Andi also had a birthday on February 23.  I was able to eat out with her and her friend Lauri from Oklahoma (who flew in just for the occasion), and also with my friend Courtney who had a birthday February 19.  It was really cool for me and Andi to be able to celebrate her birthday and Courtney's birthday as friends as well as family. Happy belated birthday to Andi and Courtney both!

 

Well, I have a houseful right now.  Not only am I on Spring Break, but our three nephews (one by family, two by friends) are also on Spring Break right now too!  We are all having a wonderful time and I will talk more about their visit and post pictures at a later date. 

 

Well, all for now. I hope everyone is having a wonderful Spring and I look forward to hearing from all of you soon!

 

Love,

Alanda   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello All!

 

Well, Christmas is over and January is almost gone.  I hope that everyone had some wonderful holidays and that you are all settling into the new year well. 

 

What a busy time it has been!  Sue and Gracie spent Thanksgiving with me and Bob, and then we spent Christmas with Sue and Gracie.  We sure did have a lot of fun and we feel so blessed to have such wonderful friends. 

 

Back in December, Bob threw me a second annual 29th birthday party.  It was a lot of fun!  Every day, I am more amazed by the wonderful man I have married.  Best thing I have ever done. I love you sweetie, and thank you for always being there for me as my friend and my husband.

 

So...a few weddings coming my way!  My friend Tiffany is getting married in September, and then my other friend Courtney is getting married June of 2008.  I am going to be the best bridesmaid EVER for both of them! :)

 

In other news, Bob's sister and her two children have moved to Salem from Oklahoma.  Andi and I have been spending a lot of time together, and loving every minute of it! I feel so lucky to have a sister-in-law that I also consider a great friend.  It has also been fun for me and Bob to spend time with her two children, Cole and Erik (or as I call them: pumpkin and sweet pea). Erik is eleven years old and growing up fast! He is taking karate and loveing his new school.  Cole is sixteen months old and learning quick that Uncle Bob is the one to go to to get out of any trouble he might be in.  Uncle Bob can do no wrong! :) The only problem we have had is that Bob thinks that Andi and I gang up on him.  He says that when Andi and I get together it is trouble times two.  That's okay. We'll get him later for THAT remark! :)

 

I am back in school and enjoying my classes, even though I feel like I have been going to school now forever!  My cousin Gary in California told me not to worry about it.  The best five years of his life were spent getting through his freshman curriculum, so I'm thinking this could be a family trait.  I love you Gary!

 

Well, all for now.  We have a busy weekend planned.  Tiffany and her fiance Joey are coming down for dinner Saturday, and I have lots of cooking to do. I added some new pictures to the site.  These were made in Orange Beach, Alabama on our first wedding anniversary trip.  I hope you all take care and that I talk to all of you soon!

 

Love,

Alanda

 

P.S.  Special to Nathan....a little bird told me that you have been feeling under the weather.  I hope you get better soon sweetie and remember that Aunt Alanda loves you and Freeman Gene VERY much!!

Hello Everyone!

 

Wow! It has been a long time and I apologize for that! Bob and I had a wonderful summer! I had to have some dental surgery done (which I am still going through), but I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel on that.

 

We went to Orange Beach and Gulf Shores Alabama for our first anniversary. Has it really been a year?!? We spent 10 days having fun in the sun and we also attended Shrimp Festival while we were down. My mom and step-dad came over one day and it was good to see them.  We hadn't seen them since Christmas last year, so there was a lot to catch up on.  We went out to eat and then went to the festival.  Bob and I went to the festival two of the four days it was going on.  We stayed in a condo on the beautiful Alabama Gulf Coast and ate a lot of good food!

 

This past Sunday, we went out to eat with Freeman and April and their two boys to Red Lobster in Salem to celebrate Freeman's birthday.  It was very good! We look forward to spending more time with Freeman and April and the boys now that things seem to have settled down again for all of us. 

 

Back in October, me and Bob and Sue and Gracie went to a cornfield maze.  What a great time!  The best time to go to a cornfield maze is definitely at night!  We had fun scaring each other and then eating Mexican food afterwards.  Halloween weekend, me and Sue and Angie and Hiroshi all went to the haunted catacombs here at Oregon State University.  I don't think I have ever screamed that much! Afterwards, Sue and I went to get something to eat and met up with Bob.  Then we went back with Bob!  He was a lot braver than either one of us and didn't even jump. Sue and I were just as scared the second time as we were the first!  We also had dinner with Sue and Gracie at their house that weekend.  The food was really yummy, and then when we were playing cards, the lights went out.  How appropriate for Halloween weekend!

 

Halloween night, Bob and I dressed up and had tons of fun handing out goodies to all of the kids who came trick or treating. We even saw some ones we knew!

 

Well, all for now.  If anyone is interested, there was an anniversary announcement for me and Bob yesterday in the Salem Statesman Journal yesterday. Here's the link:

 

 http://online.statesmanjournal.com/milestones/milestone_display.cfm

 

Ya'll take care and we hope to hear from all of you soon!

 

Love,

Alanda

Hello Everyone!

 

I am SO sorry that it has been so long since I have written anything here.  Bob and I have had a busy past couple of months.  Well, I am done with school for the summer and I am enjoying my summer vacation.  The only downside is that I have to have a little dental surgery done next week. OUCH! I'm hoping to have a speedy recovery and then get back to enjoying my summer!

 

My cousin Anne and her husband Dwain came to see us in June.  They were here for two weeks and we all had a wonderful time! We did so much stuff while they were here.  We went to Alsea Falls, the Oregon Gardens, and also over to the coast.  Tons of pictures were made, so I will try to post some of them soon.  There were tears when they left, but we know that we will see each other again soon.

 

We had a wonderful Fourth of July weekend.  We spent a lot of time with our good friends Sue and Gracie and shot off a ton of fireworks! Sunday, Bob and I drove over to Newport and spent the night. Monday, we walked through all of the shops and then that evening, we drove up to Depot Bay and watched the fireworks display. It was beautiful!  They did a really good job and we look forward to possibly going back over there next year! Tuesday, Sue and Grace came over to our house and we had a delicious dinner!  Bob grilled some steaks and then I made some potatoes and a salad to go with it.  Sue and Grace had brought over a carrot cake, so we had that for dessert. The whole meal was very yummy and enjoyed by everyone! :)

 

This past Wednesday was Bob's birthday.  We went out with our friends Eric and Cynthia, Brian and Evelyn, John and Sarah, and Bill and Sam to celebrate.  They all surprised him at McGrath's and Bob was speechless! It was so good to see so many of our friends want to help celebrate Bob's birthday.  This was Bob's first birthday as my husband, so it was a thrill for me to be able to get him a card that said "For my husband" on it.  I wanted to thank all of our friends and family who helped him celebrate his special day by sending cards, coming to his dinner, and calling him.  It is so wonderful for him to see how many people care for him. 

 

Bob and I are still enjoying being newleyweds, and we wake up every day looking forward to another new adventure in our lives together.  He truly is the love of my life. Bob, I want you to know that I am forever and always YOUR girl.  I love you, sweetheart. I always will. I look forward to us spending many more birthdays together.

 

Well, all for now.  I will try to post some pictures this evening.  I hope everyone takes care and I hope to talk to all of you real soon!

 

Love,

Alanda 

Hello Everyone!

 

Well, Bob and I have once again been super busy! However, we love every single minute of married life, and every day I thank my lucky stars that he is my husband!

 

This past weekend, Bob and I had some very full days! Friday night, we went out to eat with our good friends Sue and Gracie to Le Bistro here in town. Oh my goodness, the food was wonderful! We all ate until we thought we were going to burst, and still wanted some more of this delicious food!  This is a wonderful place to go on a date night, or even out with friends. We had such a good time!

 

Saturday, we went to Tillamook and saw Bob's grandmother. What a sweet lady! She made us clam chowder and shrimp salad for lunch and then she had made a lemon pie for desert. Very yummy! I enjoyed talking with her and we also saw Bob's Uncle Joe and Aunt Stella while we were there.  We hadn't seen them since the wedding, so it was fun to catch up with them. We hope to see them all again real soon!

 

Saturday night, we went over to Sue and Gracie's house for a dinner party. As usual, Sue made the most delicious meal! We had baked chicken in a sauce, pasta, salad and fresh bread. So delicious!

 

Well, all for now. I'm sure I'll add some more later.  No new pictures at this time, but with the beautiful weather, I'm sure I'll have some more to add soon. Ya'll take care, and I hope to talk to all of you soon!

 

Alanda

 

 

Hello All!

 

Well, it has been a wonderful two weeks! On April 8, Bob and I got a touch of the "spring fever", so we decided to do a little exploring in Linn County.  We went on a covered bridge tour that was fabulous! It was a wonderful drive and the bridges were beautiful!

 

The weekend of April 15, Bob and I headed up to Portland to help celebrate our good friend April's birthday.  We had so much fun! That Saturday night, me, Bob, Freeman, and April went to The Greek Cuisina. Wow! The food was excellent and the floor show was even better! Then on Sunday, April 16 (April's real Birthday), we went and saw Larry the Cable Guy.  He was so funny! Bob and I decided to stay until Monday, and we had a good time walking around downtown Portland and looking in all the shops.  We also ate lunch Monday at the Macaroni Grill. Excellent food there also! The Friday night before we left, we went to our good friends' Mark and Jessica's house to help celebrate April's birthday.  What a wonderful thing to have a birthday celebration all weekend! Way to go April!! We saw quite a few of our friends there, and we all had a wonderful time!

 

Well, all for now.  I have a bit of a allergy/cold thing going on right now, so I'm hoping it'll end soon! I hope everyone takes care and I hope to talk to all of you soon!

 

Love,

Alanda

 

P.S. Once again, Happy Birthday April! I love you and I am so glad we're friends! If there are anymore April birthdays out there among mine and Bob's friends, please let me know!

Hello Everyone!

 

Wow, it doesn't seem possible that it is already April! Where is the year going? Anyway, not too much has been going on lately, but I wanted to add an entry to tell everyone hello!

 

A few weeks ago, our nephew Erik came to visit. Erik is Andi's son (Bob's sister). We had a wonderful time with him! He is a well mannered 10 year old boy and just full of energy. If we could ever find a way to bottle that energy, we would all be millionaires! We picked him up on a Sunday and we were also able to see Andi and her husband Kent, and their new baby boy, Cole. He is so cute! He is about 8 months old now, and as those of you that have children know, they are so cute at that age! After having a wonderful lunch with all of them, we brought Erik home for an overnight visit.  We went to Avery Park and had a ton of fun playing on the train and also playing Frisbee.  Monday, we went over to Newport and spent a fun filled day.  We started at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, and then went to the Ripley's Museum, the Wax Works Museum, and the Undersea Gardens. We really enjoyed having Erik for a visit and we look forward to having him to the house again soon!

 

We have also been spending time with our friends.  Sue and Grace have had us over for dinner quite a few times, and we have also had dinner and a night out with Freeman and April. I went to Tigard and picked up my friend Angelique last weekend and we had a blast watching movies and just catching up on the gossip and what has been going on in our lives.  I feel so blessed to have so many good friends here in Oregon. I miss all of my friends in the South dearly, and I try to keep up with them as much as possible, but it's also nice to know I have so many good friends here in Oregon.

 

Well, all for now.  I am getting ready to start a new quarter in college, and that is always exciting.  Bob and I are still the newlyweds enjoying married life to the fullest. Every day, we are more and more amazed at how much we have in common and how much fun we have just being a couple. I hope everyone has a wonderful week, and I hope to talk to all of you soon! Take care!

 

Love,

Alanda

 

P.S. I also want to send out a very special message to my Granpa in North Alabama whose birthday is April 9 (he will be 84 years young): Happy Birthday Granpa! I love you very much and you will never know how influential you have been in my life.  Thank you for all of the love and support you have given me throughout my entire life.  May you continue to be blessed with good health and happiness. I look around and realize how lucky I am to still have you in my life and to know that you are still living your life to the fullest.  I love you, Granpa. I always will. Just remember, no matter how old I get or how old you get, I will always be your grandbaby.

 

I also wanted to send out a special happy birthday to both Freeman Gene and Nathan. They both had birthdays in March.  Happy birthday boys! I hope they were the best yet!

Hello Everyone!

 

I'm sorry it has been so long since I have written anything! It seems like I stay so busy these days. There is not too much going on right now in my life, but I wanted to post an entry anyway.

 

Bob and I went to Silver Creek Falls at the end of January. We hadn't been to Silver Creek Falls since my first visit to Oregon 3 years ago.  It was cool to see it in the middle of winter. The falls were absolutely beautiful! We had a wonderful time hiking the trails and enjoying nature. I look forward to Bob and I doing more things like this.

 

We also spent a lovely weekend at Seaside a few weeks ago for Valentine's Day. Seaside is a beautiful place, and if you have an opportunity to visit there, I highly recommend it! We had a wonderful time going through the shops in the downtown area, and on our way home, we went through Cannon Beach. I finally got to see Haystack Rock! We also took a side trip and saw the largest spruce tree in the United States. What a glorious site!

 

This past weekend, I went to Portland with my good friends Sue and Gracie. Sunday was Gracie's birthday, so we went up there for a girl's weekend. We ate at some great restaurants! My favorite was the Greek Cuisina. This is such a fun place to go! I got to break a plate, and dance some Greek dances. I even got chosen to dance with a belly dancer. Unfortunately, we forgot to take a camera, so I don't have any pictures from this trip. We did a TON of shopping Saturday. I found some really great deals! Saturday night, we met Sue's brother and wife at a restaurant called the Blue Hour. The food was pretty good, but very over priced. The one good thing about this place was the drinks. I had one called "the Diva" and it was yummy! It was made with blood red oranges and vodka along with a few other things, and it went down way smooth. Afterwards, we went to Mints and had some top shelf, top notch drinks. I had a fruit punch that made me feel like I was in a tropical location lying on the beach. Very nice!

 

Well, all for now. I also want to send out a Happy Birthday to my good friend Chuck. He turned 60 on March 3. Happy Birthday Chuck! You're a wonderful friend and I love you!

 

Take care everyone and I hope to talk to all of you soon!

 

Love,

Alanda

 

Good Evening Everyone!

 

My goodness, it has been a while since I updated this site! Sorry about that. Well, the holidays are over and I am as busy as ever! But first, I'll catch ya'll up on how the season was for me.

 

Bob and I went to my mom's house for Christmas and New Year's. It was so good to see everyone. As most of you know, my mom lives in Gulfport, Mississippi.  Her and my papa bear have just about got the house back to normal, but everywhere you go, there is massive destruction to be seen.  It was very heartbreaking for me to see all of those beautiful old homes gone and the beach a total mess. However, I have total faith in the people of the Mississippi Gulf Coast that they will rebuild and find a way to make things beautiful again!

 

We had a lot of fun at Christmas! I got to see most of my family, and it was fun to see all of the kids tearing into their gifts and showing everyone what they had received. We played a TON of Yahtzee while we were there, and I am happy to report my mom beat Bob every time. This was a pleasure for my mom since she had found out that Bob had said he was going to beat her badly at the game. No, I have NO idea who told her he was trash talking! :)

 

New Year's was spent shooting off fireworks and catching up on gossip. We had some awesome fireworks to shoot off!

 

We returned home on Wednesday, January 4 and tried to get back into the swing of things. I started back to school on January 9. I am really enjoying my classes this term! I have some wonderful teachers, and I feel really good about how my grades will be. I'll keep you updated!

 

Well, other than that, not too much going on. I am adding some pictures of Bob and I at my mom and papa bear's house for Christmas. I hope everyone had happy holidays and I wish you the very best in the upcoming year!

 

Love,

Alanda

Good Morning Everyone!

 

Well, it is official. As of Monday, I am 29 years old! Bob had a wonderful birthday party for me this past Saturday, and it was so much fun to have all of my friends over to help me celebrate. We had a really good spaghetti dinner and a cake that was very yummy! I hope everyone who came had as good as time as I did! I wanted to send a thank you out to everyone for all of their wonderful gifts and company. I will be mailing out thank you notes sometime this week to thank you all properly.

 

A special thank you goes out to my friend April for helping Bob make the spaghetti. April, you are a wonderful friend and I don't know what we would do without you!

 

Sunday, Bob and I went to Portland and saw "The Nutcracker" ballet, and then had a wonderful dinner at Morton's steakhouse. Monday, we strapped on our bowling shoes and played 3 games at the local bowling alley. Bob beat me at every game, but I still had a great time. I even managed to get 3 strikes and a couple of spares! :)

 

Well, all for now. I want to send out a special happy birthday to my friend Angie who has a birthday on December 15, and also a happy birthday to Corey, who will be 4 on December 16.

 

I am adding some pictures from the party and will talk to all of you soon. Until then, take care!

 

Love,

Alanda

 

Good Evening Everyone!

 

What an exciting week it has been! Bob and I went Christmas shopping this past weekend, and we were able to get packages out to everyone that lives far away. I discovered after last year that it is better to do it early and pay ground shipping than wait until the last minute and have to pay 3 day air! :)

 

Sunday, Bob and I went with Freeman and April and their two boys to the mountains near Sweet Home. What a wonderful time we had! I had never seen so much snow! We were in about 3-4 feet of snow, and boy was it fun! I was able to take some wonderful pictures of the scenery. Also, we all had a great time going down the hill on a saucer. I had never been on one, so I think the others got a kick out of hearing me scream and laugh. It was great! I have to say the funniest part was watching Freeman and Bob push each other down the hill on it. I guess in some ways, we never grow up. I am so thankful for that.

 

Monday, Bob and I went to Eugene and then on to Portland to do some more Christmas shopping. The malls were so crowded for it to be a Monday! We had a good time looking at all the decorations, and seeing all the different Christmas gift ideas. Also, we got a Christmas tree that day from Tom's Garden Center in Albany. Bob and I have got our tree from there the past three years, and have always had good results. The employees (including Tom himself) have always been helpful and friendly. It was fun for me to stand in the middle of all of those Christmas trees and think about the past three years Bob and I have picked out a tree together. The first year was 2003. I had just moved here about a month before, and Bob and I were still settling into living together. The next time was Christmas 2004. We had only been engaged for a few weeks, and we were so excited about the wedding and starting our lives together as man and wife. This year, we were newlyweds celebrating our first Christmas together as husband and wife and loving every minute of it. Isn't it amazing how sometimes life is measured by the small things such as picking out a Christmas tree?

 

We decided this year on a Grand Plantation Fir. We did not have it flocked, so it is beautiful and green all decorated in the corner of our family room. It is right at 8 feet tall, and has so many ornaments on it I am almost embarrassed! :)

 

Well, all for now. Bob is going through the house picking up some things and getting a list together for a party tomorrow night. You see, Monday, December 12 is my birthday and my wonderful husband is throwing me a party with all of our friends tomorrow night. I couldn't have asked for a sweeter man.

 

Well, you all take care and have a wonderful week. Hope you enjoy the pictures!

 

Love,

Alanda

Good Evening Everyone!

 

So many good things have happened this week! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Bob and I went to Freeman and April's for Thanksgiving and had a wonderful time! We got to their house at about 12:30, and we didn't leave until after midnight. We had a really good dinner or turkey, prime rib, mashed potatoes, and a host of side dishes. Freeman's mother, Miss Lyda, made some wonderful salads! We both enjoyed spending Thanksgiving with all of them, and we are so thankful to have such nice friends. After dinner, the five of us played a game called 10,000. It's played with dice. This is an easy game to learn, but a tough one to master! After Miss Lyda went home, Freeman, April, Bob and I played Taboo. Bob and Freeman were one team, April and I the other. We played 3 games, and I am happy to announce that April and I beat the boys 2 to 1! Afterwards, Freeman and I played a game of cribbage and much to my surprise, I beat him! It was so good to spend a wonderful holiday with such wonderful friends. Thank you Freeman and April for all of your hospitality!

 

Friday night, Bob and I decided to hit Wal-Mart and see what kind of deals we could find. The best part was at the end. They had a basketball game in their little arcade room, and I beat Bob 3-1! It was great!

 

Saturday, I went shopping with Sue and Gracie. We went to an event at the fairgrounds called "Gifts for a better world". It was a lot of fun picking up some Christmas gifts for some friends, and seeing the beautiful creations made by some local artists. Saturday night, Bob and I went over to their house for cocktails and snacks and played a rousing game of Scattagories. Sue won, but I came in a close second. Okay, maybe it wasn't THAT close, but I like to think it was! :)

 

Sunday evening, Bob and I went and looked at the Christmas lights at the Pepsi place here in Corvallis. If you get the chance to drive through this display, I totally recommend it! It was very beautiful, and I was able to take some good pictures.

 

Monday, Bob and I watched some Christmas movies and wrapped presents. It is so much fun getting ready for Christmas this year! Bob and I are looking forward to our first Christmas together as a married couple!

 

Today, I stepped out onto our back deck and saw the most beautiful rainbow! I am including some pictures of it on the site. Also, I am posting some pictures from the Pepsi display, and also one of Bob and Freeman doing kitchen work on Thanksgiving.

 

Well, all for now. I hope you all take care and try to stay warm! Until next time!

 

Love,

Alanda

 

P.S. A special happy birthday goes out to our friends Sandy and Doug. Both of their birthdays are November 29.  So to Sandy in Alabama, and Doug here in Oregon, Happy Birthday!! I wish you many more, and I hope this is your best year ever!

Hello Everyone!

 

Well, it was a sad, sad, day here Saturday. Not only did my team (the Alabama Crimson Tide) lose to their arch rivals the Auburn Tigers, but Oregon State got STOMPED by University of Oregon. Oh well, we'll get 'em all next year! :)

 

What an exciting weekend it has been! Bob and I left Saturday and went to Portland where we had a lot of fun. We checked into the Marriot by the river in downtown, and then Bob took me to Pioneer Mall. What a neat place! It's cool to be in a mall that keeps going up, and up, and up. A lot of neat stores too! I found a lot of things that I liked, but Bob told me it was too close to my birthday and Christmas to get anything. That's okay, though. I had fun buying Christmas presents for other people. I have to get started early to ship things to the South for my family and friends down there! We also ate at Mandarin Cove Saturday night. That is my favorite Chinese restaurant out here! The food was wonderful! Their hot and sour soup is the best I have ever had. Bob and I also had the sesame beef, and some General Tso's chicken. If you have a chance to eat here, please do! The food is good and the portions are HUGE! The cost is pretty reasonable for a sit down dinner also.

 

After we ate, we went to Powell's Books. I had never been there before, and what a cool place it was! I told Bob that we are definitely going to have to go back and spend an entire day there. Books and books and more books! It was like a dream come true for me! If you want a book on any subject, this place has it!

 

Sunday, we went to the Portland market. The market takes place under Burnside Bridge. I found so many Christmas gifts there! Bob and I walked and walked and saw all sorts of interesting things. There were artists, food vendors, and sidewalk musicians everywhere! I can't wait to go again!

 

On Sunday, we went to Clackamas Town Center and did some more shopping. I like going to the Made in Oregon Store and stocking up on goodies for my family back in the South. I'm afraid I have gotten my grandparents addicted to Marionberry jam! :)

 

After a full day of shopping, we went to Gustov's for some excellent food. We had Swiss cheese fondue with 3 different types of bread, and then I had some cream of sauerkraut soup. It was actually really yummy! For our main courses, Bob had prime rib, and I had cabbage rolls. Their cabbage rolls are some of the best I have ever had!

 

Well, all for now. I hope everyone has a wonderful and happy and safe Thanksgiving. I know I have so much to be thankful for this year. I have a wonderful husband who loves me dearly, and friends and family who lift me up when I am down. I want to tell each and every one of them how much I love them. You all mean more to me than you will ever know. You have been there through the good times and the bad, and I am eternally grateful to all of you!

 

Take care and I hope to hear from all of you soon!

 

Love,

Alanda

Good afternoon Everyone!

 

On Sunday, October 30, Bob and I went to Avery Park here in Corvallis, and the cornfield maze near Jefferson. We had a lot of fun!

 

Avery Park was beautiful with all of the trees changing leaves. The beautiful trails and scenery reminded me of a Robert Frost poem. Bob and I walked down to Mary's River and skipped rocks. Okay, I managed to skip one rock two times across the water. Bob was wonderful at it! He can skip rocks 5 and 6 times across the water every time!  Afterwards, we drove to Jefferson to the cornfield maze. We were laughing so hard about getting lost in the maze. We saw a few weary souls who looked like they were ready to just cut their way out of there. After we finally made our way out of the maze, we walked through the pumpkin patch and picked out some prize pumpkins to carve when we got home.

 

Halloween was a good time! We had a few trick or treaters, and it was nice to see how polite they all were. Every kid who came to our house made sure to say "thank you" when I handed them some candy.

 

Friday, November 4, we went up to Salem and looked at wedding pictures. Wow! I didn't realize how many pictures were made! We had around 1,000 pictures to look through. We narrowed them down to about 300 for now. We are still going through the pictures that were made at the reception, but we are hoping we will have the rest of the pictures up soon!

 

Saturday, November 5, we had a birthday party at the house. April asked if she could use our house for a birthday party for Freeman, and we were more than happy to oblige. What a good time we had! Freeman was so surprised! So even though it's a bit belated, I want to wish Freeman a very happy birthday and a very happy year!

 

This past weekend, we went out with our good friends Sue and Gracie, and Angie and Hiroshi. We all went to the Crowbar and had some drinks and some American Dream pizza. Very Yummy!

 

On Saturday night, we had a small dinner party at the house. Angie and Hiroshi came back over, and joining the four of us were some more friends of ours named Shannon and Tom. I work with both Angie and Shannon, so it's nice that we can be friends as well as co-workers. I cooked a roast with potatoes, carrots, and onions with a nice salad on the side. For desert, we had peach cobbler and vanilla ice cream. It was really good if I do say so myself.

 

Well, I believe that pretty well catches things up. I hope everyone is having a nice week, and I will write more later.

 

Take care!

 

Love,

Alanda  

Good Morning Everyone!

 

I thought this morning that I would play catch up and let everyone know what has been going on the past few months. As I said in my last post, I got married October 8. However, there was a lot that happened before the big day.

 

On September 24, Bob had his bachelor party. Freeman decided to have it at our house since we sort of live in the middle of everywhere. Well, from what I understand, a good time was had by all. There was some card playing, some pool playing, and some dart throwing. Oh yeah, there might have been a little drinking going on too! On a side note I would like to say that one of the members of that party should really come over and clean my kitchen. But we won't name any names, will we Brian? :)

 

While Bob and his friends were causing havoc at the old homestead, I went with my friends Sue and Gracie to Fall Festival. It was a lot of fun! We had a good time walking around and looking at everything. I also discovered that day I LOVE the pizza from Woodstock's pizza here in town. I had a piece of cheese pizza and it was YUMMY!

 

That night, the three of us went to a BBQ at Shaun and Marnie's house. The food was excellent, and the drinks plentiful. Thank you Shaun and Marnie for letting me be a guest at your dinner party.

 

The next day (Sunday), Bob and I went to Fall Festival together. Bob really wanted to go, and there were a few things I had seen the day before that I wanted to get his opinion on and see about picking up. We ended up buying a hand blown glass hummingbird feeder, and a beautiful picture to hang in our bedroom. It was fun to walk around and see all of our friends and neighbors out having a good time.

 

On October 1, it was time for the girls to have a little fun. I had my bachelorette party and we all had a blast! The evening started with a hummer stretch limo picking us all up at my house. From there, we went to Portland to a club called Darcel's. I had my picture made with Darcel and got to talk to her for a little while, so that was very interesting. For those of you that do not know, Darcel's is a drag queen club. We had a great time seeing the show. There are some very talented people at Darcel's! After the main event the fun really got going. The night we were there, Darcel's had a male strip tease show. Some of those men were H-O-T!!

 

On the way home, most of us fell asleep. Okay, I MAY have passed out, but it was my bachelorette party!

 

On October 5, family and friends started coming in for the wedding. The first to come in were my grandparents and my cousin and her husband from Alabama. They came in on Wednesday. Bob and I went to Portland and picked them up at the airport, and then we all went out to eat at Chili's. We had a great time!

 

On Thursday before the wedding, I had a busy day. At 10:30 that morning, a flight from Tulsa, Oklahoma landed with my good friend (and a groomsman for Bob) Chuck landed. I hadn't seen him since March, so it was fun to have a little time to catch up with him. Then at 11:30, a flight came in from Houston that had my maid of honor Misty, her sister (and one of my bridesmaids) Sandy, my mother, my papa bear, and their two good friends Louis and Tutti. That must have been one heck of a flight!

 

Chuck, Sandy, Misty and I left the airport heading to Corvallis. My mom, step-dad (papa bear), and their friends went on over to the coast. I think my mom wanted to get over there to make sure everything was going according to plan. Mothers HAVE to make sure their daughters' weddings are perfect you know! We all got together Thursday night and basically ate, drank, and were all merry!

 

Friday, we all converged on the resort. Friday night, we had a rehearsal dinner. A big thank you goes out to Freeman, April, Doug, Monika and anyone else who had a hand in setting it up and getting the grill going. We had hamburgers and hot dogs and all sorts of fixings to go with it. It was neat to see all of our different friends and family get together and have things in common. Some of them are still keeping in touch and planning different trips to see each other. Very fun!

 

Saturday was the big day, and I won't go into too many details about that since I covered a lot of it in my last posting.

 

Sunday was a little sad for us. Everyone was returning home and it was hard to say goodbye to so many people we love at one time. However, we have all made plans to see each other again real soon and keep in touch, so that helped. It's good to know that no matter how far away we all live from each other, we can still be close.

 

Sunday evening, Bob and I left out of Portland airport heading to Montego Bay, Jamaica for our honeymoon. Jamaica was excellent! Bob and I had a great time playing in the surf and sand and the food was really good too! We did a lot of fun stuff while we were in Ocho Rios (that's where the resort was that we stayed at). We went deep sea fishing one day (we didn't catch anything, but we had a good time), then one day we went snorkeling and climbed Dunn's River Falls. What an adventure! The falls were beautiful, but the water was COLD!! We went snorkeling a few times while we were in Jamaica, and I really liked it. Bob was very excited about that and has already said that we will have to do it some more. I can't wait!

 

We met a lot of nice people while we were at the resort. We now have new friends in Chicago, New Jersey, and even Canada! As nice as it was to go, it was also nice to get home and have things get back to normal. I feel like I have finally got my house back to normal.

 

Well, all for now. If I get a chance later today or tomorrow, I will update ya'll on the birthday party that was at our house last weekend.

 

Until then, take care and I hope to hear from all of you soon!

 

Love,

Alanda

 

Hello Everyone!

 

Well...we did it. On October 8, 2005 in a beautiful seaside ceremony, Bob and I became husband and wife! The wedding was absolutely beautiful, and even more special because we had so many friends and family there to share it with.

 

Bob's best man was Freeman, and the best man he is! A special thank you goes out to Freeman and his wife April (especially April) who worked so hard on making our day a beautiful, momentous occasion. Bob's groomsman also consisted of his good friends Doug, Ryan, and Chuck. Chuck came all the way from Oklahoma to share our special day. He is a good friend of mine who was with me through a lot of hard times. I am so happy that he was able to be a part of the best time too. We love all of you very much!

 

My maid of honor was my best friend Misty. She and her sister Sandy traveled all the way from Alabama to be a part of this special day. Sandy was wonderful by stepping in at the last minute to be a bridesmaid when one of mine backed out at the last minute. Thank you so much Sandy! My other two bridesmaids were my friends Tiffany and Angelique. I met them both when I moved to Oregon, and I cannot emphasize how good of friends they have been to me. I love you all very much!

 

It rained the day of our wedding, which had me a little upset, but I soon discovered that it doesn't matter the weather on your wedding day. What matters is who you are marrying, and I have no doubt in my mind that I married the most wonderful man in the world! It also felt good to be surrounded by so many people who love and care for us. Some came from a long way, and others live here in Oregon. You are all so very special to me and I want to say thank you for sharing in our special day!

 

Yes, there are pictures. Lots and lots of pictures! You can find the pictures at:

 

www.encorephotography.com

 

Click on the wedding link, then on line albums, and then the Aldridge-Markee folder. There's a lot of pictures, so be sure and get comfortable before you start looking at all of them.

 

Bob and I have now been married a month, and we are both loving married life! All for now, but more to come soon. So much has happened in the past month, and I want to be sure and share all of it with all of you.

 

Take care and I will write more (hopefully) soon! Also, I have had quite a few people ask me what was the name of the song that Bob and I danced our first dance to. The name of the song is "Bless the Broken Road", and it was recorded by Rascal Flatts (one of my favorite groups). I have included the lyrics at the bottom of this post.

 

Love,

Alanda

(the new bride)

 

P.S. the pictures that are posted are just of the Friday night before, the preparations the day of the wedding, and the wedding itself. The pictures of the reception will be posted in a week or two.

 

 

 

 

 

It is with a sad and heavy heart that I write this entry. On Monday, October 10, our 13 year old beloved Black Lab, Jazz, laid down on his bed, crossed his paws, and went to sleep for the last time.

 

He was a sweet, gentle creature loved by everyone who had the chance to know him.

 

Bob and I are heartbroken that we have lost him, but we are trying to take comfort from the fact that he did not suffer.

 

He will be missed terribly, and we hope that he knew how much we both loved him. He was there with us through the good times and the bad, and there will be an empty place in our home now that he is gone.

 

I love you my little Jazzer puppy. I always will.