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The Way I See ItMy life as a Southern Girl in the Great Northwest April 15 I'm a new soul, I came to this strange world...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
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! :)
September 16 Sigh...I'm horribleHello Everyone!
I am so sorry it has been so long since I have updated this site. So many things have been going on, and I just can't seem to find the time. Anyway, I thought I would fill all of you in on what's been going on in my life.
Bob and I are currently having some work done to the house and it has been pretty hectic! We are very excited about the updates and we cannot wait to have people over to see it. This is the first time I have ever had a home that I could actually do changes to, so it has been nerve wracking and exciting all at the same time! A special thank you goes out to my friends Sue and Gracie for keeping me sane through all of this. They have redone a few of their homes, and have helped me realize that if I don't like it...it's not the end of the world! :)
What a summer we had! We didn't do too many things that were exciting, but the fall is gearing up to be really busy!
We played 9 ball this summer with our friend Jeremy and we all had a really great time! We weren't the best team out there, be we sure did have fun playing. A special thank you to Jeb at Murphy's bar for sponsoring us. For the best steak in town, go to Murphy's in Southtown!
Our nephew Erik spent the summer back East and we are very excited to have him back here in Oregon with us! He is taking Shaolin Kempo and has already earned his yellow belt after only about three weeks of lessons! Way to go Erik! Both me and your Uncle Bob are VERY proud of you!
We were able to spend some time with our other two "nephews" this summer also. Freeman Gene and Nathan are growing up fast! Good luck in your first year of high school Freeman Gene and have fun with your last year of Junior high Nathan. We are very proud of both of you and know that you will go far in life! Keep up all the good work and we will talk to you both soon!
We celebrated Bob's birthday in July. We just had a small cookout and had fun doing diet coke and mentos tricks along with fireworks. Thank you so much Mike and Courtney, Sue and Gracie, and Andi and little Cole for helping us celebrate!
For the fourth of July, we went to Newport. We caught the fireworks in Depot Bay on the third, and then the fireworks in Lincoln City of the fourth. It was so cool! We had a lot of fun and look forward to doing this for years to come!
My mom and papa bear will be here in October! They are flying in and will be spending a week with us here in Oregon. We are so happy about them coming and we know we will have a wonderful time while they are here!
Speaking of October...TWO YEARS!!! It will be two years October 8th since Bob and I were married. We are still acting the newlyweds and loving every minute of it. :) I love you Sweetie!
On September 8, me and Bob and Sue and Gracie went to Shrewsbury Faire in King's Valley. We had a great time even though it was plenty hot! If you have never caught this festival, be sure and catch it next year. It's a lot of fun!
Congratulations to Brian and Evelyn! I know it's a little late, but I wanted to mention ya'll anyway and tell you again how happy Bob and I are for you two about your new home. It is a beautiful home that will be filled with much love for years to come. I just know it!
We went this past weekend to Silverton to see a musical called "Don't Fall". It is running for the next two weekends also at the Brush Creek playhouse. Why is this so special you may ask? Well...our best friend Grace wrote all the songs for it! It's an original production that is a joy to watch. If you get the opportunity, please don't miss this play! If you need info about tickets, give me a call, and I will also put a link to their website on the main page of my blog. We are so proud of you Gracie and we love you very much! If you go see this wonderful gem, take note of the stone wall and the tavern sign. Our other best friend Sue painted them both. Sue, you a wonderfully talented artist and a joy to all who know you!
Well, all for now. I'm sure I will be adding more about our summer as I think about them. Our nephew Cole just celebrated his second birthday, so a special happy birthday to my little pumpkin!
I hope everyone has a good week and I will write more soon! Take care everyone and keep in touch!
Love,
Alanda March 29 It's Spring Break Time!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 February 14 Happy Valentine's DayLove thrills the soul, takes patience as its bride, shows kindness and grows with time.
I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine. -Song of Solomon 6:3
Everlasting love awakens the soul.
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength; loving someone deeply gives you courage. -Lao-Tzu
Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same. -Emily Bronte
Give all to love; obey thy heart. -Ralph Waldo Emerson
All, everything that I understand, I understand only because of I love. -Leo Tolstoy
There is no remedy for love but to love more. -Henry David Thoreau
My dearest, my soul marvels at your touch.
Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies. -Aristotle
You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have truly lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love. -Henry Drummond
There is only one happiness in life, to love and to be loved. -George Sand
Happy Valentine's Day to Everyone!
I have included a new link on the blog. It is basically a picture history of mine and Bob's relationship. The first picture was taken about 30 minutes after we met, and the last picture was made on our first wedding anniversary. Sometimes it doesn't seem possible that in about two weeks, Bob and I will have been together four years. I love you Sweetheart, and I am so glad that today (and everyday) you are my Valentine!
Love,
Alanda
January 19 January is almost goneHello 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!! November 06 I have got to get better at updating!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:
Ya'll take care and we hope to hear from all of you soon!
Love,
Alanda July 07 It's been way too long!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 |
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