Our Adventure...

Things we have done this summer/fall in pictures part 1

2009-12-03T19:08:00.000-08:00

Catching Up Continued

2009-12-03T18:54:00.000-08:00

Our Work: We are both happy and grateful that we are still currently employed.
Paul has 3 jobs and thena honey do list :).. He is currently running the Res Lif on the COCC campus and is really enjoying creating the program just doesn't have enough time to really do it with only 20 hours a week. He also teaches math at the college and enjoys it except for correcting tests... but he has found that watching Star Gate SG 1 while doing it make the process more enjoyable. He is also still a tour guide at Deschutes Brewery which has slowed down with his business at the college.
I have been trying to make my dreams of becoming a cake decorator come true and have sold 2 cakes so far and have a couple more in the future. Also I have started selling my jewels at the elementary school that I work at again... not doing as well as NH but they still need to realize what I'm capable of and how amazing I am :) hahaha. I also have been subbing a ton which is really great money here and so thanks to all the teachers who have other stuff to do other than be in school :).. In addition I am also still working at BPRD at Kids Inc the before and after school program. I have a blast and I'm doing child care for Holiday Parties around here.

So that's work :)

Its Been a While

2009-12-03T10:49:00.000-08:00

So I already typed all of this once but apparently it was for Paul's class because I accidently logged into the wrong account and typed the whole thing and then apparently you can't cut and past out of this shananagans.

So here it goes...

It's been a while but such is new home ownership. Along wiht being crazy busy with work (which I can't complain about in this economy) has hindered me from pasting lately and thanks to my wonderful and beautiful cousin Jessica Jenness she has re-inspired me to keep this blog thing and that people really do read it and I'm a slacker for not updating it :) And the fact it's a pain in the booty some times..

So I need to catch up from this summer ...
HOUSE: wow we have come a long way since the last pictures We're moved in and I think officially have unpacked the last boxes.. Paul is not one for having unknown boxes around in spare spaces so everything was opened and unpacked. We have yet to paint as we are doing what we think is the right thing and saving up for projects and doing a bit at a time instead of racking up the credit card debt (I'm kinda crazy about money)... So some window treatments are up and the "office" looks really nice. We got a great d eal on a desk from craigs list. One of my other favorite purchases is this great ladder that I found on the side of the road that I bought and now hang all my beautiful throws quilts and affgans on! I would love another for our bedroom or the guest room some day :). We also did a ton of work in the back yard this summer for prep for gardens for me next summer! We did cute white picket fencing around the edge of the gardens naively thinking it would keep the dogs out... nope!!! Paul did a great job making the grass really green too! Paul's dad came down for his 32nd Birthday and helped build a shelving and a work bench in the garage! Thanks Rick! Everything is a work in progress and so I hear once the lists start they never really end... case in point our kitchen sink faucet blew up on Paul the other day!! We currently have no usable kitchen sink :( ugh!

More to come later... have to go to work now...

The House

2009-05-02T08:18:00.001-07:00

This is a crooked picture of the mater bathroom. A shower and tub side by side. On the other wall a double sink with storage underneath

Our Back Yard. Which is large for the area..

THIS IS MY CLOSET! It is huge! this is just the part you can see from the door it goes to the right a little bit too!

The extra bath on the second floor... guest will be using it soon :)

A front bed room, the both kinda look the same.. and the ceiling and walls are the same color (not for long)

Second floor Laundry room with washer and dryer already there!

Paul's man space... this is in the garage!

Where our new frig will go.. to the right in the kitchen

Corner pantry in the kitchen :) love the space!

Kinda an odd photo, but the front door is in the lower left and those are the curvy stairs to the right

Big open living room

The kitchen! Paul's parents were over when we went through this time

From the front door

The half bath on the first floor

The extra large coat closet right next to the front door

The room that is supose to be the formal dinning room... we will be making it someday into the office/craft room

We got into the house again last night and I took a TON of photos so that people could see every room!

Snow!

2009-05-02T08:15:00.000-07:00

Yes there was snow the last 3 days of April! I woke up tuesday and it had stuck on the ground!! Thought I would share a couple April Snow photos.

FABBA 3

2009-04-30T10:58:00.000-07:00

So my best friend out here Christy and I decided to be in the Central Oregon's Got Talent, Talent show! So Me, Christy, and her sister Ely coreographed and performed Waterloo, for no prize (because we work for the company who put it on) and it was Fabulous Abba! :) FABBA 3!

Here are just a few pictures to help your imagination about just how amazing it was! And yes we did go out in those outfits dancing all night.... and when we found a jubbox we did have a repeat performance at the bar! And we were among other famous people... Willis... was out! And a rare appearance down town by Paul Wheeler :)

ROCK CLIMBING

2009-04-30T10:54:00.000-07:00

I have found a new obsession! I rock climb! I am in the meca for it right near the world famous SMITH ROCK area... so i went for a girls weekend to climb and LOVED it! I have since been to the rock gym twice within a week or so of going on the trip! It's such a cool rush and feeling and sence of accomplishment!

House!

2009-04-30T10:53:00.000-07:00

Paul and I found a house... we close on June 11th and hopefully we will get in there this weekend so I can post amazing photos :)!!

Our New BEDROOM SET

2009-03-05T11:39:00.000-08:00

So Paul and I bought a beautiful bed room set, we dont have a house... but we have a pretty bedroom :)! It is definatly our bed room for the duration of our marriage (the rest of our lives)!

Enjoy the pictures

ROMANTIC Valentines Day

2009-02-17T12:55:00.001-08:00

A Romantic weekend at the Bybee Inn in Jacksonville, OR.... Paul's sister had gotten him a night stay at the inn for his b-day in Nov and I booked a room way ahead of time for Valentines Day! It was wonderful! even the padded walls!! :)... We got to the room and there were 4 choc covered strawberries and champagne and a rose. We then went to town to see where we could eat dinner, we had reservations that Paul made on Thurs for 845 but we didnt want to wait so we walked around town and went to the resturant The Garden and they made all local grown foods! It was delicious and I got another rose. On Friday Paul knew that I had a meeting at the District office and brought a gorgeous bouquet of flowers with a note to wait for me until I got there for my meeting. All in all it was a wonderful Valentines Day!

The rest of the Super Bowl

2009-02-17T12:49:00.000-08:00

Sydney, Trigve, Paul, Sydney's Mom, and I had a great time at the superbowl. There was way too much food... and we wore those 3-d glasses multiple times during the night, so did the bunny. Trigve made a Bacon Explosion! It was a great time! :)

Super Bowl

2009-02-01T11:14:00.000-08:00

This year for the Super Bowl Paul and I are going over to our friends Sydney and Trigve's house! We are obviously making way too many snacky foods; smoke salmon dip, tzatziki dip, onion dip, hot clam and artichoke dip, 4 packages of pitas for pita chips, boboli just in case... and I made a carrot cake. Obviously I couldn't let it go unfrosted and unthemed so I've spent the morning putting a layer of cream cheese frosting and then making frosting to create the Super Bowl theme. Paul was very excited to see me doing this because he got me a really nice awesome cake decorating kit last Christmas and I have only had time to make like 3 or 4 cakes... Thought these pictures would be fun to share and show everyone that this year I'm safe cooking unlike 2002 when I broke my wrist on super bowl sunday. :)

A New Project

2009-01-28T09:28:00.000-08:00

So0 last year for Christmas my wonderful mother got me fimo clay!! About 2 days ago I took it out for the first time and started using it to make some cool beads for necklaces. All the pictures will be up on my jewelry blog... but they are coming out really interesting so I wanted to share them with everyone.

Frost

2009-01-28T09:26:00.000-08:00

This was one random day that the fog rolled in and created really cool looking frost on the trees... I don't know how good the pictures are but if they are bad take my word for it it was soo cool that I had to try to take pictures!!

More skiing... 09

2009-01-28T09:18:00.000-08:00

Christy and I invite Paul to come with us on Sunday's and this was the Sunday after the knee twist. A short loop still on ice... great fun. This silly knee and then a cold I got has prevented me from going to my awesome work out class for a little while.... I'll be back to it on Thursday though!! We got some snow too so hopefully the ice is covered and Paul and I can cross country ski this weekend too!!

This is the incredibly warm day when Christy and I went cross country skiing on ice! For the record... NOT SMART! It was one of our Friday outings which will be a while before they happen again. On this day I twisted my knee really bad, it's feeling better now, but this past friday Christy sprained her ankle really bad while playing tag at work... we're a pair :)...

Yummy!!!

2009-01-28T09:14:00.001-08:00

Paul made from scratch!! yummy delicious cinnimon rolls with choc chips! And don't you fret there was frosting for the top too! It is wonderful to wake up to a hubby that is kneeding risen dough that will be turned into delicious amazing rolls for me!! :)

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING 09!!

2009-01-11T17:00:00.000-08:00

TODAY!! Paul and I brought Christy out

cross country skiing for the first time!! She did an awesome job!! There was lots of falling and laughing and I think we went to one of the most difficult trails in Bend without knowing it, because we had never been there before! :).... sorry Christy!.... Anyway it was icy and crazy and we were out for about 3+ hours!! Then we went back to Christy and Alan's house for Quiche that Paul and I made the day before! The day was sooo fun and a great stretch for the impending doom of Tuesday class! :)

Sore Tired Paul

2009-01-11T16:55:00.000-08:00

Paul and I started a class that is called TOTAL FITNESS... or for a relatable class for everyone else BOOT CAMP! We start the class with 10 pull ups, 35 push ups and 65 situps.... then the crazy lady comes and we do another 70+ pushups! You run so much that if you throw up you get to sign your name to a ball! I love it! I can't wait to see the changes!! However, Paul is really really tired and sore and the babies took full advantage! When he wanted to get up however Buster climbed on top of him and pinned him to the couch.

December

2009-01-11T16:49:00.000-08:00

Where oh where did December 08 go?? Nobody knows because we have no pictures to remember any occasions! Our camera was either left, died, or missing for every holiday. I think some people may have pictures of Christmas and New Years but I'm not sure. We had a fantastic Christmas!! We made tons of cookies and delivered 12 cookie plates! We went over to Paul's parents in Medford for the holidays and had to buy new snow tires to do it!!!!! We ate to much and made the present opening last until 3 or 4! Then New Years we were going to go out cross country skiing but at the last minute Paul checked on the trail web site and there was a mountain lion warning out and so we scratched that idea!! We ended up at McMinnimans down town for about an hour or so with Christy and friends!! It was a blast and ate our grapes!!! (christy's family tradition one for each month of the year, your grapes are your responsibility, and eat them FAST!)
Now we are almost half way through January!

CHEERS!!!

2008-12-05T21:28:00.000-08:00

December 5, 2008 is the 75 th anniversary of the end of Prohibition. We say cheers to that!!!

My Jewelry

2008-12-04T18:27:00.000-08:00

So for all who are interested I have started a site for my "goods". The pictures are not very good right now do to camera funtion and location. Thought it might be interesting and let me know if anyone is interested in buying for the holidays :).

http://jillsjewelry.blogspot.com/

Thanksgiving Food !

2008-12-04T11:37:00.001-08:00

COCONUT SHRIMP
3 sheets phyllo pastry, thawed and kept under moist towel
20 medium to large shrimp, peeled, devined, patted dry with tails left on
1 stick butter, melted
1.5 cups grated unsweetened coconut
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper

DIPPING SAUCE

3/4 cup apricot jam
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons grated - not creamy - horseradish

Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange shrimp in single layer. Lightly salt and pepper shrimp. Carefully place a sheet of phyllo pastry on a pastry cloth or large curring board and brush with melted butter making sure to reach all edges.

Pick up a fistful of grated coconut and gently toss onto pastry creating a thin, but even, layer. Place second sheet of phyllo on top of first and repeat with butter and coconut -- then repeat with the third sheet of pastry.

Using a pizza cutter, gently slice pastry horizontally through the middle. Then slice vertically through the middle. Working from the center out, slice phyllo into twenty strips.

Gently pick up a phyllo strip and starting at the tail, wind the pastry around the shrimp so that it is covered completely. Place back on parchment, brush with more melted butter and sprinkle with a bit more coconut. (Pastry-wrapped shrimpcan be covered loosely with placstic wrap and kept in a regrigerator for up to four hours.)

For dipping sauce, combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix together completely.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake wrapped shrimp for twenty minutes or until golden brown.

Serve coconut shrimp with dipping sauce.

ARTICHOKE CRAB DIP (we usually make a double and put it in a caserole dish we also did this with all nondairy and it worked great!)

1- 8oz cream cheese softened
1 cup mayo
1 garlic clove pressed (1/2 tsp minced)
1 can 14oz artichoke hearts in water (drained and chopped)
1 pkg 8oz immitation crab meat chopped
3/4cup grated parm
1/3 cup thinly sliced green onion
1 lemon zested
1/3 chopped red bell pepper and green onion for garnish on top

OVEN 350
Combine cream cheese, mayo, garlic, artichoke, crab, grated cheese, green onion, and lemon zest.
Put into a 1.5 quart baking dish
Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown (check the middle sometimes it takes longer to get it hot all the way through)
Sprinkle with the pepper and green onion on top to serve... serve with crackers or pita chips... yummy....

SMOKED SALMON BALL

1 1lb can salmon
1 8oz pkg cream cheese (softened)
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp prepared horseradish
2 tsp grated onion
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
snipped parsley
couple of drops of liquid smoke (if wanted)

Drain and flake salmon (remove bones and skin). Combine salmon, cream cheese, lemon juice, onion and horseradish.
Mix thoroughly, chill several hours.
Combine nuts and parsley. Shape salmon mixture into a ball. Roll in nuts and parsley mixture and chill well.
Server with crackers or chips.
* If you don't really care about it being a cute ball then just sprinkle the nuts and parsley on top of the dip in the bowl and serve :)

ENJOY!!! Jill and Paul :)

2008-12-02T16:24:00.000-08:00

This is our first new computer; we have another desktop on the way. I used a coffee cup to show perspective. It is an awesome little portable laptop. I would recommend it to anyone.

Pikes Place Market

2008-12-02T13:00:00.000-08:00

We saw fish being thrown, weird random stores below ground, a spice and tea store you could spend days in!, beautiful dried flowers, fresh produce that I would have wanted to gobble if I hadn't spent the past two days eating!, and very interesting people watching! It was a facinating place and definately worth a visit... I will be going back to explore more some time!

Seattle #2 Rogan the Adorable!

2008-12-02T12:52:00.000-08:00

These pictures except for the ones that Rogan is in are from his perspective... how you ask? Well Jill had a camera and Rogan LOVES cameras and took MANY pictures with Jill's, because she couldn't resist him and say no :)! He is SOOO funny and cute and really online doesn't so him justice! However, if Grandpa is around you'd be lucky to get any time with him at all! Thanks for spending time with us Seattle Family!! It was a blast!

Donna's generousity!!! "Big Kid Crafts"

2008-12-02T12:44:00.000-08:00

My BEAUTIFUL glazed pottery! Donna had some bisque ware that just needed some glazing so we sat down on Friday and glazed! It was soooo much fun and relaxing! Steve and Paul played more Wii than is healthy and we painted 3 layers of glaze on most items. I had a great time with Donna's texture paint and gave this pot, that we turned into a planter, a 3D quality with the vine design.

I glazed a few small bowls that have winter themes and just some decorative ones.

This sunflower bowl is my FAVORITE! and I did it!! There are glazes that are like paint and I was able to use them and the really neat black outlining pen to make my master piece! The black dots on the rim are raised and very cute! It was like Christmas morning opening the Kiln the next day!!!
THANK YOU DONNA!! We will set a date for clay creation again! :)

Seattle Space Needle

2008-12-02T12:31:00.001-08:00

After taking a trip on the Monorail we were at the Space Needle. A place I had only seen in pictures growing up... it was huge! We took the elevator to the top in 43 seconds! and had an amazing view of the city! We asked a random stranger to take a picture :). The picture of the boat was for our Grey's Anatomy fan friends... can you guess?? Yes that's right it is the Seattle Ferry that McDreamy gets on to go to work! We were there late enough at night too to see that they do light it up with lights! It is beautiful going across the water. Paul and I got some face time with Santa to be able to tell him what we want for Christmas! (there were no lines, no kids, and it was at the top of the Space Needle I couldn't resist and to get to drag Paul along... priceless :)) Then I thought I was going to have to bring home the beautiful pink FiFi , Paul fell in love at FAO Schwartz. It was a great trip so far and we also went to Pikes Place... pictures to follow....

Christmas/ November Cactus

2008-12-02T12:25:00.000-08:00

This was the first year that my Christmas Cactus bloomed! It is a cutting from my Memere Y's original plant. This is the only plant that I brought from back east and it loves it out here! There weren't many ends that didn't have a flower. The other cool thing was that Paul didn't even know it flowered! So he was very impressed with the color, lenght, and amount of flowers it produced. It was so gorgeous in full bloom that we had to share!

Buster Brown

2008-12-02T12:20:00.001-08:00

The little one, Buster, is now adjusting nicely to our home. He loves us bundles and is a big snuggle dog! He and Dewey are getting along fabulously, both think they are top dog, but they cuddle together and lick each others faces so in dog terms it must be love :). He is taking off some weight, still has a bit more to go. Just thought these pictures of the babies were cute :)!

2008-12-01T10:24:00.000-08:00

Sorry it has been so long since no new posts.... Paul and I are working on getting a new computer and that should make things quicker and easier! Right now our computer sounds like the gerbils inside are slowly dieing :(.. We will miss the gerbils but they will be in a better place :). There for updates will come in the next couple of days for both this blog and my jewelry blog.
Things to come: Thanksgiving in Seattle, Mick's wedding, Mom and Dad's trip to OR, Seattle!, My pretty pottery that i glazed, my christmas/nov cactus blooms, and much more :)... keep looking for updates :)... oh and send us messages :) I LOVE READING THEM!!

Pumpkin Patch 2008

2008-11-01T14:55:00.000-07:00

This fall we went to the Pumpkin Patch out near Smith Rock with Christy and Allan. There is a HUGE corn maze that we all walked through together for a few hours!! We even had a map and Paul did a great job navigating. The stairs we are walking up are to one of the bridges this one was really cool because it had a huge, super fast slide on one end!! The whole maize was in the shape of a huge castle with mountains and everything. I got a Cinderella Pumpkin when I was there and was able to chop it all up and use it to make two batches of each: Pumpkin curry soup, pumkin bread, pumpkin rissoto, and pumpkin pie! The picture of Paul and I in the corn is one of my favorite of the two of us lately... and this is my BFF Christy who lives in Sisters but works with me at BMPRD and we hang out almost everyday :).

Halloween 08 #2

2008-11-01T14:46:00.000-07:00

Eric and Marcia came over and helped out a ton with food. I got to become a Eric and Marcia sandwhich at the end of the night. They had killer costumes and they were total troupers and hung out until the end of the night :).

Halloween 2008

2008-11-01T14:43:00.000-07:00

MY HOMEMADE WENCH OUTFIT AND PAUL AS A BOYSCOUT!
It was a really fun night with lots of fun people who were able to come! It was a blast. We had 248 trick'or'treaters come to the house. We were really lucky we did not run out of candy!! I don't know what happened to my camera most of the night or else i would have really great pictures of all my decorations and the awesome food that we had!! Also I didn't get pictures with a bunch of people who came, which I am really bummed about. I guess I was to involved in talking and socializing to take pictures (shocker huh??!!) Hope everyone had a safe and Happy Halloween

Me looking all wench like in the living room

Mollie the cute construction worker and I at the beginning of the night :)

Ellie and Scott were able to come!!!

Hiking Misery Ridge! 08

2008-10-28T11:57:00.000-07:00

I went hiking with a few of my friends Katie and Maddison at Smith Rock, which in itself is stunning. We went UP misery ridge trail! Which is exactly what it sounds like, up for a long time and very steep! The veiw from the top is worth it though! Dewey did the whole hike too, he's a trouper! It was a gorgeous day and then we went to watch the Pole, Pedal, Paddle which I hope to maybe participate in next year (don't hold me to that though). The rock that is really tall and looks like a face is called Monkey Face.

John Day Fossil Beds

2008-10-28T11:44:00.000-07:00

The John Day Fossil Beds were a really cool road trip Paul and I took on our way back from camping at Delentment Lake! It is an area rich in rock and fossils ;). The pictures are gorgeous! I can only find one right now... I don't know where the other ones are on the computer I will have to have Paul find them.

Balloons over Bend '08

2008-10-28T11:28:00.000-07:00

Balloons Over Bend

One of our favorite things about living in Bend is there is always some kind of festival or market going on. Every weekend in the summer there is a Sat market and every Wed and Friday there is a farmers market. In addition, there is always something going on at the old mill or downtown. This was the weekend before my parents came out and it was really cool to watch. At 7am all of the balloons were blown up on the feild of the elementary school that I work at and we can now walk to. We were able as you can see to get really close to all of the balloons. There were about 15-18 balloons that all went up at the same time! What a sight! Then we went to the top of Pilot Butte (small hill in the middle of town) and watched the balloons flying across town it was absolutely breath taking! Then along with the balloon flight there was a festival down town of artist and food and vendors. One of the art displays was local folks who were doing chalk are on the foot bridge at the old mill! Such vivid colors and really interesting techniques were being used, the end results were awesome. At night at the Leshwab Theater they lit up 5 of the balloons and they were supose to go up but because of the wind couldn't, so they were just glowing on the ground. Along with the glow a local performance group of fire spinners took the stage and were spectacular! All in all it was a very fun free day of amazing activity.

Cross Country Skiing 07-08

2008-10-28T11:15:00.000-07:00

Cross country skiing is something Paul and I just took up this year!! It is a great work out and an absolute BLAST! We have also been able to go out with friend too. In the friend pictures, Heather and Dave, and Jessica and Jill. One of our favorite things are all of the huts. they are in the middle of the woods and usually have a fire started in them to keep you warm and take a break. The hut that Paul and I are standing in is the one that we typically found a special treat. One man from the community would sled into the hut and have waffles going with all of the toppings for people to eat. He had blueberry tea and hot cocoa! It was a great treat during all that work, and you get to sit and meet lots of really great people. The snow on some of the trails made the trees and world seem like you were going into Narnia! Needless to say Paul and I really enjoy this new activity and now that we have bought our own equiptment besides for a 20$ season parking pass it is also a free activity.

Paul's Baby Face 07

2008-10-28T11:10:00.000-07:00

So wiht these picture I almost guarentee that Paul will never shave his face again.... but the world should see... his cute baby face!! He rarely if ever does it and even more rare is it to catch it in a photo! Here they are though the two pictures you may ever see of Paul with out any facial hair!! Enjoy...

Our First RENTAL 07

2008-10-28T11:03:00.000-07:00

This is our house on Merriewood Dr. We rented it with Paul's sister Kristi for a while. We had really crazy neighbors!!!! It was two stories with the bedrooms on the second floor. We moved out of this place as soon as we could this summer in late June! We had one weekend to do it because it was the weekend between when my parents came to visit and Michala came out to visit. We are very glad to be out of that house and into our new place on White Dove Ln! There is something to be said about distance from the highway and your neighbors!

Christmas 2007!! Bend OR

2008-10-28T10:33:00.000-07:00

Christmas 2007! Kristi Paul and Jill have their fishing poles and with their powers combine they will get some fish :)! A cute family picture in front of the fire place! The family feasting on crab!YUMYUM!

I made a meat pie in honor of my family back home!

I also made this delicious Coffee roll like my mom does... with many phone calls to the momma to make sure each stage was occuring correctly.

We had a wonderful Christmas in Bend, OR with friends and family around. We went snowboarding the next day!

Hair Cut

2008-10-27T14:19:00.000-07:00

So it seems kind of silly that I'm 25 and posting my hair cuts... but this one is kinda cool. I got this hair cut at the beginning of Summer '08. Paul's Aunt Anne asked me to donate my hair for "Sail for the Cure" which happened this September, so I did. My hair was driving me crazy so I chopped it. Anyway all who know me realize that a hair cut for me is a big deal... and these pictures are really for my mom.

First Trip to California... The Winchester House

2008-10-27T14:01:00.001-07:00

The Winchester house is a house created by the late Mrs. Winchester who was the wife of Mr. Winchester the creator of the Winchester Riffle. Someone told Mrs. Winchester after her husband died that the only way to get rid of the spirits who died from the riffle away from her was to build a house to confuse them. So she hired people for 24 years who worked 24 hours a day on her house. It was so creapy to walk through at night a little tipsy... but so cool! Staircases to no where, doors to walls, and a totally incomplete house! The reason I was in CA was not for the house though I was at a really great conference for work. (But the house was really fun!!)

Easter

2008-10-27T13:42:00.000-07:00

Easter was very fun. The Easter Bunny came! Kristi and I decorated eggs the night before.. we used dies and crayons and all sorts of interesting methods. They were "egg"ellent! After Rox and I went to church I came home to my eggs being hidden outside, and a scavenger hunt of plastic eggs with clues in them all over the house! It was so much fun to have everyone there! Rick and Rox came over and Kristi was still living with us at that point. It was a great Easter away from the east coast.

Alaskan Honeymoon!

2008-10-27T13:07:00.000-07:00

This is going to be many more pictures than words because it was so beautiful! We were on our honeymoon for 12 days! We drove up to Seattle and stayed with Steve and Donna and saw a very prego Andrea and Ryan. On the way home we were able to catch up and go to lunch with Alex and Jessica! It was really nice to see family! The first night up in Alaska Britt's mom took us out to dinner.. which it was so nice to see a familiar (related) face from back home in NH!! The dinner was amazing and so was the fact that THE SUN DIDN'T GO AWAY! We had a close encounter with a moose and many romantic nights. We met 6 new friends on the bus ride up... we adopted them and they adopted us! It was great then seeing familiar faces the rest of the trip and exchanging buying drinks :)! The views couldn't be beat and we saw Mt Denali in all of it's grandness! The food was killer and the glaciers were epic. The bugs weren't bad and the wild flowers were EVERYWHERE! We went horse back riding, held sled dog puppies, went on a sled dog ride, took two cooking classes, went to a brewery, went hiking in Denali, got a pass to the on board spa and ate too much! It was an amazing honeymoon and perfect for Paul and I!

First Apartment in Bend

2008-10-27T12:59:00.000-07:00

This is the first apartment that Paul and I stayed in when we moved to Bend. It was a very small loft over his new boss's garage. It was cute and cozy and worked for the three or four days that we had to use it before our honeymoon. A one bedroom studio was perfect. Paul's mom and I drove over from Medford (after flying across the country) to meet the guys who had just drove across the country in 3 days!
All of our stuff was in storage and bags were already packed for Alaska!

Our Wedding

2008-10-27T12:47:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time... on a VERY VERY windy day June 30th 2007, Paul and Jill Wheeler were married in North Conway NH. Everyone was there and the week before had been a party! Jill was so excited to marry Paul that by the end of the ceremony her veil had been taken off and she was jumping up and down saying YES! The kiss made it complete and then another party began. Now Paul and Jill have the rest of their lives together... once they moved across the country 3 days later and then on their honeymoon 8 days later and both finding and starting new jobs by the end of their honeymoon a month later!!

30th Wedding Anniversary!

2008-10-27T12:04:00.000-07:00

Last summer 2007 my parents celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. As a surprise my sister and I decided to get ordained and to remarry them with all their family around. We had everyone who attended sign their marriage certificate as a witness.

We were able to bring a white dress for my mom to wear, found their original vows, and by looking at old wedding photos figured out their flowers. It was beautiful!

Then we sent them on a surprise honeymoon to Wentworth by the Sea. All in all Cathy and I totally pulled it off and it was really tricky considering my wedding was only a week after that!

Buster!

2008-10-27T11:51:00.000-07:00

So Paul finally gave me access and told me how to work this thing...knowing that I have the time and excitment to keep in touch and tell everyone about how life in OR is :). So the first few blogs maybe totally out of order, but it will be a glimps of what we have been up to in the last year or so.

This is our newest addition to our family. We got Buster last week October 18th from the Humane Society here in Bend. His name is Buster and due to the fact that he is 9 years old we are keeping the name! He and Dewey get along great and love to lounge around the house! The both currently have a cold and so they keep Paul and I up at night hacking and coughing. Buster is a bit chunky for being a Min-Pin and therefore is on a diet and is a fabulous walking buddy with Dewey and I! They are both spoiled rotten but still listen and are told no sometimes :).