Winter Wonderland

We've been gone since Friday. We spent the weekend in Boise celebrating Christmas with our families. We had a great time but we knew what would be awaiting us when we returned. It snowed over 25 inches. It's absolutely beautiful but it has been a nightmare trying to dig out the cars and clear the driveway. Thank goodness for me sweet neighbor Dixie. She saw me out shoveling this morning and brought her snow blower over and saved me hours of work. Michael's going to be so proud of me!!! Here's to our first Christmas as Mr. and Mrs and what a beautiful snowy one it will be. We're expected to get another 8 inches tomorrow and 8-10 inches on Christmas Day.



Wednesday Night



Trying to get the car out so we can get to the airport



Thursday Night



Poor old Blue



Monday Morning

Birthday Girl!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NATALIE! This girl is one in a million. The most loyal and supportive friend you could ever find. LOVE YOU NATALIE!

UTAH HERE I COME!

I have been wanting to go to Utah for a long time to see the bff's Natalie and Rosanne but there are never any good deals on flights. So I was just looking tonight and I found a round trip ticket for only $97. SO EXCITED! Michael is leaving to go hunting for a week on Saturday so I figure I can treat myself to a little girls weekend.



I'll be eating Cafe Rio for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! 23 days and counting...CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU!!!!!

SEATTLE

We finally went to Seattle and it was so much fun! Our neighbors were going over to see some friends and offered to drop us off downtown. It was a very last minute idea so we got on Priceline Thursday night and got a great hotel downtown on 5th Ave for only $70 a night! Saturday we went to Pike Place Market, Chinatown, Space Needle, Experience Music Project, had lunch in Little Italy, did some shopping at H&M and the original Nordstrom. On Sunday we went to the Seattle Aquarium ( my favorite tourists activity) and just walked around downtown until we got picked up. I have always loved the "big city life" Michael kept saying we should move to Seattle, but I don't think I could deal with all of those people everyday. We had a great time and we will defiantly be going back!



Pike Place



Michael rockin out



Space Needle



I loved the tide pools






Mr. Octopus

Hello Brunette!!

I finally got the courage to do it! After seven years of being a blond I'm finally back to my natural hair color!

Happy Birthday Michael Lyle!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL! Words can't express how thankful I am that you were born 28 years ago. Michael's honest, loving, loyal, supportive, hard working, a best friend, and he's mine FOREVER. I love you Mikey! HAPPY, HAPPY DAY!!

Anderson Lake

Michael LOVES to go backpacking. To me the thought of carrying everything that you need in on your back, eating dehydrated meals, no toilets or running water, being attacked by wildlife really isn't my idea of a good time. However, we went backpacking over Labor Day in Northern Idaho and I actually enjoyed myself. We hiked into Anderson Lake, it's about 30 miles south of Sandpoint, ID. The hike in was only about 3 miles but it was uphill the entire way. I was scared to death we were going to be attacked my a grizzly bear after we kept seeing large piles of bear scat along the trail. We had so much fun after we got to the lake and set up camp. It was absolutely beautiful! We we're planning on staying until Monday but Sunday afternoon it started to hail/snow. We played a game of phase 10 in the tent and decided if it hadn't stopped by the time the game was over we would pack up and leave. The sky was getting darker and it started to thunder so we quickly broke up camp and headed home. It was a great weekend, very nice to get away and just enjoy each other without any distractions. I'm already looking forward to our trip next year.



Happy Campers



Michael getting water from the lake



Chimney Rock



Catching Dinner

Glacier National Park!

Michael and I celebrated 6 months of marriage under the stars! We spent the weekend with our friends at Glacier National Park...the most beautiful place I've ever been. We enjoyed the majestic mountains, drove on the highway to the sun, encountered some wildlife, and enjoyed a beautiful hike. We've decided to make it an annual tradition, and I'm looking forward to next year!



Driving on the Highway to the Sun



The Weeping Wall



Pretty mountain goat



Hello Mama Bear (so glad we were in the car!)

Goodbye Mr. Mac

Last Saturday Michael was getting ready to take a test for his online class and the computer froze. We tried to force quit but nothing was working so I just turned off the computer. I turned it on the find a white screen with a flashing black box in the middle with a question mark. I knew this couldn't be good but was hoping the computer was just locked. Unfortunately there isn't a Apple store here, so we went to an Apple repair center to find they had gone out of business. We came home and I called Apple and they informed me that our hard drive had crashed...ARE YOU KIDDING ME! I then spent the next 2 hour talking to a man in the Philippians, trying to restore the hard drive. Mission not successful. Mrs. Mac was shipped off and we're very thankful he was able to be repaired thanks to our Apple care protection plan. The bad news...we like most other people I know never backed up our computer so the past three years of our lives are now missing. Goodbye pictures, goodbye music, goodbye every document I've written. You will never know how much you depend on your computer until you're without. I seriously felt like I was disconnected from the world. My advise for the day...back it up!

Happy Birthday BFF!!!

Today (actually tomorrow, i wanted this to be done before your birthday) Katie turns 25! Katie and I have been friends since 7th grade. We've been through thick and thin together and I wouldn't be the person I am today if she hadn't been a part of my life. Katie is the most loyal and genuine person you will ever meet. This girl has a heart of gold, and I feel privileged to call her my best friend! Happy Birthday Kate!!! Here's to 25 more...WE LOVE YOU!!!

A Dream Come True

My sweet husband took one for the team tonight, he took me to see Sex and the City! It was a perfect ending to a great story!



Michael..."I'll love you forever!"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Today's a double birthday in my family. My sister Robyn and my brother Casey share the same birthday! We love you and wish we were there to celebrate with you!



Happy birthday Robyn and Casey!!!!

Memorial Day Weekend

Michael and I went home for Memorial Day. We had so much fun being home with our families! We met up with Michael's family for so fun in the woods! We attempted to do a little camping but Mother Nature rained on our parade! We did tough it out for two days, I'm sure Michael would have stayed the entire weekend, but I'm not so brave. We went down to Boise and stayed with my parents for the rest of the weekend.



My little fisherman



This little guy was anxiously awaiting the arrival of aunt megan



Happy Birthday Mama



No trip home is complete until we sink our teeth into this deliciousness

Monday came too quickly, we're counting down the days until we see them again. Thanks for a great weekend!

GO ARCHULETA!!!!!!!!

ONE MONTH!!!!

NO WORDS CAN EXPRESS HOW EXCITED I AM FOR THIS!!!!

THANK YOU!

A. Brooke White is still on American Idol. I know she isn't the best but I love her!



B. The return of Grey's Anatomy!!!

Go Green!

Our new ride!



We have officially become bus riders! Michael has been taking the bus since he started working downtown because it was much cheaper than paying for parking and gas. His company gives them a discount on their bus pass. So instead of paying $120 a month to park plus gas he rides the bus for $24 a month. There is a park and ride a few miles from our house so he is able to hop on a commuter bus that takes him directly to The Plaza downtown without any stops. Michael discovered a bus stop right across from the Bank of America building so I now have the pleasure of riding the bus. I get on at the park and ride as well, go to The Plaza, and then take another bus to work. I was so nervous the first day. I had all of my schedules and maps and everything written on my piece of paper. It's an adventure, that's all I can say for now! I leave for the bus earlier than Michael so I ride by myself in the morning. On the way home I meet him at The Plaza and we ride home together. It's actually nice to have a little time each day to just be able to sit and think, relax, or read, which I have taken advantage of. My Mom gave me a copy of Twilight so I decided this was a perfect opportunity for me to start reading. I now see why ever girl I know is obsessed! Some days I wish I the bus ride was a little longer so I could keep on reading!

SO EXCITED!

Michael and I ran errands all day today. At the mall today and saw this...



Available June 22!

On a side note I survived my first week of work. I do miss my craft projects, my morning shows, and going out to lunch but I know we'll enjoy my paycheck. Getting adjusted to my new schedule has put a damper on my blogging. I do apologize!

Martha would be proud!

I wanted to hang up some wedding pictures in our bedroom but was having a hard time finding frames that I liked. My neighbor Emily has a couple of old windows that she has put black and white pictures in and it looks so cute. She had an extra window and told me I could have it. I picked out some wedding pictures and had them printed in sepia since our bedding has brown in it. Then we used photo corners to attach the pictures to the window. I added a little ribbon to the bottom because all of the paint had chipped off. It was so easy to make and it looks so good!

Two years ago...

Michael and I went on our very first date two years ago today. He took me to see Fun with Dick and Jane! I had such a crush on him and was so excited he asked me out. We had been talking for a month about doing something but nothing ever happened. I wanted to hang out with him again so I suggested we go snowshoeing because he had been talking about how he wanted to go. The snowshoeing sealed the deal, I think we were both in love after that. It's crazy how time flies. Here's to many more years of fun and adventures. I love you Michael!

Easter Weekend

We had a great weekend at my brothers house Easter weekend. We colored eggs, watched Enchanted, (my new favorite movie) had lots of good food and great company. My brother Ryan and his wife Yvonne are so good to us! Since I have left home I have never lived by family and I'm enjoying every second of it.



Morgan, Natalia, Lauren, and Paige coloring eggs

On Monday Mikey and I went snowboarding at Lookout Pass. The front of the mountain is in Idaho and the backside is in Montana. It was a perfect bluebird day!! They had about five inches of fresh powder which was very enjoyable for me. It's a cushy landing when I catch an edge! Michael was very patient with me and I even conquered my first blue run! Michael ended up talking to the director of the ski school, they took a few runs together, and offered Michael a job as a snowboard instructor next season. He was every excited but he would have to commit to working every Saturday. We will see what happens

So much for spring!

Michael had a long lunch today so he called me and asked if I wanted to come downtown and meet him. I got ready and went out the door to find this...



No more snow please! I'm ready for spring!

I did get a job. I'm the newest employee of...



It's not my dream job, but it will keep us out of the soup line. I'm working at the main office downtown in the card service department. I don't start working until April 14th, so I continue to enjoy life as a homemaker and wife. I have enjoyed cooking for Michael every night and trying new recipes. Tonight I'm making burnt butter pasta with myzithra cheese. It's my favorite dish at Old Spaghetti Factory. I also picked up some fabric and a pattern and I'm going to attempt to make a cute apron. We're going to my brothers this weekend for Easter and Michael has Monday off so we're very excited for our three day weekend.

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!

Goodbye CHI Hello GHD

My Mom got me this beauty for Christmas. When I got my first CHI straightener I thought I was in heaven but this baby works 100 times better. It has a round barrel that creates curls, waves, and straightens. My favorite feature...it automatically turns off it left unattended for 30 minutes.

My niece used the GHD to do my hair for the wedding. These are the curls you get!

Happy One Month!

I love you Michael!!!

Coeur D Alene & Cafe Chulo

Our neighbors told us about a Cafe Rio wanna be in Coeur D Alene called Cafe Chulo. Micheal found out yesterday that he got the job he had been interviewing for so we decided a celebration was necessary. He is going to be working for Travelers Insurance and is very excited. Cafe Chulo was AWESOME! If you go after 7:30 they have buy one get one free with the purchase of two drinks. Micheal got a pork burrito and I of course got the pork salad all for only $11.34! After dinner we went to Bed Bath and Beyond to try to spend some of our gift cards and then drove around downtown. Coeur D Alene is beautiful. I'm excited for the summer and the lake!

The Job Hunt

I think I would rather have my teeth pulled that look for and apply for jobs. For the past three weeks I have been on the hunt for a job. On Tuesday I applied for a job that I saw on Craigslist. It was an admin assistant job. It said the pay was $20-25 and hour and it was close to our house. I sent my resume and they called on on Wednesday. We set up an interview for today. I was excited and hopeful to come home and be employed. When I got there I found out it was a staffing agency. I also learned the pay on Craigslit was a typo. It was suppose to be $12-14 an hour. I still thought it was worth a shot. I had to fill out an application and take four different computer tests. Two hours later I was having an interview with a hiring manager. She looked over my resume and told me she really didn't think I was qualified for the position. I guess a college education doesn't qualify you for answering phones and making travel plans for employees. She did however offer me a job doing data entry for $8.50 an hour! I politely told her I was worth a little more than $8.50 an hour and left. Seriously, I'm still upset about it. I have applied for two other jobs that I haven't heard back from. If you know of anyone in Spokane that is looking for a great employee let me know.

P.S.
When applying for a job and they ask your to upload a resume, why do they then ask you to enter in all that information in the work history section? IT DRIVES ME CRAZY!!!

Happy Valentines Day!

Miracle Cleaner

Michael was helping our neighbor out at their cabin and he spilled gas on his sweatshirt. He got home and all I could smell was gas. I put his clothes in the washer and and when the load was done I could still smell the gas. I let them soak all night and called mom for help. She told me to try tomato juice or vinegar. Neither of those worked. I looked on the internet and it said to use an orange all purpose cleaner. I put half of the bottle in and let the clothes soak for an hour and the gas smell is gone. I'm starting to get the hang of this mrs. business!