Saturday Market Adventures

Drew and I had a great day at the Saturday Market after my morning race. We got to see all our favorite booths as well as some new ones. We broke in the camera with some fun shots of treasures for sale, and the best part of the morning, the red velvet morning cupcake. We're thrilled to have our camera back and can't wait to put it to the test!!!

Pho-E-Nix

So I just got bake from an AMAZING mini vacation in Phoenix this last weekend. One of my best friends moved down to Arizona in December, and I thought it a great reason to go visit. But with all the sight-seeing I did, I swear I spent the majority of my time there figuring out how to actually spell Phoenix...so let's hope I pull it off. I won't share all my pics, but a few to fill you in on our adventures...

Day #1:
We got up and hiked Camelback Peak in Echo Point Canyon
Did some shopping at Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall
Dinner at Firebird Steak house ( fanastic steak- worth every penny)

Day #2:
Went horseback riding in Tonto National Park
Gat an awesome sunburn
Spent the afternoon by the pool
Had dinner with girlfriend from high school

Day #3:
Was a day of recovery from sunburns and drinking (a lot)
Went to church with Jen's grandparents
Lunch at a fun little mini winery
More time by the pool
Junk food for dinner and chick flicks all night long

Patio Garden

Fred Meyer is very tricky (and smart). Once a year, they run a one day special when you can bring in all your flower pots, but their plants/flowers, and they'll plant them for you with their premium potting soil for free before you leave. We had no idea this deal was going on when we pulled up, but we quickly learned.

So... here's what we got:
Four Strawberry bushes (Ozarks and Sequioas)
A Black Raspberry bush
A Red Raspberry bush
and a Rhubarb plant

I am so excited to have started our own little patio garden. We probably won't get a huge crop this year, but for sure will next season, if not a few in the Fall. Until then, I'll have to get berries from the Farmer's Market to practice my jam making skills until then.

After going to Barnes and Noble to research our garden, I am certain that this adventure will be "fruitful" (sorry, I had to say it)!!! Look forward to Megan's Special Harvest Jam (next season)!!!

Running

So low and behold, I've started running. It started out as a way to do something different in the gym, and has turned into quite the little hobby. I finally decided that I was going to really push myself and signed up to run the Boise Race for teh Cure on May 8th. But now that I've done so, I need to make sure I can actually run that much. On a treadmill, with a canvas belt beneath my feet going a hundred miles an hour (just kidding) I can run 2.5 miles easily (kinda). The 5K (3.1 miles) I've signed up for SHOULDN'T be much harder. With that in mind, Tuesday night was the first challenge I came across. My treadmill has an option on it to do a 5K, so I pushed start, escalated my time frame and started running. Knowing that I could run for 28 minutes (the usual time it takes me to run 2.5 miles) I began my trek. At 28 minutes, I had 1.12 kilometers left to go and I decided I needed to know what was in store for me. So I turned up my music, looked into the distance and kept going. Within 37:27, I was finished. I HAD RAN A 5K!!!! I was sooo excited I started cheering for myself and clapping and I'm sure everyone else in the gym was wondering just what I was doing. I was thrilled. So on Wednesday I tried it again, this time outside on the street (since that's where the race will be). I didn't run 3.1 miles, but I ran the entire time I was outside, about 20 minutes. I came home, still alive, but breathing hard. I felt soo accomplished!! Now, sitting here (yes, at work) I am already looking forward to running tonight once I get home. I never thought I would consider myself a runner, but am excited to see where the road takes me. And if anyone needs a running buddy, let me know...cause I can run!!

Life is....

Good for the most part. We've been nice and busy which always makes the time past more quickly. We've had family and friends visit which we love, and they've turned right around to host us along our adventures as well. I wish I had more pictures to share, but I hope you enjoy the few I have, as I try to catch everyone up...

Today especially is a day of emotions for me. I get to celebrate a wonderful girlfriends birthday today- Happy Birthday Kellie!! Two years ago on this date (and exactly in 9 1/2 hours) my boyfriend became my fiance. The sun set from Table Rock was beautiful and the diamond sparkled. I'm so glad he asked and gave me the chance to answer!! But for everything positive, there must be something to counter it. Almost to the hour, 6 years ago, I was getting off a plane in Portland to go see my Grandpa Kirk, for the very last time. We had not made it in time to say goodbye to him in person, so we gathered with our family to remember the wonderful man he was to all of us. There's not a week that goes by when I don't think of him, and I know my family feels the same. I'm so grateful to have had him in my life and know how lucky I was to have had him for so long. I'll love you always and miss you everyday!!!

Ok, more good stuff. My dad married Ardele Hanson on January 30th of this year. It was a PACKED wedding,a great reception and an even better after party (that I'm sure the bride and groom wish they had attended). Calvin Kline and I became the best of friends that night as well. So glad for newlyweds!!
















Now that the weather is behaving more and more, we've started getting some yard work done. Now that the weeds are MY weeds, I don't mind pulling them as much, but there certainly are a lot of them. On Sunday afternoon, we ripped six years of overgrown irises out of our front flower bed. They had never been split before, so when we pulled up one head, we ended up pulling out 10 or 12 heads. It was quite the work out and we ddin't even get it all finished because we ran out of garbage bags and the garbage cans could only hold so much. The ULTIMATE goal for the year is to build a back patio cover (pergola) to give us some shade. We hope to be able to do the work ourselves, with the help of fathers and anyone else interested (there is no application process, just show up)!!!!

Our summer weekends keep filling up with weddings and concerts and birthdays and anniversaries, so if want to do something with us, you better hurry and let us know!! :) Our lives continue to mosey along, but we love it. Come back for more soon, you never know what will be going on next!!

Doggie School Graduation

We are so proud of our little girl. She graduated from Pet Smart's Doggie School today, and at the top of her class might we add. She did such an amazing job during her eight week session. At the beginning she was very grumpy and growled through the entire first class. Even by the second class she had calmed down adn really started interacting well with the other dogs. By the end, she had eight best friends and loved the attention from their parents even more. Everyone loved her!!! Kyrie and I spent Sunday making dog treats for the occasion and they went over very well. Intermediate class begins in March and we'll be there with tails wagging- well, Kyrie at least. Here are a few pics from her gradution for all to enjoy.

Megan's Sewing Project

For awhile now I've wanted to make some kind of table runner or table cloth. My God-Mother, Susie Ellsworth, is a very accomplished seamstress and I asked for her help and guidance, and also her machine, as I don't have one. She gave ma a great pattern and I got to visit a great little quilting store here in Boise, where I picked out a packet containing several different designed squares that were to be sewn together to create my pattern. It took a few different sessions and several cocktails, but it all turned out just fine. It now lays proudly on my kitchen table, and I look forward to my next project (but might give myself a bit of time before I start it)!!!!