Happy New Year!

2012 is here my friends and I can't believe how fast it came. It honestly seems like just a few months ago Kolby and I were having our new years kiss on the balcony and talking about what we wanted out of the year. 2011 has soared by and as much as I enjoyed it, I'm excited for the freshness of a new year.

This year Kolby was working so I didn't get to share my new years eve with him. Instead, I went to my friend  RC,  Thomas (yes he moved back!), and Andy's house.  It was really a good time. We popped bubbly, danced, and chatted away. I did miss Kolby though. We had an early new years celebration so we could kiss and discus what we want out of 2012. He doesn't like the term "new years resolution" so we can just call it goals I guess.

Our biggest goal is to be smart with our money and to save as much as we can.

I have a few goals of my own, but the biggest personal goal is I want to really devote this year to school. Take as many classes as I can and get amazing at ASL. I want to join the interpreter program in 2013, so 2012 is my big year to get all of my classes done, and to be confident with my signing.

                                  Cheers Everyone! Hope 2012 is good to you!

Merry Christmas 2011

  Merry Christmas Everyone!

 

Christmas this year was a very eventful and wonderful day. In the morning we did our little gift opening at our place, then headed over to my parents house for cinnamon rolls, shooting, food, and gifts. After we left there, we headed over to Kolbys families house and ate some more, and did gifts as well. To end the night, we went to our friends Christmas party. The whole day was so much fun and well, perfect.

Every year, Kolby says " We made out like bandits!" on our final drive back to our place. And he is right. So thank you everyone for such awesome and thoughtful gifts. We are very appreciative. But thank you most of all for letting us spend Christmas with you! Kolby and I are so lucky to have so many important people to share the holidays with.

2 Days

I can't believe that its 2 days before Christmas! I honestly can't believe how fast this year has gone by.

Things that I am looking forward to...

Tomorrow I'm making our families famous Christmas cookies. I have been eating them every Christmas for my whole life and I'm still not sick of them. Its going to be my first time making them on my own. Excited. I have the cutest cutter to make them with.

Kolby and I both have the next two days off. A weekend together is very rare so it going to be treasured for sure. I'm thinking watching movies, wrapping presents, and drinking hot beverages. Perfect.

Christmas Eve night. Kolby and I carry the tradition of getting to open one present before bed. Yay!

Christmas Day. A full day filled with present, eating, drinking, and most importantly family and friends.

Oh Christmas Tree

I love having a glowing, beautiful tree in my house.

Ugly Sweaters

 This Christmas our friends Nate and Tia are going to be having an Ugly Sweater Party! I'm am really excited because I think its a great event and I have never been to one. I can't wait to get together with my friends and look silly while drinking hot coco. Splendid if I do say so myself. So now I need to get an "ugly" sweater. I think that a bold holiday sweater will do just find if I don't find a cheap ugly one somewhere.

While looking around a came across some awesome deer sweaters. I don't find them "ugly" at all. I think they are goofy, but cute. I think for a holiday sweater party, they would be great!

Thanksgiving '11

Kolby and I, hosted our second Thanksgiving at our place this year. It was my second time around cooking everything so I think this year was much smoother. Also, Kolby fried, yes fried, our turkey this year so that was one less thing to take up the oven. I was scared to fry the bird but it went off pretty well he said. I didn't get to see it done cause he did it down the street at his families house. (we couldn't do it on our balcony... we probably would have burned the place down.) But Kolby showed up, right after my parents did with this beautiful, golden, crunchy, turkey. None of us had tried it before that night. It was a crowd pleaser that's for sure. Kolby did a fantastic job. I even had a few bites. It was so nice. Comfort food, pear cider, and cheesecake. Come one, you can't beat that. Plus being able to cook and host for my parents is so nice. They did it for all of us for so long. Its nice to do it for them.

We technically had two Thanksgivings. My parents came over the night before Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving Eve if you will. Then on Thanksgiving Day, we went to his families. His dad made these awesome sweet potatoes. It was nice to have a day for each family really. Its hard trying to fit both in one day. I say, two Thanksgivings every year! (I think I my belly typed that last part...)

Look how snazzy my mister looks! Pretty cute huh? I love me a vest.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I know I did.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone! I hope you had a blast getting all dressed up and eating massive amounts of sweets. Normally, Kolby and go to a party that our friends have, but sadly this year they didn't have one and Kolby worked all weekend anyways. So I went alone to a party that was being thrown by my Friends Jenny and Krystal. It was a lot of fun. I was dresses up as Alice in Wonderland ( I know, cliché but I really liked the costume I found online!) 

Me and Chantelle

Krystal and me

I dressed up as an Owl for work on Monday and won our costume contest! I made my mask and wings. I didn't take a picture of the whole outfit, but my mom did so If I get them, I'll show you. This was the mask

Elle wants to eat the Owl

I know its a year away, but I already know what I'm going to be next year. Its going to be epic. I think its going to blow my favorite costume out of the water. Whats my favorite costume you ask? When I was Alex from A Clockwork Orange in 09. yeah I know hes a boy, and a totally horrible dude, but he sure is a snappy dresser.

Me as Alex and Kolby as Mort Rainey from Secret Window

I'm Alive!

Its been quite sometime since my last post I know. I have been wanted to post but I'm so behind on it, that its been discouraging to start a post. So today, I just got to get it out of the way and have a catch up of missed events, sorry to everyone that will be in this post. Know that I know, you deserve a full "just you post" but I hope you can understand love you all.

Okay, so my last post was of my Oregon cost trip, So lets start there. The reason I went to OR was to help my sister plan (and of course celebrate) my niece Maisie 1st birthday. I was there a year ago for the birth and now I got to see her growing up, and turning one years old. I'm going to post a few photos, but my Sister documented the event ( and the little life of Maisie) on her blog over at Sugar & Spice and Everything Nice. Its a good read.

Happy Family

Cake fun

My little reader

On June 19th was Fathers Day! I love my father like nobody business. Him and I are so alike with our humor and interest. Its not hard to see how close we are. Anyone that knows us can tell we are a father daughter duo right away. I always take it was a complement. I think my dad is one of the funniest, handiest, hardworking people that I know. He will offer his help to anyone. I couldn't have asked for a better Dad. He's always looking out for me and he will do anything for me. I love the time him and I share together and I'm glad that I get to call him my Father.

A man of many hats

Gansta Dad

Our matching Berettas.

My baby cat Elliott, turned 2 on June 2nd. Isn't she so cute?

Baby Elle

Teenage Elle

Adult Elle

June 17th was Sammie and Austins 2nd anniversary. I can't believe that it's been two years! I'm so happy for them and the fact they had my little niece. They are such a great couple. I have known Austin since I was 14 years old. Him and I did choir together in high school. I swear, that if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have had so much fun my last year at Sprague. I couldn't have thought of a better person for my best friend, and sister. Congrats you two and thanks for letting me be apart of you biggest moments in life so far, I am truly honored. I miss you three so much and I hope that I'll see ya soon.

From prom

Years later at wedding

Always goofy Austin (prom)

The Forth Of July growing up was always a big event at our place. Being that we lived in Oregon, we could actually buy real fireworks. Being that Washington was so close, we could get bad ass firework. Some how, my dad would find a way to Washington and bring home roman candles and mortars. (right on Dad!)  Our driveway was always full of family and friends, grilling up hamburgers and hot dogs and of course s'mores. Now that I'm older, and living in AZ, (real) fireworks aren't really something that I can have. You can buy some very crappy one at the store but that's not the 4th to me. Go big or go home I guess. So I watched the ballpark down the street from my house have there show. To be honest, it was pretty darn good. I was close enough to smell them. All my photos were on my phone which is getting fixed so this photo will have to do.

*via*

 As for me, I have been trying to stay cool this summer, and believe it or not, the summer is flying by. Though I am glad that fall is right around the corner. Kolby and I are wanted to head to California here soon for some relaxing time at the beach. He just got off probation (the first 90 days) from his new job so we can actually go somewhere. We haven't really done anything this summer so I hope we can fit something in now that is job is secure.

I can't remember where I got this!!! Sorry People

*via*

 I start school on Monday and I'm excited to continue my sign language degree. Hopefully, I can be in the interpreter program by spring. Keep ya posted.  Alright I don't think I forgot anything, but please remind me if I did!

Mothers Day

Happy Mothers Day to all the mother out there! I hope you all got to tell your mother that you love her today! I know that I would be lost without my mom.

So true*

And even though I wasn't going to post this since my family reads my blog, I am now. I saw this card and thought that it was perfectly hilarious despite it being, well you know.. 

Also true*

 Love you Mom! Sorry about the swearing! :)

* photos found here.

International Cat Day???

When I got off work today, I was looking around online. Like always, I stumbled onto Etsy. I was looking at the treasury and someone was saying that it was International Cat Day! I can't believe that this is a real thing and that I, the future cat lady, didn't know about it. I'm going to celebrate with a few pictures of my cats and a funny cat video. Enjoy!

This video isn't of my cat, but I found it here and I think it is super funny!

All you need is Love

Happy late Valentine's Day to all! Even though Kolby and I are not really into the whole V-day thing, I had a pretty good day and day after. As for Monday, all the girls that I work with wanted to dress up. So the week before Valentines Day, we all went and got matching shirts and socks to wear. Surprising enough we all wore them and looked really cute. when I was leaving my house I was thinking to myself, these socks are ridiculous, but it cute with all of us walking about in them. This is a picture of my good friend Krystle and I after work and before we went on our, what seems to be, weekly grocery store trip. Seriously, going grocery shopping with a friend makes such and boring task so much better! I actually get excited to fill up my fridge now.

 

My Mom also surprised me at work with a gift and some hugs and kisses. It was really great to see her. All my customer couldn't stop talking about how beautiful she is. I  have to agree that my mom is so beautiful!

At the store, along with other things, I got two wild caught lobster tails (which I have never cooked before or can even remember eating) and was going to cook them when I got home for dinner, but they had to thaw and it would have been to late for dinner so Kolby and I decided to cook and eat them another night.

So on to Tuesday. I had a hard day at work to say the least. By the time we were closing, I was still doing my side work, and had not eating since lunch.I was ready to get out of there, eat food, and enjoy knowing that I had the next day off. I called Kolby letting him know I was heading home and informed him of my crappy day. When I got home, candles were lit and my beautiful boyfriend was in the kitchen cooking our lobsters, his steak, and opening a bottle of Cabernet. Also, he had already made red mashed potatoes and asparagus! I couldn't believe it! It was perfect (not only because it was so damn cute) but I was so hungry, and nothing can fix a bad day then eating a great meal with the person you love. We ate our dinner in candle light (which I think was a first) and just talked and laughed. My bad day just floated away. A wonderful dinner with my wonderful boyfriend. Thanks Baby and Happy Valentines Day! Here are some sappy photos just to cap off the day of love.

                                              

                                             

                                             Us at Nate and Tia's wedding

Us at Halloween last year

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

             Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone! I hope that everyone had a great, happy, and safe holiday. Kolby and I had a wonderful one that's for sure. On Christmas we had a little present exchange at our place before heading to my parents house with our good friends Nate and Tia. We had home made cinnamon rolls (which were amazing by the way- Thanks Dad.) Then we headed out to go shooting which is always a good time. Kolby, my Dad, and I haven't gone out since Mark Hall was in town so it was long over due. So, we set up camp and fired away. We finally blew up the pumpkins that I had sitting on my balcony so it was well worth it and it was a lot of fun! then, we headed back to my parents house to have dinner with Mike and Rebecca and my cute little nephews, Jackson and Walker. After dinner we did gifts then off we went to go see Kolby's family.

            Kolbys family had got the Kinet for his little sister and let me be the first to say that it is beyond crazy! its like a little alien or something! it scopes you out and remembers you and actually works like they say. you move, it moves. Even when I would brush the hair out of my eyes, my avatar would do the same. Kinda creepy. Wait, take that back, WAY creepy. but very awesome at the same time. Worked up a sweat for sure. It was a blast though. Everyone of us was jumping around and the kinet takes picture when your playing and shows you after and its laughs for all.

          Goodbye to 2010, and hello 2011. Thank you to everyone who made 2010 a wonderful and exciting year. Thanks for all the love and the laughs and making my year great. XOXO

Thanksgiving!

                    Yesterday was Thanksgiving and I got the pleasure of inviting my parents over to my apartment to have a small but tasty day. The last few days were busy for me getting everything together. Not just food items and decor, but literally putting my new dining table together for the big day. The table is beautiful and I'm glad that I got it even though I had to wait til the day before I really needed it to get it. Kolby and I went to go get our table on Sunday, which would give us time to get it all set up, but about 5mins before we got there, they had sold the last one and were not going to get an other til Wednesday. Like they say, better late than never. So my great friend Tia went with me on Wednesday to get it, and I spent most of my day, getting a few last minute items and putting the table together. And believe it or not, I got everything done!

                     This was also my first Thanksgiving cooking everything. I have helped my mom cook it the past but I've never done it all by myself. (Even though I did make a few calls getting some help from her over the last few days. Thanks Mom!). I got all the ingredients to make turkey day essentials like sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, Kolby's special bacon green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, and the main event was the 19.6lb organic, free range turkey that I got. It was a beast! Everything turned out great! My house didn't catch on fire, the turkey was moist, the taters were fluffy, and the company was splendid. It was a lot of work, but it was nice to know that I can do it and I'm looking forward to doing it again. Oh and let me tell ya, the best part of doing it yourself, you get to keep all the leftovers! Kolby loves his turkey sandwich and I had stuffing for breakfast. Yum!

        Being that my dad is the photographer, he has all the photos at his house. So until I get those, all I have is a photo of my table set up (even though the lighting is bad because its on my camera phone) I'll put it up anyway.