Top 10 of 2010

2010 was a great year and even though 2011 is off and running I wanted to pay proper respect to 2010. I really started to think about this when Mary asked us when we were home:

What did you learn in 2010 and what is one of your best memories

It was super hard to think of just one....hints the top ten!

1. Fireworks in Eastlake

2. Brandon's creation- the burger!

3. snow in Seattle...its just too fun

4. Camping and soup making with the JH...pretty much all of our experiences with the JH :)

5.Brandon's creation- PASTA

6. Brandon's 15k finish

7. hiking in God's creation....Mt Si (the mountain almost won)

8. developing good friendships in Seattle
9. Brandon's creation- bone marrow and roasted chicken- both always a big hit!
10. Spending time with family!! Allysha's wedding, surprise birthdays, trips to Michigan, Illinois, and Massachuetts, and family visting in Seattle....we have been so blessed with a wonderful family! The time spent with them has been so memorable :)

Home for the Holidays

Michigan for the holidays...well sort of :) We were in Michigan for the week after Christmas and it was wonderful! Here are some highlights:

family photo time
christmas presents :)
new apron made by Erica!
New Years Day with Mom and Dad at New Holland Brewery...yummy and fun!
Duke! Erica and Kyle's new puppy...Brandon loved him ;)We even fit in a freezing hike...Garth was cold!

Downtown Holland

Between breakfasts and lunches with friends, dinner parties with family, Deur family pictures, new puppy, walking downtown, being cold at the beach, the trip was a success! It was so wonderful to see everyone and spend time catching up. It was a great way to spend the holidays! Love you all!

Snow in Seattle and Pasta Making!

For those of you who have grown up with snow in the winter might not understand the craziness that ensued the week of Thanksgiving. So the monday before Thanksgiving, snow began to fall...the beautiful huge flakes rapidly fell from the sky while everyone was at school and work. It was beautiful! I was excited to see the snow while others the sight of snow started the panic, craziness and confusion. Poor Brandon had a three hour car ride home! Here are some pictures he took on his snow day from work.

A truck flipped over!

the middle of a side street
an abandoned crash
Brandon making pasta :)
Finished product = Yummy!

Three Years...

Wow! It is hard to believe that three years and a few weeks ago Brandon and I started on our journey in the Pacific Northwest. Three years later we are in our third apartment continuing this amazing journey of life! We have been so blessed with new friends, "family", church, jobs, the list goes on. I can't wait to see what is in store for the next three years! Enjoy the pictures of the new apartments!

living room

dining/kitchen
bedroomsecond bedroom....chaos!

15k's and B-day Surprises

Brandon ran his first 15k a few weekends ago and did awesome! He ran the 9.3 miles in one hour and 25 minutes! I was so proud :) He was a bit sore afterward but nothing a bowl of soup, a couple of beers and a Michigan win couldn't fix! It was a fun weekend up in Bellingham...great weather, great food, beautiful area, me living vaciously through Brandon running...pure bliss. I think the running bus may have even bit him (a very small, tiny bug) since after the run he remarked, "I could do another run...maybe a 10k." I love it!This past weekend, I went home to surprise my mom for her 50th birthday. Allysha, Andy and I arrived around 1am to waken and surprise her. We then took her downtown for some lunch and sight seeing and just being goofy. The real surprise was when we arrived back home to a house full of family and friends! It was great! The trip home, as always, was too short but full of fun :) Oh and I got to spend time with Grandma...dinner out is always a pleasure!
One last thing...if you are in Chicago check out the eye! It's awesome! It is only there until end of OCtober...it is worth the trip! (Van Buren and State)

Weekends spent in God's Creation!

The past two weekends have been amazing! Last weekend we went camping in the Mt Baker national park with the junior youth group and this weekend we hiked Rattlesnake Ledge.

Camping this year was amazing, beautiful weather, beautiful kids and beautiful memories were the result! It was so refreshing to watch the junior high kids interact together. They all explored, made food, slept, hiked, and played together. It was amazing to see all this happen without any problems, we all shared in the experience together and embraced every moment. We were able to cook hotdogs and sausage over the fire Friday night. Saturday started with hot cocoa and a prayer walk. Free time was spent playing the river. We toasted sandwiches and burned them off with a difficult hike. We made chicken and veggie packets for dinner...followed by an awesome bonfire. Marshmallows and chocolate were abundant! Sunday morning we awoke to rain which everyone handled really well! We packed up and ate breakfast at a dinner. Then we showed up to church extremely stinky and dirty but ready to worship :) One thing I brought away from the weekend is to never underestimate God's power. A lot can go wrong while camping with a group of JH kids but he always has a plan. The plan that weekend was to bond the group together through a tough hike and a lot of fun.

Roasting hotdogs!


A huge log on our hike...that the kids rocked!

So tired! ;)

This past Saturday, Brandon and I hiked Rattlesnake Ledge. One word: Beautiful!
Oh the view!


The top over looked a beautiful lake and we could see for miles! Mountains, trees and amazing views surrounded us! I even made a little friend :)

Run, Run, Run

Saturday evening was a new experience for Brandon and I. We participated in the Seafair Torchlight 5 and 8k run. Brandon ran the 8k while I ran the 5k. It was crazy! There were over 5000 people running the two races!!! It was a combine start so we ran together until the course looped back for the 5k and the 8k continued. I was able to get back in time to get the camera and have a good spot to take pictures of Brandon finishing. It was a lot of fun :)

Brandon crossing the finish line!!! Wahoo! Time: 46 minutes!!

Post race happiness!

I was more excited about my fake tattoo!!

Visitors, Sun and Portland

This past weekend was another good one. Granger and Bethany arrived in Seattle Friday night at 6 for a layover. Brandon picked them up at the airport and whisked them up to our apartment. It was so great to see them both and catch up. We haven't seen them in over three years! Crazy! It was so amazing to hear about their life up in Alaska and the adventures they have gone on. I thought we were risky coming to Seattle...boy was I wrong! Friday night went too quickly and Saturday morning we drove them back to the airport for their next flight. Hopefully, another long layover will happen soon :)

We then continued from the airport down to Portland for the Oregon Brewers festival! This was our 3rd year attending! We sat in the shade (it was in the 90's!), tasted beers and did some serious people watching....awesome!

We ended Saturday with a visit to Cha Cha Cha...the best Mexican food in Portland. Shrimp tacos, beef tacos...they were so good! Sunday, we awoke to a beeping...the fire detector decided to run out of battery at 5:15 in the morning! Lucky after disassembling and putting in the hallway we were able to fall back asleep. Before we left Portland we had breakfast at our favorite spot Mother's Bistro! It was a good weekend!

Two Great Weekends

OH summer weekends....they are so wonderful. This past weekend was great. Beautiful weather, good food, new places...yep it was good! On Friday, we tried a new restaurant (for us) called Bastille. Very good food for happy hour....fries (frites as the french call them), lamb burger, mussels, and a falafel! Everything was enjoyed while sitting out on their patio. The only downside but slightly funny aspect was our waiter who thought he was French but wasn't! Worst French accent ever! On Saturday, we walk all the way around Lake Union! It was long but beautiful. That afternoon we visited the Fisherman's pier for the first time! We bought fresh mussels to make for dinner! I really wanted to get the shrimp...huge!

The weekend previous to last was also great. We went to the Mobile Chowdown IV, which is where they bring together all the street food carts in one location. We ate at Skillet and El Camion. Brandon had a slider and fries (I may have helped with the fries!) and I had fish tacos. So tasty!

So, I realize we write about food a lot! But really it has a lot to due with the atmosphere and culture out in the area. People are so passionate about the food they make and it makes you want to be apart of it all! Brandon is soaking it all in and reading cookbooks everyday, every night...its been so neat to see him take ideas from restaurants and books and make the recipe his own. I am always amazed. So if you are bored with eating...a trip to Seattle might due you good (either eating out or eating Brandon's creations :) )


The weather has been amazing the last few weeks here...makes me love Seattle even more....also makes me wish this weather was year round!