where to begin.....?

So I realize that it has been quite a while since our last post. I feel especially behind when I see that most of the other blogs that I read have posted several times since my last attempt. Oh well, such is life.
I guess I'll update everyone on our life and what is going on. In about 3 weeks Brandon and I will be moving into our new apartment (yay!). We've already added up how much we will be saving and are constantly thanking God for this opportunity. We can't wait to move and have already enlisted Emily to come help us pick out paint colors (in exchange for a hiking/camping weekend in Oregon).
My last day nannying for Mo was last week. It was hard, but probably a good thing. Towards the end the "no-nap" thing was wearing on me. I have spent a couple of "orientation" days with the new family: basically so that I know where the spare diapers are kept, how to use the sound system, and how to use the video camera so mom can see her baby during the day:) I'm pretty sure I'm excited about this job. The baby--aka Sam-- is a sweetheart (taking lengthy naps regularly is a plus) and the parents are very nice and laid-back. Although I'm not exactly sure how long this arrangement will last, I'm convinced that God does and He ultimately knows best.
Brandon has continued to plug away in the enrollment office, spending longer days this week in order to account for his class schedule next week. Yup, his summer intensive courses will start on Monday. He has mentioned that he is having a hard time getting back into the "homework" mode (doing pre-course reading), but I have full confidence that he will continue to excell. He's a smart guy.
We are excited for our first Portland summer. This weekend has been just a little taste of warmer weather to come. I will be working longer days Monday-Thursday and will have Fridays off...this means long weekends for camping!!! If anyone wants to come visit us, we hear this is the season to do it:) hint hint.
Here are some random pictures of the past week or two:

After a nice afternoon "frolfing", we ate dinner and then did what we do best...played games:) (Jen, Me, Brandon, Corey)

Below is a party we had last night for some friends. We played lots of party games and had a good time being social--something we haven't done a lot of lately:)

"Grad-gee-ation"

Don't ask me...that's Brandon's word...but evidently that's what we went back to Colorado for this past week. 3 graduations and 2 grad parties in 5 days. Needless to say it was a very busy "vacation". We got to see a ton of our family and a few of our friends. It made us remember that we really miss Colorado and mainly the people there. We spent 4 days with Brandon's family and 4 days with mine. Andy's graduation (the 1st)from Colorado State had over 1,000 graduates and that was only the College of Applied Science! It was really long (obviously) and he graduated with a degree in Construction Management. We are very proud of him! The hard work paid off.


Andy's grad party

my beautiful sister-in-law, Amber:) Brandon was enjoying torturing her with the camera.

on Monday we had Johnny's graduation from St. Mary's High School. It was much shorter--only 97 grads. Johnny will be headed down to Otero Jr. College next fall.


Reid's graduation from Lewis Palmer High School was on Tuesday evening. It was held at the Air Force Academy and there were around 500 in his class. He plans on attending UCCS or PPCC in August.

This is Alex. Brandon got to know him through being a youth group leader at Forest Ridge. He is going to be coming up to our part of the country in a few months to attend Lewis and Clark College here in Portland. We are excited to be his "surrogate" family.

and yes, I cut my hair.....donated 10 inches....big change....

Pictures!

So last weekend was great! The Oregon Coast is beautiful (although still very cold at this time of year). It makes sense why they say the Oregon "coast" instead of "beach". Anyways, we arrived Friday evening and met up with one of the gals that I nanny with and her husband (Marci and Josh) and played Settlers of Catan (yes, Brandon brought a variety of games with us "just in case"). The next morning we joined them for breakfast and then sat in class for the next 6 hours:) This is actually why we went. The Northwest Marriage Institute offered a free nights stay at Cannon Beach/free dinner to attend their marriage seminar. We figured that we could sit through a class if it meant a free weekend! It was pretty good information too. Afterwards we took a walk down the beach with some couples from our church (how we heard about it) and then had dinner at Moe's. Sunday's weather was much sunnier so we stayed around for while for some photo ops on the beach and then headed home. All in all, it felt GREAT to be on the coast again. There's just something about standing in front of the vast ocean and thinking about how small I am. More than that, it reminds me of the great God that I serve who tells the tide where to stop on the sand and controls the waves. "He put the stars in the sky and He knows them by name..." (David Crowder) Last week I also went to PJ day with the nannies! Mo met a new friend. He's getting so big--I really need to take some new pictures of him.

We're headed to Cannon Beach tonight! After work Brandon will be picking me up and we will head to the coast for two nights. This is the first time we will have been back since our 1 year anniversary. Yea for a weekend away! I'm so excited...can you tell? I can almost smell the saltwater now.....