R is for Ronnebeck!

See this beautiful girl? I've known her since she was 14 years old, and it has been an amazing journey watching her grow in to such a beautiful woman. She was engaged to the man she loves on January 1st 2010 (at midnight) in Kerry Park which is where we started the engagement photo session. This is my first 'official' shoot. I was so nervous but I am so happy with how things turned out! Jon kept her laughing the entire time... made for great photos, but will make for an even better marriage ... trust me on this one. Jon has a killer "Blue Steel" look like Zoolander... everytime he'd slip into it I'd just say "BLUE STEEL" and it would make him laugh and loosen up a bit. What an amazing day with an amazing couple. Couldn't be happier for them...

This week has been CrAzY ! I usually don't condone typing words like that but seriously , it's been nuts. So here's a few highlights/ lowlights of the Ronnebeck week of chaos. * Mom had her last Chemo Session on Wednesday during which she had an anaphylactic reaction to the drugs causing her throat to swell and hands to itch, anyone with allergies can feel her pain with this one. She's better though, and not feeling too icky. But it was her last one!!!!!!!! * 3rd Call Committee meeting for GLC . I am the secretary and dilligently take notes at the meetings and send out the minutes the following day. It's a good role for me. * Tuesday I find out that the Engagement session I'm EXCITED to shoot is not Sunday it's Saturday which cancelled out my plans to go kitty petting with my co-workers this weekend, Bummed... * I AM SO EXCITED TO DO MY FIRST ENGAGEMENT PHOTOSHOOT THIS WEEKEND! For one of my best girls and little sisters in the world... Laurel ♥ and her...

4:50am my alarm screams through the bedroom. I slap the alarm – then stretch and sigh Aquaman looks up from his slumber; stretches and sighs. Eric doesn’t stir. I stumble to the bathroom through the pitch black. Hit the lights – and blink rapidly for my eyes to adjust. Turn on the water in the shower. Too hot… too cold… too hot… just right Cherry Blossom shampoo and conditioner awaken my senses. Rinse off – I don’t want to get out Cold air hits my skin as I try with a soft towel. Stumble back through the bedroom to get dressed. Aquaman stretches and sighs. Eric doesn’t stir. Too tight… Too ugly… too loose… Just right. I walk into the kitchen to pack my lunch. But my lunch is packed. I turn to make Tea to take on the bus My tea is ready to be heated up already. I love my husband. I sigh. Sometimes it’s the little things that make me appreciate life. It was so good to wake up to lunch and tea ready to go this morning.

Yet another wonderful day spent with friends; we're so blessed. The day started out with a birthday breakfast surprise for our friend Ivan. We pulled up to park in Georgetown when we saw them walking down the sidewalk. We pulled over and said hey and that's when it dawned on Ivan that we were there for his birthday surprise. We were there to meet Ivan and his wife Dawn in Georgetown at Calamity Janes for breakfast/lunch. We filled ourselves with some amazingly great food and Calamity had such an awesome atmosphere I was very full and happy when we walked out. I ate the "Better than Sex" burger - It's damn good; Caramelized Onions, Gorgonzola cheese and honey mustard - YUMMM . We walked down the street and spent some time in Georgetown Records / Fantagraphics . The boys bought some books and Dawn and I went next door to grab some coffee and water. Another great little spot in Georgetown - All City Coffee. We took in some of the local art and shops that had al...

A week ago or so, Mariya and I got a great idea while we were walking to get together with the boys and go bowling! We were pretty proud of ourselves and how decisive we were being when we got together Friday night. Usually we do the "I dunno what do you think" trick and it takes us a little while to get things accomplished. But since we're both trying to be more decisive Friday night HighLine Lanes and Mongolian Grill it was - and this time the boys got to come along! I was doing pretty good at taking pictures and when I got home I realized the only person I got a face shot of was myself making this beautiful face... Thanks for that one Eric! Any ways... I did get a good one of every one's bowling stance. Abby & Eric! Robb & Mariya! I only got one strike all night long - but have to share that I did get a grand victory of 106 in our first of three games. It was a really enjoyable night with the two of them and it was our first night to hang out as a couple!...

I picked up my camera for the first time in a long time today... and I was inspired. How can you be a bad photographer with this out in the world to shoot? Every year when the Cherry Blossoms start coming out I run to my camera but today I was blessed with Blue skies and cherry blossoms... LOVE spring in Seattle!

When you walk up to the church on Ash Wednesday Pastor O’Neal is standing in front of a moveable fire pit burning palm crosses from the previous Palm Sunday shouting scripture and telling sinners to repent in an all black robe with a purple stole. Then we go inside the church and come out with black crosses on our foreheads in the shape of a cross, what must the neighbors think? Better yet, what do people who have no idea of what Ash Wednesday is about think. Growing up in the Midwest I didn’t experience a whole lot of cultural diversity so Ash Wednesday was something everyone did; though Grace has a few more theatrics involved than good ole Redeemer ever did. After church we went to Highline Teriyaki to get some dinner and the girl working there was very curious about our black crosses and we did our best to explain what it meant and what it was about, but in the end gave her some terms to Google hoping that would solve her puzzled look. It made me think about Ash Wednesday and how pe...

How could this face not make you smile? I love coming home to this face... he is always so happy to see me... and the bottom picture just makes me laugh... because it looks like he's laughing not just laughing but giggling. Thank you for making me Smile Love.

So I get one A+ for being a great niece today... and one big fat F for being a doofis . My Auntie Brenda loves me sooo much she sent me a Birthday gift... on February 4 th ... Nope you're not losing it that's 14 days ago... and I still haven't seen it... Thanks USPS... Thanks a bunch. And I Won the RELAY package from Mrs. Sprouffske , and I was SO excited ... so excited that I gave her the wrong zip code on my address when I e-mailed it to her after I won. I may never see my Relay goodies... so I get an F for that... and maybe I shouldn't bad mouth USPS - they may get it to me here after all but let's just say I'm not holding my breath. Going out to Dinner with a co-worker tonight for Christmas - again I realize that was a few months ago... I can count. Looking forward to random great conversation and a long weird bus ride home because the later you ride the bus the weirder it gets! Hoping to get a post up about Ash Wednesday before the week is out. Lent is so...

As you can see... the pets won the battle, but the Vet won the war; both of them haven't really moved since they got home. Good reports all around - they have respective kitty and puppy plaque but nothing a few greenies can't cure. Gracie was pretty mean which is normal. I think they gave her a kitty tranqulizer because she was a little loopy when I got home; she even let me pet her for quite some time. It's a little earily quiet around here tonight without them running circles around eachother but I can get used to that.

Today is Fat Tuesday - which means tomorrow is the beginning of Lent. * Sigh * Lent is my favorite church season. I love that Lent brings me back to what being a Christian is all about. Lent makes me challenge myself and helps me become a brighter better person. Every year for Lent I try to give up at least one major vice in my life. Last year I successfully gave up Facebook for the entire 40 days, but have since fallen back into obsessively checking Facebook for someone might post a new status - pictures - get engaged - break up and how would I ever know without Facebook? Where were we before the time suck that is Facebook? I know that last year giving up Facebook allowed me more time which I normally spent watching Tv, Walking the dog, loving my husband or organizing random things. So this year... I again will be giving up Facebook - In an attempt to read more of my bible, and again get my house into shape which has been a dream of Eric and I's since I moved in. I found a we...

It's great to get a three day weekend and not even really realize it till Sunday night. Last night as I was sitting on the couch I realized that I get to sleep in tomorrow morning - and the clouds parted and the angels sang the hallelujah chorus. It felt good to wake up to no alarm this morning. 9:00 rolled around and I slowly made my way out of bed; and just like a kid I'm sitting on the living room couch watching Sesame Street - Oh Fond Memories.... We had a great weekend that went by rather slowly which is what I love about long weekends. Friday was Anti Valentines day with Tim and Katherine at Hooters. We also played a couple games of 'Ticket to ride' which is quickly becoming the best board game ever; we affectionately call it Trains - and I actually won a game this weekend which was a first. Saturday we hung around home. I worked on ' pimpin ' my blogs and making them look cute - I was getting sick of the one color format. I look forward to the times I ...

I decided to 'Pimp' my blog today... I think it looks pretty good. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be seeing as I am kind of illiterate when it comes to stuff like this. But I hope it is more pleasing to the eyes!

Happy Anti-Valentines Day! I have never been much of a fan of Valentines Day. I liked it when I was in grade school and everyone got everyone else a Valentine card and some candy, and when we got to decorate our Valentines Day boxes and bring them into school to show off. The best Valentines day box I ever made was with help from my sister Shannon. I had her draw a Tweety bird and I cut out Tweety and sat her on a swing in an actual bird cage, and then decorated it with a bunch of hearts. I was a creative kid... haha . Any ways, In high school and college Valentines Day was a day I dreaded. I never had anyone to spend it with and the best Valentine I ever got was from my Mom. No offence Mom, I love you, but every girl wants that "movie" expectation of boys who declare their love on Valentines Day and live happily ever after. Well, after many years of that being the expectation, and that never happening ... I became very Anti-Valentines day. After meeting Eric I quickly ...

I had a very wonderful birthday today. I started out the day with Starbucks, then had some Lemon cake courtesy of Nellie & Julie, and then Lunch with the entire suitability team. Eric came to pick me up from work when we got home Eric slaved in the kitchen making my cake which was my favorite (s) ... One half red velvet & one half Funfetti ... needless to say I have a whole lot of cake, and some that will be going in the freezer for later on. We made some tatortot hotdish and then I took a bubble bed and now I am on my way to bed. It was a nice relaxing day ... nothing too exciting, but then again, it's the big 2-6... gotta save my energy for the big 3-0 in 4 years... right? Good night!

Every year in the morning of my birthday my Mom calls and tells me about the day I was born and I soak in every word. I was getting antsy this morning because she hadn't called and I called her and said... Mom tell me about the day I was born. February 9 th 1984 ... 26 years ago! It was a balmy 40 degrees and sunny. She was induced in the afternoon and I was born at 7:00 pm. With enough time to get back to the room and watch Knots Landing at 8. That night there was a heavy fog that moved in; which is funny because it is REALLY foggy here this morning and about 40 degrees. When I talked to Mom this morning it was 14 in South Dakota with a blizzard on the way! Mom was induced because her Doctor, Dr. Kay was due around the same time and she had her son on the 12 th ! I love hearing 'the day you were born' from my Mom... it always makes me smile!

In my attempt to do something new every month, I found myself saying "yes" to something I would have never even taken a second look at ... Sufi Dancing. At the beginning of January my boss Julie asked me if I would go with her to her church to try Sufi Dancing. She had tried it before at a retreat she goes on every year, and thought it would be something I could enjoy. So, last night after work Julie and I rode the bus up to Edmonds to meet up with her partner Nellinda . We walked around the block and saw one of our Rep's offices and the downtown area of Edmonds which is super cute. I even got to see the theater where my friend Ivan works! Once Nell picked us up we let Casey (the dog) out to go to the bathroom and then drove around the corner to get in line to get on the ferry to Kingston. Once we crossed the water we stopped at "The Grub Hut" where we all dined on some pretty amazing burgers. I had "The Grub Hut Burger" which had a fried egg, baco...

When Mom was diagnosed with Lung Cancer in June of last year I started to search for things to do with Relay in my area. In that search I stumbled across this blog of this amazing lady. So now, I follow Shelley Sprouffske’s blog pretty much every day. She’s a Relayer, a mom, a christian woman and a pretty fantastic photographer as well. Everything I want to be, minus the mom part (no offence). She’s somewhat of a “Head Honcho” type person in the Relay community and I hope to run into her in a meeting some day just to finally meet the woman who has given me lots of inspriation over the past year. Last year (if you recall) Shelley lit a luminiaria for my Mom at a Relay event shortly after Mom was diagnosed and before we Relayed. Well… Now that you know WHO Shelley is, you can appreciate the fact that I WON AN AMAZING PRIZE ON HER BLOG! She’s celebrating 5 years of Bloggy Goodness and is giving away fun little prizes this week. I won the RELAY give away! Which Includes… A CDHOPE Bracelets...

Yesterday I was looking for some rainclouds because I was feeling like staying indoors and organizing things… today I feel like some sunshine because I want to go outside, walk the dog, and take some pictures (which I haven’t done in a while). But God laughed, and gave me the opposite. Eric and I sat inside yesterday on a sunny (ish) day and organized. Oh how good it feels to be organized – to have a fresh look! I realized last night how much scrapbooking paper I Actually have… and it’s so disorganized that I sit down to work and huff because “I have no supplies” when in reality I just can’t find what I want easily so I settle for whatever I can find. So, I sat at my scrapbooking [hole] desk and separated my 4x6 paper into prints, Solids… squares… circles… plaids… floral… Holiday (in descending order starting with New years)… etc… (yes, I am that anal retentive) Then the 8x8… then the 12x12 I have a LOT of paper. Now to get pictures printed…that’s a different post altogether. Eric work...