Headed to Pendleton!

Jon and I are heading out to Pendleton Oregon this evening and I’m super excited. Pendleton Or is a small town in eastern Oregon, where Jon grew up. We will be staying with his grandma and will be attending Jon's 10 year high school reunion! I’m pretty excited about this, because I want to see and meet the people that Jon went to high school with. I’m not from a small town, so I get so fascinated with hearing about his childhood and growing up in a small town. I love that he's from a small town, I actually think that it’s really cute!

Since we will be spenging our weekend out there, I thought I would write a post about this hometown. Here is a little tid bit I found on Wikipedia about Pendleton:

Pendleton is a city in Umatilla County, Oregon, United States. Pendleton was named in 1868 by the county commissioners for George H. Pendleton, Democratic candidate for Vice-President in the 1864 presidential campaign.

The population was 16,612 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Umatilla County.

Pendleton is the smaller of the two principal cities of the Pendleton-Hermiston Micropolitan Statistical Area

Pendleton Woolen Mills, founded in 1893, is known worldwide as a maker of fine Indian trading blankets and men's plaid shirts.

In addition to the woolen mills, Pendleton is also famous for its annual rodeo, the Pendleton Round-Up. First held in 1910, it is part of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) sanctioned rodeo circuit. In 1999, the Pendleton Round-Up Association added a two night Professional Bull Riders Classic to the Annual events. The rodeo is noted for being the only PRCA ever held on a grass field.

I've only been to Pendleton 3 times, twice for their rodeo, which is SO much fun, I also love that I can dress up as a cowgirl during the round up!

The other time was just to visit the town when it’s not packed full of out of town people that only visit for the rodeo. I love how when I’m there, I feel like I’m in a whole different world, I love that I can disconnect from the "outside world" and technology.  It’s really refreshing spending time out there.  And their nice weather makes it even more enjoyable.  I’m so excited to experience 80 degree weather this weekend!



The "Let'er Buck Room".  I've only been in there once.  Its a bar inside the rodeo grounds, and its really dark and cramped and VERY roughty! But its world famous!

Every year during the round up, they have a parade.  Here I am watching the parade and posing in from of "Burns Mortuary" Jon grew up in a mortician family, another fun fact about my husband!

Jon's family no longer owns the mortuary, but last time we were there, i was able to get a tour of the place.  Im not going to lie, it was a little creepy BUT it was really cool being able see everything that goes on in a place like this.

Jon is NOT a cowboy, thats why this picture cracks me up! lol.  Our friends were teaching Jon how to rope and it was very entertaning watching him learn

Fist time seeing something like this on the road!

This little diner is so cute! I love it.  It totally has the old diner feel AND theres a big Betty Boop statue out front, that I love! Ill make sure to visit here this weekend and take a picture with Betty Boop!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! 

My 29th birthday celebration!

This weekend we celebrated my 29th birthday. I can’t believe that this is my last year in my 20's, I've decided that after this year, instead of turning 30, I’ll just tell be people I’m 21, it’s not like they won’t believe me, since I do look so young! People are always surprised to hear my real age. I guess it’s a good thing to look so young, but I don’t think that ill actually appreciate this until I’m older.

 

I started my birthday fun on Wednesday, spending 2 hours at the nail salon getting a pedicure and a manicure. I love getting my nails done, it make me very happy!

I decided to do something a little different this time

 Thursday morning, my actual birthday, I headed downstairs to find a wonderful hello  kitty surprise!

Husband did a pretty good job! I was NOT expecting to find any of this when I went downstairs.  I was actually a little annoyed at Jon because I said goodbye to him and he didn’t even say happy birthday, which I thought was weird, but then when I got downstairs I understood why :) He was trying to play it off

Jon took me out to lunch on my birthday, which is always nice to see him in the middle of the work day :) After work, I just relaxed until Jon got home. He then made me a yummy drink and we opened gifts.

She loves her mommy!

I got pretty lucky marrying a man that supports my hello kitty love! :)

Reading my 1st 'Wife" birthday card :)



New hello kitty hangers :) 



I had NO idea this was sitting in front of me!

I was truly surprised to see the skateboard!

 Okay so a little background on the skateboard.  I have wanted a skateboard since I was about 19 years old.  I would ask my mom for one on every birthday and Christmas, and she would just look at me like I was crazy! lol I've always thought that skating was so cool! And I had lots of friends that would skateboard, so I would always ride around on friends boards, so I can ride a skateboard BUT that’s about it! lol.  So I now I have a skateboard of my own and I am SO happy! I had mentioned this skateboard to Jon, but I didn’t think that I was actually going to get it.  So I was VERY happy and surprised when I saw it sitting right in front of me! This might be the BEST birthday present EVER! :)

Posing with my board before taking it out for a ride.  I even put my Hello Kitty vans on for this special ocassion!

So excited to ride!

posing with my new baby!

showing my skills off to Jon

Miley didnt want to miss out on the action, so she ran with me while i rode :)  Shes going to be a skater girl too!

Miley got a good workout with me

I feel like such a lucky girl! Jon did such a great job making my birthday so special!

After riding outside for a while, I got dressed up and we headed to dinner downtown Kirkland.  We went to a Mexican restaurant "Milagro Cantina".  It was SO good!

Happy Happy!

My wonderful husband!

My birthday drink! So yummy!

Our awesome dinner! I love finding restaurants that actually serve AUTHINTIC Mexican food, and this place definitely did! They even had a woman in the kitchen that was hand making the corn tortillas. The guacamole was also fresh and hand made.  Jon and I were VERY happy with this place!

My board! This is what the front of the board looked like before they put the deck tape on it.  Jon made sure to take a picture of the front before it was covered.

Jon also got a board for himself, so we can ride together.  Mine is MUCH cooler though!

 I gotta say, I had a WONDERFUL birthday! I feel so blessed!

 Thursday I was talking with my friend Courtney about what I was doing for my birthday weekend, and she decided to drive up from Portland for the weekend to celebrate with me.  That made me very happy! So Courtney arrived at our place on Friday night and brought me a super soft and cute hello kitty blanket and a sweet birthday card.

 Saturday morning we woke up to THIS!

It the 1st weekend of summer and it was POURING down rain AND we almost lost power because the weather was so bad! I cannot wait for the day that I am living in sunny California!

Even though the weather was terrible, we didn't let it stop us from enjoying the day and going wine tasting. 

1st stop was Chateau Ste. Michelle.  This place was WAY to crowded too enjoy the tasting, so we left as soon as we finished the tasting.

 

 Then we headed to Cougar crest, I think that was my favorite stop.  They guy running the tastings was really nice and gave us lots of history on all of the wines.  He also taught us the correct technique to taste the wine.  We bought a wine bottle there because 1) it was good and 2) it was for a good cause.  They donate proceeds of the wine sales to Doernbecher hospital, which has a soft spot in my heart since it's part of OHSU.  After that we check out Zebra Cellars, that place was nice too.  I thought their Zebra log was super cute!

Courtney bought this bottle there.  How cute is the Zebra?! I love his smile, lol

Tasting at Zebra Cellars

I love that we live in wine country because all of the vineyards are seriously down the street from us, and there’s so many to choose from. Once the weather is better I’m sure well enjoy going on tours and such.

Later on Saturday evening, Jon's cousin Mamie and her husband Dan, came over to hang out and celebrate. They hung out for a few hours and then headed home at about 10:00 because they had a babysitter watching their daughter Evie. It was a fun time hanging out with them.

Mamie and I

 Sunday morning, we headed out to downtown Kirkland to enjoy the sunshine and grab lunch.

Courtney and I enjoying a drink outside in the sun :)

 I had a great weekend celebrating my birthday! It’s hard to believe that I’ll be 30 years old next year!  I have to thank my wonderful husband for going above and beyond to make this birthday so special for me!

Fridays Letters

Dear Husband, THANK YOU!!! You did such a great job surprising me yesterday for my birthday! From waking up to a house decorated in pink and hello kitty, lunch together, my AWESOME birthday present and a wonderful dinner.  I couldn't have asked for a better way to celebrate my last birthday in my 20's!  I definitely fell asleep last night with a BIG smile on my face!

Dear Miley, Why are you so darn cute and funny??! I love running around the house with you when we are home alone.  Thanks for being such a sweet baby

Dear Courtney, I am so excited that you decided to make a last minute trip to Seattle so you can celebrate my birthday weekend with me, you are the best!

Dear Seattle Weather, I know that the weekend weather forecast is looking pretty gloomy and rainy, but can you please give us a little bit of sunshine??? That would really make me a happy girl!

Dear Mom & Sisters, I am so happy that you guys will be coming up to visit on 4th of July.  We are going to have such a fun time together.  I miss you guys so much!!!

Dear San Jose,  Looks like you will be getting 2 new residents in September! I am so excited for this next chapter in our lives.  I hope the promise of sunshine is kept and that Jon and I live happily ever after with you!

Hope everyone enjoys their 1st weekend of summer!

Happy Birthday Gunnar

What summers in Portland were like, floating the river with friends

Before hitting the river

One of the many outdoor activites you enjoyed

One of the last times Jon and I hung out with you.  Thanks for coming to our birthday!

Birthday drinks to us!

Gunnar, today is your 29th birthday. 

It's sad to think that this is your 1st birthday without you here with us.  You made a big impact in your short 28 years on this earth.  I will always remember all of the fun times we had together; coming out with me to celebrate my 21st birthday. It was on a Monday night and i was sad because not many people were able to come celebrate.  We had only known each other for a few months, but you were one of the friends that was willing to come out and make my night a fun one. 

I always think back to that night and how much fun we had.  Thank you!

Also, all of our fun times floating the river every summer.  And of course, all of the funny and silly things you would do.  Every memory that i have of you, you are either smiling, laughing or you have a group of people around you laughing their butts off.  You were such a kind sweet person, you will forever live in my heart!

This quote always puts a smile on my face.  I think this describes the way you lived your life perfectly:

People that live wild, on the edge, making everyday count as if it were their last, do they die early from this lifestyle?

Or do these people somehow know their time on this earth is short and use this unconscious knowledge to live everyday to the fullest?

I'd like to think the latter.

Jon's 28th Birthday Weekend, Part 2

Now on to the rest of our weekend.

Jon and Phil headed out early Saturday morning to play golf.  That left Janet and I on our own, so we headed to downtown Kirkland.  It was supposed to be a nice sunny day, but unfortunately, it was a cloudy day, but at least it wasn't raining! Janet and I had lunch, checked out all of the shops, and then had some happy hour before we headed back home to meet up with the guys.

We saw this cute little family while we were sitting in the park looking out into Lake Washington. 

Kirkland has flags at all of the cross walks for people to use.  Janet was VERY excited about this! lol

When we got back home, Jon and Phil were exhausted from golf and were relaxing on the couch watching golf! lol. 

Happy girl cuddling with mommy and daddy!  look at her little tongue!

Later on Saturday evening, we all headed out to dinner at Redhook.  Our friend Andrew met us there (Our friend Andrew was in town staying with us also, but he was photographing weddings during the day).  We all had a great time at dinner.

Janet and Phil.  They'll be getting married in August and Andrew will be their photographer!



The birthday boy and I



After dinner we spent the rest of the evening hanging out at home! 

Sunday, everyone headed home pretty early in the morning.  Janet and Phil had fathers day plans with Phil's dad, and Andrew had his wife and 2 sweet boys waiting for him to celebrate his day! 

Since Sunday was Jon's ACTUAL birthday, he got to decide where we went to lunch.  Of course he chose sushi! Our friend Chris joined us for lunch at Jon's favorite sushi place.  I don't eat sushi, so i enjoyed white rice and spring rolls :) 

Birthday lunch with my lovie!

After lunch, Jon spent the rest of the afternoon watching basketball and i spent it in the kitchen baking up a yummy cake for my lovie!

Going through his old basketball cards.  He has TONS from growing up!

Finally using my new mixer that I got as a wedding gift. 

I made Jon a chocolate cake with home made butter cream frosting.  The frosting was SO good!
Also, please ignore my yucky writing on his cake.  I bought a betty crocker cake decorating frosting, and it was TERRIBLE! It was so hard to use and the frosting did not come out nicely as you can tell.  I wish i would of just stuck to my icing tubes that i already have at home :(  But other than that, the cake was good and husband was happy!

After the game, Jon and I got dressed and ready for dinner.  Jon got a free steak dinner at "The Keg" for his birthday, so we decided to use it! Dinner was SO good! Jon actually went with ribs instead of the steak, but he was VERY happy! I didn't try them, but they smelled pretty good :)

My birthday boy!

Our delicious dinner!

After dinner, we headed back home and I sang Happy Birthday to Jon and we had cake! 

Singing to him, with my beautiful voice! lol

Blowing out the candles

And that's Jon's birthday weekend! I think he had a pretty good time :)  He got to celebrate his big day for 4 whole days, hopefully i get the same for my big day on Thursday! :)