Hawaiian at Heart!

After a SUPER lazy Saturday, Nick and I walked up the street in our cute little neighborhood for dinner at Kona Kitchen (finally!). Nick has been wanting to eat there forever and we finally went. Very reasonably priced, great food with Hawaiian flare, family-run business. I heart Maple Leaf!

I couldn't help but wonder....

How did I get so lucky to have such amazing girlfriends?! The gals and I (eleven of us total) went to see the "Sex and the City" premiere tonight! We went to dinner before hand at Palomino and then to the movie. Thankfully, we had pre-purchased our tickets (thanks Jamie!) because the line wrapped throughout the entire movie theatre. Check out Krissy's blog for pics of all madness!

My favorite scene: (WARNING: if you have not seen the movie yet, do not read ahead! Consider yourself warned!) After Carrie finds out the Big isn't meeting her at the church, and their cars pass...she gets out and is screaming at him, smashing her flowers on him because she was so distraught, humiliated and hearbroken...and he tries to talk to her to explain and go after her and sweet little Charlotte's face. That part was my favorite. It was so real and so honest. She screamed "NO!" at him...and in her face you knew how absolutely much she loved Carrie and how much she would do anything for her, so protecting. So important to have people in our lives who feel that way about us...thanks girls!

6 years ago....

My precious dad lost his battle with cancer. He is, and will always be, the most courageous, amazing and positive person I have ever known. His teasing mannerisms, the way he could point out the good in any situation and his love were apparent and felt, to the very end.

It is hard to believe it has been 6 years. That is the funny thing with grief and loss...it feels like so much time has passed, and at the same time feels like it was just yesterday. It always surprises me that I can feel such drastically different things at the same time. Sometimes I think about all that has changed since he passed away...moving to the city, finding my job, getting married!...and then I think about how much is still the same....our loving family, my love of the outdoors, playing the piano for him...

Even more surprising than that though...is that life does go on. And the hurt doesn't ache like it used to. And I have at times felt almost guilty for that...for being so happy, but then I remind myself...that is what dad wanted. He wanted us to continue on with our lives, finding the good...

So dad...6 years later I am happy to tell you that it doesn't hurt every day like it used to, that I have found the good, and I am doing great. I still miss you every day, your sweet smile and calming presence...but then again, you already know that. You watch over me every day. I love you.

Repeat offender...

I admit it, when I love a song...I completely wear it out. I can't help it...I just want to listen to it over, and over, and over again. I have been like this for as long as I can remember. Thankfully, when Jamie and I lived together she was this same way or I would have most certainly been one annoying roommate.

My current obsession is the new Coldplay song "Viva la Vida"...it.is.so.good!! I cannot wait for the entire album to come out. (As I'm new to this whole blogging thing, I cannot figure out how to make the song like a hyperlink (is that what it's called?) to Amazon, or iTunes...perhaps my talented techie friend Kricklett can help me with that?)

Anyways, check it out. You won't be sorry.

Although Nick may be sorry I discovered it....as I've written these postings, he has been in our room reading....forced to listen to this song probably 10 times already. Love you babe!

Big Kid Bedding

After months of bedding that consisted of Nick's comforter cover that he's had for atleast 8 years and counting, and his fraternity t-shirt quilt, we got the rest of our lovely Calvin Klein bedding! (Not that I don't love Nick's fraternity blanket- is very special, Laura (Nick's mom) made it for him...it's just I don't love it as my bedding- ya know?)
And the bonus on top of that is we found a killer deal for bedroom furniture during a Memorial Day Sale at....JC Penney! Seriously, deal central. If you are in need of any furniture-indoors or outdoors- you should check it out. The sale ends this coming Sat. FYI.
So we will be sleeping in style in exactly 11 days...can't wait!

Gotta love the Kochers!

Kim and Mike got a new boat! And let me tell you....IT IS AMAZING! We met up in Eastlake, where they dock it, and then headed out from there. We boated all around Lake Washington and then over to Kirkland for dinner (we felt quite fancy saying we boat over just for dinner!)

It was an evening that made you believe in living in Seattle. It was the kind of night we all wait for, during the seemingly endless months of grey and rain. Special times with dear friends, the amazing Northwest scenery, and celebrating getting "more sophisticated" (this is really just our way of saying that we are getting older...we thought it sounded better!)....it was an evening to truly enjoy being in the moment.

There was of course, some crazy gansta dancing on the boat after dinner...Rothie wins for best moves, sorry Coffs...you were a close second. We were all so full from mexi dinner at Cactus that we felt there was no other choice than to dance it off!

Backyard BBQ Time!

On Saturday night we had our first official BBQ! It was a perfect Seattle evening...friends, sunshine, BBQ, what more could a girl want?!

Erin playing with the kiddos who attended the event...Ry and Addie

AJ and Nicholas....who I told them both they were looking so trim in this picture! I only wish I had pictures of later in the evening. Nick, AJ, Nelson and I stayed up long after the party was over playing Wii Bowling and, of course, reinacting the entire musical of Rent (I think Nelson mostly watched at this point). It is quite a sight, and it seems to happen almost every time the three of us hang out. LOVE IT!

What could possibly be better...

I got home from the gym tonight to the best sight ever!! Opened the door to see:

Puppies and babies?! I am the happiest girl ever! And just when you think this day can't get any better, I'm heading out for a night with the girls, complete with pizza, wine and lots of chatting! This.Day.Is.Awesome.

Welcome to the Jungle!

Trying to tame the beast that is our backyard tiers! We finally got Hansie's weed-eater so we were hard at work in the yard tonight...well, Nick was undeniably the harder worker of the two of us...but I helped rake atleast!

Let's Play Ball....

The boys started their baseball season tonight....0 and 2 so far. Uh-oh! Chin up boys....you'll get 'em next time!

17 days into married life...

And LOVING it! I feel so blessed to be in such a happy place in my life right now! Our wedding on May 3rd was honestly the best day of my life....marrying my very best friend, being surrounded by all our special friends and family, feeling my dad's presense that day...I am one lucky girl! The pics below are some of my favorite so far, can't wait to get the rest back from Nan our photographer!

I decided to finally start a blog after becoming obsessed with reading all my friends' daily postings. I figure, if I want to know what your days are like...you probably want to know what mine are like, right?

So here it goes....posting #1 of many to come!

The Juhl's in the Crown of Life!