Welcome Back Blue Angels!

I just LOVE the Blue Angels that come each year to Sea Fair in Seattle! I don't know what it is about them....that you see them before you even hear them coming, their history, patriotism...whatever it is, I just love them! And our office in Bellevue is the perfect location for watching them practice all day long- they are AWESOME!

Sweet Dreams

All my life, probably until the day I moved out of my parent's house, I insisted that my mom and dad "tuck me in." Each night when my dad would close my door, he wished me "sweet dreams".
Today I woke up from such a sweet dream...

We were in what must have been Leavenworth...it was definitely in the mountains somewhere, and since we spent so much time there in the summers growing up at my Uncle's property, I have to assume this was the location. All of my dad's side of the family was there....my grandparent's were in their motorhome that they used to drive up each summer from Louisiana, all my Aunt's and Uncle's, and all my cousins. My grandparents were scooting around, healthy and active like they always were (my grandma now has Alzheimer's). The funny thing about my cousins was that they were all really little....like early-mid grade school ages, but I was the same age. It must be the time in their lives that I always picture them at (kind of like Kevin Gwinn...he will ALWAYS be 6 years old to me!).

I can't even really recall what we were doing or if there was a plot to my dream...but I just woke up with such a peaceful feeling, such a loving feeling of family and memories.

I knew that dad must have sent me that dream.
Thanks dad!

Mr. Fix-It!

Yay for Nick! He has successfully fixed our leaking toilet! For only $23 we were able to fix the leak ourselves...as opposed to calling a plumber at the first sight of a leak (this was my initial solution to the problem).
I feel so fortunate that I have a hubby who balances me so well. There are certain things that I get way more worked up over than he does i.e. plumbing problems, finances, plans. There are also certain things in which I am the calm one for him: traffic, ailments, patience, more ailments.
It is an amazing blessing to have found someone to go through this balancing act of life with...who helps me, and I help him. Leaks and all.

Wallingford=Celebrity Sightings

I have officially decided that if you want to see some celebrities in Seattle...Wallingford is the place to be! Unfortunately for me, it is only my husband who gets to partake in these sightings and not me. sigh.
Today he and Dave saw Robin Williams along 45th street shooting a movie...we tried to look it up and see what movie it was and what it was about. I won't even write the topic here, too absurd to even repeat...
The have also seen Dave Matthews numerous times....at the QFC, the coffee shop, teaching his kids how to ride their bikes (cute!). He lives literally 3 houses away from our church and STILL I have never seen him!
I know there have been other B-listers, but neither Nick nor I can think of who they are right now. But get yourself on over to Wallingford and I'm certain you may bump into one!

"The 80's were rough....." -Jamie McQuary

Thank you for being born!

Saturday night was definitely a reason to thank Michelle for being born....her 80's Prom party in our backyard was one of the funnest parties ever! Everyone went ALL out with their ensembles, it was quite impressive! Good looking dudes! Sporting our 80's stance My prom date was totally awesome!

Happy Birthday Michelle, such a fun night and fabulous way to celebrate you!
Check out Kris's blog for more great pics of the night!

BizX Networking

Tonight Nick had a networking event put on by BizX (a business trade organization), and since Dave couldn't go with him, I was runner up! BizX hosted the event at Portage Bay Cafe's newer location in South Lake Union. They serve really delicious, mostly organic food...so I was really excited for the morsels.

No joke, I had about 10-12 of these delicious bites...roasted red peppers wrapped around a tiny bit of goat cheese (my fav cheese)...so good!

The event was pretty interesting...you meet people from all kinds of work who offer their services on BizX, and then in turn use services from other BizX businesses. I did see the crazy who did my wedding corsages and boutonnieres and hid...he was just too much! To quote, "Oh there you are angel!" when I originally went into his store. I just wasn't up for it tonight.

I also met this fella who told me to thank my parents for being so beautiful, wow. Check out his tie! I had to get a pic with him...look at those beautiful giants! I also met maybe the most annoying guy ever. Thought he was way too cool, you know the type...suit, Belltown-type, just FULL of himself. I actually kind of got into a disagreement with him regarding annuities- ha! Margo would be so proud!

Fun, interesting evening with yummy bites and wine AND a free 15 minute chair massage...not bad!

Copy Cats

Tonight Nick and I made the delicious "brinner" pizza that Jackie had posted the other week....and let me tell you, it is AMAZING! So easy and so yummy! Thanks Jax for the great recipe idea!

So-Do Mo-Jo!

Today Nick, Diggy and I headed down to Safeco Field for an M's game! I'll be honest...I don't even really pay that much attention to the games (maybe if they were good, but they are just so darn bad this year!) but it was just the perfect afternoon for a game!

We kept moving seats so that we could stay in the sunshine...it was lovely!

The highlight of Nick's afternoon was as we were leaving the game, he noticed that walking a short distance behind us was the new WSU Football coach, Paul Wulff. I think he wasn't 100% sure that was him, so we slowed down and right as he was right by us, I yelled "GO COUGS!" When he turned around smiling, we knew it was him! I then asked if Nick could get a picture with him...I love his little boy hiding behind him! Those Cougar fans can be pretty scary sometimes, and I realize I was one of those crazy fans today...but we couldn't miss an opportunity like this!

It also makes me REALLY excited for Cougar Football this year, though not so excited that I want the summer to be over....I'll take this sunshine as long as I can get it!

Summer Saturdays...

Today was such a great little Saturday, one where nothing was really planned...but the day turned out lovely! Nick, Crystal and I started the day out with a walk around Greenlake, some coffee, then Nick made us a yummy breakfast, headed downtown so Crystal could start getting ready for the wedding she was going to, checked out the Nordstrom sale (found a few deals!), Jamie came over and we lounged in the backyard, fell asleep in the sun, and then got some pizza and wine to take over to Mike and Erin's new house that they are moving into this weekend!

I love summer Saturday's in Seattle!

"I have a dream...

A song to sing..
To help me cope, with anything...
If you see the wonder, of a fairytale...
You can take the future, even if you fail...
I believe in angels, something good in everything I see..."

I screamed the first time I saw the previews for this movie as Sophia started singing, "I have a dream..." The girls and I are headed to see "Mamma Mia: The Movie" tonight and I couldn't be more excited! This is one of my absolute favorite musicals and I can't wait to see how the adapt it into a movie. And the bonus is: Crystal is in town for it! I'm running to the airport to pick her up in approximately 10 minutes...gotta scoot!

2 things are official...

1. I am a Juhl now!! YAY!!
2. I am the biggest clutz I know....boo.

I went to the DMV today at lunch (probably one of my least favorite locations ever) and finally got my name changed! I am officially Courtney Ann Juhl now! Well, I guess it isn't 100% official until I change my Social Security card, which my co-worker Heather tells me is also quite the experience....but I'm one step closer!

On my way to the DMV however, I was racing down a few steps and my heels got caught on my pants and I went flying to the concrete, complete spread eagle. The worst thing is, this isn't even close to the first time this has happened. I always seem to fall!!
My knees are all banged up now, and my pants are torn.....excuse for some new work pants?? I think so.

Favorite Jimmy Song!

The funny thing is...you can mostly only hear me singing along, ooops! And the guy at the end telling me to stop videoing or he would snatch my camera-

"Chase this light with me...."

Tonight Nick and I are off to a Jimmy Eat World concert, and I must admit...I'm quite excited! Who is Jimmy Eat World you might ask? I would have asked this same question about 2 years ago, but Nick introduced me to this band he loves quite a lot...and I am now a lover as well. I never really even knew any of their songs except one REALLY annoying one..."It just takes some time...little girl you something something something...everything, everything will be just fine.." You know the one.
Well...the rest of their music is a LOT better. I promise. Though, we may be surrounded by a bunch of 15 year old Punk kids from what Nick tells me....

A Day of Addie/Addy!

I got to spend time with my two favorite Addie's today...Adelaide Lovik and Addison Elhardt! We met Dave, Amy and Addie at Peso's this a.m. for breakfast/brunch...totally a tradition we have started with the Lovik's it seems. We ONLY breakfast at Peso's.Later, I met up with Cabester, Ruthie, Jeff, Terry, Matty and Addy Mae at the Greenlake baseball field to watch Todd play some softball. Truth be told though, I really mostly just played with and stared at Addy! Sorry Todd, she's just TOO cute!
I just love these precious babes!

Beatiful Couple=Beautiful Wedding!

Last night we enjoyed the lovely wedding of Miss Laura McAndrew and Justin Sleasman! The setting was the Snoqualmie Ridge Golf Course, and was just breathtaking!They were both beaming the entire ceremony....such a wondeful, love-filled day!!

Posing with the incredible moutain backdrop...Wow...maybe the best cake ever! Laura's sister made the 2 different kinds of cake: a white cake with a pineapple filling, and a chocolate cake with peanut butter filling....AMAZING! This sugar loving girl was in heaven, and don't worry...I did sample both. Nicholas was really tearing it up on the dance floor last night...he's got some MOVES!!

Project (Almost) Complete

I've been working on, rather I should say "visualizing", my family picture wall for some time now. This week, I finally got some of the enlargements back, so Friday evening we worked on the wall.... there are just a few holes to add a couple of pictures that the frames need some work on....but for the most part, complete! It seriously makes me so happy!! Every morning now, the first thing we see when we come out of our bedroom is all of our cute family. I actually say "Hey family!" when I walk by!

Sidenote: the big empty frame in the middle is going to be a picture of us with our wedding party...because they are definitely family as well!

I love my husband...

For many reasons, but today there is one in particular that stands out.
I have a new cousin Teddy who was adopted into my Aunt and Uncle's wonderful family just this late winter from Ethiopia. He is the sweetest boy, and so very smart!
It is absolutely amazing to me how much English he already knows, having grown up in an orphanage. But he was known as a leader amongst his peers, and actually a lot of the children in his orphanage were adopted into the small Texas town of Franklin, where my relatives live.

When they all made the trip up for our wedding in May, meeting Teddy was one of the things Nicholas was most looking forward to. On Friday before the wedding, they all spent the day together, with Nick as the tour guide throughout Seattle- even taking them to an authentic Ethiopian restaurant!

They decided that trip to become pen-pals, to keep in touch, and to help Teddy as he works on his English. Nick had sent Teddy a letter a bit ago, and today he got his first letter back. It just warms my heart so much that I have such a tender hearted, loving husband and partner...who is a pen-pal with my new cousin. What a gift!

Kitty Nap

Others do it too!! Yesterday when I stopped by the mall after work, there was someone sound asleep in the front seat of their car! I was so happy so see that others are taking advantage of this great way to catch up on a little sleep (though, I only partake in naps in my car in the comfort of my work building parking lot).

Just got back from a fabulous 40 minute kitty nap in my car- and it was AMAZING! Just what I needed to continue on with my day...the car was warm from the sun, slight breeze with the windows down, and now I am rejuvinated for my afternoon!

Yay for naps!

I counted...

and so far this morning I have sneezed 12 times!! And I've only been up for 40 minutes!! Aaaah!! When, oh when, will these allergies subside?

-Sniffles

A Look Back....

At our special day, through the eyes of our amazing photographer Nan Brotherton! (I just couldn't resist posting a few more...) Love her! Getting ready with my girls....

Seeing each other for the first time...

Group hug... Somebody's excited!!...

Our fabulous wedding party...

Sweetest picture ever...

They say it's your birthday....

Sunday we celebrated sweet Kricklett's 28th birthday!! We met for brunch at this really yummy Crepe place in Ravenna! SO delish! Eventually, the extremely rude wait-staff warmed up to us too. It was so perfectly cute and Euro to celebrate our Krissy....LOVE YOU! My cutie crepe...the only serve it on Sundays, so I was sold that it had to be good. It was!

Welcome Baby Rylan!

Saturday morning we headed up to Samish Island to Auntie and Peter's beach place to meet the Richter's and new baby Rylan! He is so prescious....such an Uncle Kyle Mini-Me!
Me and the boys...can't believe how big they are getting!

Nick and the boys...building some forts on the beach!

Happy Birthday America!

The 4th of July has got to be one of my favorite days of the year! Even though this year wasn't quite as warm as we all would have loved, it turned out to be a fabulous day! Boating on the Kocher's luxury yacht, sipping, crazy dancing, watching the fireworks from Diggy's deck (most perfect location in all of Seattle if you ask me!)...it was a wonderful 4th!

YAY! The pictures are back! We are so happy with them! We feel so blessed to have had such a fun, talented, sweet and amazing photographer....Nan, you rock! There are literally close to 1,000 pictures, but these are two of my favs so far. I just LOVE looking back through them all...best day of my life!

Today.Is.Awesome

Do you know how sometimes you have days where everything is just FABULOUS? It doesn't happen all that often where multiple things get you super, super excited....but today was one of those days!! Here is what made it so great for me today:

1. Got some little chores done around the house before work. I know- sounds lame, but I it's just so nice to come home after work and have everything done!

2. The King County Dex was delivered today- Nicholas and Lovik and Juhl have a huge 2 page spread in the attorney section!! This is a pretty big deal for Nick and Dave, and I am just SO proud of them! Apparently this is the phone book referred to as "The Big Book" and all the big timers advertise in there....so this is a new venture for the boys! So exciting! Plus...Nicholas just looks so handsome and professional. I would totally call him if I ever needed a lawyer.

3. Nan emailed me today and said that our wedding pictures are done!!! She is coming by tomorrow to go over them....I am peeing my pants with excitement!

4. Maybe the best thing of the day...my co-worker Jaime's friend offered her two FREE TICKETS to see George Michael tonight, and since she didn't want them...I got them!! To quote a famous Jamie McQuary story: "For free?! Sa-weet! Sa-weet!"

Michelle and I raced downtown for an absolutely amazing concert! We figure he is probably about 44-45 years old now...and he definitely has still got it! He had the cutest, wide-stance dance shimmy! The concert was filled with 30-40 year old women so we actually kind of felt on the younger end of the scale. We knew it was going to be a great concert when he started the night off with the #1 song we wanted to hear: "Fast Love"! Michelle and I used to drive all around Walla Walla in the Trusty Justy singing it over and over! We just sang and danced our way through the entire night...so much fun and such a great concert!


Yep....he's still super sexy!! Love you George!

The sweet sound of summer...

Today really feels like a summer evening! I came home from work, admired my lovely rose bushes that I did some serious work on last night, went for a quick run in the sun (there is just NO going to the gym when it is this nice out!), and then went down to Greenlake to watch Nick and the boys play their softball game. I love all the action at Greenlake on these warm summer evenings...you can just tell how happy everyone is! It just puts a huge smile on my face. Sat at the game with Amy and Addie (she is walking now!), and cheered the boys on to a win! (if you were an avid fan of the Lovik and Juhl team you would know this is sometimes a rare occasion).

Tonight as I sit here to post on my blog, Nick is out with the lawn mower and weed wacker, and the sound brings me back to so many happy summer nights. There is just something about the sound of a lawn mower that just SCREAMS summer to me! (side note...we have a push lawn mower that is in fact eco-friendly, so the weed wacker is actually the one making this noise that I love).

Thank you for today.

Blue Tooth....check!

I am officially compliant with Washington state law now...I purchased my Blue Tooth yesterday. As of today, it is a law throughout the state and I am taking no chances at getting tickets. Especially because I am ALWAYS on the phone in my car...this is where I get my corresponding done as a commuter!
Sorry cops...not ticketing this gal!