Newport Progressive Dinner

The Newport folks invited us to join them for their progressive dinner a couple of weeks ago. We ate together in stages at three different homes. Appetizers at the Sanchez home, the main spread at Newmans', and dessert at Husters'. All of my pictures are at Lee and Lisa's. They turned their garage into a fine dining establishment! It was great. Barb made the place cards, and they were all names from the Bible, then she gave us each a little hint, so if we knew our Bible trivia, we could find our seat.

This little conversation group was so entertaining. Barb, Joy H., Edith, and Florence.

These ladies were responsible for the main course (and it sounds like Lee should have been in this picture too, he fried the oysters, and they were delicious!)
Sharon, Tamara, Katheryn and Lisa

Lisa and Lee. I had to get a picture of them, they looked quite smashing. : )

Breaking 30!

30 MILES!! In one week! That was my goal last week, my first week as a 30 year-old. I reached it too! : )
So, yep, I broke thirty in more than one way last week, and my friends and family made it really fun for me. My first birthday gift was this bouquet of 30 gerber daisies with a one dollar bill pinned to each flower...wow! I decided at this point that turning 30 would have its perks. : )

We got together that day with several other sisters in the Portland area, and celebrated three birthdays, Cheryl's, Becky's and mine.

Mom and Michelle came to visit over the weekend of my birthday. That was really a treat too.

We met up that day looking like we had dressed for Valentine's Day...so Michelle held this little heart-shaped candy to add to the effect. : )

Michelle put this crazy photo on her facebook, so I just want to openly claim this picture. I think I was laughing because the candles wouldn't stay lit, so I only had to blow out about three of them. I'm not sure it was quite as funny as it looks like it was...but the picture is definitely a keeper.

My real "birthday wish" was to see Margaret Greenaway...and it came true! We had lunch with her at Karen and Nyla's. Cheryl and Becky came too, and more birthday celebrating ensued. It was a really special time.

Next stop, Saginaw Hill, for a slumber party! It was a great evening, I just realized that Barb got this picture of Ellen BEFORE Ellen changed into her "slumber party attire", we all wore our pjs to supper (no boys allowed)...and had a GREAT evening! Shauna and Linda fixed a fabulous Mexican meal.

Becky, Amy P., and Elysse, with our fabulous ice cream cake with chocolate ganache in the foreground. After dinner, and lots of hilarity, and a big dishwashing party, we sat around the fire and told stories (all of them true, most of them funny, and some of them very special). Then we transformed the living room into a workout studio and did a Nia routine. (At this point, Barb and Cheryl said goodnight). Then I think we went downstairs for some around the world ping pong. We got to bed several hours before dawn, and enjoyed a lovely breakfast and Bible study together in the morning.

February

I had a wonderful walk on the beach in Pacific City one evening at sunset...and fell in love with this stretch of beach.

I found my first sand dollar that day! And my second, third and fourth!! They were all nearly whole. I like that stone that I found too. I've been keeping cool stones from the beach for Michelle, since she has a rock tumbler.

This guy came down to the beach during sunset, and I saw him getting some stuff out of a bag, I thought he was going to take pictures or paint or something...but he's fishing! Very cool!

Michelle made a surprise visit to the coast the first week of February. She and her friend Carlie made a one day road trip from Seattle to Portland, and to my surprise, they added Lincoln City to their itinerary! They were going to come to Newport, but I suggested meeting in Lincoln City, since they needed to drive back to Seattle that night, and it was already well after dark when they arrived.

We did get down to the beach, my first night time trip to the beach since coming to the field. It was very chilly. But the moon was really cool. Had a ring around it that night.

I like this picture of Michelle's friend, Carlie. It was fun to meet her.

My friends spoiled me for Valentine's Day. It's always a treat to hear from friends.
We were at Bernie and Tamara's, and I had been laying low trying to get over a cold.
It was fun to have some time with their grand-kids, Mindi's kids. The little one next to Barb in the picture below became my little buddy. Their toys are in the closet off of the room I was staying in, and she enjoyed making herself at home in "my" room...even got out her twister game, and brought her friend in to play. I would have joined in, except I was on the phone.

Meet my new Spanish study partner!
Sandy, Sanchez's dog...she is a lab puppy, and very energetic, but she seemed to enjoy listening to Spanish bed time stories. This one was, ¡Horton Escucha a Quién! Dr. Suess's, Horton Hears a Who. Below you see that she really got into the story! Actually, I think she smelled all kinds of interesting smells on these library books. : )

I started and ended the month with wonderful walks at sunset on my new favorite beach, at Pacific City. This evening I saw some crazy people braving the cold ocean waters! I think they were kids, but as I got closer I wasn't so sure, so I decided not to do any more zooming in with my camera. : )