Spring in February...

Today I was out in the yard working for a bit and was excited to find things growing! Look what I found!

Rhubarb... can't wait to make rhubarb coffee cake and crisps!

Bleeding hearts

A lilac... getting ready to bud!

Heather... beautifully in bloom.

Vinca minor... creeping over from our neighbor's yard.

I love seeing things grow! My next project is to move a huge pile of gravel on the side of our house and turn it into another gardening bed. Then Chet's hops can have more space to spread out and I can plant more fun things! Now... to finish moving that pile of gravel...

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentines Day to everyone, especially to my dear husband! I can't believe we've been together almost 5 years and married almost 4 years already!

This was when we first "connected" 5 years ago at a friend's bonfire!

Our wedding day, June 23rd, 2006!

I'm so thankful for such a wonderful husband and love him so much!

February Weddings and One VERY Cute Baby!

The last couple weeks have been busy with two weddings, lots of get togethers and all sorts of celebrating! It was wonderful to celebrate with Mindy and Luke as they got married... and see all sorts of friends I haven't seen in awhile! The week before Mindy's wedding was filled with BBQs, a tour of Theo's Chocolates in Fremont and hanging out with Debbie and Steve (and baby Jakin!). Here are some pictures for our last couple weeks.

Denise, Mindy and I before the Theo Chocolate Factory tour... if you ever have a chance, this is definitely worth $6. An hour of interesting information and samples of more chocolate than expected! So yummy (and fair trade and organic!).

They take coco beans all the way to chocolate bar. Apparently, there are only 13 bean to bar chocolate factories in the US... most factories take semi processed coco beans and turn them into a bar.

This was the confection room where they form beautiful chocolate treats... this guy was cooling the chocolate on a marble surface.

The bachelorette party... tapas and drinks at the Black Bottle and then hanging out and silly games at a hotel downtown. Cheapest entertainment was bouncing on the bed.

Debbie, Mindy and me... I love these girls!

Chet with a very happy (and cute) baby Jakin! They stayed with us for a couple nights and we couldn't get enough of this little guy!

The adorable Isley family!

Mindy and Luke's wedding! Feb 6th, 2010

The guys at the reception

Us girls at the reception

The following weekend, we had the chance to go to another wedding. Mike and Lisa got married on Feb 13th in a beautiful ceremony. It was certainly another happy occasion. Chet is a little tired of weddings at this point... I think that 2 in month is about his breaking point. :)

Amusing myself during the ceremony (don't worry... I was also paying attention!).

Mike and Lisa! Feb 13th, 2010

Us at the wedding

Faith, me and Sam - good to catch up with these girls! Even though we all got to the same church we don't always see each other!

All of us with the happy couple! Fun wedding!

I think we have a break from weddings for awhile... most likely till summer where Adam and Brenda's wedding will head off a streak of about 3-4. I like weddings because they are such a joyful occasion but I'm glad Chet has a break so he'll enjoy them more!

200,000 miles!

My car rolled over 200,000 miles last night and for some reason I celebrated! Maybe it is because it has made it that long or maybe because I got to see so many digits flip over at the same time. Either way, I'm proud of my little 1992 Toyota Camry! Now I'm just eagerly awaiting the day we can trade it in and upgrade to a nice newer Subaru or something else fun!

What I did this week...

This week, I made a flannel quilt for my good friend Mindy for her bridal shower! Who knows where I came up with the idea to try to create this in little over a week but I made it and I think it turn out pretty cozy. I gave it to Mindy yesterday at the bridal shower (after having finished it at 2am that morning) and she seemed to love it! Yay, success! This is only my third quilt ever and certainly the largest (72x80 inches) I have ever done so it is definitely filled flaws but overall it went pretty well. It felt so good to create something and I am proud of myself for doing something unique for such a wonderful friend! May her and her hubby have many cozy nights cuddled up on the couch with this blanket. :)

Now time to get back to real life... school work, cleaning the house for Debbie, Steve and Jakin visiting this week and getting excited for Mindy and Luke's wedding on Saturday! This should be a good week!