DUKE

Yesterday I was FINALLY able to witness Duke's mens basketball team play live. For anyone who knows me and my family knows that Duke is OUR TEAM. I don't exactly remember when it started but as long as I can remember this was the team to root for and it all started with Coach K. Coach K is not only an amazing coach but an amazing person. He coached the Olympic team a few years ago and turned down the money and opportunity to coach in the NBA because he wanted to coach real talent and people who played for the game and not the show. Now, NBA players have lots of talent OBVIOUSLY but they do get away with a lot and a lot of them are in it for the show.

Anyway, yesterday my mom, brother, sister, and I met up in Portland to watch Duke play against the Oregon Ducks. Quick fact: Singler has a little brother who plays for the Ducks and that was cool to see. Anyway, I drove the 3 1/2 hours to Portland to watch a 3 hour game and then trecked my way back to Seattle but it was TOTALLY worth it. Not only did I experience a great game (Duke won, Singler had 30 points, was player of the game, and received a standing ovation) but I was also able to spend some quality time with my family. I loved that I shared this experience with them but I was really excited to share it with my brother. My mom and sister were able to watch them a few years ago but this was a first for me and Trevor and I know he really enjoyed it. It really made me realize the important things in life and how I have so much to be thankful for and this was the perfect medicine for me. I may not have spent Thanksgiving with my family but I was able to see them over the holiday and I can't wait to see EVERYONE at Christmas!

Now, let college basketball begin and GO DUKE!

Here are a few pics from the game:



Warm-ups:

Me and Trevor:

Singler shooting after a technical foul:

Me and Whit:

Mom and her girls

Levi enjoying his own seat

25 Things you May or May not know about me!

1. I was in 4H when I was little and wanted to be the Rodeo Queen when I was older
2. God is my foundation and my rock, an ever present guide in my life.
3. My husband is the only man I ever allowed myself to TRULY fall in love with and the greatest thing that has ever happened to me.
4. So far Jamaica is my favorite vacation spot
5. CrossFit is a passion of mine and is one of my favorite things to do with Cody (weird I know)
6. My parents always supported me and didn't only tell me they loved me but also showed me.
7. I love shopping for office supplies.
8. I was homecoming queen in high school and thought it was the coolest thing ever...now I just laugh at how silly it was!
9. I like receiving gifts but I love giving them.
10.I lived in South Carolina for 1 year.
11. I have a published poem..and let me tell you..it is PRETTY good ;)
12. My dad taught me more about hard work and a positive attitude than any other coach I had. (he coached me in basketball)
13. I admire my older bro and am proud of my younger sister.
14. My first and foremost love language is and always will be, quality time.
15. Running in the crisp fall air is one of the best feelings.
16. If I am stressed out you will most likely find me in a gym or doing some sort of physical activity.
17. I finally understand football and enjoy watching it.
18. I believe God has something amazing in store for our little family and His blessings in our life are so present and so undeserved.
19. I want to travel to Thailand, Europe, and SO MANY other places.
20. Moving to the big city gave me a whole new confidence but also really showed me how much I miss my family.
21. I am a mountains AND ocean kind of girl.
22. I have always been considered more of a tomboy but am starting to turn into a city girl as well.
23. I am patient, yet demanding, driven, yet content, disciplined, yet laid back, strong, yet vulnerable, passive, yet aggressive, and maybe a little bit spoiled.
24. I spoil my yorkie Mia.
25. If I can't sleep at night I listen to Christian music to help relax me.

City Church

Almost 1 year ago today, Cody and I finally found a church that we loved..The City Church. We went to quite a few different churches, trying to figure out which one we liked best and thanks to a good friend, we were introduced to City Church last November. We absolutely love this church. We usually go on Saturday nights (never thought that would be me) so we can just totally relax on Sundays. There were many reasons why we chose this church. We knew people that came, it was a good environment and didn't seem over the top, but the main reason was Pastor Judah. He is an AMAZING speaker. We love just about every message he has and always leave with a good feeling, but this weekend's message was just out of this world. I left feeling as if God was talking to me and instead of leaving and thinking about myself and all my stressors, I left feeling like I wanted to help others and how blessed I was.

There are so many things that go on in life and it is easy to forget just how good you have it. I feel so blessed for the life God has given me and this weekend I feel like I was grounded again. Too often I focus on things that don't truly matter and I get caught up in myself as we all do. Pastor Judah brought it home by saying that Jesus is the point of life and without him, we wouldn't be here. It is important to focus on this and be in aw of God. I know that God has been speaking to me and I just haven't really been listening. I am choosing to listen to God and it really does make everything better. Yes, I still have my stressors but knowing that God is behind me and I have his strength when I am weak makes me feel good.


The reason I wrote about this isn't because I am trying to preach..no, that is not it at all. I am not super religious but I am a christian and I have felt alone before and prayer worked for me. I wrote this because I want people who have been feeling lost and/or alone to know that all you have to do is pray. You don't have to go to church, you don't have to go do x number of good deeds, you just need to sit and pray and listen to God. Even if you don't know how to pray, it is easy, just talk to him like you would any other person. So, I encourage everyone out there to say a prayer for yourself for whatever situation you are in and just listen. You might not get the answers overnight but prayer really does work.

30 day Paleo Challenge

One of the MANY things I love about fall is that it seems like a fresh start. No, I no longer get to go on summer vacation but in a way, I still feel like when fall comes around, it is a time to regroup and refresh. Cody and I had a very busy and fun summer and September flew by with a Seahawks game, fashion show, Husky game, my fundraiser (which I got 5th out of the girls), and numerous other activities. With October coming up, I began thinking about goals and where I have been and where I want to go. Along with this, I realized that I have sort of stalled in my progress to become more fit. I have had a few to many cocktails and cheat nights over the last few months so I decided that October would be my month of eating clean. By eating clean, I mean following the Paleo Diet.
Now, this diet I have sort of been following already for the past year or so. It is definitely more of a lifestyle choice for me because I like eating this way but I definitely haven't been hardcore. I would try and stick to this during the week and being mindful of what I am eating on the weekends. With stalled progress and the holidays just around the corner, I figured I should try and challenge myself to eating strict paleo for 30 days. This means no grains, dairy, sugar, alcohol (this one will probably be the toughest with football season), and basically processed foods. The one thing I will have that is dairy is whey protein after a workout.

So, I have been going at it from September 26th so I am on day 11 and I have to say, I can't believe I have made it this far without a cheat. We even had family in town and I passed on the wine, cocktails, bread, all of it. I actually feel pretty good right now and learned that if it is good coffee, it is good black with just some cinnamon. The first few days were easy because I was motivated and the next few days were tough with having family in town and lots of chances to just eat crap. Now, it seems easy and I don't even think twice about eating something processed. I feel like my performance is improving in the gym, I am sleeping better, and I have a lot of energy during the day. I am not sure how much weight I can actually lose, but that isn't really my goal. I just want to lose fat so if I can notice a difference in the way my clothes fit then I will be happy. I also have to say that I feel like I am noticing a little more muscle in my stomach than before which is good.

So, almost halfway done with my challenge and I feel pretty good about it.

I encourage everyone to pick 1 area in their life that they can improve on, set a goal, and complete it. It can be anything from eating right to organizing your closets!

Welcome Lily Jean!!

Lily Jean Kovis was born September 13, 2010 and came in at a whopping 7.8lbs and was 19in long. She looks so precious and from what I hear momma and baby are both doing well. From the looks of it, Jaxon is LOVING being a big brother. Here he is holding his baby sis...when they are older guys are going to have to go through him before dating Lily so they better watch out!

I cannot wait to meet Lily and hold her! She is perfect! Here is one more pic of this adorable baby girl!


Our family just keeps on growing!! Congratulations Kovis family!!

Labor Day

This summer went by WAY to fast! I still can't believe it is September already!

Cody and I have been so busy this summer that it seems like we haven't really seen our families so we decided to head over the mountains to TriCities and Yakima to see everyone. Well, almost everyone!

We left on Friday afternoon (which with a Dave Matthews Band Concert, Ellensburg Rodeo, and Labor Day, this was not a good idea!) It took us 1 hour to get from North Bend to Easton which is right outside Colfax..so a 2 hour drive to Yakima was more like 4. We stayed with Cody's parent's that night and had a delicious dinner of BBQ'd ribs, grilled veggies, salad, and grilled peaches with honey on top. On Saturday we headed to Tri-Cities around noon and pretty much spent the whole afternoon with my nephew Levi. Last time I saw him was at his 1st Birthday in April and he is SOOO big and DOES NOT sit still! I have to say, it made my day when he went to me right away from my mom..couldn't believe he left her arms for mine when he just woke up! :) We took him to the playground and then just hung out with him at my moms and then my dad's. While we were at my moms, we had a great surprise...my Uncle Bill, 2 of his girls, and my grandma were all up from Arizona, which meant that the rest of my family was at my mom's having a BBQ. It was so great to see all my cousins and catch up with everyone!! That night we went to Cedar's with my dad and Audrey and then attempted to watch a movie with them (I was exhausted from Levi so I fell asleep early).

Sunday, my dad and Audrey had a family get together to celebrate their remodeled home and I was able to see most of my family on my dad's side which was nice since I haven't seen them in a year maybe?? That is crazy!The house looks AMAZING by the way! It isn't quite done but it should be this week! They are so excited to FINALLY have everything done! It has been nearly a year long project for them between the inside and outside!

We were planning on coming home Sunday night but when stopping to say hi to Cody's parents real quick in Yakima on the drive through, we quickly decided that one more night with family would be the best way to go and decided to just get up super early on Monday morning for the trek back. We visited and watched a movie that was supposedly supposed to be good but wasn't in my opinion. We got up super early Sunday and made it home by 10am and were able to clean, relax and watch Harry Brown for the remainder of the weekend. This movie I recommend seeing. I really enjoyed it.

All in all, it was a great weekend. We definitely were busy with traveling but seeing everyone was worth it and it was something I think we both needed!

Oh, if you haven't yet and decide that you still want to, I am still taking donations for Fight Gone Bad! The link is here: https://rapidgiving.com/fundraising/page/4440/fight-gone-bad
Come on, you know you want to and it is for a great cause!! :)

Fight Gone Bad

Fight Gone Bad is a charity event that Cody and I's Crossfit Gym is competing in. Crossfit gyms everywhere do this every year. Here is a little bit about it:

Fight Gone Bad began as a fundraising event in 2006. From those humble beginnings and with the support of the CrossFit community, we’ve proven what a small, totally committed group of people can accomplish. The first four editions of Fight Gone Bad have raised a combined total of more than $2 million.

Fight Gone Bad 5 opens its arms to benefit three charities this year: LIVESTRONG, Wounded Warrior Project and the CrossFit Foundation.

The event format is the Fight Gone Bad CrossFit format:

In this workout you move from each of five stations after a minute. This is a five-minute round from which a one-minute break is allowed before repeating. The event is in the 3 round format. The stations are:

* Wall-ball: 20 pound ball, 10 ft target. (Reps)
* Sumo deadlift high-pull: 75 pounds (Reps)
* Box Jump: 20″ box (Reps)
* Push-press: 75 pounds (Reps)
* Row: calories (Calories)

The clock does not reset or stop between exercises. On call of “rotate,” the athlete/s must move to next station immediately for good score. One point is given for each rep, except on the rower where each calorie is one point.

Awards are given on Individual, National, and Regional levels.

Individuals who raise $150 or more will receive an Official FGB 5 Event T-shirt after the event.

There are two divisions eligible for awards on the National and Regional levels:

* Affiliates with 25 or less Team Members.
* Affiliates with 26 or more Team Members.

National: The highest fundraising Affiliate in each division will receive a Grand Prize Package from our sponsors.

Regional: The highest fundraising Affiliate in each region in each division will receive a Traveling Trophy with their Affiliate name, the event name and the year they won on the plaque.

Last September Cody and I had only been Crossfitting for about 3 weeks when this was going on so we are very excited to participate this year.

Like I said, I am trying to raise as much money as possible. If you want to help a girl out and donate to a great cause you can go to my donations page and donate money. It is here: https://rapidgiving.com/fundraising/page/4440/fight-gone-bad

2 Years!

2 years ago today I married the most AMAZING man. God has truly blessed me! Cody and I met on a blind date in 2004 and we started "officially" dating that next week. Who knew getting dragged on a blind date would turn into this! We went to a friends house party that night and then left early to watch a movie and talk. We ended up talking until 4am and the only reason we had to stop talking was because Cody's friend was calling him to let him know he would be ready for duck hunting in about 15 minutes! So, he left, and then that next day we went on our "first official date" to a hockey game in Spokane. Here we are on our first date:








Cody is such an amazing person. He is my rock. We have been through so much together and a lot of it happened after we got married 2 years ago today. We seriously are best friends. We do EVERYTHING together. We definitely try to do our own thing too but the truth is, if I am going to experience something fun, I want him with me to experience it too!

I don't know what I would do without him in my life...God definitely knows what he is doing and I am so blessed! I thank God everyday for bringing him to me! Here we are walking out of the church:



I had to look down because I was fighting back tears I was so happy! I lost it the moment we went through the doors!


I Love You Cody and here is to many more years together!

Relieving stress

It is 3:45 and I am literally at the end of my rope at work. I don't know why exactly. I just have little patience for stupidity today. I think part of this is the fact that Cody and I have been going nonstop all summer and I am just tired. We spent the past 2 weeks painting and packing and there is still a TON of work to do for the house. We are OFFICIALLY moving this Saturday with the moving truck. I am excited about this but I also know how short this will make the weekend. Still lots to pack up and then we have to clean the apartment. It will be SO nice when we get all settled again!

We did manage to find some time to relax this past weekend. This last weekend was Seafair and we went with some friends on a boat on Sunday. The weather wasn't the best but we managed to have a good time. I will definitely post a few pics soon!

I am just itching to get out of the office right now! I have found that whenever I get super stressed, the only thing that makes me feel better is usually working out and this past year, this has been Crossfit. I don't know who all has heard about this, but it seems to be all over now. There are a million reasons why I love Crossfit. For one, you go in and you don't have to think about what you are going to do. The WOD (workout of the day) is posted and that is what you do. The workouts are usually between 15-30 minutes. There have only been a few that took me longer than that but trust me, the short WODs leave you lying on the ground and tired. I love this. I also love the camaraderie of everyone. I am not sure how all crossfit gyms are, but Cody and I have become friends with most of the people we workout with. Part of the reason I look forward to going besides working out, is to see friends. We also push each other and encourage each other. Everyone wants to get the best time, but we are always cheering each other on to push hard and beat their goals. I love this. It reminds me of when I played sports and keeps it interesting. For example, when I got my first unassisted pullup, so many people were excited and congratulating me, and yesterday when a girl did RX for the first time, I was right there to congratulate her and super stoked for her. Oh ya, RX is doing the prescribed weight of the WOD...sometimes it is too much weight and you have to do a modified version (which I still do on some WOD's).
Lastly, even though I could probably go on and on, I love that when I leave, I literally have no stress. My body is so tired and I am just ready to go relax. THIS, is why I love Crossfit. I think that everyone should have something that allows them to relieve stress whether it is working out or reading, etc...it is important to do this so you can be sane and ready to take on the world.

So with that, I am going to finish up my last hour of work and then head to Crossfit.

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

What Summer?

It has been awhile since my last post but we have been SOOO busy! I can't believe it is almost August already! So much has happened in such a short amount of time! For starters, Cody got offered Full-Time from his contract position at Amazon. He has been working like a crazy person and I am so proud of him! We started looking at condo's and houses at the beginning of the summer and put an offer in on a townhome in Bothell...that in itself took up A TON of time..with meeting with the realtor, lendor, etc..very stressful that is for sure! We are HOPING to close this week. We were supposed to close last week but because Cody changed job codes with Amazon (contract to full-time) he didn't have 30 days worth of pay stubs in the same category. He hits his 30 days this week and we REALLY want to get in there and start painting! I am definitely excited to make it our own but I know I will have to be patient and not do everything at once! This will take up most of our time in August as well I am sure!!

Work has been crazy busy for me and I have been putting in some overtime (which has been nice but tiring) which means we don't get home till between 7:30-8 at night..I mostly feel bad for Mia about this. Poor girl is inside all by herself all day. I come home, take her out, play with her for a little bit and then pretty soon it is time for bed again! I am trying to get her outside as much as I can on the weekends!

Even though we have been busy, we have managed to find some time to see family and relax (a tiny bit). We went to the Oregon Coast with my mom's side of the family 2 weekends ago..they were there the whole week but we went Friday night and left Sunday morning. Even though it was a quick trip, it was great seeing everyone! Cody's parents even went up so we were able to see both sides! Then, this past weekend my mom and Steve came over unexpected due to an accident that happened with Chris at work. He is going to be fine thank God but it did allow me to spend a whole Saturday relaxing with my mom. We didn't do much, just layed by the pool and then went to dinner but it was great seeing her! It was nice being able to catch up since we didn't really have much time for that at the coast.

The rest of the summer will be very busy..on the agenda:
-Closing on the house
-Painting
-Moving
-Seafair
-Hopefully plan a weekend home to Tri-Cities to see everyone...especially little Levi
-Visit from my dad...still working on figuring out when a good time is
-MAYBE Vegas at the end of September once things settle down!

As busy as we are, I really am loving every minute of it. I can't believe I actually look forward to going to Lowes and Home Depot. I love being busy and just wish we could see family more...but hopefully that changes when things slow down!

Now, back to work...

Happy Father's Day

Yesterday, was Father's Day and although I wasn't able to see my dad, I was definitely thinking about him. He is such an amazing role model. I have always been very close to him and everyone tells me I take after him. He is very driven and is always there to give me guidence...whether I like what he has to say or not :P. Whether I am having a bad day or a great day, he is always the first person I want to call (besides Cody of course). Whenever I am stressed out, even if he doesn't have the answers, his words of wisdom somehow comfort me and give me the strength to just keep pushing. I have always looked up to him. He was my coach in sports, my cheerleader, my mentor. I am very proud to call him my dad. I am so happy for him in all he has accomplished and is living proof that hard work, dedication, and honesty really do pay off. He is not only a great dad, but my best friend and a amazing grandpa!

I Love You Dad!

Wishful Wednesday

Alrighty...

My friend Kelsey has a WONDERFUL blog...way more interesting than mine, and every Wednesday she has a wishful Wednesday Topic...I decided to play along this week.
This week's topic is which SATC character would you be and why?

I would most definitely be Charlotte...

I have always been told I would be Charlotte if I was one of them...I adore her! One of the things I love most about Charlotte is her passion. She is passionate about everything. She is a great friend and married the sweetest man even though it took her awhile to realize he was the one. She just has that innocence about her. One of my favorite scenes from the first movie is when she gets sick in Mexico. Cracks me up every time! I also loved how she stuck up for Carrie when Big broke her heart! That is a true friend right there!

Now, I need to go see the 2nd one so I can come up with some more reasons why I absolutely would be Charlotte!!

Happy Wednesday!

Long Weekends

Having a long weekend was SOOO nice and very much needed! I am lucky enough to work for a place that gave us both Friday AND Monday off so I got 4 days off in a row! It has been awhile since I have had a day off work so it was nice!

On Friday, I decided to head up to Birmingham to go to the outlet mall there for some new workout clothes...It was a long drive but I had nothing else to do while everyone else was working! So, after the gym and tanning, I grabbed Mia and we headed for a mini road trip. The weather was HORRIBLE! Pouring down rain the whole time...pretty much stayed that way until about yesterday around 5 too! After the shopping trip I went downtown to meet up with Cody and some friends for dinner and a concert at the Moore Theatre. I have never been in there before and it was absolutely gorgeous! It is a great place to have a concert! We saw the John Butler Trio..and they put on a good show!

Because Saturday was gloomy weather as well, Cody and I decided to do a little reorganizing of the closets after the gym. We ended up bagging up 5 bags of clothes to take to a consignment shop and to good will!! We got rid of so much junk!!! I didn't even think we had that much stuff but MAN..it felt good! I love the feeling of being totally organized! That night we went to church and it was very much needed for me! I felt like the pastor was speaking directly to me! It was a great message and I am so happy we decided to not be lazy and skip!! We rented a few movies that night as well...honestly, I can't remember the names of the 2 action packed ones Cody got but I got Dear John and still need to watch it!

Sunday was a day for shopping around...we went to the mall and shopped BUT managed to not buy a single thing! We were looking for stuff for Cody so I wasn't really in the mood to look for me (weird I know). It was nice just getting out of the house and roaming around though!

And finally, Monday...went to the gym at 9am because that is the only time they had a class that day. Then, the whole day was spent doing ABSOLUTELY nothing...Cody played his xbox which he hasn't done in forever and I read my kindle...ALL DAY! I am almost done with a book I started forever ago but stopped reading so I decided to start from the beginning. I am about 20 pages to the end and can't wait to read another one! I have a list of books I want to read..I am also in the middle of "Love the one Your With" and really want to read "Roses" and "The art of running in the rain"...hopefully this week I can get to those ones!

Well, it was a pretty boring weekend but I think I needed it. Having a low key weekend was the medicine I needed and today I feel totally refreshed and ready to work!

One more thing before I end...Last week was my Grandma Idler's birthday so I want to wish her a Happy Birthday..she was lucky enough to spend it in Vegas!

And, today is my Grandma Wirtzberger's birthday so Happy Birthday to you too!

Love you both!!

Happy June Everyone!!

Morning Coffee

I have to say, as much as everyone dreads Monday's and getting back to work, there is one thing that I love about Mondays. It is actually getting back into my routine at work and drinking my morning coffee. Now, I don't necessarily drink coffee every day, some days it is tea, but the comfort from it is so refreshing! I have the same routine every day when I get to work. The first thing I do is respond to my emails. I love clearing out my inbox..makes me feel organized. Then I plan my day accordingly..then it is downstairs to grab my mail and...my morning coffee. We have our own espresso machine so every morning I am promised a fresh cup. I pick the strongest blend and put a little cinnamon and a packet of stevia in it. It is amazing and when I sit down at my desk and take that first sip, I am happy and ready to go. This is a routine that I actually look forward to in the mornings, even on Mondays. :)

This past weekend was pretty good..I say that about all my weekends, but we were able to see family and that always equals a good time! Cody's family came into town this weekend with one thing on the agenda....the boys were going to skydive for their dad's 50th birthday which is Tuesday. Well, sadly, the weather didn't allow for this to happen and they had to reschedule for next Saturday. The good news though is that we will see them again so soon! So, since we couldn't watch them jump, we decided to head into Seattle where the weather was actually perfect for the city. We showed them where both of us work and walked through Pikes where I had pork on a stick...which as weird as it sounds...is quite tasty. After downtown, we headed to Pete's Market over by Greenlake because Cody and I heard they had an amazing wine selection. Well, they did and the guy there was very helpful. We ended up buying 2 cabs ...14 hands which Chateau St. Michelle makes but only sells to a select few vendors, and Canoe Ridge. We went home to relax a bit before dinner and ended up drinking the 14 Hands which was pretty tasty! For dinner, we ended up deciding on sushi since his family loves it. I can stand some stuff, but I stuck with chicken and vegetables :)

The night ended with some dessert (90% dark cacao for me...YUM) and the 2nd bottle of wine, and great conversation. That night, I definitely slept like a baby.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure to treating Cody's mom to her first ever pedicure. We went to a place by my house, and they offer a hot stone massage as part of the pedicure. I think Tami was in heaven...I know I was! It was so nice to be able to treat her to something where she could be pampered...living with boys all the time doesn't leave much room for that. She definitely deserves it! After the pedicure, they headed home and Cody treated me to How to Train your Dragon at the Imax in Bellevue. I have been wanting to see it forever..it was such a cute movie too!!

We pretty much just relaxed the rest of the day and I caught up with all my pre-recorded shows. It was another great weekend spent with family with good food and conversation. I am definitely ready for hitting the gym hard this week and enjoying my 4 day weekend next weekend!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ON TUESDAY MORGAN!!

Family and Beat the Bridge

First off, I can't figure out how to place pics where I want them so I am putting them all at the top! I need to get better at this!

What a weekend!! It was so great! It was in the 70's ALL WEEKEND! I love it!

This weekend was especially great because I got to see my mama! I needed to pick up some vases from our wedding that I am letting a friend borrow so my mom was nice enough to meet me in CleElum (not sure about spelling) to give them to me. I drove Saturday morning with Mia in tow and spent about 1 1/2 hours or so with my mom. We went to a popular meat market where I got a couple steaks for Cody and I and some pepperoni sticks for Cody. Then, we went to a little mom and pop place for breakfast and just caught up a little bit. Last time I was home it was such a quick trip that I didn't really get to see her much, so it was great just talking and enjoying each other's company! Thanks MOM!! Love you!

After meeting with my mom, I headed back to Bothell and then spent some time with Kristen while Cody, Uncle Jay, and Ryan golfed in Renton. We headed to the golf course and had a few drinks while waiting for the boys and when they got done we ordered appetizers and just enjoyed the weather. Kristen and Ryan stayed with us that night since we were all doing Beat the Bridge...so, after appetizers and church, it was home to prepare for the 5 mile race....which, by the way, I have not been running to prepare for this!

Now, onto Race Day..first of all, Beat the Bridge is a fundraiser for Diabetes so it felt great running for a good cause..I think the race raised around 1.2 million dollars for research! That is truly amazing!

Anyhow, it was an early morning. Cody was so nice and got up super early (5:30) to make everyone breakfast of turkey bacon and eggs..I usually don't eat so early but knew I would need the energy. We met up with some of our friends at our gym at 6:50 and headed into Seattle. I was so nervous...we were in the 3rd wave which is the biggest wave and so even when the clock started we were still standing around for like 2 minutes...needeless to say, we didn't beat the bridge...well, Matt and Carter did...but no one else...I was SOOOO close! They were just blocking it off when I got there. After the bridge was raised, I ran the last 3 miles in 22:32 so my 5 mile time was 40:32..not bad for not training huh! haha It was so cool running into Husky Stadium and onto the turph..I have only done 1 5k before this and a 12k trail run last summer and I am so pumped to do more! My ultimate goal is to do a triathalon, but I need to get all the equipment first and it is kinda spendy for road bikes and wet suits...eventually :)

After the race, Cody, Kristen, Ryan, and Uncle Jay went and walked around some shops and then went to RedMill Burger for lunch which is rated the best burgers in Seattle 10 years in a row! It also made Oprah's list of 20 burgers to eat before you die...I have been wanting to go there for so long and was finally able to. I normally am not a huge burger joint person but I just had to see what the hype was about. Cody and I shared a burger which was more then enough for 2 people and some fries and it was pretty darn good!! After that it was time for some relaxation...I rented some movies and just enjoyed the rest of the afternoon with Cody and Mia.

It was a great weekend and Beat the Bridge was an awesome experience..I am so glad I had such amazing friends to enjoy and experience it with and can't wait for another race!!

Out of all the days this year, this weekend was BY FAR the best weekend in Seattle yet. The weather was amazing! I spent most of it outside because how can you not enjoy this beautiful weather. When it is sunny and warm in Seattle, it is THE best place on earth! So pretty!

Our weekend started on Friday when we decided to skip the gym and hit up a happy hour in downtown Bellevue. We were able to sit outside and sip on our drinks and just enjoy the sun.

Saturday, Cody went golfing with some buddies so I went to the gym and then walked around Greenlake with one of my new friends Leslie. Leslie and I started at our gym the same week last September and have gotten to know each other quite well this past year. She is definitely one of the sweetest girls out there. She is actually the person that introduced me and Cody to City Church. We were sort of church hopping but in November I decided to go with her on a Saturday night to see how it was and I loved the pastor..so much that I took Cody a few weeks later and we are hooked. We feel like we definitely found our church home and hate missing a service! Pastor Judah is an amazing speaker and we learn so much from him! So, THANKS LESLIE for all that :)

Anyways, back to the weekend. After our walk I met Cody at home and we took a mini nap before heading to some shops to browse around for some golf clubs and then headed off to church. Because of Mother's Day, Pastor Judah's mom spoke and she gave an amazing message. Made me miss my mom on Mother's Day too! I was supposed to meet my mom Saturday for the afternoon because she was on Chinook Pass but we learned that it is still closed until the end of the month. I am hopefully going to get to spend some quality time with her next Saturday though and give her her gift!

Yesterday, Cody and I went to the gym and then went and looked for more golf clubs...these clubs are for me because Cody really wants me to start golfing with him. He ended up finding some for me that were clearanced out too so I might need to take up golf lessons! Oh, the bag isn't very cute so I will invest in a new bag too :) He thinks I am such a girl when I mentioned this to him! Gotta look the part though right? haha
After that, I went to Greenlake with Mia and met my friends Yelena and Steven for lunch at Laboda Pub and then we took the dogs for a walk. I worked with Yelena at SL Start and it was great seeing her again! After the walk, Cody and I went to Mi Tierra in Kirkland for dinner and I had a margarita..not one to normally order those kind of drinks anymore but it was so warm out and it sounded good...one was a bit much for me though! haha

All in all, it was a great weekend. This coming weekend will be busy..hoping my mom can come up for the day on Saturday and then we are running in Beat the Bridge on Sunday. It is a 10k and is for diabetes so I am excited/nervous for it since I haven't ran that much since last summer!! Oh well, I shall survive!! haha

Have a great week everyone!

Mariner Game and Hiking

This weekend was so busy! My dad and Audrey came to Seattle so on Saturday Cody and I took the bus downtown and spent the day with them. In the morning we took them to my new office so they could check it out and then went to the Mariner Game with them. Audrey got AMAZING seats..right off of 1st base..row 13..they were the best I have ever sat at! The Mariner's sadly lost but the game was still a lot of fun! After the game we decided to head down to South Center to eat at Bahama Breeze (one of my favorite places to eat) since Audrey hasn't been to one in years. They never dissapoint either! This time I got the butter garlic chick with mashed sweet potatoes and broccoli..their sweet potatoes are AWESOME...love them!! Then, we headed to Ikea since neither my dad nor Audrey has been there before. It is huge and it gets me excited for when I actually have a place I can decorate instead of being in a small apartment! After that, they took us to our car and we parted ways. It was a great day and I am glad we got to see them.

On Sunday I got up and went hiking with a bunch of people from my church and 2 girls from Crossfit. I didn't know anyone but those 2 girls but it was great meeting new people! :) We went to Lake 22 which is near Granite Falls. It was a 5.5 miles round trip and pretty moderate..not too steep which was good because I was sore still from some lunges I did on Friday...killer on the bum! When we got to the top, the Lake was gorgeous! It was covered in snow and the mountains were so pretty! It was definitely worth the treck in. It did start raining so it got pretty cold but it will be a great place to hike with Cody when the weather gets warmer! And anyone else who wants to join! After the hike, I found out that my dad and Audrey were still in town and were at Molbax(a cool nursery) in Kirkland with Cody. I got dropped off there and was able to visit with them a little longer. I was pretty wet and muddy but I didn't really care. It was great to be able to see them one last time! After that, I was starving so Cody took me to Red Robin..again, dirty and make-up free haha...I love that place! I spent the remainder of my Sunday taking a bubble bath, watching Lost, The Amazing Race, part of The Apprentice, and my shows I had recorded on DVR...definitely a very lazy afternoon but was great after that weekend!

So, another good weekend..I think this next weekend will be low key BUT you never know...I love squeezing in as much as I can on the weekends because there is never any time during the week!

Have a great week everyone!!

Family filled weekend

It never ceases to amaze me at how fast the weekends go by! This last weekend Cody and I got to head over the mountains to see some family and it was a very short trip, but a good trip at that! We left after work on Friday and headed to my dad's house. They just finished renovating the downstairs and it looks AMAZING. I think they just had a few finishing touches on it but it looked good!

Saturday morning, Cody was very ambitious and went out for a 4.4 mile run..I decided to be lazy and stayed home but I was so proud of him! Later in the morning I went to get my hair done by my sis and she did an amazing job! She really did pick the right profession and I am happy with her choice...I don' t have to worry about finding a hair lady anymore! It was great catching up with her too! After the hair, it was time for Levi's party. He is getting so big! He walks EVERYWHERE and doesn't want you to pick him up AT ALL! He is such a cutie! I definitely wish I could see more of him!

After the party we headed to Cody's parent's house in Yakima. It was great because I don't even remember the last time I saw them! I got to meet Cres's girlfriend too. They had my favorite dinner going...steak and grilled asparagus..I could probably eat this every day for the rest of my life and not get tired of it! I love it! It was great just sitting around catching up with them. They redid their floors with tile and their house looks good too!

Sunday, we went out to breakfast and then shopped around for a bit. Cody and I needed to get on the road but not before a quick spin on the harley! Man, I can't wait til we get one! They are so much fun!

The rest of our Sunday pretty much consisted of driving and relaxing. We decided to end our weekend with dinner at Azteca which I haven't had in SOOO long so it was nice. They have the best chicken taquitos around!

Well, that pretty much sums up our weekend...really enjoyed seeing everyone and miss everyone already!

Weekend of fun

I can't believe it is already Monday! This past week flew by! Traveling during the week definitely throws me off my game! My trip to LA was fun but very quick. Cody was nice enough to drive me to the airport at 5:15am so I didn't have to take the bus. I slept the whole flight there and after going to the hotel and realizing that I couldn't check in early I headed to the office. I am glad I got to meet everyone there and it was great working 1 on 1 with the HR ladies over there! I definitely feel more comfortable being the lone HR over here now! For lunch that day they took me to Hal's for lunch which is a pretty nice restaurant. I ended up getting the steak and managed to only eat a couple of the amazing fries! I was very good! haha That night after work I went to check in and got bumped to the penthouse sweet! It was HUGE! It had a kitchen, balcony, fireplace, huge tub...it was awesome! I just wish I could have shared it with someone...thinking next time my mom will have to just fly over and stay with me on my trip! :) I ended up walking on the boardwalk for a little bit but because I am a wuss I didn't walk far. I get too scared being all alone in a place I don't know! I also had a complimentary dinner so I ordered their spinach ricotta mac and cheese..definitely NOT healthy but I had to try it...honestly, it wasn't that great and I didn't eat much of it. The next day we had a wine o clock at 3:30 at the office where they had a huge spread of wine, nuts, fruit, and cheeses...and NO, this isn't an every day thing! haha It was great to just relax and have some wine before I caught my plane. I got back to Seattle at 10:15 and was so happy to see Cody and Mia!

The rest of the week was pretty boring but this past weekend was pretty fun. Cody and I spent Saturday up in Marysville at the oulet malls and I didn't even buy anything! They had some good deals but I was just in the mood to browse and walk around. We went to dinner at Pen Thai by our house which was amazing..I love Thai! Yesterday it was GORGEOUS outside so after church we took full advantage and took Mia to Kirkland to walk around. She loved it and it was so pretty out! I love Kirkland! Ended the day with a bbq that consisted of buffalo burgers, cucumber salad, and 2 huge glasses of ice tea with lemon..I am addicted to that stuff!

All in all it was a great weekend! This week will be pretty busy and on Friday we are heading to Tri-Cities for Levi's 1st birthday! I can't believe he will be 1! That is the downside to living over here! We don't get to see him grow up!!

Have a good week!

Definitely time for an update!!

WOW! I am realizing that I SUCK at updating this blog. I decided that I would sign on and try this whole blogging thing again. However, I can't figure out how to update the layout or anything like that! OH WELL!!

SO much has changed since my last post!! Cody and I are doing great! We are still living in Bothell in our little apartment but have plans to hopefully become homeowners this summer! We still love being in Seattle...probably love it more now then ever before. I think this is because we have sort of found our niche here now! We have made some amazing friends and we don't feel like we are the "loners from a small town" anymore! We have definitely begun building our lives here and plan on continuing this journey in Seattle!

Some recent updates...while I absolutely loved my job at SL Start, I recently took a new job at DDB. The position is a Human Resource Coordinator position. It is right downtown Seattle (2nd and Madison) so I take the bus every day. I was kind of nervous working downtown and taking the bus but I absolutley love it! The bus allows me to read my kindle, listen to music, and just relax. My stop is 2 blocks up from where I work and I pretty much take a power nap every day on my way home..this works out perfectly for hitting the gym after work! :) Now that the weather is getting nicer, I plan on exploring downtown on my lunch breaks. Last week I decided to go for a run down by the water during lunch since our building has showers, and it was BEAUTIFUL! There is so much around here! I definitely plan on doing this more as it gets warmer!


Besides the new job, I guess not a lot has really changed. Cody is still working in Bellevue, and like I mentioned before, we hope to buy a house before summer is over. I am so excited to be a homeowner and actually have room for our stuff! We still have wedding gifts boxed up!! I can't wait until we have our own yard for Mia and plenty of space for our things!! We also have begun to appreciate the great outdoors of Seattle. One of our favorite things to do when the weather is nice is take Mia to a park somewhere and just walk around. Just last weekend we went to Greenlake to walk around it with her...as much as we have always planned to go there, this was our first and what a great place it is! In the summer we definitely plan on renting the kayak's and paddle boats to take out on it! We also have become fans of local markets and are going to try and visit all the ones around us (there are a lot). We have been introduced to some great hiking places through friends and hopefully will be doing that again soon as well! One thing that has really turned around for us is that we FINALLY found a church that we absolutely love! We were going to random churches our first year here which makes it hard to stay motivated to go every week. But, through friends, we found one in Kirkland that we love and go to their Saturday night service. We are so hooked on the pastor there that we hate missing a week!

I am so excited that summer is coming! We have so many plans! We are running an 8k in May and are going to start looking for some road bikes so we can bike into town on the trails! We will see if we can find any for good deals! Keep your eyes and ears out for us!

I think that is plenty of updating for now..I plan on updating more often and hopefully be able to even post some pictures of the adventures we plan on going on!

Thanks for reading and God Bless!!