Update...

Hello All, Sorry I have been such a bad poster this year. I will try to do better in the coming months, but I can't make any promises.
Despite a stomach bug I picked up just as we were leaving, MJ and I had a great time in Portland. We saw a couple of shows. A friend of Scott's was playing the night we got in (singer-songwriter - known as Tractor Operator) so we went and saw him. It turned out that Michael had known both he and his girlfriend in high school. Small world! We also got to see Eels, a show we've been anticipating for a long time. We were definitely not disappointed. His opening act was a movie that the BBC had made about his quest to understand his dad (a famous scientist)'s theory of parallel universes. Very interesting way to start a concert. It helped to explain a lot of the lyrics in his music. We also strolled through the Chinese gardens downtown, hit IKEA & Trader Joe's, and sampled many a mircobrew. I think it's safe to say that Peggy enjoyed having her son in Portland for her birthday, and I was glad to get to tag along and eat her delicious homemade bagels! That woman can cook like a dream and is such a gracious hostess. I really enjoy going over there. Unfortunately MJ got my bug just as we got back, so he wasn't feeling well for a few days in Boise.
Robie Creek was a blast this year. It's so much easier when you aren't sick! I never felt like I wouldn't be able to finish, although I did have to walk the last mile to the summit, I still enjoyed myself. I beat my time from last year by 20 minutes, also a plus, although I don't really worry about my time too much. I've been out a couple of times running since and am considering doing the Great Potato race in a couple weeks. We'll see...
I hosted BUNCO at my house last week. It was a great time. Everyone seemed to enjoy MJ's Wasabi Mashed Potatoes recipe, even though it was my first time making them. I'm relieved my once a year turn to host is over with. I always worry about fitting everyone in to our tiny home.
School is gearing up to get done. I have my final exam in a week and a half and while I have enjoyed my class immensely, I am looking forward to it being over with. There is just a little bit too much on my plate right now.
We have the bathroom about 95% done. The faucet was defective and the company we bought it from sent the wrong part twice. MJ said we got an entirely new faucet via Fed Ex today, so hopefully tonight we will finally have a completed bathroom remodel project. We've gotten a lot of positive response from those that have seen it. Hard to tell if they are just being nice or not. I like and MJ likes it, so I guess that is what counts. It is certainly unique!
Work is crazy busy. We are working hard to save money where we can with the economy the way it is. It looks as if the home building industry is going to be hurting for a long time, yet.

I think that sufficiently wraps up our April news. I hope that all is well with everyone out there. Lots of love to you all, near and far. Hopefully summer will bring you our way, summer is so beautiful here... -M

Leavin' on a jet plane...

We're off for Portland this weekend. I can't wait to see my brother and spend some time getting to know his girlfriend. We also get to celebrate Peggy's birthday on Saturday. Next weekend is Robie Creek, so I will be doing lots of tapering (i.e. relaxing, eating too much, and more relaxing) this weekend while we are on our mini-vacation. Tomorrow can't come soon enough! Hope you all have fun weekends planned! -M

Spring Cleaning

My husband thinks that I've gone crazy. Since we've lived together I've had a rather relaxed style of housekeeping. We've been having so much fun doing other things that the cleaning part of the agenda has definitely slipped a bit. But its been bothering me - and in a house as small as ours we can't afford to let much clutter build up. So a couple weeks ago in all my spare time (yes, that was sarcasm) I launched a spring cleaning campaign to cover about eight weeks. It's amazing how a little bit of time and a few small projects each day can add up to such a difference in the house.
My efforts have convinced me that maybe we don't need that much more space, we just need to stay on top of things and become a little more organized. It wasn't the smartest thing to start this in the middle of a bathroom re haul, but in a way it has helped to keep me sane amongst the chaos of the new faucet and sink sitting in the middle of our living room. I just think about how nice the linen closet looks now with it's coat of fresh paint and perfectly folded linens. When I am in the bathroom starring at one complete wall and start to worry about how long it will take to do the other three, I walk into the kitchen to open a cupboard and notice how lovely our dishes look neatly organized on shelves clad in pretty new paisley printed contact paper.
I've got three huge boxes of things that we just don't need ready to be donated to the Youth Ranch. Three boxes - from ONE room. Amazing.
Soon the kitchen will be done and I'll be moving on to the dinning room. Or as we like to call it, the Dogs' room. We corral all three of our rascals in there with baby gates when we have guests or just need a little breathing room. The Dogs' Room is going to be a challenge for sure. I just need to remember to focus on a little bit at a time. Any more and I'll become overwhelmed at how much still needs to be done.