Beach time!

We purchased a groupon for Newport Aquarium tickets, as did our friends the Ross's, so a beach trip was therefore in order! We stayed at a place a little south of Newport called Waldport. Not much to Waldport, but who needs much really when you have the Ocean! The house was really nice, although when we got there, all the beds were unmade, and had clearly been slept in. So, we had to do a little laundry, but are getting our housekeeping fee back! It was a really relaxing trip, and the kids had their own little bunkroom with pingpong table and big screen tv....and adults rooms downstairs, plus it was a beachfront place. We enjoyed quality time with friends, played lots of Dominoes, hung out on the beach for a bit (it was pretty chilly), enjoyed a trip to the Aquarium, and did a lot of laundry.... :-) We for happy to get away and put our toes in the sand for a bit!

Annabelle...creating with shells :)

Annabelle, Ella R, Ella C, Tobin...gettin their feet wet!

Girls!

Chris and I, and our infamous, one-armed shot :)

All the sleepy kiddos...sometime in the 7:00 am hour...

All of us (minus Chris who is taking the pic), at the Aquarium

Jelly Fish

Little miss cutie pie Ella ;)

These three sharks all converged and ran into each other! The sharks are definitely the best part of the Aquarium.

Annabelle!

Cali vacation 2011!

This was the highlight of my summer so far! Such a treat to be with all my siblings for a week. We had a lot of fun together, eating, wine tasting, and playing. Not a bad life at all. Although, all good things do come to and end, and that happened for us in Roseburg, OR. We were almost home, on the last 4 hours of the trip, when after our lunch stop to McDonalds, the car refused to start. So, after some deliberation and frustration, we surrendered and called a tow truck and booked a night at the Super 8 in Roseburg. God is good though, we got the CRV into a Honda repair shop that morning and he had us out by 11! The girls consequentially thought that Hotel stay was the best part of the trip! Hmmm. I guess adventures are what these little ones live for :)

Varenyky making night. MMMM. SO. GOOD.

Mario's Ristorante Italiano!

A little nature....

My Belle :)

Mom and Jay, after Jay finished the San Fran marathon!

Jay, me and Bethany

Chris and Annabelle, enjoying a Mexican Brunch in San Francisco

Bethany, me, Chris and the girls

Two little girls, dipping their feet in Grandma's pond :)

Chris and I, wine tasting with Jay and Megan

Snow Cone!

Family pic at Mario's

My mom and siblings :)

Mom and Belle being silly!

Smores!!

Berry picking fun!

Mother in law visit- aka- Grandma Precious!

Chris' mom, Leslie is living in Morocco, and couldn't take it anymore, so she had to come visit her grandbabies :) She came for a week in July, and we had lots of rest and relaxation, plus some fun too!

Moroccan scarves for the girls :)

Fun with tata at Lake Vancouver :)

Pretty Pretty Princess with Grandma

Lunch at Pioneer Square in downtown Portland

Grandma and Belle

Grandma and Ella

A little bowling fun

Bowling fun with Tata and Kevin!

Ballet galore!

So we enrolled Annabelle in ballet at the beginning of the school year, as she was asking for a dance class. And Ella we enrolled in a ballet class mid-year, as she was just plain bored, and needed something of her own since she was not yet in school. So, we did a lot of driving to and fro on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and then recital season came upon us, and it was pure madness. Seriously. Pictures, and rehearsals, and more rehearsals, and dress rehearsals. Then, the recital, which after all the rehearsals, you feel like you have already done it all! But, man, how fun it is to watch those beautiful little girls dance with a huge smile on their faces, on stage. It was a crazy, but fun experience. :)

14 years of wedded bliss....

Okay, maybe it hasn't all been bliss. But it is true that it gets better and better each year. We enjoy each other immensely, and savor each and every date we get. My favorite date so far is the pedicab experience where we were pedaled around downtown Portland to a few breweries for beer tastings and dinner. I am so happy to say that after 14 years, we still like each other ;) For this anniversary,my day started out with a dozen roses and a sweet card, then in the evening we went to a place in Portland we hadn't been before called "Grain and Gristle". Great place. They had an interesting menu, and good food. Wasn't the most romantic place, but I guess they can't all be, especially if we are working within our budget! Then we went to Belmont station (beer store), for Chris to get his anniversary gift(s) :) And lastly ended up at Rimsky's coffeehouse for some coffee and dessert. Cheers to another year as Mrs. Curry!

Had to add this pic b/c it shows a great man who plays pretty, pretty princess with his girls, and isn't afraid to put on some pink jewelery. I love who Chris Curry has become :)

I just can't get enough red roses. Love them!

A Hoppy Passion

Well this man of mine has had many passions in our life together, and has pursued many hobbies. This is what happens when you are a lifetime student of learning anything and everything! Well, I have never seen Chris more passionate about any other hobby. Making beer completes him in a way no other hobby has. It really is fun to watch him do something he enjoys so much. He gets a chance to be creative and to create, and then enjoy the fruits of his labor! His first beer was a wheat beer, very light and crisp, which I also enjoyed! He just bottled his second beer, an IPA. I am sure our garage will slowly transform into a brewery over the next few years. But hey, it really is a small price to pay for a content and fulfilled husband :)

Look at that giddy man, stirring his first ever homebrew :)

Cooking the hops in our kitchen. NOT a good smell! He has now purchased an outdoor burner, and I am so thankful for that!

This is the pail it sits in while in ferments....in our closet :)