Portland, Ore.

i found a deal on a flight to portland over MLK weekend and decided to visit my cousin, Debbie.

the first day we traveled to Multnomah Falls -- it was beautiful.

little chilly but the scenery was breathtaking.

it was refreshing to be out of the city and into nature.

Jessica Visits!

Night Number One:

She hopped off the plane at LAX and we headed straight to the beach for the sunset.

Not so yummy Italian food.

Fro-yo.

 Night Number Two:

Manhattan Beach.

Christmas Lights.

Sushi. (she hated her seaweed salad)

Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part II

 Night Number Three:

Souplantation.

Hollywood. 

Seeing the Stars.

We were on the lookout for Neil Diamond and Leonardo DiCaprio's stars.

Neil's was still a mile away and Leo doesn't have one.

Day Three:

Jessica visits TOMS.

I got off work early so we went to Santa Monica.

The Promenade.

The Pier.

Mani's and Pedi's.

Traffic.

Target.

Fro-Yo.

Five Guys.

I loved having Jessica here.

She is my best friend and my make-me-laugh until I cry person.

Sure do miss her kind spirit, warm heart and contagious laugh.

A Visit from my Aunt Ann

My Aunt Ann visited So. Cal. the coldest weekend of the year...

despite the chilly weather (65 degrees...) we still had fun.

She came and saw my office at TOMS with her friend Pam and Pam's friend Karen.

We went to dinner in Santa Monica one night and lunch in Culver City one afternoon...

then we were brave and got up extra early to drive to Pasadena.

We tackled the Rose Bowl Flea Market.

Huge.

I've never seen anything like it.

Ann describes it best...

"Dead people's stuff"

We found some treasures here and there, but the memories we made have more value to me.

Thanks for visiting, Ann!
Check that one off your bucket list!

my mama came to visit me!

and it was the best!

we ate, sat by the beach, shopped, got our toes and nails all pretty, went for walks and caught up.

i love her so much.

she is my best friend.

come back soon mama, the beach is calling your name.

seehusen-wasko dinner.

tonight we had the traditional seehusen-wasko dinner.

i finally got to meet baby sophie! such a cutie pie.

love that seehusen family. a wonderful family doing wonderful things in this world.

best quote of the night goes to donna ... "will your cell phone work in california?"

thanks for the words of encouragement and prayers, seehusens. 

can't wait to see you at christmas with new toms on your feet :) 

today is a special day ... !

 because it's my daddy's birthday!

this picture is the epitome of my father.

big smile on his face

and

his girls (the dogs) around him.

oh, how i love and miss him so much.

happy birthday daddy-O!

thank you for always looking out for me and wanting the best.

you're the greatest and i love ya more than you will ever know.

home is wherever when i'm with you.

i have moved to dc.

i miss my family a lot.

especially since i was able to spend so much time with them.

here are a few photos from my last few weeks at home.

1. cutest lil' cow on the farm.  i named him oreo.

2. beautiful night on the farm.

3. i finally bought a macbook pro

4. chinese food with sista. 

5. my wonderful mama and i on mother's day. oh i miss her so much.

6. dad let jessica and i shoot some guns the night before i left. i love my dad and think he is so smart.

7. jessica and i being carefree and driving around on the four-wheelers.

8. cart full of flowers for mother's day.

9. the most beautiful sunset on my farm with a rainbow.

change is good.

change is hard.

stay tuned.

amish sale in minnesota

went to amish country in minnesota with mom and dad over the weekend.

enjoyed homemade amish donuts.

ahhhhhed & ooooohhhheeed over the hand stitched quilts.

bought a pecan and blueberry pie.

& thought about how different life would be without electricity, technology and exposure to outside life.

Arizona

dad and i just got back from visiting family in tucson, arizona.

my great uncle, dennis, is 91 years young.

his daughter, deanna, takes excellent care of him.

deanna is an angel from above.

she provides for his every need.

she is currently battling cancer.

say a prayer for her if you can.

she inspires me to give.

give love &

time.

photo 1: waiting for the plane to take off.

photo 2:  we had a big BBQ with the family.

photo 3: Beyond Bread. Carbs. Nuff' said.

photo 4: twinsies ... #babyhungry

photo 5: deanna makes the best pancakes.  i ate them as i stared at the mountains.

photo 6: palm trees and mountains = love.

photo 7: more mountains

photo 8: the joys of being in mo, ia, ne, and az within a week.

Easter 2012.

shopping.

food.

colored pants.

cake.

family.

it was a colored pants kind of morning.

Happy Easter. He lives!

&

Happy 21st birthday to my sister, Jessica.

iowa city weekend.

 

 iowa city with the fam bam for the weekend.

body pump with teresa early saturday morning.

shopping. shopping. shopping.

i cut six inches off my hair.

dinner at the vine.

met jessica's boyfriend. (keeper)

church in the am.

blueberry pancakes for breakfast.

love is driving 4.5 hours by yourself to see your family.

it was most definitely worth the trek.

i love visitors.

 

The two most wonderful parents in the whole wide world came and visited me this weekend!

After spending four hours in the car, I made them drive another 40 minutes to St. Joe.

My mother needed to go to The Rusty Chandelier before I leave Missouri.

Antiques, clever craft ideas, refurnished items.

We loved it, my dad loved going on his own for a bit and finding some food.

We hit up Target and TJMaxx.

Found a few bargains.

Indulged in yummy food from Cheddars.

Came back to Maryville.

Had a glass of wine before going to The Palms.

(yes, I can say I officially took my parents to the bar)

They were ready for bed by 9:30 p.m.

Woke up and had breakfast.

Drove to Conception Abbey.

Mass at the Basilica.

Monks, priests, seminarians.

Old style Catholic Mass.

Then they had to leave.

I hate saying good-bye to my parents.

I still choke up and get a little teary eyed.

Good-byes are never easy.

Especially when it is people you love so much.

my dad wanted a donkey...

 

...so he bought one. ( + 2 miniature horses)

i have left the farm.

i have returned to northwest.

i miss my mom and dad.

i love this weather.