Welcome March

Welcome March,
we have been waiting your arrival. It is so nice that you brought some sunshine with you to share with all of us. We hope you have a nice stay, and that you can shine some of your light on our plants and flowers. While you are here, do you think you could give us some of your rain so that our grass will grow green all year?
Since you are our guest for the next 31 days, could you also give sunshine to the state on the weekend before St. Patrick's Day? Lots of visitors will be here celebrating and we would like to be outside in your warmth.
We hope you enjoy your stay and come back again next year. We also look forward to the freshness you bring into our world. It allows us to open our windows and let your fresh breeze flow in, and we are inspired to plant flowers and clean our homes.
Welcome March, welcome.
love, Becky

Will you be a Johnny today?

I found this through another blog and thought it was touching. The sun is shining here, I have the doors and windows open, and this helped lighten the mood that much more. Enjoy!
http://www.stservicemovie.com/

I'm back!

I can't believe how much time has passed since I last posted. I have been pretty busy, have gone to Eastern Oregon once, suffered through sinus infections, and Valentine's Day parties. But I am still alive, and thought I would share our recent trip to the Oregon Coast. We stayed with Brandon's family right on the beach and enjoyed beautiful weather. I got the rest I needed, and Brandon had the opportunity to take his boat out for the first time in months. Our dog as many of you know is like our baby, and our baby LOVES the ocean. So we took him down a couple of times to play in the water. He can't get enough of it! Here is a video of Duke playing fetch with a tennis ball in the waves. If you listen you will hear commentary from our family, and an Oregon Coast Guard hellicopter fly over. Enjoy!

ME

Ever stop and think about those comments that your friends make that just are the opposite of what you think? Or even random people in your life... they say one thing and you are thinking another thing. Well, this post is dedicated to those thoughts.
Like for instance.... this makes me, me.

• MOST people like their blue jeans best after they have worn them a few times. Not me, I like them fresh off the ironing board/drycleaning bag.
• MOST people would enjoy only washing their hair every other day. NOT me. I'm an every morning kinda gal.
• When people complain about having to buy a gift for someone, I'm thinking, "Wahoo!"
• I enjoy my drive up the mountain each day, while I hear others complaining about driving.
• and how about writing cards. While we all enjoy GETTING cards, I actually enjoy sending them.
• Ever heard someone complain of the rain (this will make you laugh), I welcome a fresh rain. I think it is refreshing and comforting.
• Vacuuming, anyone? YES please!
• Driving in snow. Most hate it. I like it.
• While most people enjoy a fresh piece of fruit... I DO NOT like fruit- at all.
• We all know we SHOULD exercise, and most people have excuses... I really dislike it. period.
• While most people don't like making thier bed in the morning. I actually enjoy it. I know that when I get home my bed will look nice and neat. And should I get robbed or sent to the hospital, whomever sees my house while I am away will see that I make my bed each morning. Now that's comforting. =)

These are just a few of the comments that come to mind when I think of this topic. What spurred this is the blue jean debate. I have heard people refer to how happy they are about wearing their blue jeans for the 3rd day in a row several times in teh past few days. Each time I hear it, I just think... ew! I don't like mine by then.

I know, strange.. but these are a few of things that make me, me. Happy Friday!

Day 3 - note: this took me ALL day to post.

Well, today I am on day three of my 'snow week'. No, I'm not officially off for the entire week, but it is beginning to feel that way! Monday we technically had school, but were on a delay. I found out that the roads in town were too aweful to drive on, so I stayed home all day. My first graders just played without me- JUST KIDDING! They stayed with their second grade teacher in the afternoon.
Tuesday I was half way up the mountain when I found out it was changed from a delay to no school. And today McKenzie is closed once again. wahoo for me! right? Well, Monday I was pretty motivated to get things accomplished. Yesterday, it was another story. I didnt' do too much. And today I am feeling motivated again. The bad news is... this was my testing week for the kinders, and Friday is grading day. So.... I'm not quite sure what I will do. If we do have school tomorrow I will just put in a video after recess and start pulling kids as fast as I can to get them tested (I know, after a week of no school- not too bright, but what else should I do?). If we don't... I guess I'll do other stuff on Friday and test next week and send report cards home late. What else can I do??
In the mean time, I have vacuumed several times, dusted, laundry, baked 4 batches of C.C. cookies, finished a scrapbook, gone to the grocery store (where I encountered the rudest woman EVER), cooked dinner two nights in a row, watched Oprah, Martha, and a bit of Rachael. I have watched a movie with my husband, ironed and napped. Oh, I also finished a book. So all in all, it has been a good week- and we have snow! How fun is that? =)
Now, about that dinner thing... what happens when you combine a REALLY cool recipe book from your fave school staff...


and one great recipe from my friend Tricia...


awesome cookware from my wedding....


and a pink stove to cook it on?


and one familiar table to eat on?

ONE HAPPY FAMILY!!

What we woke up to this morning...

may not be all that interesting for you folks living with more snow/ice/cold than you know what to do with. But for us in Eugene it was quite the sight. We woke up at around 8 this morning and were both thinking..."ah, it's quiet, it stopped raining." Well, Brandon turned around to look out the window, and saw this.

So I turned around, and got excited, because I LOVE the snow. (Even though I do have spring fever, and am ready for flowers, warmth, and sunshine.) I walked into the kitchen and saw this through our kitchen window.

This is what our backyard looks like.

This is our front yard.

and these are the little bulbs that were trying to start their little lives above ground.

And while all of this is going on... my IKEA shopping friends are stuck in Stevenson, WA. trying to get home to see their families. The roads were icy, snowy, and closed yesterday so please say a prayer for them that they can get home safe and sound today.

While at IKEA yesterday, I found a few things that I would like to have eventually.

One was this sideboard that my friend Lindsay purchased for her home to store toys and other Murdock belongings.

And as I post this, my husband is at Jerry's stocking up on supplies so he can finish building our beautiful new nightstands. WAHOO! Enjoy your Sunday, I know we will.

Crater Lake

Saturday morning Brandon and I woke up with plans to drive about 2 hours to our friends' cabin to go snowshoeing. We had both been looking forward to this for weeks, but Brandon had a bad cold, so we decided we would go up for the day, and be back by Saturday evening.
We got up to the cabin at around 10am to find a house full of our college friends, all laying around in the sunshine that was streaming through the huge windows. It is a familiar place and scene to us, and it felt good to be there. However, as soon as we sat down, our friends informed us they wanted to go snowshoeing at Crater Lake. I thought they were kidding... they weren't. "Well, it sounds like fun to me! It will be an adventure." I said to Brandon. He thought he was up to it also, so off we all went, in two rigs because we knew we would want to drive home directly from Crater Lake at ht end of the day. Crater lake is about 2 hours from the cabin, so we stopped once or twice looking for food (with no luck) before arriving at the beautiful state park. We found a place to eat once we were there, and then geared up for our snowshoeing. It was a beautiful sunny day and we were all excited to get going. Our trek around the lake was about one mile in, and one mile back out. This proved to be a perfect length for us, as we were all tired by the end.

photo taken from NPS website on Crater Lake.

This is about what the lake looked like when we go to our turnaround point. It was sunny and clear.

This is somewhat close to our view by the time we headed back about 15 min. later. Only it was completely cloudy above us, foggy below on the lake, and was snowing like crazy! It is amazing how quickly the weather can change when you are at 8500'.
Of course, this was another weekend that I FORGOT my camera. So here we are at one of the most beautiful places in Oregon, a place I've only been to a few times, and I had NO camera! The pictures therefore are from the Crater Lake National Park Service website and are by no means taken by me. Our friend Miki did have her camera, and is hopefully sending me a copy of our group picture and a picture she took of Brandon and I.
We had a great time over all, and by the time our day was over, we had been gone over 12 hours and had seen about half of Oregon. We started in Eugene, went almost to Bend, over to Chiliquin, Fort Klamath, Crater Lake, Roseburg, and back up to Eugene. Whew!