Visitors and Halloween

My sister and her boyfriend came up to Washington to visit us!!  They arrived last Friday and are now spending time with Gabe's brother.  We had a lot of fun!  We went on a Halloween pub crawl, explored Pike Place, visited the Museum of Flight, the zoo, and Seattle Underground.  Here are some photos:

Lois and Brian from Family Guy

At Pike Place!

Enjoying Sushi!

For Halloween Carlos and I just had a Halloween themed dinner of Jack-o-Lantern Quesadillas and Bloody Mary Soup.

Eventful Weekend

We had a busy and fun weekend!  Friday we had a bunch of people over to celebrate our new house!  We made red and green enchiladas, beans, and rice.  Saturday we went to a LEGO's expo (called BrickCon).  It was definitely interesting, especially thinking about the time and money spent making all of the exhibits.  We had some fun walking around and eating at Seattle Center while we were over there.  That night we were going to go to the Everett Sausage Festival, but we ended up going Sunday instead.  I was just too tired.

Here are some pictures from Saturday:

Sunday was pretty fun.  Carlos and I did a lot of looking for Halloween costume stuff, and then hung out for quite a while at the sausage festival.  We heard one local band that we really liked, but mostly we enjoyed a lot of edible treats!

Seafair and Deception Pass

This month has been full of recreation: game nights, hiking, a new book club, and the Seafair.

The Seafair was basically a big air and water show with lots of people and lots of booths selling stuff.  I didn't manage to get any photos of the planes but here is an image from the hydroplane race.

Last Saturday we went to Deception Pass, and like most places around here, it was beautiful!

Fun in the Sun

This weekend was so sunny and warm here (and by warm I mean 75 degrees).  We spent most of the day at a park/lake on Saturday.  While our friends were playing volleyball I jogged around the lake.  Most of us got sunburned (oops).  We then got food and relaxed at a friend's place while watching the Sounders game.  This weekend also included watching the Avengers and Skyping with my mom on Mother's Day.

Cinco de Mayo

We decided to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.  We had some friends over at our place for tacos, beer, and margaritas.  Then we headed to a block party in Seattle, followed by more fun and a pinata at our friend's place.

Here are some photos:

Megan and I at the block party.

Spinning Carlos before he swings at the pinata.

Earth day weekend (Apr 20-22) was very nice!  Friday evening we met up with some friends for some drinks and snacks.  Saturday several of us all headed down to a park to do some clean-up for Earth Day.  We spent about four hours pulling out weeds and grass.  Other people at our location were removing other invasive plants (like blackberry plants), placed mulch, and removed a fence that was no longer needed (the fence previously kept geese from eating the newer plants that were placed there).  After we finished up there, we headed to our friends place.  He lives on a popular lake in Seattle, and it was a beautiful day!  We had some seafood, walked around the lake (which was very active with people, it was so fun people watching), and then enjoyed some ice cream and a movie.

This past weekend was fairly uneventful, but very nice.  We met up with friends for sushi and a movie on Friday.  We watched Puss 'N Boots... Carlos and I were having trouble staying awake, so we had to leave before we got to see the movie we really wanted to see (the latest Mission Impossible film).

We are in the process of house hunting, so Saturday we spent some time doing that.  We didn't really find anything that stood out for us though.  Unfortunately, around here, the market has already become more of a seller's market, although prices still haven't gone up much yet.  So wish us luck and blessings during our hunt!  :)

March Through April

I know, I know, it's been too long since my last post.  So I'll have to sum up.

The time with my husband's family in town was a lot of fun.

A couple of weeks later we celebrated Carlos' 28th birthday by, once again, playing laser tag.  This year I made a tiramisu layer cake.

The weekend after that we went camping/backbacking!  It was my first time camping out of NM, and my first time ever backpacking into the camp site.

Last weekend we went to a party in the space needle and then went to the Seattle Sounders game (soccer game, for those who don't know).  The party was neat, particularly because of it's location.  The game was a lot of fun, and the crowd had so much energy!

 This Sunday is Earth Day, so we will be volunteering on some rehab/cleanup down in the Seattle on Saturday!

Halloween Weekend 2011

Friday my husband and I met up with the same people with hung out with last weekend, and have a few more people join the group.  We enjoyed some food, drinks, and games of pool.

The real fun was Saturday!  My husband, three people from the group the night before, and myself, went into Seattle for a Halloween pub crawl.  We had to figure out some last minute Halloween costumes.  My husband went as the white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland, but sans rabbit ears.  I went as a metal/punk rocker.  It was our first pub crawl.  Basically there was a route mapped out and certain times to be at different bars in downtown Seattle to coincide with specials they were having.  The people and tourists of the area really got a kick out of the hundreds of people dressed in costume walking around midday in Seattle.  The people were very friendly and sociable, drink prices were good, and there were specials on food as well.  We ended the night listening to a Led Zeppelin tribute band and some more games of pool!

New "Friends" and a Hike

This past weekend was a ton of fun.  My husband met a couple of guys in a class he was taking and we got together with them and another couple on Friday night.  We were all new to town and looking to make new friends.  It feel kind of weird making new friends... In a way it's kind of like dating again... haha.

Saturday was uneventful, but Sunday was awesome!  I had been reading about the wonderful fall colors at Mount Rainier, so we decided to go for a hike over there.  It ended up being about a 3 hour drive from our home, and well worth it.  It was gorgeous!  The weather was awesome!  The hike was incredible!  We did a hike that was about 5 miles round trip, but it took us about 4 hours, which apparently is the average hike time for that route.  Anyways... I loved it!  I look forward to going back in the summer!  (Tire chains are required starting Nov. 1., for the only road that is open, most of the roads are closed Nov. 1-June 1)

After the hike we met up with the same people we hung out with Friday night for some chicken wings.  It feels weird to say, "we met up with some friends"... at what point does someone really become your friend...?  I still feel like I don't really know them, but I guess they're the closest things we have to friends here at this point.  :)  So... I suppose "friends" they are!

Nice Day Out

Yesterday my husband and I decided that we felt like going out and about.  We went to a little drive thru coffee place, then headed to check out a nearby mall.  After that we checked out one of the nearby lakes: Silver Lake.  It was very nice out, partly cloudy and nice and cool (almost cold).  Here are a few pictures: 

There is a path that goes around the lake and along it are several parks.  Across the street on one section are several restaurants; one restaurant is on the lake.  Next time we go back, we may try out one of those places, because they sure do smell good when you're hungry on a long walk. :)

The Festivities Begin

This past weekend was pretty fun!  Friday, my husband and I just took it easy, and watched a movie after dinner.  By the way, we enjoyed some freshly roasted NM green chile in our dinner!  My dad sent up some green chile, and I am currently still working on roasting it all, which is great because roasting green chile is my favorite smell!  Anyways...

Saturday, my husband and I worked out and then relaxed in the hot tub.  Afterward, we went to check out the trails at the Boeing Activity Center.  I am looking forward to going back to those trails, because we didn't get to do all of the hiking/exploring that we wanted to.  It is at the Activity Center that we discovered a flyer for the Everett Sausage Fest!

The festival was a lot like a carnival: food booths, carnival rides and games, and a beer and wine garden.  There were two stages with live performers.  This festival was the 35th annual one, and it's actually a fundraiser for a local church.  No charge to get in, and all proceeds went to the church.

WA Update and Date Night

Well, we've been in Washington for almost 3 weeks.  In a way, it feels like we've been here longer.  Still not too many days of weather that Washington is famous for, but I'm sure it's just around the corner.  Carlos is really enjoying his job, and I have been enjoying playing house wife:  unpacking, cleaning, cooking and shopping during the day, and relaxing with Carlos in the evenings.  We have definitely been taking advantages of our apartment amenities, such as the hot tub, indoor pool, and fitness center.

Yesterday, Carlos and I used the gift card that my parents got us before we left.  It was for a waterfront seafood restaurant that is popular in the Puget Sound area.  Before dinner we went to a park near the restaurant that was along the Snohomish River.  We'll have to visit that park again, but with bicycles!

At the Snohomish River

 

 

 

 

We watched the sunset while we were enjoying dinner.

Busy Long Weekends

The past two weekends have been quite busy, busy with fun stuff though.  Last weekend we went camping & fishing in the Gila.  We spent three nights out there, it was wonderful.

This past weekend we went to Albuquerque to visit family and friends. Friday evening we went to a 60th birthday party that was themed 50s/60s.

After the 50s/60s party, Carlos' uncle took us out on the town with his limousine!  We invited a few friends, and stopped for a drink!

Saturday we went to a Botanical Park & Aquarium in the early afternoon, and that evening we went to some roller derby bouts (my friend was on two of the teams).

Yesterday we went to Sky City (the Acoma Pueblo).  Acoma Pueblo is the oldest continually inhabited city in the United States.  It has been inhabited since 900 A.D, and is located high in a plateau. After we spent some time there, we returned the Albuquerque, and Carlos' uncle had a pizza party for us!  Lots of family came over for home made pizza, including my brother and sister-in-law.  I have more pictures of that, but I'll have to post them later (they're on Carlos' camera).

Pruning Oleanders

The record freezing temperatures that we had this February took a toll on our oleanders.  Most of each plant died, but began growth again from the bottom.  This past Saturday my husband and I began removing all of the dead branches.

My arms were quite sore for a few days afterwards, but at least I had a feeling of accomplishment, haha.

This and 4th of July Weekend

4th of July weekend we met up with my parents in Silver City.  We all stayed at my sister's house Fri-Sun.  We had fun playing games, going bowling, eating gelato and other delicious things.  Saturday Carlos and I went hiking!  Below is a picture of us eating out.  Carlos and I tried bison for the first time (in the form of a burger).  It wasn't bad, but I think I'll stick with the ground beef.

On Independence Day, it was just Carlos and me.  We ate hot dogs and watched the City fireworks from our house.

This weekend my father-in-law and sister-in-law are in town.  We went to Carlos' grandparents house on Friday for a cookout.  Yesterday we did household chores, and finished the day off with a wedding.  Today, we will head to my mother-in-law's house for another cookout.  Below is a picture of Carlos and me with the happy couple last night.

Father's Day Weekend

We went to visit my parents for Father's Day weekend.  We had fajitas, went swimming, went bowling, had lots of ice cream, and played euchre!  I also spent quite a few hours going through boxes of childhood stuff that I still had at my parents' house.

In the picture below my parents are preparing fajitas and stuff.

In the picture below my dad is giving Carlos bowling tips

Wine Fest and Pink Eye

Last weekend was my mom's birthday, Memorial Day Weekend, and the Southern New Mexico Wine Festival.  Friday night, my sister arrived.  We made tacos and played wii!  My mom and dad arrived on Saturday.  After Mom opened her presents we headed to the wine fest! 

Below is my mom reading a card from Ashley.

Here we are at the wine festival:

In the picture below my dad just received a wine sample.

After the wine festival we headed to dinner.  In the picture below you can see my parents and their "beer flight".  They're trying out the beers of a New Mexico brewery.

After dinner we headed back to the house and enjoyed a game of Apples to Apples!  The next day after breakfast and a little bit of shopping my parents and sister headed home.

Unfortunately, on Sunday (after a week of having what I thought was just a cold), I realized my eye was not quite itself.  Therefore, my three day weekend turned into a four day weekend due to pink eye.  Oh well, it was still a wonderful weekend!