Summer Plans

Seeing how it is almost July! YIKES! 

It's already Summer and I still can't wrap my head around it!

Blooms from Mom's Garden :)

I thought I would write down some Summer plans:

• BERRY PICKING with my Dad. 
• Camping  at least twice in August :)  
• Visiting our friends in Seattle in July
• Learning to take a Sabbath (more on that on a future post...)
• Taking Piper to the beach for the first time!  I can't wait!
• Tim changing jobs (we are asking for God to step in as we take a leap of faith)
• I get to see my college friends Natalie & Katie
• Probably go on a hike or two.
• Buy a hammock... and snuggle around.
• Read some good books
• Find a new TV series on Netflix to watch all the way through in a weekend (Do you do that too?)
• and full time work... boo!  But, it pays the bills :)

Driving past Multnomah Falls last week :)

My friend from college, Krysta, said in her blog she is going to try to do something fun and something productive each day.  I'm hoping to, as well! What a good idea... less expectations mean more spontaneous excitement :) 

I hope we can just enjoy ourselves during the coming season... we've had a LOT of changes this year!

What are your summer-y ideas?

Cheers!

Pictures

Howdy!

I've neglected to post photos on my blog due to busyness laziness.  Honestly, the last thing I've wanted to do is upload photos.  Who likes that, anyway?

But I did it!
Here is the latest in our little journey as the Kurkinens :)

TIM HAD A BIRTHDAY (LAST OCTOBER!)

We said "GOODBYE!"  to our apartment this last March by shoving our whole couch together...

We went on a couple trips to the BEACH!!!! Rockaway BEach is my favorite favorite, but we also are blessed by time in beautiful Pacific City TWICE this last winter.

Rockaway Beach, Oregon

A TRIP TO PACIFIC CITY!

We bought a little house and are now OREGONIANS!

Our little love nest :)

OUR DINING AREA

stump removal by Timmy and his Dad

OUR GUEST ROOM

TIM DOING THE DISHES LIKE A MAN :)

OUR NEW FRONT DOOR

PIPER WAS HELPING US WITH THE MOVE

TREE CHIPS FORM TIM'S WORK FOR MULCHING

After ALL the drama that is filled with moving, we got to snuggle

then we sat down and SNUGGLED

Then, BOOM!  It was June (can we talk about how the year is flying by?)

and we celebrate Father's Day with both of our families!

My parents :)

I went on a little trip to WASHINGTON to see my dear friends from college.  I found out I get to be in a wedding for my beautiful friend, Natalie (on the left) and Katie (on the right) will be standing with me!)

I've been quite under the weather as of this last week or so.

 Here is my sleep remedy :)

I made dinner in one pot yesterday!  Turned out delicious! Here is the Link to the recipe :)

I made this easy ONE POT DINNER tonight!  Yum.

Hopefully I can update this beast more often!

Cheers!

2012... a year in review :)

Whew!  This year went like a flash!

In JANUARY...

•  we went to Juneau to visit Tim's Aunt, Uncle & cousins :)  SO fun!  We ate delicious food from Aunt Becky, trecked around the snow with Johnny and Emily and has many games of Settler's with all the cousins.  I was feeling under the weather, and had my first panic attack on a plane, but it was such a memorable trip to ALASKA with the family!
• LEAVENWORTH in the snow!  We stayed at our favorite bed and breakfast, and found out that cross-country skiing isn't for sissies (like me).  Lots of time in the hottub, drinking beer, eating fondue :) 

In FEBRUARY

• We has a birthday party for my mom and she cried while we sang happy birthday :)
• We surprised Sally (the mother-in-love) with a party Kurkinen style at Joe & Asena's

In MAY...

• I celebrated a QUARTER CENTURY! With a FABULOUS birthday made special by my hubby :)
• We lost sweet Grandpa K.  

In JUNE...

• Tim started his position at Portland Parks :)  

In JULY...

• We had a fun celebration in Corbett on the 4th
• Phil & Megs welcomes Adam into the Kurkinen family!  
• Stephen & Christy came from Taiwan with their two girls (and one was on her way) and their exchange students.  It was SO fun to see them for a whole month.  I hope they come back next year!
• We went to Seattle and visited Jenna from nursing school and just fooled around for a couple days.

In AUGUST...

• Tim & I celebrated our third anniversary!  And went camping for the first time just the two of us :)  Cascadia was gorgeous!
• I went on a camping trip with Natalie and Katie... it was hot.  
• We got to take a Kurkinen picture with ALL of us!!  
• We went to Family Camp at Twin Rocks :)  Beautiful weather and lots of memories.

In OCTOBER..

• Tim turned 27!
• We went to our first couple's retreat!  And it was AMAZING!
• Stephen & Christy welcomed Joanna to the Kurkinen family - 12 grandkiddos in all now.

In NOVEMBER...

• Piper completed our family.... we just can't get enough of that crazy guy.
• We went to Seattle for a day and saw Lauren & Brant
• We has Thanksgiving at 

In DECEMBER..

• I had our regular Christmas get-together with the girls of Turd Ferguson in downtown Seattle.  We made some hilarious memories and traded jammies :)
• We celebrated Christmas at the Blodgett's after I worked Christmas Eve.  

There is so much to look forward to in 2013: Day shift. Tim will have some extra time with me, trips to the beach house we love, trips to Seattle to visit friends, celebrating 3 of our parents turning 60!, and more surprises to com, I'm certain.  It's fun to look back and see the blessings amidst the moments of trial.  

Third Anniversary

We celebrated our Third Anniversary together on August 8th.  

I had asked Tim earlier this year to plan it.  And forgot I asked him that, so I got a sweet note when I came back last weekend with an itinerary for the evening once he got off work :)  It was CUTE! 

First I woke up to some beautiful roses, along with 2 other bouquets he had given me earlier in the week so I had three arrangements for our THREE YEARS :)

Then I got a lovely card and cried my way through it.

• We had lunch in Tigard and got our favorite Coney Dog to share.
• We went to Newberg and our favorite pet store and bookstore.  Splendid.
• Then headed to pick up our cake: Banana Whipped Cream from Beaverton Bakery.
• Dinner at Papa Hydn's in Sellwood.  Yum!
• Hard Cider at The Buschwacked Cider Bar in Portland.  It was my first taste and it was AMAZING!
• Then home to wine taste, eat cake :)

a favorite slogan "...We're Just Better"

Tim's Orzo and Scallops

Steak Amazingness

Three Years Ago... we were just babies!  

Our Cider Tasting

Turtle at the Critter Cabana