While I was looking through all the cruise pictures to post, I found this video clip that we took on the way home. The cruise had a show the last night of the trip where actual cruise vacationers impersonated famous people. One of the songs was Crocodile Rock by Elton John, so Steven and I decided to do our own impersonation... :) It makes me laugh to this day!

Crocodile Rock

Sunshine and Summertime

I am beyond ready for Summertime... One of the things about living in Washington State that has been a HUGE adjustment for this California girl has been the weather. Yes, Washington is beautiful and green and lush... but that is because it is cold and rainy for a good portion of the year!!!! hahahahahaha... I love this state from June to September. It's completely breathtaking and warm and there's always a nearby lake to jump into (and now we have our very own lake we can jump into in our backyard!) but the months from October thru May are long ones. We're getting to the final stretch right about now, but that taste of Sunshine and Summertime seems like it's never going to get here! It doesn't help to hear that it will be in the 80's in Yuba City next week either! ;) I LOVE the heat! Absolutley love it... love soaking up the sunshine, love floating on a raft in the middle of a lake or taking a swim and then laying out on a dock and letting the heat evaporate the drops from my skin... It's gotta be one of the best feelings in the world! Can you tell I've been deprived??? :) Another thing I love is being somewhere hot and tropical! Now that's an upbeatable combination. In honor of that happy thought, I've been going over pics from our cruise last August with 3 other couples who are close friends of ours and I've posted a few below to inspire me to hang in there and to inspire you all to go soak up some sunshine (some of you will be able to do so the same day you read this blog, so please think of me freezing up here when you do!)... I am READY for another vacation, that's for sure!

The Ladies

Cara wrote a "B" in my cappuccino for "Baby" because when we went on a "Girls Cruise" before we were all married, she wrote an "H" in my cappuccino for "Hardebeck."However, I would like to point out that the one who walked away from this cruise pregnant was NOT me... IT WAS CARA!!! :)

Steven and Sean trying and hating escargo... :)

Nothing like good friends!!!

I love this man...

Don't ask...

Pure Relaxation!!!!! :)

My Handsome Guy... We LOVED St. Maarten!!!! Definately want to go back!!

Most Fun Vacation Group Award...

Happy 7th Anniversary Sean and Stacia!!!

Something like the Alps

Well, since I currently don't have pictures of the old house or the new house to post just yet, I am going to go backwards a couple of months and post pics from my 25th birthday weekend getaway in Leavenworth (Yes, I just figured out how to post pictures... ). Steven and Justin surprised my good friend Cara and I with the trip since Cara and I have the same birthday (February 12th)! Leavenworth is a Bavarian style town up in the mountains about 2 hours from where we live. It feels like you're in the Alps! (Not that I would know, but it's what I imagine it would be like :) ... ) We did a lot of meandering through out the town through the specialty shops. I think Steven's favorite shop was the Salt Water Taffy store. We went there 2 or 3 times and came out with little bags full of different flavors each time. :) We did a LOT of eating too! Italian, Authentic German (There's a reason why the Germans aren't known for their food... hahaha), yummy breakfasts... We had plans to do some snow mobiling, but the Doctor gave Cara a big "NO" on that idea so we played cards and watched movies instead. It was fantastic to get away and do a lot of relaxing. Enjoy the pics...

My Handsome Hubby and I on the way up!

Trying on goofy hats in the hat store...

The main street through the town...

Dressing up for our birthday dinner! Isn't Cara a beautious pregnant lady??

My Hubby is so good-looking! :) Whoo hoo, babe!

Eating gelato at Viadolce! I think I had it 4 times in the 2 and 1/2 days that we were there... I LOVE gelato! :)

Okay, I had to take a picture of the cute old man in his lederhosen playing the accordian at our authentic dinner... He was so adorable!

These are pics of our last morning in Leavenworth and my favorite memory of the weekend. Steven and I got up early (which is a miracle for me, if you know me...). It snowed for the first time in two weeks that morning, so we went for a walk in the snow through the town before anyone was up. Leavenworth is very touristy and usually busy, but on that morning nobody was outside yet. It felt like we had the whole town to ourselves! I love speding time with my husband... We just walked around and took pictures and talked and laughed. It was a winter wonderland all our own. I loved it! When we got back to the hotel, Cara and Justin were up and we went and grabbed some Starbucks before heading home. It was a very happy weekend!

Finally...

Well, I've finally decided to start a blog... Steven and I have so many friends and family elsewhere, especially in California. Many of those friends have Blogs with postings of their darling children and their lives to keep everyone updated. Even though Steven and I don't have any children (yet!), I thought it would be great to start a blog to keep everyone updated on our lives up here in the Evergreen State. Plus, we just moved to a new house on a little lake! I am already dreaming about all the changes I want to make to update the house (believe me, there are going to be quite a few!). The lake we moved to is called Lake Twelve. Our house is on two lots totaling 2/3 of an acre. What's really fun is our next door neighbors (and the reason we found out about the house in the first place) are actually Steven's sister and brother-in-law, Matt and Mel! Good neighbors!!! And since we haven't had kids yet, we thought we might start with a dog. :) Our new yard is fully fenced, so we have plans to get a Jack Russell Terrier in the very near future. Steven's always wanted one and they love the water! How convenient!

Some more info about what we are doing with our lives these days... We are the Young Adult leaders at our church in Maple Valley. I have a full time job working as a Sales Specialist in the Enterprise Division at a technology provider called Zones, Incorporated. Steven is working at a window manufacturing and installation company called Reflection that among other things, contracts with large construction companies for housing developments. He is being trained in all aspects of the company by an excellent business man and his potential within Reflection is amazing. God has truly blessed us!

I haven't figured out how to post pictures yet, but I will soon so everyone can see pics of the old house and the new Lake House. Now I REALLY can't wait for Summer!!!