Out with the homework, in with the wedding planning

MBA? Done and done! Had my last class last Tuesday and attended the MBA grad banquet last Thursday and while I was supposed to "graduate" yesterday, I decided A) I'm too cheap to buy the cap and gown and B) I don't really feel like sitting through 3 hours of blah blah. I did go to the SPU book store and buy a black tassel though, just for proof that I finished. Although I guess the diploma will be proof enough, once I get it in the mail.

Phil finished his quarter last week as well so we have been thoroughly enjoying our time off together. My Dad was up Friday for work so we went to Thai for dinner. Zab Thai in Everett is one of our favorites, although let's be honest, I don't think I've ever been to a Thai place that I didn't love. (Pssst...there's a coupon on that website!)

On Saturday Phil and I headed down to the Tacoma/Gig Harbor area to check out a few potential wedding venues with my Mom. Found one that I'm seriously considering. It's a little pricey though, and the "rain option" isn't all that great. We'll see. After that Phil and I headed to the Supermall in Auburn. We like to shop at the Banana Republic and Nordstrom Rack there because they seem to be less picked over than the ones up north. Then we went to Kirkland for dinner and found a great restaurant called Cactus. We both loved it and when I looked it up on the internet the next day I discovered we'd actually been to a Cactus before! There are 3 locations and we'd been to the one on Alki a couple years ago.

On Sunday, Mom and Dad headed up to our place and we took the ferry to Whidbey Island to check out their wedding venues.


We were pretty neutral about the venue we toured due to the risk of mosquitos, but we did happen upon a pretty tasty Chinese restaurant for lunch, called China City. We had planned on taking the Keystone ferry to Port Townsend and checking out a venue in Port Gamble, but the ferry was hours behind schedule due to the wind. So instead, we took a quick peek at the huge battlements at Fort Casey. You can tell from the picture below how windy it was (because no, my bangs don't usually look like that and I was actually having a pretty good hair day)!




After that we turned the car around and headed back the way we came. We ended up having to wait to get on the ferry back to Mukilteo for about an hour. Those of you who know Phil and his tolerance for waiting in line can imagine what a pleasant experience that was ;)

All in all, a fabulous weekend! I am so excited to be finished with school, although my mind is a bit thrown off by the lack of homework. Meh, I'll get used to it!

Engaged!

Phil and I are engaged!

While planning a February trip to Fairbanks, Alaska to visit my sister and her boyfriend, Phil got me very excited to see the Aurora Borealis. He started looking at the forecast in December and we purchased a wardrobe suitable for a winter explorer's sub-zero expedition so that we could brave the cold for a couple hours to watch the beautiful lights.

On the night of February 13th, Phil and I bundled up in our snow garb and drove 20 minutes outside the city, up to Ester Dome to escape the city lights so we could see the Aurora better. We found a pull out that had a path down to a clearing and this is what we saw...



Phil took some amazing pictures with his fancy camera as I stared in awe at the lights. After he was satisfied with his pictures, we lied down in the snow and watched the stars and the lights. After a while, we got a bit chilly so I got up and moved around a bit and Phil took some more pictures...



Though I think both of us could have watched the lights forever, it seemed we were both mentally preparing to head back to the car. We stood together to watch the lights for just a few more minutes. Phil kissed me, told me he loved me, then faster than I could realize what was about to happen, he got down on one knee, pulled out a beautiful ring, and asked me to marry him. I think my exact words were "Oh my God babe! Yes! Of course!!". And then he said "Let's see if we can get this on without dropping it in the snow." Yes, let's see if we can do that ;)

Then there was more hugging and kissing and picture taking. I kept needing to pause and put my hand in my pocket to warm it back up as Phil attempted to get a good shot of the ring on my hand. He must have been nervous...it took him a few tries to get the camera on the right setting.



And that is our wonderful engagement story!

We thoroughly enjoyed the rest of our visit in Alaska, pictures of which I will post some other time...when I have less homework I should be doing :)

Guess Who

Guess who this is...


Now those are some squeezable cheeks...

Happy New Year!

Whoa! 2010!? Time can just go ahead and slow the heck down now!

I've been very busy since my last post...mostly with the hassle of going to court to evict my tenants who haven't paid rent since September. I won't say much more about that depressing issue, except that I won my case and I'll be looking for new tenants very soon (so if you know anyone interested in living in a beautiful 2bd/2ba condo in South Everett, let me know!!).

December also marked the end of my third to last quarter in my MBA program. One class next quarter and two spring quarter and then I AM DONE! I am so excited to see what doors open for me and also to have some free time again to have a social life and finish decorating our house. I hope to start cooking more too...Phil is probably going to double up on classes in the near future and I'll need to step it up and cook for him for a change. I hope you like casseroles honey ;)

Phil flew home to New Jersey for Christmas and I spent it in Federal Way with my parents and my uncle...the only family still in WA. Some sisters of mine need to move back to WA as soon as possible!! Though it was just the four of us this year, we had a great time. We went to see "It's Complicated" with one of my favorite actresses, Meryl Streep. It was very good, I highly recommend it. On the 26th, I treated my parents to "White Christmas" at the 5th Avenue. The show was excellent and we had a very good dinner at Palomino afterwards.

On the 30th my mom and I hosted an "Anne of Green Gables" get together for some of my dearest friends. We made Anne themed food and watched the first 4 hours of the 12 hour miniseries as we chatted and exchanged presents. It was very fun and I hope as our lives get busier, we can all continue to find the time to get together and just veg.

I spent New Years making new friends at a very fun house party in Mountlake Terrace. I had a wonderful time, but I do hope its the last New Years I spend apart from Phil. In 3 years I still haven't got to kiss him at midnight :(

Here's a picture from last night...I'll post more as more get posted to Facebook ;)


Well I think you're all up to date on my life. Here's to a new year which I hope brings many blessings to my family and yours!

Accomplishment

Well, I did it! I ran a half marathon and lived to tell the story! I am more than a little amazed because as I mentioned before, I am NOT an athlete. My body was NOT made for running. BUT, I do have a stick-to-it attitude (or at least I did in this case) and that brought me from huffing and puffing and cursing my sore hip/thigh tendon (IT band) on a 3 mile run 12 weeks ago to barely being out of breath at the finish line of the 13.1 mile run yesterday. I wasn't FAST, I didn't WIN, but I crossed the finish line with a respectable time (2:22:15) and I didn't stop to walk, so yeah, I'm pretty pleased with myself :)

Phil was awesome enough to run the half with me so he could a) carry my cliff bars b) carry my accessories as I became too hot (my hat for example) c) get me water at the water stops so I didn't have to stop d) sprint ahead and take dozens of action shots of me and e) provide general support and encouragement. Isn't he the best?

Here are some of the pictures Phil took:

Here's me and Sara at the starting line. Sara was a Speedy Gonzales and we didn't see her again until after we crossed the finish line!


Probably not even half a mile into it yet


Running on 5th...no time to stop and shop at Aldo

Blowing Phil a kiss

One of my favorite shots of me, despite the port-a-potty in the background

Nice view of Lake Washington on the right...didn't stop to enjoy it though

Very focused...just keep running, just keep running

Smiling for the papparazzi

Just crossed I-5 for the last time...about 1.5 miles or so to go here

Done! Was kind of surreal at the finish line. Like, "really, I'm done?"

Me and my running assistant :)

What a great experience. I can't wait for the next one! Well...maybe I can wait a few months ;)

Special Day

Today was a special for two reasons...

First, it's the 3rd anniversary of the day I met Phil. We met when we both volunteered on a Boeing Flight Test for this Singapore Airlines 777:


The flight test group feeds volunteers breakfast before the flight. There's where I first saw Phil. We were sitting at the same table with a few other people, all of us newer employees and very excited to be flight test volunteers. I remember thinking "hmmm....he's pretty cute, seems like a fun guy, I might want to get to know him better." Luckily, he was thinking the same thing about me and very strategically found a seat right in front of me when we finally got to board the plane. We chatted off and on for almost the whole 5 hour flight and towards the end I remember hoping he'd ask me out. While he didn't do that (yes, he has his shy moments), he did mention that he'd never been to lunch in the "Towers" cafeteria (the one in the building where the 787 employees work, the only cafeteria with edible food). I mentioned I went there for lunch on occasion and that I'd let him know next time I did so he could join me. Well that was a Sunday. Wouldn't you know it, I got a hankering to eat up in the Towers cafeteria on Monday ;) And so it began...

The second reason today is special is Suzie and Andy had their 20-week ultrasound and found out they're having a boy! I'm incredibly excited for them as I am for Joy and Dan who found out a couple weeks ago they're also having a boy. I can't wait to meet these snuggly newborns and watch my friends enjoy new parenthood :)

For lack of any exciting updates...

...and because I'm supposed to be doing homework but don't particularly feel like it.

I was browsing through the pictures I have saved on my work computer (which I brought home to use as I can't find the power cord to my personal laptop), and I came across this old picture of Phil from college. I thought he looked so cute and I'd saved it to my work computer so I could show him to my coworkers when we first started dating :)

Reason #24

Why I like living with Phil: Reason #24

He can point out the ISS and take awesome time elapsed pictures of it skimming across the sky...

(You might need to click on the pictures to get them big enough to see the ISS)