Goodbye 2009...

You were real and you were fun, but you weren't "real fun!"

2009 was a rough year for most of my family and friends. The economy has remained in the tank, the job market is awful, money is tight, and people around the world are scared. Most of us are ready to say goodbye to 2009 and hello to 2010... I know I am.

Although 2009 was rough, there were some great highlights~ President Obama's Inauguration, visiting Cancun, Mexico with CJ and our Aerotek friends, finishing grad school and receiving my Master's degree, celebrating our 4 year wedding anniversary, buying a great car {an Acura MDX}, making cards and stationary for others, breaking in my sewing machine, the Ducks winning the PAC 10 Championship and making an appearance at the Rose Bowl, getting a job teaching reading at Rosedale Elementary, and of course all of the great memories made with our family and friends.

CJ and I brought in 2010 in Hollywood, CA with some of our closest friends. We were in LA for the Rose Bowl game and had an amazing time down south. After an amazing Christmas with our families we travelled {by Duck Mobile} to Pasadena. We drove down with CJ's parents Charlie and Joyce. We drove for about 20 hours and arrived at 6 am on the 31st. We roamed around Hollywood for most of the morning with Joyce and had a great lunch at a cute restaurant. That night we met up with Claire, Donald, Ryan, Aron, and Jay for a fun New Year's Eve in West Hollywood. We started the night out at the place the boys were staying and then headed to this awesome bar. We rang in 2010 together but made it an early night and left at 1 am so we had enough beauty sleep for the Rose Bowl.

It was so FUN to be at the Rose Bowl. The anticipation was like no other football game I have attended. It was a good game, but not a great game. We could have done better. I am so proud of our Ducks and how they played. But I would have loved to have seen a win.

We got back into town Sunday the 3rd and I began getting mentally prepared to start my new job. I was hired in December for a full time position at Rosedale Elementary School in Hillsboro. I spend most of my day teaching reading to second graders and the other part as an instructional assistant to a few students with autism. I LOVE Rosedale!! The students and staff are phenomenal. I am having a great time and so glad that I was hired for the position.

2010, I have big hopes for you!

28 and Counting....

Yes, it is official. I am two years away from thirty. I have been looking forward to turning 28. For some reason I have felt this would be a good year. So far, so good. I am subbing everyday, I am happy, healthy, and still madly in love with my husband! I am surrounded by the best friends and family a girl could ask for. I am grateful for everyday and looking forward to all of the great memories to come.

Last year a tradition was started. Since my birthday is in November, it is kind of hard to do something fun for your birthday, or so I thought. However, I came up with a wine tour to celebrate getting old with my best friends. Last year we rented a stretch excursion limo, this year we opted to save money and use the DUCK MOBILE! We went to four wineries: Domaine Drouhin, Vista Hills, Sokol Blosser, and White Rose. We then ended the night at my favorite sushi restaurant, Le Hana. The wine tour has now been named: The 1981 Vintage Reserve Wine Tour. This year I put together some of the best songs from 1981 {this was a huge hit!} Next year, I think we will do shirts :)

Here are some fun pictures~