Behind on posting!

 A life update: My son recently turned 5 months and my daughter is about to turn 20 months in 3 days.  My photography business is going well.  I'm loving the work that comes with it and the great people I get to spend time with.  I've been trying to invest time into my relationships, truly invest in them and its been amazing.  I'm thriving. I'm living. I love the being busy.  I'm learning to be content where I am and I'm feeling the blessings.  God's gracious and oh so good to us.  I would have never chosen to live in Monterey on my own but everyday I begin to love it a little more.  I'm at the place where I am thankful for living here.  I used to hate the fact that I had to live amongst so much military, I hate goodbyes.  Now, I love that I get to meet so many different people that in any other situation I probably wouldn't be friends with.  When Leif and I talk about Oregon I actually get nervous about not having a base close by to find friends! :)

  This weekend will be mellow so I can actually sit down and write a detailed blog post. I really do miss blogging and my poor parents have been begging for pictures... I am sorry I've become busy! Soon though!

 [So I was trying to post pictures everyday from our trip in Oregon and I think I confused people and they think we're there now? Oh well... I'm just going to have to do one big post and if you can't follow it well its my fault for not updating when we were actually in Oregon]

A Day in Portland

Below are a few photos we took in Portland... Which happens to be my favorite city ever! Seattle gets second:) We had started the day off with our good friends who live right outside of Portland, and then met up with my wonderful and talented friend Moorea. I know I've blogged about her before. She's brilliant! And beautiful. Inside and out.

    Everything about Portland to me, is perfect.  Its right by the river and its surrounded by trees. I'm used to L.A. which isn't half as clean as Portland, and there are very few trees surrounding it.  The atmosphere  is wonderful and you hardly ever meet a mean person.  Everyone is just different in Portland.  Or I want them to be... I think that everyone needs to visit. Or even live. I hope and pray that if we move to Oregon we get to move to Portland.  I love it. 

  We spent another day in the city, just Leif and I.  We were there from about 9:30 until 7pm.  And we weren't tired yet. Every time I go into the city I get on this high and I don't want to leave.  The shopping is amazing, the food is even better and I really enjoy the people watching you can do.  People say Portland is weird, I say its awesome. 

Day 1 in Oregon!

   Here are a few pictures from our first day in Oregon. It was also my 23rd birthday! We stayed over night in some little town close to Redding.  At first I was really unsure about it because we found this couple on couchsurfer and I was sure we were going to get murdered. We got off the freeway and had to drive back into the woods and it just got darker and darker. I was not a happy camper.

   I made Leif go in first and he was greeted by the sweetest little woman. I was relieved and slept pretty well that night. The house was beautiful and I kind of hope I have a log cabin house someday. I also think that the next time we drive up to Oregon we'll stop over in Redding. Its nice taking a break and waking up totally refreshed and ready for 7 hours of driving. 

    It was wonderful to be back in Oregon. I love it more and more each time we visit.  My mother in law made me enchiladas and a cake!  Best enchiladas I've ever had. And my birthday cake was pretty awesome too:) I got to blow out these super cool candles and I hope I can find candles similar for Riley's 2nd birthday.  It was a good way to celebrate my birthday. I loved it. 

    I was happy that my two sisters and my father in law were finally able to meet Beck. That was one of the best parts of the trip. It never gets easier living apart from family. I pray that sometime soon we'll either be able to move back to L.A. or up to Oregon. I really want my kids to be close to their grandparents.  They grow up so fast! 

Roadtrip

  We're heading out from Oregon this morning.  I have a good amount of photos to post.  So bummed my camera died before the wedding... But I doubt I would  have taken many pictures. I was too busy enjoying the awesome people, dancing and my champagne:) I am a little sad though because Leif looked  amazing in his tux.  Ugh and now that I think about it I wish I had had my camera when we visited with our dear friends the Moshers. Okay, I'm done kicking myself over it!

   I'm leaving Oregon feeling blessed, inspired, rejuvenated, refreshed, hopeful and full.  The people we spent time with here have touched my life in so many ways. I am thankful for my family here and for the friends Leif has kept over the years.  It blows my mind that all the groomsmen have been friends for as long as they have and continue to have strong relationships. Even with Leif who lives in another state. Friendships like that are rare, and should be cherished and held on to. I feel honored in a way to have been brought into this circle of friends.

   [oh and I posted a sneak peak of my in- laws over at my photo blog!]

Pray we have a safe journey down with little to no problems. 

         I don't understand why its been so hard for me to blog lately.  I just can't seem to get into the groove.  Its not that I don't want to, I do.  I start blog posts all the time and promise myself that I'll go back to them. I don't. I move on to something new.

   Ever since my life became a lot more hectic blogging has taken a backseat. Before it was so important to me to record as much as possible. I still want to, but I'm having a hard time forcing myself to write.  I like when things come easily, but nothing seems to come that easy anymore.  I think it might be because I have so much on my mind constantly.  Thoughts going in so many directions.  Ah!

   I do miss the blogging world.  I miss being able to share events and happenings with family and friends. I hope that soon I'll be able to get back into the swing of things... Until then, know I read all of your blogs and just because I don't comment doesn't mean I don't care! I try to comment as  often as possible.  And to family and friends who read this to know whats going on with us, I'm sorry! We're all doing well and I will assure you a good update is coming!