Certified to tie the knot!

Taylor and I spent Friday night and Saturday at a pre-marriage class/seminar in NE Portland. We LOVED it. It was not faith-based at all, which proved to be surprising for both of us. Rather, two therapists taught the course, and we learned oh so much about the brain and the languages of love. We worked through some activities and broke into men's and women's groups to discuss various issues and concerns. Taylor and I left feeling enlightened and confident about our relationship and upcoming nuptials.

It's getting close, people! I need to blog about the progress with planning and my Portlandia dress! ;)

Less than 100 days until we're goin' to the chapel...of LOVE!

A cure for Austin homesickness

I'm not sure if I've blogged about it before, but when I met Taylor, I was pretty much set on moving back to Texas.

We made this deal...or joke...or promise...I don't know what you want to call it, but I told him I would need to visit Austin twice a year to get my "fix"...to be able to function normally. And, I'm happy to report, I've been able to do just that since returning to the Rose City permanently in 2009.

Don't get me wrong. I love my life in Portland, and I wouldn't trade what I have now for living alone in Austin. I love being close to my family...to Taylor's family...to our friends.

But, I just LOVED daily life in Austin. I felt like it was "my" city. I loved my Tarrytown neighborhood. My Lady Bird Lake running loop. My Whole Foods. My Maudie's. My sunshiny days. My evenings out without a sweater.

It's silly, but it's true. I've never wished so much that I could smoosh two places into one and create a dreamtown called Austinland...or something.

So, it's January now...about the time I typically start plotting my first trip...except we have our wedding coming up, so that's kind of sidelined any other plans, which is fine...except...fine except I am having major Austin homesickness pangs right about now!!! Taylor says I can't be homesick for a place that's not my home, but I am.

Luckily, my all-time favorite band, the Randy Rogers Band, rolled through town last week, providing just the fix I needed.

They played at Mississippi Studios, a venue that just reeks an Austin vibe. I convinced our friends Leslee and Troy to join us for a weeknight out (our second that week--big deal for us!), and my buddy Whitney and her boyfriend Steve came, also. Whit lived in Texas for a couple years, too, and she loves any Red Dirt country band as much as I do. I forced our little group of friends to risk hearing loss by committing to a front-row-ish spot right next to the speaker. Wade Bowen opened, and RRB followed up with a more than solid performance. 

I have to say, I just love seeing Randy and the boys play in the Pacific Northwest. It makes me oh so happy. I'm such a groupie--I can't even count the number of times I've seen this band in Texas, but I've seen them three times now in the Portland area. The fiddler walked through the crowd during the set break, just heading up to the stage to perform, and most of the people around us didn't know he was a part of the band. In Austin, these guys are gods, so it's funny to see them out of their element. They performed all my favorites and a few songs off their soon-to-be released album. Winners all around. My heart was singing!  

I'd like to thank Taylor for standing through a sweaty hot country concert--a genre of music that's not necessarily at the top of his list. And, I'd like to thank the Randy Rogers Band for dishing me a dose of Austin at a time when I really needed it. 

God bless Texas. Yeehaw!      

Bestie Leslee...we never have photos together! 

Wade Bowen...he rocked it, too...more Taylor's style than mine.

I've noticed Randy always tries to play up his country-ness when he's in the NW. Back in Austin he wears a trucker cap, not a cowboy hat.

Ladies and gentlemen, the best fiddler in the world, Brady Black. Hot hot hottt!

Whitney's wild night out

Last Tuesday marked an epic day in the Bethell family: Whitney Nicole turned 21 years old. 

Woohoo! The girl is finally legal...and just in time for the wedding!

Taylor and I cut out of work a little early and headed down to Albany to help the crew celebrate. We toasted to the birthday girl at a swanky martini bar for dinner...and followed that up with a couple rounds (and a couple renditions of Bon Jovi on karaoke) at a divey bar down the street. 

I'm so glad we made the invite list! We had such a blast.

Welcome to the old kids' club, Whitney. We love you. 

  

SOUS-shi wannabe

Ever since our first sushi party at Team Schady's, I've been wanting to learn the secrets of roll-making success. 

A couple weeks ago, Leslee made my dream come true when she taught me everything she knows in the realm of rice, seaweed, and raw fish. Because of my accident-prone history, she was a little hesitant to hand over the super-sharp knife, but she gave in...and although my rolls were a little lopsided, they were just as edible as her perfect results. 

Thanks for the lesson, Schady!   

\

Can you tell which ones I made?!

Even Barron likes sushi!

Attempted snowshoeing...and other holiday 2012 adventures

What? You don't want to look at the black eye any longer? 

We had an absolute blast this Christmas, celebrating our first as an engaged couple and last as "single" people. And, I feel like we crammed as much ho-ho-ho-ing into two weeks as possible. Next year, we might try to tone it down a bit and spend more time relaxing than going. Try being the operative word here. 

Highlights, in no particular order: 

• Experiencing the gift-a-palooza at the Bethells' house and also at Nanny and Bobby's house on Christmas day and night. 
• Egg nog lattes and mani/pedis with Stefanie.
• Festivus at the Kurians' with a grand group of friends. 
• Witnessing Taylor trying on every item of clothing from his parents as soon as he opened it...and setting up every other gift as soon as we got home. 
• Blazer game with brother-in-law Jordan. 
• Dinner dates at Team Schadys'.
• Our little exciting Christmas morning at the condo...a two year tradition now. 
• Winning the scavenger hunt at the "Warrior Workout Girls" Christmas party with Schady and Stina. 
• The Aforementioned Warrior Workout Girls Christmas party in general. Seeing all those ladies dressed up instead of in training pants certainly was a treat. Rarrr. Foxy cougars on the loose! 
• Meeting our new dog-nephew, Barney. 
• Traveling to the Gorge to see my Pullman grandparents and have the best buffet dinner ever. 
• Christmas Eve service and accompanying prime rib and Yorkshire pudding fest at my parents'.
• Hazel. Need I say more?
• Holiday tae bo classes with the teacher in a Santa suit and Santa thong. Hilarious. 
• Snowshoeing Hiking in Mt. Hood Forest with our buddies Rob and Erin. We didn't hit snow like planned...we tried to hit a spot where there wouldn't be so much traffic, and of course we left too late in the day. Hitting up the Carver Hangar and seeing the most Griswald-esque festival of lights on the way home made up for my Christmas wish of 'shoeing not granted.
• New Year's Eve with the Folskes and Team Perk. After contemplating a trip up to see Em and Greg, we ended up staying home and having a low-key evening. I think we fell asleep watching a movie around 10:45. Sad.
• Catching up on sleep. 
• Cooking and eating. Eating and cooking.

The quest for a new camera is on. Until then, phone photos will have to do. 

Roll that beautiful holiday footage... 

Bonneville Hotsprings with the Pullman fam...photo'd here with The Lady. 

Christmas Eve service. Only my sister Stefanie would have her phone out to capture all the moments. Here's that little Hazel Diane, checking out the manger with Big Poppi.

HD was such a hit the whole time. She went to everyone, didn't cry, and made those around her smile. 

Dinnertime with the Klars. 

Cracking up with Hazey, Sara, and her new baby, Barney. 

H likes to wave at all doggies and kitties and gives them kisses. Barney got lots. 

I spy a dog on Uncle Taylor's lap. Hazel really got into the clam dip and kept going back for more. My kind of girl. 

Aunt Kay made scarves for all the ladies, and H wanted one, too. 

Booty booty booty...rockin' everywhere. 

Christmas morning, reading with Uncle Taylor. 

My mom and dad, opening their fire pit...with the help of a lovely assistant. 

Reading with Auntie Kate. 

Checking out a new toy with Daddy.

These pajamas were Stefanie's when she was a babe. Note the extra pair of socks over the footies. I don't think companies thought about traction back then. 

Hazel loves the grocery store just like all Benz women. Here she is with her new cart and fake food.

So...this is the only photo from the Albany Christmas Extravaganza?! What? Well, Taylor's dad is distilling his own spirits these days, so Tay and I got him his own bottles and labels. They turned out well. 

Auntie and Uncle Joe.

Bust-a-bucket. Oh. This is a photo of the ushers doing a half-time dance. It was too cute. We sat in the rafters, hence the far-away shot here. 

Thanks to all our friends for sending Christmas cards. I was so sad to take down the wall. 

101 ways to use Aunt Kay's rolls: PB&J for Taylor's post-Christmas fishing.

Here's a shot of Rob in his awesome homemade boat. Is it OK to say the boat is homemade? I think it's amazing. He and Taylor spend most weekends on some body of water fly-fishing. 

Our attempted snowshoeing outing up past Estacada, OR.

Neat little bridge.

Hey! Guess what? Less the four months until we say, "I do!" Whoop! 

Rob and Erin. The best!

Tay and the waterfall.

It's a Christmas miracle! This bad boy lights up the entire town of Carver. It's right across the street from the Hangar...where you can find the best burger in the surrounding area. 

We're definitely coming back here again next year! Best line of the trip, "Huh. You guys are all wearing the same jacket!"

I hope you had as much fun as I did this Christmas season. The best part was--and always is--celebrating Jesus's birthday with family and friends. Christmas would be nothing with out Him! I love how generous and enjoyable people are during the month of December in general. I just wish more people were able to carry it on throughout the year a pinch.

Here's to 2013, which is going to be one heck of a year. A slew of our friends are having babies (so exciting!), we have a few special weddings to attend--including my cousin Mark and his fiancee Kristine's, and Taylor and I will be husband and wife. Isn't that just nuts?!

All I want for Christmas is...a black eye

Look beyond the bushy eyebrows and acne, people. Personal hygiene flies out the window when your eye is the size of a tennis ball.

The culprit? Skiing accident. 'Bow to the face during a gnarly noontime pick-up game. Tae bo class gone wild.

...

Laundry.

Laundry, people. I was rushing around and swung the dryer door open a little too close to my face (the washer and dryer are stacked at our house) Monday morning. It hit me and my eye immediately puffed up like you see in cartoons. Except in real life. I've seen that happen only once before in college hoops. Unreal. The best part? I had a doctor's appointment the next day for severe dryness on my left eyelid. The same lid. "Sorry, doctor. Can you please look through the bruise?" I should also mention I sound like a man with my seasonal cough and cold and could be having an allergic reaction to something I ate...or maybe it's bed bugs? Why not, huh? I asked the nurse to write, "General Basket-case" under Reason for Visit.

And, if my clumsy injuries weren't enough...poor Taylor did a doozy on his ankle about two weeks ago.

We're quite the pair. Move over silver and gold. This year's hot holiday colors are black and blue.  

Oh the weather outside is...weather

For some reason, Taylor's buddy Cheddar kept singing this all weekend long. It made me chuckle every time he sang it. "Oh the weather outside is...weather." 

We spent the weekend up at Swift Lake for our friend Mike's annual birthday getaway. This is my second year of attending, but Taylor's been celebrating Mike's birthday at some sort of cabin for several years. The stories are epic. And sometimes embarrassing. OK. MOST of the time embarrassing.  

This year, the mood was a bit tamer as Mike was a smidge under the weather, and the crew included two pregnant ladies, Mike's wife Kathleen, and my nearest and dearest Allison. The rest of us (Taylor, me, Kat's bro Bobby, their bro-in-law Shon, Al's hubby Andy, and the aforementioned Cheddar) tried to hold down the fort while indulging in holiday bevvies and plenty of merriment. 

We took Ranger rides (please don't call it a Rhino!) around the property and down to the lake for happy hour, ventured out for a little excursion to find snow (only to return to the cabin and find plenty of snow falling there, too), stayed warm by the bonfire, barbecued brats, sang happy birthday to the guest of honor, and lounged around catching up with a fun group of friends.  

It'll be interesting to see if the birthday weekend continues its traditional run now that the Greenbergs will have a baby boy in the mix. They swear we will be back next year, and we're certainly crossing our fingers for more wintry memories in December 2013. 

Man and dog.

Look closely and note Bear's special shoes for the trails. He's the most spoiled dog ever, but we love him. 

The view from the deck of the cabin pre-snow.

On a hunt to find some waterfalls. 

Found!

Oh you should have seen Taylor. Jonse-ing for his fly rod.

Next, we drove to higher elevation to find some snow.
Take One on the couples photo.

Take Two.

We had some trouble with the sideways snow flying in our eyes.

View from the deck post-snow.

Saying our goodbyes. Wish I had a better shot of the whole gang.

We stopped on the side of the rod en route home to watch a herd of elk. They were bugling. It was pretty unreal.