Alex gets hitched

Alexandra & Maxwell Brady!

Alex and I met sophomore year at Wheaton through Honduras Project, and our friendship grew as we were cabinet team leaders the following year. After college we spent time together exploring Chicago, and later Alex even visited me while I lived in Honduras. Little did we know, we'd even attend the same university for podiatry/medical school. We led a women's small group and weekly lunch book study discussions and service projects. Alex was a bridesmaid in our winter wedding, and residency or a giant snow storm wouldn't stop me from standing up in hers either.  Was a truly beautiful celebration. 

Spring break in FL

Weekend getaway to Florida! Complete with lots of play time, "shake milks", going to the park, makeshift backyard water park, good food, and catching up! We also took a trip to the ocean and spent another day at the world's coolest all abilities playground! Miss these guys already!!

Rachel visits

Had a fun time catching up after 9 months of sporadic emails to and from the DR Congo, where Rachel has been doing her PhD research. Even spent a night on the coast after both cross country and downhill skiing on separate days! And, of course, food trucks, Smith tea flights, Base Camp brewery, and the nickel arcade. 

Baby Harper!

Baby Harper aint much of a baby anymore. She eats real food now! And has super long legs, that look way shorter on Skype! She is seven whole months old now. Our time together flew by...leaving me missing her little laughs once again. 

olympic TV dinners

Our new hobby these days...eating on plastic trays! Not quite your typical hot lunch style food, but the convenience of carrying dinner + condiments + beverages trumps style, after all. 

The joke started last summer when we had no TV. Joel got the trays as part of his kitchen themed birthday with the intention of easier transportation of deck patio summer fare. Now you'll find us staring at the living room wall with our fists clenching our tray edges as figure skating men barely land triple axels or  wincing at high jump skiers soaring over icy cliffs....this tray business is serious. 

Straight lines...

Allie has a niche for spacing and details. Joel has the gift of being perceptive and relaxed. 

Yesterday Allison put on the stickers. 

(One of Joel's Christmas presents!)

field trip Thursdays.

Thursdays are our weekend these days. For the month of December anyway, thanks to allie's burn/general surgery schedule, and thanks to joel taking the Saturday shift at the lumber yard. This week we did a one mile hike to the top of multnomah falls, racing (huffing) past homeschooled children and college kids on break. We were, however, passed by a crazy jogger lady. 

Afterwards we rewarded our exercising selves to a beer and fries with lunch at a local brewery, Pfriem. Then, since there was no line, we jumped on a tour at a much larger local brewery, Full Sail. Boy, do we like Thursdays!