Woolace Whereabouts

The Jacobson Wedding Cakes

2010-03-21T10:54:00.000-07:00

When our friends Mark and Rachel became engaged, and they asked me to make the cake, I gratefully replied YES! I love to make cakes, especially wedding cakes, because they are so frilly and pretty. I wasn't given a number of guests that were going to be at the wedding, I was only told, "I want a 4-tier square cake". Ok, I can do that, I thought. Then about 2 months before the wedding the couple came over to our place for a night of Rio Dell mini-golf and pizza, when they asked me if I would make a grooms cake as well. A little reluctantly I agreed... to make a pool table cake. YIKES! This was a super big challenge for me, not only because I needed to bake 10 cakes all together, but because I haven't really done much (any) cake sculpting or working with fondant. I'll let you judge the final products, pics are posted.

CONGRATULATIONS to Mark and Rachel, Cheers to many happy years!

Garage Updates

2010-03-18T11:14:00.001-07:00

Here are the latest pictures of the garage. We're getting there, slowly, but surely. In the last week we had garage doors installed, and Adam placed the windows. Yay! Almost rain-proof. Next is the man door, windows up-stairs, and siding on the ends. Oh yeah, we still have to make a staircase and install floors and walls upstairs. Adam is really making progress lately, this week he is welding the staircase frame, and making plans for a man-door.

I must say, big props to my Pops! When the garage door guy came to install the doors, he said that, that was the squarest entry-way he had ever worked on. He mentioned that most of the block work around here is not very square and sloppy. He was Really impressed! Thanks again Dad!

Also added since the last set of photos is the metal roof, that Adam installed completely my himself! Isn't he Awesome?!

GARAGE DOOR Updates

Baby Woolace is a Girl!

2010-02-26T17:40:00.000-08:00

Whistler BC 2010

2010-02-10T08:15:00.000-08:00

Do I even need to say how Beautiful the Whistler/Blackcomb area is? Stunning!!!

First of all, THANK YOU to GAIL AND ERIC KOPPA for inviting us on this spectacular trip! Once again, you two are included in another fabulous trip and great memories. And I should mention that this trip would not have been as much fun if Gail had not taught me to ski years before in Park City. The best, most patient ski instructor ever! Thanks a million!

During the week, besides relaxing and enjoying the slopes, we celebrated Eric's birthday on the 16th and our first anniversary on the 17th. All week long we ate fabulous food, stared at the beautiful scenery, laughed with friends and skied like maniacs. A fantastic vacation all around!

Our First Anniversary dinner at Araxi. Anniv. /Eric's birthday dinner at Araxi.

A very nice 5 star restaurant in the village, above is the seafood spectacular, that was A++

At the peak of Blackcomb mountain, breath-taking! Adam & I at the peak.

Eric and Gail at the beautiful peak. Adam & I at a much needed lunch break.

Mt. Whistler in the background.

Me, and baby W on the slopes. Adam and I on the gondola.

Me and Gail, all smiles

The beginnings of an olympic village. Our home away from home.

Mt. Shasta from the plane. Olympic rings outside Vancouver airport.

Tickets anyone? Beauty

Glacier and Mt. Whistler from Blackcomb peak. Mt. Whistler from Mt. Blackcomb.

Adam and Eric take in the view. First run of the morning, just gorgeous.

The day we decided not to ski! good choice. Crowded! Peak 2 Peak

Peak 2 Peak Gondola Gail in the morning, ready to blaze a trail.

View from one of our favorite spots. Peak to Peak from our window.

Welcome Baby Grant Christian and Baby Andrew Gregory!

2010-02-10T07:47:00.000-08:00

Baby Grant (Rachel and Marty's Baby Boy)

Baby Andrew (Elizabeth and Greg's Baby Boy)

We're so lucky to have these two beautiful baby boys in the family! Congratulations Sisters!

Uncle Adam and Aunt Amy Love You All!

So. Cal.

2010-02-10T06:41:00.000-08:00

Adam and I made the drive to Banning/Redlands with plans of attending Emily's baptism, Rachel's baby shower, and enjoying Thanksgiving with our families. Your standard, run-of-the-mill trip to BNG we thought. Our (Adam and I) gears shifted about 3:00 am on Thanksgiving morning, when I jumped out of bed to vomit. My stomach is generally un-settled while in BNG to begin with, so I thought nothing of it, until I puked again about 7:30 am. Then instantly it hit me like a lightning bolt... WE'RE PREGNANT! I kept my lip shut until Adam woke up and then ran the idea by him, and he agreed that it could be a possibility.

We had breakfast (I didn't eat much, needless to say) with Mama and Papa Woolace, then headed to BNG to have our first of 2 Thanksgiving meals for the day. On our way to Grandma and Grandpas house, we stopped by the old Banning K-mart for a home pregnancy test, the first I've ever bought in my life. With my stomach turning, and butterflies in Adams, we both decided to wait until we got back to Rio Dell to do the test (so that we could keep a straight face with our families - not wanting to tell them until we went to a doctor). We had our yummy dinner in Banning, followed by a great dinner in Redlands (where I accepted the wine that Papa helped make, but I didn't drink). Then it occurred to me... am I really to deprive myself of wine and coffee - what if were not pregnant? First pee of the next morning went on the stick... and it

INSTANTLY became a + sign. Ok, I thought to myself... calmly walk out of the restroom, past Rachel and Papa, don't smile, don't laugh, don't give it away, and quickly walked back to bed to

wake Adam. That moment with Adam will be burned into my memory like our engagement and our wedding, we were both crying and so happy. We pulled it together, went into the house with the rest of the family and tried to go on as normal (except for being VERY nauseous). We went through the rest of the week with our heads spinning and my gut emptying.

At the end of the week we took a trip/hike to forest falls with Libby & Greg, Rachel & Marty, Luke, Daniel, and Adam with his metal detector. While digging right in the middle of the trail (and other places), the boys found a throwing knife, some change, and bottle caps. Truly priceless! Luke really had fun and anxiously waited while his Dad, Uncle Adam and Uncle Marty dug for treasures. It was a beautiful day filled with sunshine, and burritos from that non-cucas joint in Redlands.

While down south, we also attended Rachel and Marty's baby shower. I had so much fun helping prepare and making the cake for Rachel's shower. We really had a lot of fun with the ladies and then the guys at the end of the night. Below is Libby (Adam's older sister) who was about 7 months pregnant and Rachel (Adams younger sister) who was about 8 months pregnant at the time.

And this is totally random, but these are the peppers that my brother grew over the summer and harvest in fall. I thought the colors were spectacular. Keep up the good farming work Allen.

Halloween Bash in the Dell

2009-12-08T12:11:00.001-08:00

It was a happy Halloween this year as evidenced by the following photos.

Welcome Emily Ollin Hill

2009-12-08T10:14:00.001-08:00

We were very happy to welcome Emily Ollin into the world on Oct. 15th. She is a perfect little doll. Elizabeth loves her little sister too. Melissa and Chris appropriately gave her the name Ollin to prove what a tough little girl she is. Her first week was hard for everyone especially Chris, Melissa and Emily, with fluid in her collapsed lung. The doctors took great care of her and sent her home healthy and beautiful. Adam and I were fortunate to be home for her baptism on Nov. 29th.

Congratulations Hill family!

Car to Truck

2009-12-08T09:19:00.000-08:00

Man, I am very behind, and I apologize to all 3 of you readers! No good excuse for not updating really, just being a slacker.

So I'll start where iphoto tells me I have left off...

With a growing dog (yes, she still seems to be growing) it became obvious that the civic wasn't going to fit her anymore. So late this summer, it was out with the car and in with the truck.

This is the 16 year old Arcata, daughter of a Humboldt County Sheriff, that will be pimping my old ride. Her family was a joy to sell the car too, and she was very excited! I couldn't feel better to know that we sold a great car (I REALLY LOVED that car) to a great family.

This is the upgrade.... Lilly loves it (and so do I). With the frequency to drive on dirt/mud roads, the extra room in the bed for Lilly, a 4-door option, blah blah blah, I went with a 4x4 Toyota Tacoma. So much fun and more appropriate for work. It is Wonderful!

Up up and up

2009-10-08T09:08:00.000-07:00

Below are a few of the pictures taken during the latest phase of our garage building (for more photos click here). Fortunately Allen and Matt came back to help Adam, and the three of them basically did the entire trussing/plywooding/tar papering project themselves. From start to finish (minus the actual metal roofing material) this was a nerve-wracking project. With a 9/12 pitch (12/12 is standard snow pitch) because of the 'bonus room' in the 'attic', and the gusty afternoons it was very precarious and dangerous. The boys made it through safe and sound, although sore and very tired. Needless to say, the job was beautifully done thanks to their hard work. I heard Allen say several times, "Man, we built that thing, that is crazy! I've never done anything like that before." THANK YOU GUYS!

From the ground up, it's basically Thomson (we'll make Adam an honorary Thomson for this project) built.

This is a beautiful addition to our yard. I can't wait to first host a Halloween party inside :), then move the garage inside! YAY!!! So exciting! For the upstairs we are thinking a small guest room/office (or I like to think of it as a craft room). Everyone is welcome.

Congrats Basset Family

2009-09-21T07:48:00.000-07:00

CONGRATULATIONS ANDRE AND SUSAN!

I was honored to make your wedding cake, and to be present at your special day. You two did a wonderful job! Cheers to many years of happily wedded bliss.

Might not be much to you

2009-09-16T17:34:00.000-07:00

... but it's Huge to us. We Finally have ripe tomatoes! It seems like my family down south was harvesting plump, juicy tomatoes months ago, but here in the fog it takes longer. We are looking forward to consuming fresh tomato juice, tons of tomato-basil pasta, and the freshest... warm tomatoes right off the vine. Three cheers for late summer tomatoes!

Garage Phase 2

2009-07-31T15:55:00.000-07:00

THANK YOU DAD!!!

Happy 80th Grandma!

2009-06-07T07:33:00.000-07:00

What more can I say about Doris except that she is Everlasting!
My grandma has been the most important woman in my life since I can remember. As a second mother to us kids, she has taught us more than she'll ever know. I can remember her taking us to Carls Jr. on Sunday after church if we got 100% on our spelling test on Friday, clipping roses every January, threatening us with the belt when we were bad, baking krumbkake in the kitchen (and her being very upset when Lynn and I ruined a batch), being the toughest landlord in Banning, trips to the Redlands mall, the many many years at O'Briens Pharmacy, taking us to Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, Sea World, the ZOO, church picnics, the Grand Canyon, road trips to North Dakota, going to back-to-school nights, school plays, bike rides around the 'old' high school, grocery shopping with Lindy, Rosa, Betty and Ida, her holding Elizabeth for the first time, bringing me to college (moving me out of the dorms), and so much much more. She has taught me to see things in black and white. It is or it isn't, you are or you aren't, it's right or it's wrong.
She has molded my life is so many ways and I can only dream of being a sliver of the woman that she is.
Thank you Grandma for your guidence, generousity, kindness, forgiving smile, strong hand, and endless LOVE.

HAPPY 80th BIRTHDAY!!!

Eventful!

2009-06-07T05:52:00.000-07:00

As Adam and I embarked on another trip to Honduras, we anticipated resting and relaxing in Utila following the wedding buzz on the island. What an eventful trip this was!!! We first met Allen at LAX and flew with him to Roatan and eventually to Utila. We rented a beautiful beach house with stellar snorkeling right outside our door where we saw so many different fish, a sea turtle, several HUGE rays, squid etc.

Midway through our trip, we had a rather frightening awakening...a M 7.3 earthquake! The epicenter was approx. 50 miles from Utila and was a strike slip quake. Adam, Allen and I were all sleeping in a wooden house built on cement pillars (9ft. pillars). Talk about swaying! I immediately jumped out of bed with things falling off shelves etc. and yelled at Adam to get out of bed (and get into the doorway). Although I'm a Cali girl, this was the most wild shaking I have ever experienced in a quake. We all REALLY thought that the house was going to fall off the stilts. After about 45 sec. of shaking, we ventured out into the house where the fridge door was open and contents emptied onto the kitchen floor, most of the figurines had fallen and broken, and water splashed out of the toilets. Amazingly the power did not turn off. We decided to take the golf cart to town to asses the damages. Utila held up VERY WELL!!! I am very impressed with the towns reaction, and concern for a tsunami. We witness locals running to higher ground with their families, luggage, and one girl even had her snorkel and mask on. Fortunately there was no real tsunami threat. Several T.Vs had fallen and were broken, other than that there was only about 2-3 homes in Utila with major structural damage. We went to visit our friend Martin who had his entire kitchen emptied onto the floor, and his TV broke a hole in his wood floor.

This is a picture of Martins' kitchen. This next photo was taken at sunrise following the quake and is of the town loading dock with a half stack of red brick...the other half is in the water, a result of the shaking. If you look close, you can see a guy in the water with a snorkel on, and guys holding buckets...brick recovery team.
As geologists, this was quite a thrilling experience! To be there first hand to see the damages and the reactions to the town folks was very special. The stories from the locals about their reactions are priceless, and eyewitness accounts of geologic phenomena* are unforgettable. I do wish that we had immediate access to the internet to feed our hunger for instantaneous data. This was a Utilan experience that many will not soon forget.

In between the EQ and the next series of events, Adam was stung across the face by a jellyfish! Allen and I were already in the water and were swimming around when I looked up and Adam was walking back to the shore very fast. He yelled, "I just got stung by a jellyfish!" and I of course replied, "pee on it!" not knowing that he was stung across his face :) The closest remedy in the house was balsamic vinegar, so that's what I poured on his face. Here is a pic a few days after the encounter. Yikes!
Activities of a completely different kind have been stirring the air around Utila. Immediately following our wedding, with the help of the USA, a drug plane was captured and seized on Utila. What a mess for Utila in every way, I'm so thankful that this happened after the wedding. Then about a week before we went to Utila this time, another plane was discovered and forced to land in Utila. However, there are no lights on the runway in Utila among other things, and the plane crashed near the runway (several hundred meters from our land). This plane had 1,500 kilos on it, which were seized by the federalities etc. but the plane is still there. This is a link to the Utila newspaper article. After eating lunch at one of our fav. spots, the restaurant owner told us how to get to the plane. What did we do? We went of course. Stunning! Here are a few of our pics.
Adam of course could not resist scavenging parts of the plane...a few gauges, toggles and one crazy crazy story. We went back to the plane the next day to show one of our Utila friends the scene...however when we came stumbling out of the jungle this time, the federalities were waiting for us at the beach. Oops! I immediately dropped a piece of the plane that I had just picked up, and my stomach dropped to China! As the men approached us, I recognized one of the non-uniformed men, and happily greeted Julio like a long lost friend. He asked Adam, "So, what are you guys doing out here?" Adam replied, " um, just hiking around...." Then Julio asked if we knew where the plane was. Adam said, "um, is it okay if I know where the plane is?" And Julio chuckled and said, "yes, these guys don't even know where it is". Whew! We were not in trouble! Adam yells, "Amigos" to the federalidies, and leads them over to the trail head at the edge of the jungle. Unfortunately, that piece of the plane that I dropped was the only piece that had the name of the plane, and actaully had some pencil writting on it (a prized plane piece), but the federality picked it up and took it! I wasn't about to ask the guy holding a machine gun for it back :)

Needless to say, we had a pretty eventful vacation. But it didn't stop there...:)
On our flight form LA to Arcata, who do you think was sitting right across from us? Alanis Morissette! Adam and I argued over if it was her or not, but after goggling her tattoos when we got home, we both concluded that it was most certainly her. She was headed to Redding, flying on Horizon, drank diet coke, read People Mag. and she slept with her mouth open. Um, star-struck! I resisted talking her picture, although now I was wishing I had snapped one. This is the comparison shot that confirmed it was her.

We are so happy to be home, safe and sound!

* The following day, Adam, Allen and I went to the Cays around Utila. Jewel Cay and Pigeon Cay are joined with a cement bridge and are heavily populated. During lunch at one of the small stands, we spoke with a young lady who told us that everyone ran out of their houses and to the bridge. 'Hum, what a strange reaction' I thought. Until I realized that most of the houses were built on wooden stilts over the water and that people likely ran to the strongest, most solid structure in town. She also told us that about 1h 45m following the quake, the sea water under that bridge (about 3 ft. deep) subsided until it was bare sand, then the water came back up and resided again, very slowly. Perhaps this was the tsunami signal...

Step one, Slab completed

2009-05-05T08:21:00.000-07:00

Location for the new garage staked out.
Adam using a rented sod-remover, and not loving it. Cleared area Digging the footings, with Lilly on the lookout. Allen and Matt are here to help build the footings and foundation. Completion of day 1, Lilly is exhausted. Day 2 involved lots of cutting, bending and tying rebar, rolling out the mesh, and finalizing the footings before the pour. Day 3, the big pour. BIG Thanks to Olaf, Todd, Matt and Allen for all their help!!! Everyone working hard. Please note last summers project: New exterior paint and metal roof. Requirement- a TON of elbow grease and a Great partner.
Matt doing a great finishing job! Dedication! Tagger Matt, Allen, BNG 09, Amy and Adam.
New Slab installed and completed! Thanks Everyone!!!

Continuing the Celebration

2009-05-05T07:44:00.000-07:00

In early March, Grandma and Grandpa and Mom put together a small wedding reception for us at the church. What a great opportunity to see folks I haven't seen in years, and to celebrate with our family. THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!

This is the beautiful cake that my Mom made for us.
The print on this cake is an actual copy of my great-grandparents wedding certificate. My Mom is so creative!
Lots of Family and Friends celebrating in California with us.
Adam, Elizabeth, Me, Dad, Chris, and Melissa
Rachel and Marty
Papa and Grandma Ole and Doris
Fireside Room full of love
Uncle Allen and Elizabeth
Papa and Marty enjoying the crowd.
Chris and Melissa

2 yr. old - 165 lb. Love Chunk

2009-04-15T09:46:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Miss Lilly!

Happy Spring!

2009-04-13T09:00:00.000-07:00

Hope Everyone had a super Easter.

kidding

2009-04-02T07:33:00.000-07:00

We're not divorced, not getting a divorce, or even thinking about divorce.
I did get Grandma with this joke. I called her yesterday morning, and asked how she was, the when she asked me how I was, I told her that Adam and I were getting a divorce. SILENCE!!! finally, after what seemed like minutes, she sadly said "Why?" I told her it was because Adam and I had decided that we were better together before we got married, and that we were better just living with each other. In a high pitched shrill "Then why did you go through all this? Why did you do all of that work?" I said, "April Fools" And she busted up laughing, like I haven't heard her laugh in the longest time! She loved it, and even used it on my Mom, who called me later in the day to tell me that Grandma got her. Divorce, good for a laugh, sometimes.

We're getting a divorce

2009-04-01T09:35:00.000-07:00

Sad, but true.
:(

I forgot to mention

2009-03-30T08:23:00.000-07:00

During the wedding planning we came across video of a photo shoot of a bride the day after her wedding, during the 'ruin the dress ceremony'. They were beautiful pictures of a bride sitting, laying, rolling, etc. in the sand and surf with her wedding gown on. Very cool idea, if you are not attached to your dress :) Well, needless to say, Adam and I were/are not super duper emotionally attached to our wedding 'costumes' so we decided to do something to this affect...we'd go snorkeling.
Adam was WAY more into this idea than me I'll admit. I'm a little nervous when it comes to being in the water near the reef as it is...add a huge white dress to flag down any and all giant swimming things to eat me and to drag/snag/carry across the reef *, not sounding fun. But after a few days of whirlwind excitement, I was a little more relaxed and was looking forward to something zany.
With the use of an underwater camera (THANKS CLINTON!!!), and dressed in white, we went for it. I rolled up the dress between my legs and paddled out. Thanks to Dan for taking the pictures! You can find the photos mixed in with all the others, follow the link in the post below.

*the reef was not touched or damaged in anyway

Wedding Bits

2009-03-22T07:21:00.000-07:00

I know, This took FOREVER for me to post, but better late than never, right?
First off, let me say THANK YOU to all our family and friends! We had the most wonderful wedding week ever!

Adam and I left about a week before the wedding, and met our friends the Koppas in El Salvador. From there we all flew together to Honduras where we met more guests then headed out to the island of Utila. The first two days were spectacular! The weather was perfect, the sand flies were minimal, and the island was quiet. As the week progressed more and more guest arrived and so did the rain. It rained, and rained, and rained! This was nothing new for us Humboldtians, we even enjoyed having warm rain!

On the morning of the wedding, it was finally sunny! We had breakfast and ran around the island doing this and that, went to Bando beach to decorate and set-up and then the clouds came. Mom and I left to go get dressed and by the time we came back, it was drizzling/sprinkling. At least it wasn't blazing sunny. In the photos, you can see my Dad getting ready to walk me down the aisle with an umbrella, until I asked him to get rid of that thing! The aisle was set between two trees, and our Island buddy- Odley (he's like the Ole of Utila, revered by everyone) cut bamboo from his property to make the bamboo alter stands for flowers. In the photos, you can see them being built. The rest of the aisle was lined with palm branches, coconuts and orchids.

The ceremony was more beautiful than I could have ever imagined! Our very dear friend Eric Koppa married us, Adam's beautiful sister read a rendition of 1 corinthians 13, and my lovely girlfriend Sara read Shel Silverstiens Hug-O-War. Eric added so many beautiful readings and the prayer from Adam's Dad was fantastic! As Eric was explaining our ring story I could hear 'awe, oh, and sniff sniff', who could resist? All in all, even the boys were crying in the croud!

Immediately following the ceremony, we took a few pictures, and then...TORENTIAL DOWNPOUR!!! It RAINED!!! In some of the pictures you can see water running off the edge of the champa, and in the pictures of the cake cutting, it looks like a lake behind us. Fortunately we were all under the champa, and Duane, the muician was covered as well. The dinner was wonderful, despide the outburst and drama we had with the cook in the days following the wedding. We filled ourselves with jerk chicken, coconut milk shrimp, fresh salad, coconut bread, Bando soup (local soup made with plantains, salted pork, cactus, coconut, etc), nachos, dirty rice, garlic roasted potatoes and fresh passion fruit punch. YUM!!! We ate the wonderful cake and had our toasts. Thanks to Hammer and Beth for toasting us in such a lovely way! Muah! Then we tossed the garder and the boquet (which from what I heard was quite the scene). It's hard to see through the back of your head! While my back was turned, apparently the boquet was snatched from one of the girls by another. All I could hear was 'Oooooo, and Ohhhhhhh, and Damn!) Oh how I wish I could have seen what happened! Anyone have that on video?
From there on out we danced in the rain, mingled, and had a blast! Truly one of the best days of my life!

The rest of the week went rather smooth, save for my sister and brother-in-law Melissa, Chris and our friends Dan and Justin. These 4 people insured that we would have something to talk about for years to come. The first incident was Chris and Melissa...the day before the wedding they rented a scooter to get around the island. They got ran off the road into a tree, and scraped up their knees pretty bad! I just talked to Melissa last week, and she is still recovering from these injuries. Justin rolled his golf cart one evening, no injuries, and little damage. And Dan takes the cake. On our very last night, Adam and Dan went out on our BRAND NEW motorcycle. Adam came home, and I didn't hear the bike, and he said that Dan was taking it home. ok I thought.... Till the next morning when we got a call from one of our other friends asking us where the clinic was on the island. Dan had crashed the bike. The bike was ok, but Dan, not so much. His hamberger elbow, hip and knee kept him from traveling anywhere. He had plans to go to Panama the next day, which he cancelled in order to nurse back to health. Fortunately he is healthy and well today.

In total we had 66 guests, 62 of which came from the US, Germany, and Switzerland. This was an amazing turn out, especially when you consider that about 20% of our guests had to get passports for the first time. We could be more appreciative and feel more loved and supported!

Here is a link to the wedding photos from our guests who have posted. Enjoy!

Lead by example

2009-01-25T10:57:00.000-08:00

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4752021n

No mas Thomson

2009-01-09T08:13:00.000-08:00

It's time! Time to become Mr. & Mrs. Woolace. We are headed to the island today, and will come back united (not the airline). Thank you all for your wedding wishes and blessings. Wish everyone was there!
Stay tuned for pictures and updates.
Love you!

Update

2008-12-14T07:26:00.000-08:00

I'm not even sure where to begin. I think it easiest to give you all a rundown of events in the Thomson/Woolace life. Ready...GO...

~Before we left for Utila, Adam's parents were up here for a few days in their motor home, and helped us do chores around the house. The big accomplishment...planting 6 redwood trees in the backyard. A few months ago we had two giant Acacia trees cut down (they were a hazard), and created a sectioned off area of the yard for wood chips and the redwoods...no more mowing in the tree roots, Yay! Check it out.
Before...

After...
Come spring, if all grows as planned, we should have tulips and iris flowers coming up. Huge thanks to Mama and Papa for all your help!!!

~Utila was wonderful despite the rain. We checked out the property, the banana trees, etc. It's pretty impressive that we will have bananas grown from our own trees in time for the wedding (not that we are eating banana mash for the reception dinner). Take a look at this picture and compare it to the previous post, check out that growth.
While in Utila, we also made tons of last minute wedding plans. We finally booked a caterer for the meal (jerk chicken, coconut shrimp, red beans and rice, potatoes, salad, coconut bread and the local Bando soup - seafood/coconut/root veggie soup), booked a florist, reserved hotel rooms/apartments for guests, bought a motorcycle for transportation, booked the morning after brunch, met with the cake lady, and even did a bit of relaxing. It rained the whole week we were there, so no snorkeling, but it was still great. I hope and pray that it dies not rain on our wedding day, but what does that really matter? So we all get wet, it's still going to be 80 degrees out... :)
As of now, we have approx. 50 peeps coming from the states, and about 10 locals coming to the event. YAY!!!

~While we were gone, we left our dogs with friends out in the hills. A good, safe plan usually, until... Lilly (our English Mastiff puppy of 1.5 years and 145 lbs) mauled the neighbors dog. UGH!! Fortunately we know the guy and he was very understanding...not really sure upon who's property the altercation occurred...he only asked us to pay for half the vet bill of $3000. I think she only broke a bone or two, but surgery and pins were necessary for the little pup. Way to go Lilly! She has lost all trust, and has since lost her precious little innocent status in the household. But damn we love her anyway :)
~In other dog news, this week on Tues. night/Wed. morning our Swissy dog Rose unexpectedly died. She was the first pet that Adam and I raised together from the day she came to Humboldt. I've never met a more floppy and goofy dog, she wore a huge smile across her face all of her 6 years. Unlike our other dogs, Rose never ran away to wander the hills, she needed to stay close to the dog food. She was a determined protector of dog food. A loyal friend to us, Hans, and Lilly, and a great mother to Heinrik. She will be missed.

And last but not least the family update...

~ Allen is in school, believe it or not, to become a concrete inspector. Still at Grandma and Grandpas, helping them out.

~Chris and Melissa have been married for 1 year now, and THANKS to TARAH, just bought a house. They've been doing lost of work, my Dad laid some tile for them and they are in the process of creating a backyard. They hosted a beautiful and yummy Thanksgiving dinner to 15 people! Elizabeth is a doll, and couldn't be any more perfect! She is growing so fast. Allen, my Dad and Grandpa are great with her. They chase her and handle her so well, she NEVER gets scared and can be flipped and tossed any which way. I'm so proud of Melissa and Chris, well done!

~ Last week everyone in the family finally got all their passports (First time for them all), and they got tickets to the wedding! Mom, Dad, Allen (and his lady), and Chris and Melissa are leaving the country!!! I can not put into words how happy this makes me that they will all be there for our big day! I know they are about to have a life changing experience.

~ Unfortunately, the news of Grandma and Grandpa is not as good. Friday morning Grandma fell in the hallway and broke her hip. She spent the day in the ER waiting for surgery, and finally went in for surgery on Sat. morning. I'm waiting by the phone this morning for updates from Allen, Melissa and my Mom. The doctors say that she should be up and standing by today...this seems nutty to me, but I study rocks so my opinion doesn't count. It's getting harder and harder for them as they get older...I guess that happens to everyone, but it's still hard to see. This will change things around the Tendeland household, no doubt. Time for Melody to step up.

~Melody...is back to her old antics...reminiscent of my high school days. Not much has changed....
~Tim is living with Melody and her antics...go figure.

ok, I guess this completes the updates for now. I'll try not to post every 3 weeks :)

Utila Bound (again)

2008-11-18T07:07:00.000-08:00

This afternoon we head out to the island again to HOPEFULLY make some wedding plans, and be sure reservations are being held (we've already lost our honeymoon island - due to double booking). We will solidify hotels, rentals houses, meals, transportation, etc.
This is the beach where the vows will be said, family and friends will gather, and rum will be drank.
paradise

This may be a little hard to see, but this is the land we recently purchased in Utila. Huge avocado trees, mangoes, and bananas. yum.

Can you envision us girls running around, with our coconuts and vines...

(there is an uber small sliver of me that wishes mcevil was elected....) :)

...Be back in a week or so...

No more mouse

2008-11-14T06:50:00.000-08:00

Ever get the feeling while driving in the car alone that you are NOT alone?

Something was living in my car. Adam set mouse traps for a few days on the floor and in the glove box of my car, to no avail except missing bait, at which point we thought the resident may be a sly squirrel or chipmunk. Somehow, he/she had a stash of sunflower seeds as every morning when I got in my car there was a fresh pile of neatly separated shells. UGH!!!
Adam decided to pull out the big guns...a rat trap. Really?!? I've been driving around with a RAT in the car with me? That is just disgusting! Multiple thoughts ran through my mind as I drove an hour and a half to and from work...'is it going to come out and run up my leg? am I going to cook it in my dashboard (man that would stink), will it eat my wires and cause my car to stall?, will it have babies?, what if it dies in there?'
Well, unlike Tom, we caught that little shi... cute little furry thing. Sorry Lynn, there are no pictures of the mouse...as it was caught in a RAT trap, that little guy was nearly decapitated.
What I learned: don't park next to the wood pile for multiple days, no leftover muffins etc. in the car, No more sunflower seeds in the car, and you are never really alone!

Thought for the day: I need more coffee....

First BS entry

2008-11-13T07:19:00.001-08:00

I now have yet another way to procrastinate. Anything and Everything posted on this blog is nonsense, take it or leave it.
So far I'm not really inspired to write anything.... I keep thinking about the house- the floors need washing, my car needs cleaning out (thank you mouse who ate sunflower seeds and put the shells in every nook and cranny), laundry needs to be finished, I need to re-pot plants, mow the lawn, plan a wedding.... How's that for daily thoughts Tarah?

Daily Thought #1: Can I just say that I am OH SO THANKFUL that Ms. Palin is not going to be our VP.