Hair Cut!

I finally gave in and chopped off 5 inches of my hair! It so badly needed a real cut and I'm loving how healthy it feels and the extra time I have in the morning.

*This picture makes me giggle. I don't know why, it just does.

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday my friends! I've been dreaming of this all week as I've been planning my Sister's bachelorette party... Oh how I cannot wait to be on the beautiful white sandy beaches of Destin, Florida!

Ahhh...

FYI

Southwest Airlines is having a HUGE 50% off sale for roundtrip flights in and out of SEATTLE. But the sale ENDS THURSDAY and you have to travel between February 3rd and May 31st, 2009. Good thing my Sis is getting hitched on May 30th! Yipee for Cheap Flights!!!

CONGRATS!

OMG... My BFF (14 years and counting) Marcie got engaged tonight in New Orleans! I'm so very happy for her and Justin! Yay! Enjoy your engagement night Marcie and Justin!! Love you guys!

I love how she tells it:
"I was so excited I didn't even put the ring on! I just hugged him and kissed him. Justin said "Most people usually put the ring on when they get it. They don't close the box!!"

Let the training begin....

For a few years now, I've talked and talked about maybe one day training for and completing a half marathon and eventually a full. It is even on my 'list of things to do in life'.

It seems like now is the perfect time to mark that one off my list. You see, I have been very interested in and heard great things about the Rock 'N' Roll marathon series. The marathon features live bands on the course and cheer squads to keep you motivated during the race(something that I really need while running). Garrett and I have even discussed flying out to San Diego to run the race and visit with his bff, Ky and his wife Sarah - we just never got around to planning it. SO, when I heard a little rumor announcing Seattle would be the eighth city to join the Rock 'N' Roll marathon series, I was ecstatic! And now there is nothing holding me back from running the half marathon, so I'm going to do it - This little lady whose longest run has maybe been 5 miles MAX - is going to do it! Although, I do have one thing going for me - I happen to be married to a man who could be a professional trainer.

Jokes aside, I am very excited and can't wait for June 27th!

New word.

I have discovered a new word today. Pffft. I hope to start using it in sentences often. Click here if you would like to know the definition.

4th Annual Mt. Baker Trip

Mt. Baker started 4 years ago as a birthday celebration for Kyle where friends would rent out a few cabins and people would go skiing/snowboarding/snowshoeing during the day and hang out at night. But it has developed into an all out costume/birthday/ski/basketball watching/cooking extravaganza weekend. It's something that Garrett and I look forward to every year. Kelsey - the amazing organizer and Kyle's fiance - wanted to make this year extra special for Kyle since it was his 30th bday so she decided to add a theme: 80's ski/apres ski and she even gave 1st and 2nd place prizes!! She kept the costume contest a secret from Kyle until he arrived at Mt. Baker where she gave him his 80's ski gear and asked him to put it on! We made up 80's names for ourselves: Crystal, Olivia, Tad, etc. And we had a Spaghetti Cook-Off in order to feed the 30+ people(genius). This year was an absolute blast, thanks to Kelsey!

"Gary" and "Tiff"

All the ladies

Tad, Crystal, Gary and Tiff
Christmas card next year? No?!

Kyle (Birthday boy and 2nd place winner), Tiff and Gary (1st place winner)
competing in the costume contest

Group shot!

Kyle and Kelsey in their normal get up!

Winter Adventures '09 - Round One

And what an adventure it was. I don't have time to go into it, but lets just say the AMAZING cross country skiing at White Pass was well worth the car getting stuck in the snow (36inches) and not having power for a few hours!

Now that's alot of snow, my friends!

Just Beautiful!

Sunshine and Snow!

Sara and Brian on the trail

Picnic lunch!

Taking a break

Perfect day for Cross Country Skiing

Love it.

Thanks Sara for having us at your family's amazing cabin!

Ringing in the New Year - 80's Style

We headed over to Yakima to ring in the New Year with some friends. Every year our friend's parents host an annual themed NYE costume party and this year's theme was... Rockstars. It was a blast.. They went all out and had a huge Rockband stage in their basement complete with 3 microphones, 2 sets of drums and a couple guitars.

Crimped hair what what!?!

He as wearing this shirt the first time I met him... I kid you not... and the wig!

Totally rad dude

Rockstar Brian and his groupie Sara

Courney Love and Kurt Cobain
(Kyle and Kelsey)

Bama Ladies Reunited

While in Bama, Katie (BFF going on 14 years) and her boyfriend Wes, offered to host a post-Christmas get together with a few of our best friends from high school and college.It is pretty rare that all of us girls get together but when we do it's like everything just falls back into place! We ate delicious hors d'oeuvres, did a gift exchange, and played Partini! It was SO great to catch up with everyone and their significant others!

The hosts with the most - Katie and Wes

Wes, Garrett and Justin hanging out

I love this girl!

Katie made all of her guests cutie ornaments with our initials!

Heather and Linds - College Rommies!

Marcie - my other BFF going on 14 years!

Marcie and Justin - probably talking about their CLIMB up Mt. Washington!!
(Sorry Marcie this is the only one I got of you two!)

Trying to figure out how to play Partini

After the gift exchange

Katie, Heather, Me, Marcie, and Lindsey
(All of Lindsey's Bridesmaids - minus Smith Ann)

Thanks Katie and Wes for hosting such a fun night!

And on that Farm they had a MOO...

The day after Christmas we headed up to my parents Farm also known as O-Bar Ranch in Scottsboro, AL where Blake, my brother, and Liam met us. It had been over 2 years since Garrett and I had visited the Farm, so we had to make the trip up. We had a blast hanging out with Liam at the farm. He just loves seeing all the animals. It's like his own personal petting zoo. He calls the cows: "MOO" and the cats: "MEOW." On Saturday we all took a short drive to Desoto Falls State Park to see the 104 foot waterfalls which were beautiful. Then we all headed back to Birmingham on Sunday.

Enjoy the photos!

The beautiful farm house!

Aunt Lauren and Liam on the 4-wheeler!

Liam's precious farm boots that my Mom got him - seriously cutest.boots.ever!!!

Garrett and I 4-wheelin'

Liam riding with Granddaddy

MOO

Isabelle was very good with him as you can see she let him ride her, pull her hair and sit on her!



Walking in the mud... such a boy!

Aunt Lindsey and Lauren and Liam! This is my FAVORITE!


Breakfast Time!



All of us at Desoto Falls


G & L


Justin, Lindsey, Blake, Me and Garrett

Girl shot

I love this one of these two!

Granddaddy and Liam!

Most photogenic couple award!

3 Generations of Owens'

Justin being silly

The Falls