Apollo Christmas Party

Last week, Eldon took me out to his company's christmas party. I got to meet his coworkers and boss. One of his coworker's wife and I agree that the "entertainment" at a construction company's work party is...interesting I guess would be a good word- it was a virtual tour of the plans of the process piping they install playing on a huge screen. She suggested that they should have some of the wives put together the slideshow next year :) 

Food, game of pool, chatting, it was an enjoyable evening all around, 

we even won a $50 gift card in the raffle!

We forgot to take pictures there but here's us all dressed and ready to go

This is the "I'm only smiling because I love you
but I'm really hating this whole picture thing" face

Plump Pumpkins

So another anomaly I found in Oregon that is unlike the city is the pumpkin patch. Well, I mean, I had been to a pumpkin patch before, I remember taking pictures there (one of me sitting on a fake horse for some reason...) But anyway, the patch here was pretty big and you take a "hayride" to get out there. Then you walk the patch and pick the one you want. Then they pick you up and you weigh your pumpkin and pay. I usually do it the quick easy way and grab one from a huge cardboard box out in front of the Vons so this was fun. Then we went home and carved 'em in the garage and had a great messy time. Then us ladies baked the pumpkin seeds for all to enjoy, and enjoy we did.

. 

Tyler's "Boise State" pumpkin

Heidi's  witch 

And my palm tree...
with no light it, oops

Eldon's "Snoopy"

Encouragment

When Eldon was in Arizona, I would get pretty down being all by myself so I created a list to cheer myself up. I thought about some of my favorite things that made me smile. I thought of each of the five senses and picked five things that I loved in each one (actually since taste is really just my favorite foods, that's boring so I skipped it and I made my list four favorite things from four of the senses). 
Now, since I'm just bored, I thought I would share my list and encourage others to create their own. When you're bummed about something or just stressed out, take a moment and focus on the things that make you happy and smile. Look at pictures, listen to music or whatever it is that calms you down. It will pick you up and you'll feel better. Try it.


Just so you know, I know most of mine are about the beach but I can't deny that's what makes me smile.


Sight: 

Sunsets over the beach

Any water feature (waterfalls, lakes, rivers etc.)

Fire- I just can't look away

Flowers

Sounds:
SPORTS SOUNDS -This might need to be explained...I love hearing the sounds of sports like the crack of a bat hitting a baseball, a basketball hitting nothing but net, the sound you hear when catching a football, pounding of running feet on pavement and so on.
CRASHING OF THE WAVES -Especially when it's late at night and you hear the waves while lying in bed falling asleep...mmm love it!
LAUGHTER -It can be little babies or a group of friends but laughing is one of my favorite things ever
STEEL DRUMS -I think the steel drums are one of the coolest sounding instruments


Touch:
I absolutely love the feeling of the SUN ON MY SKIN.
The WARM HAND OF A LOVED ONE wrapped around my own hand, especially when mine is cold
A LIGHT SCRATCH on my back or arms
WARM SAND in between my toes and surrounding my feet


Smells: other than the obvious food, candles, flowers and lotion
SALT in the air from the ocean... you could just call this the BEACH (but not the stinky beaches that smell like fish)
CEDAR WOOD (sometimes I smell the clock I made that's hanging on our wall- yeah I know it's weird)
LEATHER - I don't think this really needs explaining
SURFBOARD WAX- It's sort of sweet and delicious smelling, even my young women think so

Beach Boys!

Eldon, knowing how much of a Cali girl I am and how much I love the Beach Boys, took me to their concert last Friday night! It was awesome!! Unfortunately, only three of original Beach Boys were playing but it was still cool.

Yeah, our seats were actually this close to the stage, pretty great huh?

They sounded just as great as they did years ago and put on a fantastic concert!
We had such a good time!

Woodshop Beginnings

Who needs vacation when you can just take the money and buy a super sweet router table with router lift instead? Amidst the merger and everything going on with Eldon's old company, they paid him for his unused vacation time. So we decided to get a router table with it. We are pretty stoked! Here is a video of us using it for the first time.

Winners!

Eldon and I went to the Fair here in Hillsboro this last weekend for an evening of fun and games. Eldon said he was gonna win something for me so he picked out a difficult looking darts game. He easily went three for three (actually he got five balloons with three darts but they only count one for each shot). Very proud of my man, I walked away with a very soft and silly frog. Then I decided to try my hand at beating a Fair game and winning a prize for my Significant Other. I chose the race-to-blow-up-a-balloon-by-shooting-a-water-gun-at-the-target thing. I was up against quite a tough looking group but I zoned in and, much to the surprise of many, popped my balloon first. Eldon picked the blue elephant for his trophy. After a night full of laughing and fun, we headed home. 

I rocked this test!

So I took the Educators' Skills Test in reading, writing and math and I killed it. Check it out!

All that stuff above it is saying a minimum passing score is 240 

and scores are scaled from 100 to 300

Go ask Kristin

I was going to put up pictures and blog about our super fun-filled week with Kristin and Lee but 1) Kristin is way better at posting things in a timely manner so it is on her blog already and 2) she also took all the pictures...I only have a few that were taken on my phone. So to feel like I'm contributing, here are a few of the pictures Kristin didn't have. To see everything else, go to Kristin's blog (there is a link on the left hand side towards the bottom of our blog).

Boys like to climb on everything

This was the waterfall we hiked to the top of

Memories from Memorial Day

I apologize for really not being on top of things and always taking so long to update the blog but, here's what we did for Memorial Day Weekend. Eldon and I went 4-wheeling and camping with Chelsea, Loni and Jordan, their two cute kids and, of course, Duke. We went about 45 minutes west of us to the Tillamook Forest where we found a nice little camping spot next to a beautiful creek-river-thing. We made foil dinners, which tasted so good, hiked around a little, played card games and sat around the fire (which Chelsea and I started the first night on top of wet grass cause that's all that was there to work with- go us, it was tough getting it started). While we were sitting around the fire not doing much, Kyren and Duke kept each other entertained...they are a great team when it comes to mischief. After not watching their every move for a while, Duke came back with yogurt all over his head and back. We realized that Kyren had taken the yogurt, Duke opened it with his teeth, and Kyren poured it all over Duke...funny but messy. Kyren also was constantly trying to eat Duke's food, we had to put it under the truck so only Duke could get to it and not Kyren. As for Parry, he did great on his first camp out, just sat around and ate since that's all babies his age do. Here are a few pictures from the adventures.

Better Late Than Never

I realized after I put up pictures of Duke, that I forgot to put up pictures from Easter. So here is our late post from Easter.

This Easter we spent the weekend in Washington. We hung out on Saturday with Eldon's family. We played with our (what at the time was new) Indo board, dyed a few eggs, and of course did some shooting (since Eldon's parents have the perfect back yard for it -the woods- we usually practice shooting every time we are up there.) Sunday morning we went to church with the Chatmans (Kyren and Parry Carr even had matching Easter outfits complete with vests) and then had a easter egg at their house. We hid I think it was 88 eggs for all the kids to find and one large "money egg" for the two oldest kids to compete for. A Delicious dinner, some fun games and nice family night concluded the weekend. Here are a some pictures of the Easter egg hunt.

Jordan found the well hidden money egg

Meet Duke

This is Duke, the cutest new addition to the Parry family. He has one blue eye and the other is sort of a grayish brownish color- really cool. He is super playful and full of energy. We have had him only a week and he is already starting to respond to his name and going potty outside really well. When we walk he stays right by our sides and we don’t even need to put him on the leash…yet. He will follow us anywhere, even places he isn’t quite big enough for yet, he’ll find a way to get there. He weighs 8.75 lbs and is just an adorable fur ball.  He has started running with me on my morning runs, though we don’t go all that far. He is perfect at nighttime, doesn’t make a single sound. He sleeps on towels on the floor next to our bed and when we are gone he is content hanging out in the garage where he has his own little area. He absolutely loves Eldon’s socks and so we donated an old one to Duke to play with. He has become more fearless and loves wrestling, especially with the little dog two doors down from us. He is so cute and so much fun. We love having him around.

Indo Board Baby!!

I told Eldon I wanted an Indo Board, they are fun plus a good work out. So we looked them up and they are WAY TOO EXPENSIVE! So being the thrifty and handy man that he is, Eldon said we could make one. He got a perfect piece of pipe from work and we used some spare plywood. I used my awesome math skills to conjure up the perfect ellipse. Lo and behold when our powers combined...we produced an Indo Board. We're still deciding on a cool wave poster to put on top since our powers are lacking in the art department.                

I Feel Married Again!!

My wonderful husband surprised me and came home a week earlier than I was expecting him!! I got home Friday afternoon and there was his big blue truck in our driveway. I am so excited he's home and I get to feel like I'm actually married again for the first time in about 8 months!! Now he has to get used to sharing a bed with me again...I fell back into my old habit of taking up the whole thing

The Survey Says...

So Eldon and I are getting a puppy!! Oddly enough we found an ad online so I called the lady and asked about her puppies. Eldon was very specific that it had to be a pure breed Australian Shepherd...but that's not where the specifications ended. It has to be a male, Blue Merle with blue eyes. She said she had one, we are in luck, but he is only four days old and we have to wait 8 weeks to get him!! Oh, and one more thing...he is in Texas so he has to be shipped...kinda weird. It's bizarre what technology and the internet can get you, but it's exciting nonetheless.

Now we are decided on a name. We have narrowed it down to Duke or Tex (since he is from Texas). This is where all our friends and family and anyone else who cares to look at our blog come in. We are doing a survey to see which name you guys like better. Whichever one gets more votes will be our puppy's name. Or if you have other suggestions, let us know. Thanks for your help!

Update

So I had been so busy lately that I hadn't written an email to Elder and Sister Bell in the Philippines for a while. To compensate I wrote a very long email. Mom said it was fantastic and wanted it on the blog. So here is my update for about the last month.

Hey Dad and Mom!
Sorry I haven't emailed you guys in a while, I've had papers to write, tests to study for, my debate to prep for, tutoring, YW...then I was in AZ so I've been kinda busy but my morning class was canceled today on account of snow!! Yeah, I moved away from Idaho and I thought I left the snow behind me, but apparently not. I'll attach a pic from my window. So anyway, I thought I would take this extra time I have to write you guys and attempt (if I have time, unfortunately my other class was not canceled so I will still have to go to that one) to update the blog with pictures, but that might have to wait.

So, where to begin...first in response to Dad's other email, driving sounds awesome over there haha. Sounds like you guys are loving it, Eldon and I are so happy for you!!
Now, I'll start with my debate for my gov class-remember I was telling you about how we are all assigned a debate and mine was allowing non-citizens to vote....well I rocked it! Grade wise-I got a 98% he said excellent preparation and great participation...but the actual debate, was great. There wasn't a single point they made that my partner and I didn't have something in response but there were a couple times we stumped them and they were left with nothing to say. So just a quick overview of the main points:
They brought up how non-citizen voting isnt anything new and was practiced years ago and how it is a globally accepted practice-something like 45 other countries have it. So I said how first just because something is practiced and works in another country doesnt mean it is what's best for or will necessarily work for our country. Also, times change, there are many things that have been practiced before and are not now, we adapt with the changing times.
I brought up how noncits dont know anything about our county's history, culture, language, politics, or the issues being voted on, why should we be relying on them to choose whats best for our country, why should they be voting, and like i expected they said that could be said of many American born cits. as well. So i came back with "whose fault is that?" i explained that from the time we enter elementary school though college we are taught history, language politics etc. We are presented the information, it is right in front of us, if we choose not to listen, remember, pay attention whatever, that's our own fault-my teacher liked that point, obviously.
I don't remember where in the debate i used this, (I think something having to do with the time it takes to naturalize, b/c I asked why they cant just wait to become cits, why do they need the vote now? and they said how long the process is or something dumb like that) but it came to me right on the spot and it was great- i made an analogy to MAK, i said i used to work at a law firm for a while, would it be fair for me to make decisions for the firm or complain about not getting to make decisions? I was only an office assistant, not one of the partners, how do i know whats best for the firm? now if i wanted to make decisions, i could take the time, go to school, take the bar become a lawyer then a partner etc. then I could have a say-then and only then would i be fit for and equipped with the knowledge necessary to contribute to the firm's choices. they didn't really have anything to say about that-
I also pointed out the iconic nature of voting and how so many have fought for that right and how it is tied to a feeling of being an american cit. and how even when given the opportunity to vote, many would not even take advantage of it (i had numbers and percents from local elections in some towns where they opened up the vote to noncit to back that up). I said that allowing noncit voting would benefit a very small number of people but would be a large sacrifice for many. and i quoted some philosopher i learned about at BYU-I who believed that to determine what the better choice is or what's "right" morally is whatever benefits the largest number of people-so much so that he believed killing 3 people to save 4 is what is right.
I think those are the main points of the debate, other smaller things were discussed and though she didn't say much, my partner did help, she is actually a noncit from Korea and she thought it was irresponsible for us to allow ppl with no knowledge of the country to be making choices for it and she used herself as an example w/ the last pres. election. it was good, she also backed me up on my points, but I did most of the arguing. Anyway, it was fun and when asked at the end, the majority of the class sided with me.

Next thing, my paper for my oceanography class-I got a 96% on it- it had to be about any living thing associated with the ocean, but what i really wanted to know about the ocean was why do coral reef breaks create such amazing surf? so my paper is about coral reefs but I took an angle that "if i can learn more about coral itself, i can understand how it affects the surf" and my teacher loved that angle. He said it showed my personal interest in the matter and it wasn't the same old research paper. when he handed it back he make a point of telling my how much he loved that angle. Now i just have to work on my presentation on it- he wants me to do some sort of demonstration, i'm not sure what im gonna do yet but i'll figure it out. If you guys have suggestions let me know.

Funny story, so i had a 6:40 flight down to AZ last Friday. So it only takes like 35 minutes to get to the airport and security in OR is usually pretty quick and easy but being Dad's daughter i still like to be there an hour early and I plan on leaving an hour for the drive there. I was volunteering at the middle school then tutoring after school on friday. I got done at 4:30 and left straight from there to the airport. It took me a full two hours to get there! I had to park my car and take a shuttle into the airport. I run to security and get there at about 6:35! and this is the one time there is a long line! I explain im running late and am able to get in front of a few people but then i got stuck behind a couple that had no idea what was going on around them and i could get around them, but i was practically at the front anyway. so when i go to the middle school i wear my nice tall boots to look a little nicer than just tennis shoes so i unzip the long zipper yank off my boots and go through the x-ray, i cant really speed up this process, it is 6:40 when i get through, I'm sure im gonna miss my flight but i glance up at the scree and it says its still boarding, so I grab my bag, purse and boots and i take off running-i didnt even bother putting my boots back on, im running through the airport in my socks. i should tell you that part of the Portland airport goes from carpet to tile, luckily i didn't fall but i did loose my balance and wobble a little when my socks hit the tile. Of course Southwest is always the furthest gate away from everything! by the time i get to the gate my lungs are burning and im sweating and my arms are shaking from carrying my stuff, the last two people are handing their boarding passes to the person and i come panting to the door and the workers were just laughing. I felt ridiculous but i made it. That was the first, and better be the last, time i have ever been even remotely close to missing a flight, i've never cut it that close before-well unless you count when i had to transfer planes and my first plane was delayed, i was the last one on that plane too, but that was different.

Now the really excited news...we finally got Eldon's gun. ooo I actually have to start getting ready to go to class. I will finish when I get home and tell you about his gun, its cool!!
Ok, I'm back. So after Eldon saw the Springfield Armory XD (or XDM i don't remember which one he saw) in one of your gun magazines, he really liked it and wanted to try it. so he shot that one and loved it, tried a few others but really like the XDM so that's what we got him. It was way easy to buy a gun in AZ, he just showed proof that he had lived there for 6 months, though all you need is to be there for 3, they called him in right there to make sure he didnt have any felonies or anything like that. filled out the paper work, and we walked out with it. since we knew what we wanted when we walked in the whole process only took like 25 minutes. So we took the gun out and shot it that same weekend. It's an awesome gun, oh he got the 40 cal with the 4.5 barrel by the way. So remember how i told you with my 9 i split an apple right in half? well with his 40, i shattered an apple, it destroyed it. It was really cool. I dont have any close up pics or pics of just the gun but i have pics of us shooting it i can send you...or probably just put on the blog

Some more excited news, I started seeing a physical therapist for my headaches. like the doctor said, i have a crooked jaw and said some letters that i dont know what mean (i think something about a TMJ?) which basically is saying that a small part of my headaches could be coming from an uneven jaw that is messing with all the muscles that are connected in my face and head so he did a horribly painful "massage" like thing on my cheeks up close to my cheekbones and was finding weird bump sorta knot like things in my cheeks that he was trying to work out-i dint know that my mouth had anything to do with headaches and i really didnt know it would hurt so dang much when he messed with it. but more than that, what we are thinking is the biggest cause is that i apparently have depressed shoulders...basically they slope down more than they should which pulls and causes tension on the shoulder and neck muscles causing headaches. so we have been doing stretching and strengthening exercises to help. As well as strengthening and stretching my spine. It is actually helping, they havent gone away but the intensity is lessening. So im happy we are finally finding something thats working.

I think that's everything, sorry for such a long email. My typing also got lazy as I went on, I didn't really use proper grammar or punctuation, sorry hope that doesn't make it hard to read.  

Bang Bang

We are expanding our gun collection. We got Eldon a Springfield Armory XDM 40 cal. We took it out last weekend to the desert in Arizona and we love it! Here are pictures of our trip.

This is Eldon about to toss up the clay pigeon with one hand and shoot it with the other...He gave me the OK to reveal the outcome...see the video below

Ok, here is Eldon's self proclaimed "greatness"
Sorry for the tilt, I wasn't thinking when I filmed it, now I don't know how to rotate a video...oops

 

Don't believe what he says at the end, it's not true

And here is my greatness

For some reason the top got cut off so you can't see the top clay 
pigeon I hit

Some more of my greatness...

that green one right next to the bulls-eye -- yeah, that's mine

Eldon didn't get a video of it (maybe he was too jealous) but I also destroyed a couple apples we set up. I split an apple in half last time with my nine and blew them up this time with Eldon's 40. I'm still teaching Eldon how. Hehe