- Just Another Day -

June 18th 2009

We were eating dinner with Mum and Dad when it happened. Over a plate of Vietnamese food, I realized that I've been home from my mission to California for one year today. I have mixed feelings about the whole thing. Overall, they are good, satisfied feelings (and distinctly less-tired feelings). I went out with the sister missionaries in Courtenay for the first time today too. The lady we went to visit wasn't home. It made me feel slightly good to know that I wasn't the only one that experienced the disappointment of canceled appointments. Anyways, it's nice to know that even though I haven't worn the name tag in one year, I can still be a missionary in a different place and with a different kind of companion. :)

- Summer Fun -

June 17 2009

- Zach, "trying" to canoe - Crystal clear Comox Lake - A very large canoe on a very small car -

- Zach's Handiwork -

June 11 2009

Mostly, working on the house is all we've been up to lately.  Zach is proving to be quite handy, so I thought I'd put up some pictures of some projects that we've been working on lately.  It's been quite an adventure learning how to do all of this stuff, and then watching as Zach does it! Here are some pictures of the cedar deck Zach built and the retaining wall/ stairs he put together.

 

- Hot Hot Weather -

4-06-09

Zach and I have been enjoying/ enduring the hot spell that's hit the Island this week. Yesterday, with nothing to do at the house (because people who actually know what they are doing had work to do), we went to Lake Comox with a giant canoe strapped onto the top of our not so giant car. We canoed a bit, saw a bald Eagle really close and attempted to swim in the frigid water, and then canoed back. We both got pretty sunburned which we enjoyed today, but it was fun!

Today, we went tubing down the Puntledge River. We started a upriver from the Condo and planned to get out right at home... but the river was moving faster than either of us imagined... so we missed our exit! We floated right on by and as a result we had to hike back home in our bathingsuits and Zach without shoes. It was funny... I was just glad mom and dad didn't see us struggling to shore from the condo!

-Building Bridges... Only Not... -

05-30-09

Zach and I have spent the last couple of days building a deck at the new house. Who on earth knew that we could do that??? Or perhaps more accurately - who on earth knew that Zach could do that?!? Yesterday we stained the cedar boards and painted a bit. Today, Zach screwed all the boards onto the rafters, while I painted giant beams. Then I played with putty too. It was really fun. Now we know how to build our own house (in a million years) when the time comes!! Well, the deck at least!

- More Wedding Pictures -

These photos were taken by one of our photographers, Kittye Bowen - she's great!

- Weekend in Victoria -

05-25-09

Zach and I drove down island to Victoria this weekend. We went to finally get my passport renewed and decided to make a weekend out of it. We arrived Friday night, stopped by some old friends of mine, then went to bed. Saturday, we got up late, ate a wonderful breakfast that had been left out for us, and headed into town. In Victoria we walked around, saw the sights and had a good morning. By 2:00, we were pretty worn out - but we made one last stop at Island View Beach. We headed back to the old country house of the family friend with whom we were staying, watched the hockey game (Go Penguins!) and then napped.

We spent the evening relaxing there. Sunday, we went to my old family ward and then stopped by my old single's ward as well. It was nice to see so many old friends, but I think it was overwhelming for Zach to have to meet so many new people. It's still weird to have to introduce him as my "husband". I usually start laughing as I try to get it out, but I guess that will fade in time.

Today, we went downtown with Dad and dealt with passport stuff. We had to leave the office on two separate occasions: 1) to get my declaration of a lost passport notarized ($20 later), and then 2) after meeting with two people in the office and finishing all the required paper work, having to get new passport photos because there was a "shadow" on the ones I had. Whether or not it was a shadow or hair was questionable, but after a while, it was decided that I needed new ones. So another $20 and 20 minutes later, I was finally done. It was quite the process! We took Zach to China town and fed him Dim Sum (Chinese brunch). It was mostly entertaining to watch Zach eat questionable chinese food. We drove home (I napped) and then we had FHE. I've decided that we need more people in our family so that we each don't have to do 2-3 things as a part of FHE every week!! Anyways, that's all we've been up as of late!