(Like) New Table

When Rich and I got married, we (gratefully) inherited several furniture items from our friend's sister. This included a couch, a coffee table, two lamps, and a kitchen table. We don't have the couch or lamps anymore, but the two tables are still ours. The kitchen table was well used and needed to be refinished, but Rich and I had neither the time nor the means to do that. It was covered in permanent pink and orange stains, so we just covered it with place mats and let it be. When we got to Spokane, we inherited some kitchen chairs that also needed a little love. Good thing being in Spokane means being close to an accomplished woodworker (aka Rich's dad). He gave us a little instruction, and then Rich tackled the table and chairs like a pro (with a little assistance from me).

I wish I had gotten some good before pictures of the table. But by the time I remembered to take pictures, we were well into the project. I snapped what pictures I could with my phone, and then started bringing my camera along.

This shows the natural wood color and then the color of the stain we chose. I liked the natural color, but we wanted something a little darker.

 I don't know if you can tell, but the legs hadn't been stripped of the original finishing yet. That was the color of the whole table before we got to it (with plenty of orange and pink spots on the top).

The master at work. I wish I could say we worked on it just as much as he did, but that would be a lie. Most of the finished project is Rich's doing.

Oops. We thought we were done with the table but then noticed these little spots, the ends of the tracks where the table expands.

Before and after of the chairs. We considered trying to refinish the seat of the chairs to match the table, but that seemed like more work than it was worth. So we just painted the chairs entirely black. I think it turned out pretty well.

The finished product! I finally have a nice kitchen dining set. It was a lot of work, but it was worth it. And so much cheaper than buying a new set.

Petersens in Town

Last month, Rich's sister Carolyn and her family came to Spokane for several weeks. It was great spending time with them, especially Aaron who returned from Afghanistan in June. Their kids just crack me up. All of them have such fun and vibrant personalities, so it's always a laugh when they're around.

We had a fun time at Riverfront State Park with the Petersen clan. We all rode on the historic carousel, and the kids had a great time on the giant wagon slide.

 

 

On another day of their visit, we decided it would be fun to take the kids to the splash pad. Of course, that had to be the windiest, coldest day of their visit. The kids took one trip into the pad and decided it wasn't for them. Rich, Carolyn, and I, on the other hand, tested our bravery in the FREEZING cold water. Alex joined us after a little bit. The water was so cold it gave me a headache, but it was a fun time all the same.

I lost count of how many times Rich did this. He's crazy. That was was soooooooooo cold!

We miss the Petersens now that they're gone again, but we sure had a great summer with them here!

Never Thought the Day Would Come

No offense to my brother Skyler (not that he'll even read this anyway), but it's true.

My family waited a long time for it to happen, but my big brother Skyler finally tied the knot, and, Courtney (you brave, brave woman), I couldn't ask for a better sister-in-law. (I promise I really do love love LOVE my brother.)

We went to Utah a few weeks ago to witness this bwessed awwangement. Man, how I miss it there. Spokane is nice and it's absolutely wonderful being around the Nelson clan here (Doug, Edie, the Dre for now, and pretty soon the Petersens). But I can't deny how much I miss Utah and all those people we left behind. I had a hard time leaving it again.

I just wanted to share a few pictures from Skyler and Courtney's special day (well, week). She was the most beautiful bride, and I have NEVER seen Skyler as happy as he was when he was holding her hand and showing her off (and that definitely made my sister and I cry like the babies we are). He is a lucky guy, and we are so lucky to have her in our family.

Max absolutely adores Uncle Rich. It's so stinkin' cute!

I am loving this laugh face. 

The Fredrickson girls at the temple right before the ceremony.

Okay, so funny story. I knew that one of my best friends from Kentucky that I have known since I was 7 was getting married the same day as Skyler and Courtney, I just didn't know when. Turns out, she got married at the EXACT same time in the ROOM NEXT DOOR! Crazy! She was absolutely gorgeous (Val, I never told you, but I could not get enough of your dress. To die for!). I snuck in and got a picture with her while we were waiting for Skyler and Courtney to come out and her groom was busy with the photographer. It was so nice to see the Hubbards again - haven't seen them in forever! 

Side note: I seriously had some connection to almost every couple that was getting married around the same time as Skyler and Courtney's ceremony. (This is the Salt Lake temple, folks, where they had 83 couples get married the day Rich and I did. This day had probably close to/just as many weddings. There were brides EVERYWHERE.) I worked with one girl who was the bride. I worked with another guy who was a guest at that same wedding. Rich's cousin and aunt were guests at another ceremony. And I saw two people from my graduating class - I took the guy, Shem, to Morp our senior year - that had just gotten married to each other. It came to a point where I was seriously not surprised to see someone else that I knew in the temple waiting room or on the grounds afterwards.

This picture does not do her dress justice. I am SO glad I was able to see her since I wasn't able to make it to the reception that night (for obvious reasons).

Mr. and Mrs. Skyler Fredrickson!

Just look how happy he is! Skyler is head over heels for this girl, and I love it!

My newest sister-in-law! Love her!

 Isn't he just so handsome?!

The reception was so adorable. Courtney has impeccable taste. Unfortunately, though, I didn't get very many shots of it to share.

Eating some dinner before pictures. Khloe was so pretty in her yellow dress.

Isn't he dashing in this suit?! Carrie would probably want me to let you know that, no, he did not wear the Crocs all night.

I just thought this was too cute to pass up. (Don't let it fool you, though - Rich is still Max's favorite uncle.) 

First dance. I wish I had a better shot of her dress and hair. This is the best I could do. If I could do my wedding over, I would do my hair like hers.

I love how weddings just make me fall in love with my groom all over again. (Don't tell Courtney, but Rich was the cutest guy of the night.)

Skyler was the last of the Fredrickson siblings to tie the knot. This means that the only single sibling left on both sides of the family is the Dre. So, no pressure, Dre. (But seriously, don't mess up. We've got the best in-laws ever and would hate to ruin the streak.)

Before and After

So, I was totally going to be all noble and grow my hair out and then donate it to Locks of Love, but... well... that's what I always say. So, I chopped it off (but only 6" and not 10" like you need to donate) a few weeks ago when I was in Utah. I think I am pleased with the results.

Before.

After.

Zags

You are looking at the newest member of the Gonzaga Cross Country and Track and Field coaching staff (pending a few NCAA qualification tests). Rich is the new volunteer assistant coach for the Bulldogs, working under Pat Tyson. While this is only a volunteer position, we are looking forward to the doors that this will open for us in the future.

So, from now on, it's "Go Zags" at our place (and, as always, "Go Cougars"). It's going to be difficult getting used to the red, but at least their colors are red and blue.

100

I was trying to come up with a clever title for this post. Then I saw that this is my 100th post, so I'm off the hook this time.

We are still in Spokane and have been in our apartment for about a month now. It's an older building, that's for sure. The floor is completely warped in many places (you should see how tilted our TV stand is - it is seriously going downhill), the apartment manager told us not to lick the paint (who wouldn't want to, right?) due to the potential of lead poisoning, the walls and ceilings are ridiculously thin (we've heard far more than we'd care to from our neighbors) and our ceilings are probably filled with asbestos.

Sounds like we hate the place, right? Well, we actually love it. It's in a really nice, quiet, and pretty area (Spokane is beautiful now that spring has finally decided to arrive). The people are really nice (we love love love our ward). We have a good amount of space (it's really nice going from one bedroom to two). We're close to pretty much everything. It's a good place for us.

But, the main reason for this post is pictures. Last month we went back to Utah so I could walk in my graduation, and we came back with some pictures worth posting (mainly because we have adorable nieces and nephews).

The three graduates: me, Cami, and Ethan

Momma and Craig Daddy

Grammy and Gramps Fredrickson

Krystle, Khloe, and Tyson 

Carolyn and her kids (Ainsley, Sydney, Camryn, and Alex) 

Rich said, "Strike a pose," so Sydney pops her foot and Camryn pulls this pose. What sass!

Camryn has the most adorable pout. I am SO glad someone caught a picture of this for me! (And I can't get enough of Sydney's skirt. So stinkin' adorable!)

We were also in Utah for Easter and had a good time with the kiddos on both sides of the family doing an Easter egg hunt. These next pictures were too adorable to pass up.

Rich, feeding Carson Nerds

I LOVE this picture. Camryn was about to give up reaching for this egg, but we told her to keep reaching, at the risk of falling, so we could get a picture of it.  

 Carson was so adorable on the egg hunt, and all the kids ended up with pretty good loot. Thanks, Easter Bunny!

Ainsley is such a happy baby, and very well dressed, I might add. (Yeah, I made that onesie for her.) 

I also got to spend some time with old roomies. We went to Olive Garden like old times, hoping that maybe the spicy zuppa tuscana might put Leanne into labor, but no luck. Little Miss Anilee didn't come until over a week later (congrats again, Leanne!). And, of course, we missed Kelsi, Becca, and Emily!

Julie, Leanne, Alex

So, that's some of our life so far. While I miss Utah and my family a TON sometimes (ask Rich how I responded to getting a letter from my sister yesterday), Spokane is treating us well. It has been really nice being around Rich's parents, and we are looking forward to the summer when the Dre is back and Carolyn and her family (including Aaron this time!) will come to visit.

Just Venting

So, Rich and I went to get our Washington licenses yesterday. I got mine smoothly enough, but  getting Rich's has gone beyond being a hassle.

Rich went up to the counter and the lady at the desk told him his license had been revoked or suspended. Um, excuse me? That's what happens to people who get DUIs or way too many tickets. Rich falls into neither of those categories.

Turns out he didn't sign a form while he was getting his Utah license last December. Okay, that's fine. But then shouldn't he have never gotten his license in the first place? Instead, the employee at the West Valley City DMV signed and stamped the bottom of the form saying everything was fine and dandy and that nothing was missing, and the state of Utah went ahead and sent the license, all the while failing to tell Rich that his license was suspended.  So, Rich has unknowingly been driving with a suspended license for 5 months now. Not his fault! Just imagine if he had gotten pulled over or in a wreck! What a joke!

Well, we spent this afternoon getting everything sorted out. Hopefully in a few days we'll hear back from the West Valley City DMV to let us know they finally got the completed form. But going off of the fact that they NEVER told Rich he was driving illegally, I think we may have to do some more checking.

(P.S. I'm planning on posting pictures from Graduation and Easter and our new apartment, but we still don't have Internet - I'm writing this from my phone.)

Pet Fox

I want a pet fox.

I have since my 11th grade AP Psychology teacher talked about people who were breeding foxes as pets. I had kind of forgotten about it until Rich's dad got a National Geographic featuring an article about a research facility that has been domesticating foxes since the late '50s. It was an interesting article, but it mainly just made me fall in love with foxes all over again.

One problem. They cost $6,950.

Yeah, we definitely don't have that hanging around the house. Heck, we don't even have a house!

One reason they cost so much because you have to import them all the way from Novosibirsk, Russia. But don't worry, the $6,950 includes to-your-door delivery. If you want to meet your fox before the adoption, you're going to have to go to Russia. But then, if you're buying a pet fox, you can probably afford that, too.

So, when I become a millionaire, I know what pet I will get. (No, I will not name him Todd like in "The Fox and the Hound.")

You can check out the website for the organization here.

I've already found the fox I want. Now I just need to find the money....

Opening Day

As I told my sister, I have gone from being a basketball widow to a baseball widow. The Mariners currently have Rich's heart.

Hello, baseball season. And this year, we're in Mariners' territory. Rich is in heaven. And I will be doing a lot of reading.

There is something to be said about the beginning of a new season. It's a fresh start, and, if you know anything about how the Mariners did last year, they really need that. And it's fun to see the excitement start all over again for Rich. The possibility that the Mariners might be able to pull off a winning season this year. The hope that this year he can win his fantasy league. And a new plus now - we'll most likely be going to a Mariners game this year.

To help get everyone else excited, I've posted two Mariners commercials for your viewing pleasure.

This one is just hilarious. Love King Felix.

And this one Rich can seriously relate to. He has honestly said, "Oh, I can take it. I'm a Mariners fan."