What we're up to today...

Surprisingly, this week Brian's and my day off are aligned. It's exciting. We started the day off well by sleeping in together. (Just don't tell my Mom! Oh wait, she reads this...Sorry, Mom. ;P ) But really, not setting even one alarm was wonderful and then waking up together, that was pretty cool.
What this day off really means is that Brian will be in his "classroom," and I'll be fighting the urge to distract all_day_long. Whoa, a year ago I sometimes thought it difficult being newly married to a college student. Now, I'm learning that the combination of Full Time Workin' Schmuck (as my dad likes to say ;) and Online Masters Student is a bit more complicated.
Today I'm taking my mom's advice. While Brian hibernates in his classroom, I'll be putting 'my girl' to use. Remember this?

As you can see, Brian's vacated his classroom...

Who knows maybe it was this adorable floral bedspread that forced him out of the room?!

 

I found him outside pluggin' away on one of his many reading assignments.

*As to not distract, I snapped this from inside the laundry room.

(Please excuse my lovely bars. Despite what you may think, we do not reside in an unsafe neighborhood or a jail...just a rental house. :)

I decided that as long as I'm working on areas of distraction, the laundry room shelves needed help. I know, this is more than distracting, it's messy and all together unfortunate looking. So, my goal is to conquer this mess...or hide it. :)

Hint: the white rod above the top shelf...

Inspiration: wood, 'shrooms, and CHUBBY OWLS!!!

Stay tuned, I hope to have cute curtains to share with you sometime soon!

Dad and Mom VH come to visit

Brian's parentals came to see us for a couple of days!

These are a few of the things we enjoyed with them... 
We took them to Portland City Grill.  Brian and I have declared that place a must eat/see/do for all our visitors, past and present.
We went for a walk in Forest Park.
We visited Pittock Mansion.  It was previously the home of Henry and Georgiana Pittock, the owners of The Oregonian back in the early 1900's. It also is a must-see, I'm so glad one of my coworkers suggested we go!
We stumbled upon a random diner in what felt the middle of nowhere on our way to the mansion.  Brian's dad insisted we find it again on our way down the hill and eat there for lunch. He loved it. Throughout lunch he kept commenting, "Now this is nice." I found this ironic considering that just the night before Brian and I had taken him to Portland City Grill, a classy joint offering an amazing view from the 30th floor of one of Portland's tallest buildings. I guess, like me, he appreciates the little things too!
We grilled and ate dinner outside. We simply had to enjoy that last little bit of summer(ish) weather before it slipped away.
While I worked, the three of them continued to explore...
They toured Fort Vancouver, checked out the beach nearest our house, and went to the marina so Brian's dad, an avid sailor, could look at the boats.

 Crossway, our church, had a booth called The Barnyard at the Salmon Creek Famer's Market.
Above are Brian and his dad hanging out near our booth.

 The four of us at Portland City Grill.

 Brian and I conforming to the ways of the city, "keepin' P-town weird." :]

 We came across Voodoo Doughnut. I'd heard people rage about this place and was excited to give it a try.

  He carried my purse, allowing me to pack the sweet stuff. Yep, that's right, I've got quite the man.

 Voodoo Doughnut, we've tried your goods and we'll be back!

 This pic doesn't boast, "best quality" but it's a pretty view of the waterfront at night.

In Mom's defense, she actually doesn't tower a foot and half over her hubs. Deceiving picture, (my bad) but still cute! ;)

 

Check out this great little car! Walking away I still couldn't get over how adorable it was!

Pretty impressive, huh?! Wait till you see this view...

 Epic. This was not posed. LOL

Mt. Hood towering over downtown P-town.

Portland City Grill is in the tall building. A very cool setting, wouldn't you agree?

Silly fam. :)

 Buddies. :)

 

 Brian's dad wandered off ahead of us. This is where we found him, lingering in the bushes...twice.
At first it was creepy, then it became funny.

 Strike a pose!

 Brian found this sign alarming. His mom and I assured him that this statement is very normal.
 All kinds of parking lots, grocery stores, malls...etc. have similar sign.
Despite what we told him, he insisted on thinking this parking lot was unsafe.
This made me laugh.

 This forest is an interesting combination of eery and enchanted, I love it!

And of course, the diner. ;)

Dad and Mom,
We appreciate you coming and enjoyed showing you our life here.

Hope you come back for another visit again SOON!