Beautiful day in the neighborhood

The weather has been gorgeous all week long.  I took this photo today in front of the kids' middle school...what a wonderful view of Mt. Hood they have!!!

Cousins at the library

This afternoon we went to the library for story time and met up with our cousins!!!

Photo above is Oliva and Andrew (Milo and Bethany's kiddos), Macey (Mary and Erik's daughter) and Sarah

Great day for a picnic

The sun came out this afternoon, and to celebrate, Sarah and I went on our first picnic of 2010!!!!

Valentine's Weekend.....

On Thursday Matt called from work and asked what I was doing on Saturday....because he scheduled me for a 5 1/2 hour day at the spa!!!!  Such a wonderful surprise!!!! 

So, on Saturday I headed to Lake Oswego to Alyce Esthetique Day spa!!!

My morning started out at the spa in robe and slippers and breakfast.  Then I headed into a room for an hour long facial.  Next was "hydrotherapy"...where they have a custom made tub that is wide in the back and skinny at the foot end.  They fill it with warm water and bubbles and then turn on the 27 jets...it is like having a personal hot tub.  While relaxing in the tub, the masseuse comes in and gives a neck, shoulder and scalp massage.  After that, it was time to head to another room for a 1 hour massage!!  By then I was so relaxed I had a hard time staying awake!!!  Next on the agenda was a catered lunch from Tucci's restaurant (italian is my favorite!!!) and then one last treatment ...hydrating leg and foot massage!!  Pure bliss!!!

On Sunday I woke up to a beautiful flower boquet...

then after church Matt and I headed into Portland and went to the Yard, Garden, and Patio show at the Convention Center.

For some reason, in my head, this was going to be the street of dreams version of backyard landscaping.  I had my camera, planned to take tons of photos so I could create the backyard of my dreams.  Instead...there were about 5 dream patio versions --- my favorite was similar to the photo above and the rest was like walking through a back yard rummage sale.  Not really what I expected at all.

Afterwards we headed into Portland...

Heading over the Burnside Bridge into Portland and the famous Made in Oregon sign

Portland on Valentine's day 2010....We love this city!!!!

Another photo of the city on Sunday!

For lunch we headed to the Governor Hotel, where our favorite Portland restaurant Jakes Grill is located.

(photo above is from the internet)  While I had a mimosa and crab & shrimp stuffed sole, Matt had a pepsi, pastrami sandwich and fries.  Can there be an odder combination for lunch????

When we arrived back home, it was family time again.  The kids filling themselves on their Valentine's candy and then we were off to get dinner at Abby's Pizza.  If you aren't from the Pacific Northwest...what you need to know is Abby's Pizza is the best there is...and on Valentine's Day it is a tradition to have their heart shaped pizzas!!!

Abby's Special ---- true pizza love!!!

Taco pizza......pizza bliss!!!!

Tori took some Valentine's Day photos......Me, Sarah and Matt

True love.....

Isn't he romantic......

dorks.....

In honor of Twilight.....I'm a vampire....

Totem pole

Where are my teeth?????

Phew......there they are!!!

Attack of the Ryan.....

It is a crazy life.....but it is our life!!!!

The night ended with Tori and Sarah putting on a honey and oatmeal face mask.  This is the reason every girl should have a sister!!!!

Matt's birthday today!!!

Today was Matt's birthday!!!  His motto for the day was "don't tell anyone"...he strictly informed me that he did not want me to email, or call anyone at his place of work and let them know.  "My birthday isn't a big deal!"  Seems rather ridiculous to me, since everyone who knows me KNOWS that my birthday is my ABSOLUTELY FAVORITE day of the year!!  But, I figured, after being married to him for 15 years, and together for 19, if I want to be together another 20 years, I should probably do as he wishes!!!

So, instead of letting anyone know!!  Sarah and I drove up to Vancouver, to visit him at work and take him out for lunch!!!!

Matt let Sarah choose between Azteca Mexican Restaurant, Olive Garden and Red Robin....of course she chose Red Robin!!!!

....and because Sarah doesn't have to follow the same rules his devoted wife does, Sarah made sure she told EVERYONE at Red Robin it was her Daddy's birthday!!!  She was thrilled when they came to sing to him and deliver his ice cream sundae...."That's all for you, you don't have to share buddy" she told him!

In the evening we had homemade BBQ Chicken Pizza and then for dessert Cold Stone Creamery's Coffee Heath Bar Ice Cream Cake!!!! 

The candles are lit and the kids are ready to sing....

Look at Sarah eyeing the cake (unfortunately right before dessert Sarah was sick to her stomach and apparently has the flu--nice birthday surprise for Matt...running the carpet shampooer... TMI?) so she didn't get a slice of cake this evening.

Blowing out the candles!

Happy Birthday Matt!!!  We LOVE you!!!!

Fun Food Day!!!

On Friday, I hosted a FOOD TV recipe group!!!  Two of my neighbors, and my cousin Milo's wife Bethany came over for the afternoon.  I chose Food TV chef Sandra Lee, and we each made one of her recipes!!!!  For the main course, I made her BBQ Chicken Pizza, which everyone loved.  If I were to make one change, it would be to find an alternate pizza dough (the Pillsbury dough wasn't very cooperative but did provided entertainment for Bethany and I while I tried to roll it out).  My neighbor Secelia made Cheddar Cheese Baked Potato Soup, that was thick and delicious!!!  Bethany made Chili Corn Muffins with Chipotle Butter that were so good that I know 3 of us made them again on Sunday for the Super Bowl!!!  My neighbor Jacque made individual lemon pies that were great as well -- unfortunately I can't find the recipe online to share with everyone!!!

While the 4 of us enjoyed an afternoon of great food and conversation, my Aunt Linda came by prior to the gathering and picked up Sarah, and took Milo and Bethany's kids, Olivia and Andrew as well.  She took the kids out to McDonalds for lunch and to play on the indoor playground, then to her house to make Valentine Sugar cookies.  Below is a photo she took of their time at her home!!  Sarah came home very spoiled and very happy to have spent such fun times with her cousins!

Well, for some reason it is coming out blurry...but you can see Sarah in Green, Andrew in the center and Olivia on the right as they are frosting their heart shaped cookies!

Battle of the Bands

Each year the middle school puts on a Battle of the Airbands Fundraiser.  Students can put together a band, choose their music and then put on a performance on the local Fine Arts Theater Stage!

This year Tori and her friends decided to put together their band.  They named the band "Insert Name Here" and chose the song "Like a Surgeon" by Wierd Al Yankovic!

"Insert Name Here" on performance night!!!  Tori has the yellow guitar!

Rehearsal

End of the show, with the DJ and all of the bands, during the award ceremony

"Insert Name Here" wins BEST IN SHOW!!!!!!

It is so good to be a "rock star"...check our those fans!!!!!

"Insert Name Here" wins ROCK THE VOTE!!!  As part of the fundraiser, at the school, they sell rocks for 50 cents each.  Students are encouraged to buy rocks, and place them in their favorite band's jar!!! 
Above the girls are receiving their "Golden Rock"!!!!

End of the ceremony....We are SO proud of the girls!!!!!