cleaning out our closet

I am a pack rat.

I have all my notebooks from college, 1 million bottles of hair products, I even have month old grocery lists in my purse (you never know when someone will ask you what vegetables you bought in April). Luckily, when I moved out of my parent's house, I was able to leave a lot of junk behind for my sister to deal with. Your welcome, Holly.

Now, on the pack rat scale I am probably about a 7, but my husband is at least a 4. So combined we are about 2 steps away from the TLC show Hoarders. I thought getting married would help me start fresh and become a new woman. A woman who didn't need to keep every card she ever got or articles of clothing from 1999.
I'm working on it.

Trevor and I are going shopping this weekend. we decided that before we go and add more clothes to the madness that is our closet, we needed to weed out all the stuff we don't use. For some reason, this is so hard for me. But I need a little more simplicity in my life and that skirt from Jr. High is the only thing standing in my way. That and my VHS copy of Ever After.
Wish me luck.

Cannon Beach

Alright everyone, you can rest easy now. I know all 7 of my fans have been holding their breath, wondering where on earth I have been for most of July. Well, it has been one busy month! And after a fun 4th in Spokane, an amazing vacation in Cannon Beach and whirlwind trip to California for my cousin's wedding, I have caught up on sleep and returned to you...my fans.

Here are the high quality shots from our time in Cannon Beach...tell my husband I need a new camera. I have been hinting (a more appropriate word might be begging) for awhile. My mediocre photography doesn't just affect me anymore. It affects you...my fans.

Rain or shine...I love this view.

Pizza a' Fetta!

A day in CB does not got by without a latte from Bella's.

Sisters...

Does it surprise you at all that my husband found a soccer game to play in.

S'mores!

the girls...

the boys...

More lattes at Bella's

Love you, CB.
Love you too, fans.

The Birthday Boy

This guy turns 26 today.

He has since grown out of his stripy red tank top and it takes more than Chucky E Cheese to impress him.

In honor of the birthday boy and his 26 years here on earth, I have put together a little list:

26 reasons why I love Trevor Daniel Osborne.

1. 
   
   He makes me laugh...all the time.
2. 
   
   He fully supports all my crazy ideas and goals.
3. 
   
   He loves to snuggle with me...or at least that's what he tells me.
4. 
   
   He would do absolutely anything for me.
5. 
   
   He lets me have the last of everything...the last bite of dessert or the last of the milk.
6. 
   
   He is strong when I am not.
7. 
   
   He loves God with all his heart and lives life for Him.
8. 
   
   He makes everything we do so much fun.
9. 
   
   He can handle my emotional breakdowns.
10. 
    
    He shares my love of Disneyland.
11. 
    
    He makes me laugh...Did I already say that?
12. 
    
    He makes me feel beautiful even after I haven't washed my hair or plucked my eyebrows in 5 days.
13. 
    
    He appreciates all of my cooking attempts and eats anything I make him.
14. 
    
    He preps my toothbrush for me.
15. 
    
    He doesn't make fun of me when I trip or run into things...which happens quite often.
16. 
    
    He is always encouraging me.
17. 
    
    He keeps me grounded...I tend to get carried away.
18. 
    
    He always drives and lets me sleep on car trips.
19. 
    
    He is dedicated to everything he does.
20. 
    
    He understands the importance of Nordstrom in my life.
21. 
    
    He holds me when I cry.
22. 
    
    He protects me from all spiders.
23. 
    
    He challenges me and makes me a better person.
24. 
    
    He cares about his friends.
25. 
    
    He loves his family.
26. 
    
    He picked me to spend the rest of his birthday's with.

Love you, Birthday Boy!

All Dogs Go to Heaven

Yesterday my family had to say goodbye to our beloved Golden Retriever, Frazer. The soft little red haired runt of the litter who turned into the happy-go-lucky dog that was part of our family for 14 years. The dog that ate more chocolate than even humanly possible. The dog that always wanted to be scratched behind the ears. The dog that ran at your nice clean pants and rubbed his wet face all over them. The dog that always put his paw up for a shake. And the dog that absolutely loved to be around his family.

Trevor has been so sweet and comforting. He made me dinner last night so I could curl up in a ball and just be sad for a bit...I think this is normal and healthy. However, if I am blogging about a new puppy in a couple weeks it will probably be because of Trevor's desperate attempt to cheer me up. I am sure it won't come to that...right now I just feel blue.

We miss you, Frazer...but we will see you in heaven, because even if ALL dogs don't go to heaven, you are definitely there...charming all the pretty girl dogs and eating all the chocolate you want.

World Cup Widow

Every 4 years something very magical happens...ESPN rounds up all the foreign announcers they can find, Adidas takes over TV advertising, fans riot, chants are shouted, and people across the world gather around their TV to see country against country fight to the death in what can only be known as: The World Cup.

If you don't know what I am talking about, it's probably because you are an American and in America we don't seem to value this quite like they do in England, Germany or Brazil...unless you are my husband. From June 11th to July 11th Trevor is a kid in a candy store. Of course he was excited to watch the USA take on England but he was even up at 6 am on Saturday to watch South Korea and Greece. Because of the South African time difference the games start very early in the morning. Trevor doesn't even skip a beat. When I asked him why he would want to watch ALL the games, he looked at me like I had just asked him what color the sky is. Apparently it's obvious. To say the World Cup is a big deal in our house, is an understatement.

So until July 11th I am a World Cup Widow. I suppose this is what I get for marrying a soccer player. And I just picked him because he is so cute.

I love my number 4.

Joy

It has started to feel a bit like summer around our place. I bought our first watermelon and when the lovely Seattle sky puts away its rain clouds for a total of 12.5 seconds then we actually get to see some Sun.

I am kicking off my summer with a new motto: whatever I do, do it with Joy unto the Lord. Yes, this includes stuffing envelopes at work, washing my husbands dirty clothes (ok my clothes get dirty too) and grocery shopping. There is just something I hate about grocery shopping. Why can't the food just magically appear on my counter ready to be made into a delicious meal? Wait...what's that...I don't live on the set of Rachel Ray?!

I have so many more reasons to be joyful than I do to be the complaining and grumpy wife that I have been known to be from time to time. Cut me some slack...I'm new. Although, I am not sure how much longer that excuse will hold up. "Oh really, you would like your wife to communicate with you? I didn't know." (said while batting the eyelashes on my big puppy dog eyes) Marriage is filled with so many fun and wonderful things, but there are also the everyday not-so-fun things...why not have joy through it all!

I'm excited for summer.

I'm excited to be joyful.

Trevor is excited for the World Cup.

The Champion

Trevor and I made the trek across the state to see Holly high jump in her JV Championship track meet.

It was a perfect day for a track meet...the sun was shining and the skinny, short-short wearing, long-distance running high school boys were out in full force.

We watched as Holly took off from her mark and flew over that bar, making it look so easy. Although, every time she was up I got super nervous. I tend to get that way...watching Gonzaga basketball or an intense movie, even just day to day things. My husband is constantly telling me to relax. But I am sure he loves it. Anyway...back to the jumper.

On her last jump, at a height no one else could make, she cleared that bar with perfection.

She bounded off the landing mat and ran to her adoring fans.

The Champion.

We are very proud of you, Holly.

So is the Starbucks barista and few other random people we told on our way home.