Ready to set sail...

Well, in just a few days we'll be setting sail for an Alaskan cruise for a week...and we can't wait! We've been talking about this for five years, since our first cruise with our friends, Allen and Brenda Swift. They are actually flying in this Wednesday along with another couple who will join us and we'll see some sights in Seattle on Thursday before our "limo" picks us up on Friday morning! We ARE ready...okay, well we are really looking forward to going, but still need to figure out what we're taking and get packed. It won't be shorts and sleeveless tops as the weather is cooler than the 80-90's we've had around here lately. That's fine...we're going for the sights, not the hot weather!

Less than a month until the wedding and we're progressing in the plans. There are still some details to be taken care of, but we'll get it done. Jess picked up her dress last week from alterations and it's beautiful on her...oh my, I know there will be many tears shed on my behalf that day! She's had a couple of bridal showers and has received some very nice gifts...now, she must put those things to use and start cooking! We are looking forward to seeing lots of family and friends at the wedding...and if you haven't sent in your RSVP card...it would be appreciated if you could so we could get a count to the caterer and for the "gate keeper" at the mansion.

Josh and Miranda are settling in in Washington and happy to be here (though they were complaining about the heat last week!). Josh has started a class for a new job...he will get his CDL (commercial driver's license) and drive truck for a fueling company. It's a great opportunity (decent pay, benefits and lots of opportunity for overtime) and he's more than ready to be working again! Miranda has worked a couple of days for a temp agency and is hoping to get some more work through there and eventually a full time position. Naturally, we are loving having Jayden so close..."Meme and Papa" are having fun with her! :) She's quite the talker and repeats most everything you say...we have to watch ourselves sometimes!

Our trip to Tennessee earlier this month was great fun and we loved sharing in the wedding of our friend's son. It was hot and humid while we were there...so Jess and Sean got a good taste of the humidity they have in the summer. One day we went to "Miss Bobo's Boarding House" for a traditional Southern dinner with the Swifts and all their family...great food and fun to visit with everyone at the table during the meal. While there we also toured Jack Daniel's Distillery in Lynchburg, TN...how could we resist!! It's a beautiful location and very interesting! It was too quick of a trip, but we were just happy to be able to make it...now on to getting the wedding photos ready for the family to see!

We hope this finds you all doing well, not too hot and enjoying the summer. There are some photos added to this to see what we've been up to and we hope you enjoy them. It'll probably be after the wedding before we get a chance to post again...since we'll have just two weeks till the wedding once we return from the cruise...but maybe we'll find a few minutes to send out some pics and details of the cruise.

Take care!

Rick & Terri

Engagement Photos

Catching up!

Greetings family and friends! I'm sure you've probably thought that we've abandoned the blog...not so, just neglected it for a while! We're back and I would guess that during the next few months, will have plenty to post, if we can keep up with everything!

First, Josh, Miranda and Jayden have moved back to Washington State!!! Josh finished his term (4 years) in the Navy and they arrived here earlier this week. After a long 5+ days, they arrived, very tired of driving/riding in the car, but they did get to see many states as they drove WEST across the US!! They will be living with us until they find jobs and save enough to get something of their own. Naturally, we are very happy to have them close (really close!) and have an opportunity to bond with Jayden. She's 20 months old and cute as can be (we're not at all biased!!)...talks lots, loves to give hugs and kisses and really loves their dog, Ace. Ace is a mix (lab, shepherd and maybe chow - black spots on tongue) and is about 9 months old. They said he was a great traveler during their trip. He's very sweet and is quickly learning where he can and can't go in the yard and seems to mind well. Aussie (nearly 12 yrs. old) isn't so sure about him, though they did play the first night, but since then, Aussie prefers the front yard or garage over the back yard or inside where Ace usually is. For now, the bonus room is where they are staying...in about a week and a half, their things should arrive (via moving company) and they'll get some things out before it goes into storage to get them through till they move.

Other news...the wedding plans are coming along nicely and we're getting the major things taken care of with some of the smaller details left to work out. This past weekend we got the invitations put together and in the next week or two we'll get them in the mail. That day (August 11th) will be here before we know it!! Last month we took engagement photos of Jess and Sean and had a good time with them. We went to a local park and had some decent weather that day. Terri's friend, Kate, who is going to be the photography at the wedding came along so she could get to know Jess and Sean as well as help Terri with reflecting for some of the photos...Rick was the diffuser! Rick's parents were here at the time and also joined us for that session.

Jess will be finishing up her third quarter at Highline Community College in the next couple of weeks and has done very well this year. Besides keeping up (and getting excellent grades) with her classes, she's also been working at the bank, up to 30 (more at times) hours per week. We're very proud of how hard she's worked and balanced work, school and the planning of the wedding.

Next month we're going to Tennessee for a wedding in Tullahoma. It's Michael Swift's wedding, son of our friends, Allen and Brenda. Last summer we had the pleasure of photographing Michael and his fiance, Allison, as well as Allison and her family during a long weekend out there. We are shooting the wedding and really looking forward to it...Michael and Allison are a neat couple and we're excited to be part of their special day. Jess and Sean will be coming along with us for this trip (over 4th of July)...it'll be the first time Jess has been back to Tennessee since we moved 12 years ago!! And, Sean has never been there, so we'll take one day to see a few sights, including our old homes there.

After that wedding, we'll return home and less than two weeks later, we are leaving for a week long Alaskan cruise!! This is celebrating our 25th anniversary (this month) and we are very excited for the trip. Now, just so that you don't think we are crazy...we planned this before any weddings were planned...or any engagements!! Allen and Brenda Swift as well as another couple will also be joining us as they will also be celebrating their 25th anniversary. Five years ago we went on our first cruise with Allen and Brenda to celebrate our 20th...looks like we've got a pattern going! Naturally, we expect to take MANY photographs during that week!!!!

Terri has kept busy with her photography this spring and has had several portrait sessions...and many of them with young children. What fun they are - always expect the unexpected with children...and that's the beauty of photographing them, nothing is planned! She's been taking several online classes this year as well, so has kept quite busy with it all.

Rick's been busy with work...although this is the quieter season for the company. November thru February tends to keep them busy, mostly due to weather. Next week he's going to Houston for some meetings, but really doesn't travel much at all. Last week he had an unfortunate accident while doing yard work and broke his foot, so has been slowed down considerably! He's down to just "hobbling" with his cute little boot, after abandoning the crutches. It's no fun for him, but could have been worse and the timing definitely could have been worse with all we have going on during the summer. He should be fine by the cruise, if not by the time we fly to Tennessee.

I guess we've rambled on long enough and have updated you on what's been going on. Life is good and we are enjoying having our kids around and their families...and although we'll be busy this summer, it's all happy, fun events that will keep us on the go and we are looking forward to it all. We hope you are all doing well and that we will get to see you during the summer (maybe the wedding??).

Love,

Rick & Terri

A new experience...

Wow, it's hard to believe that February is already here...that's a sign that 2007 is going to fly by just too fast! We want to take the time to enjoy and relax a bit...there are so many exciting things in store for us this year, that we want to savor it all...for as long as possible! On a positive side, the weather the past couple of weeks has been cold, but DRY!! After some real "wintry" weather early in January, the sunshine has been a real treat...even if it's cold! It's definitely been a unique year for weather around here...and around the country for that matter!

Last weekend we went to Seattle and had a great evening with Terri's cousin, Tara, and her boyfriend, Ivar. After first getting a tour of their new home, under renovations (it's amazing and we told them we'd visit OFTEN this summer...it's right on the water!!!), we headed to Seattle to a Moroccan restaurant, Marrakesh, for a whole new dining experience! The meal is five courses and you sit on the floor...and have no utensils to eat your meal with! Our first course, a lentil soup, you drink from the bowl and it was delicious! The next was a salad that we ate with bread...yum! An appetizer was next and wow, that was so good...though a bit messy! Oh, I should mention our "napkin" was a large hand towel that covered our lap...and was certainly a necessary part of the meal! The entrees were next and there were four dishes (family style) and a couscous dish...again, all VERY good! The final course was a fruit salad for dessert (we did get a spoon for this!). And...the "entertainment" was the belly dancers! A new experience for us and we even persuaded Rick (whose birthday we were celebrating!) to "give" the belly dancer a few dollars (see photo!). What a great time we had...and by the end of the meal we were all brainstorming about what our next "adventure" will be...we love sharing new experiences with Tara and Ivar...it's always a GREAT evening! Despite the "fruit" dessert (that's not a "real" dessert!), we had to head to our favorite place to finish the evening with some coffee and chocolate...at the B&O Espresso, a perfect place to end a great evening in Seattle! Stay tuned for our next adventure!!!!

Not much new in the wedding update...though Jess has ordered her dress, so that's exciting and leaves one less thing on our list of "to do's." There's still quite a bit to do, but that will all come in time. Jess is busy this quarter with school, work and community service required for one of her classes...she doesn't have many free hours during the week, so much of the wedding planning will wait till April when a new (less busy) quarter begins. Sean is keeping busy with work and during the winter weather last month, had a few extra days off when the roads were not safe for driving.

Josh and Miranda are counting down until they move back to this area! No specific date as of yet, but somewhere between June and September. Of course, if they are back before the wedding, it'll make it easier for them. Miranda was hired by Krogers last month and is working evenings and weekends, so that's been something new they are all adjusting to. Josh is home by mid afternoon, so is home with Jayden while Miranda is at work...a perfect situation for all of them. They've just recently gotten some real winter weather themselves, after some unusually warm weather before that. It's been quite a shock to their system, though certainly not unusual to have the cold in that area.

Rick's parents are in Arizona and although it's been cooler there this year, they are certainly happy to be there...and compared to the snow and cold in Moscow, it's certainly a much better place to spend the winter! Terri's parents headed to southern California last month and arrived at a condo they are renting for a couple of months...in Carlsbad. Also, much warmer than what Spokane has had this winter...brrrr!! Of course, the warmer and dry weather is just what they want...so they can get in as much golf as possible! The walks on the beach are not a bad deal either....oh, we're so jealous!!!!

It's now February and Valentine's day is just around the corner. We hope this finds all of you doing well and looking forward to spending that day with the ones you love. Also, remember that it's heart healthy month...so take care of yourselves...we want our family and friends around for a LONG, LONG time!!

Love,

Rick & Terri

More Pics...

Just had to add a few more photos from the holidays!

HAPPY 2007!!!

Well, it seems that we've put 2006 to bed and are now on to a new year that will be full of many exciting things for us! Of course, there's Jess' wedding in August, our 25th anniversary and cruise to Alaska, a trip to Tennessee for another wedding and Josh and his family moving back the this side of the country! We look forward to it all and whatever else 2007 throws our way!

Christmas...what a great time we had with family to share it with. Josh, Miranda and Jayden arrived in Seattle on December 13th and were here until the 27th...so we enjoyed our time with them, especially watching Jayden! She's such a cutie (we're not biased or anything!!) and what a personality...she's got spunk and a mind of her own. One day we found her sitting in the kitchen on the floor with a stuffed bunny and a babydoll and her book, and she was "reading" to them. On Christmas day she opened a doll from Terri's parents and she was instantly drawn to it, picked it up and cuddled it and then was "feeding" it with the bottle that came with it...she already has that nurturing instinct. Ooooh, how we'll miss her these next months until they move out our way. Of course, we had to share Josh, Miranda and Jayden with her family and that was fine...I know how much we enjoyed our time with them and I'm sure Miranda's family loved having them there as much as we did. Rick's parents were also here for the holidays, so it was a "double delight" to have such a great gathering. They enjoyed getting to know Jayden as well and spending time with Josh and Miranda. Jess and Sean were here quite a bit during that time as well, so it was just perfect to have both our kids and their families with us so much last month. On Christmas eve we had Terri's cousin, Tara, and her boyfriend, Ivar, join us as well and it was great to share that time with them. They just bought a house in Seattle and are in the midst of remodeling it...and we're dying to get up and see it as well as their plans for the renovations.

Terri's birthday was great fun...we had everyone here and went to dinner at a Mexican restaurant. When she ordered her drink (margarita...her favorite!), Josh and Miranda pulled out a GIANT margarita glass and asked the waitress to fill it up...and she did!! PHEW...that was was big drink, but Rick helped her with it...good thing!!!! At the end of the meal, the wait staff came out with a sombrero and Terri got the "pleasure" of wearing it while they sang happy birthday to her in Spanish...a first for her! It was a great birthday...and fun to share it with the kids!

New Year's Eve found us shooting a wedding during the day. It was held at a local facitilty and so we didn't have to travel far. Jess popped down before anything started, just to look around and get ideas on flowers, decorations and cake...to start her planning for her big day! The wedding was very nice and the couple was beautiful...we enjoyed our time there and now are working on getting the proofs ready for the newlyweds to see. After the wedding, we were pretty worn out, so were in bed by 10 pm that night...not making it till midnight to "ring" in the new year!

It's been wet, windy and cool around our area the past month or so and the storms have been relentless! We have been very fortunate and had no damage and just one time without power, but many haven't been as lucky. Rick's company keeps busy when there are storms, so his staff has been working long and hard hours. At times the winters get depressing around here, but we have to remind ourselves that all this brings beautiful springs and summers, so in the end it'll be worth it. And, on those days that the clouds break, and Mt. Rainier peeks out, it's all worth it and we feel blessed to live here! Of course, the forecast for the next week is mostly rain, so that means we'll be indoors, but there is plenty to do...with a new year, we're always eager to clean out closets, drawers, cupboards, etc...so we've got plenty of time for that.

January doesn't hold many plans for us, but that is just fine...we'll find enough to keep busy. Rick's birthday is at the end of the month and we're going to celebrate with Tara and Ivar by going somewhere we've not been before...stay tuned for photos next month on that! We'd love to get a day trip to photograph in the snow, but who knows if the weather will cooperate for that...we'll have to wait and see.

Here are a few photos from our holidays...enjoy!

We hope this finds you all having had a nice holiday and looking towards the new year with bright hope!

Love,

Terri & Rick