Hanging out in Portland

After our Seattle trip, we came back to Portland and had a blast with Jay and our lovely city. Of course we continued to do a lot of walking... yes I was worn out. =-) We shopped in Downtown, had brunch at the View Point Inn, drove through the Oregon Gorge and saw the Vista House and several waterfalls including the famous Multnomah Falls, and ended our trip by driving up to Pittock Mansion to see the beautiful view of Portland. What a great trip! Here are a few more pictures....

Seattle Trip

Well, this past week was a full and busy week, but a blast. My sister, Anna, came up from CA. We headed up to Seattle for three days and two nights. During that time we stayed at an amazing hotel called the Pan Pacific. We walked everywhere! We went to the Space Needle, Pikes Market Place, a trip to the Veda Spa, the underground tour of old Seattle and of course shopping. It was a blast! Here are a few pictures from our Seattle trip.

In the hotel lobby...

At Pike's Market Place....

Up in the Space Needle....

On the shoreline of West Seattle. Love this view!

Our amazing room!

Spring Flowers

We have been enjoying all of the beautiful blooms that have been taking place around the house. Everything is so pretty. Here are a few pretty pictures for you.

Yesterday I spent some time planting. Here is the area I worked on. Jay got me a new birdbath for graduation. So I decided to incorporate our old one in this little garden.

I Almost Forgot

So in the midst of Playoffs, graduation, and preparing for guest and a big party, we decided to give the hall bathroom aka Mandi's bathroom, a face lift. The walls and ceiling were painted, we put up new fixtures, replace the mirror and added a cabinet over the toilet. We were pretty excited how well it all turned out.Here are some pictures.

Before
After

For My Mom's Benefit

When my mom was visiting, I tried on my cap for her. She got all sentimental and said she was having a flash back from my kindergarten graduation. =-) Here is your girl mom. Both then and now. Love ya!

Just Call Me Amanda Allen M.A.

That is right! I graduated. After 4 long years, I finally did it. What a journey!!! I am super excited to be done, but it has been hard to say so many good-byes. I think I feel like a person who has just finished a race. There is a HUGE sense of satisfaction of the accomplishment made, but now it's done and it's time to rest up and refocus. So, yes it's been some what of an adjustment. But it's all good. =-)

The question that everyone asks is do I know what I'm doing next. The answer to that is.... not exactly. For now, my plan is to take some time to rest, do some things I've wanted to do. Enjoy life with my husband without crazy work schedules and homework. And spend some time praying and asking the Lord for a vision for this next phase of my life.

Here are a few pictures from my fun weekend. I had my Hooding ceremony on Friday, May 1st. My parents came up from CA, our dear friend Jennifer came down from Bellingham, our Oregon parent's Debby and Larry Barnum were there, as well as are dear friends the Hines, Kim and Brian, and Sonya. Then on Saturday Jay and Tana organized a fun open house. About 40 people came by. I was very blessed!!!

What we've been up to...

Well, it's been a while since we updated our blog. Sorry about that, but there have been a few things going on. =-)

As you remember life for us was all about Blazer playoffs. Jay was able to go with the team to Houston for games 3 and 4. Unfortunately, Houstons won both games. Then they came back to Portland, and Blazers won big time. Then the team headed back to Houston, Jay didn't go this time, but unfortunately they didn't win and the series was over with Houston as the winners. But all in all, Playoffs were a blast! Jay did some traveling, I was able to go to 3 of the games and we all had a blast!

While in Houston, Jay had some fun and went to a Houston Astro's game as well as had a chance to visit Lakewood Church with Pastor Joel Osteen. Unfortunately Pastor Joel was not there. But Jay was able to hear Pastor Marcos Witt, who is the pastor over their Spanish ministries. Jay was very blessed by the service and hasn't stopped talking about it.

Here are a few pictures from Jay's trip.