Monday, July 30, 2018

Update

I've been crazy busy lately so I haven't had time to really write a post, but since I have a few minutes I thought I'd go ahead and do it.

Louis: 
He was recently promoted to an executive level solution architect!  I'm so proud of him.  He was offered the position about 2-3 months ago and has been flourishing in it.  It came with an almost 20% pay increase as well bumped him into the executive level bonus structure which is an annual payout of 15% of your annual pay.  The opportunities with the company buyout have really been great.
His company also was in Thailand helping with de-waterization specialists to figure out how to get all those kids out of the cave.  He wasn't involved in that at all, but I was proud to see his company representing!
As you all know, he recently spent a week in Singapore for work.  He loved it and can't wait to return, hopefully this time with more time and less work to really get a chance to explore more.  He saw quite a bit while he was there but it was all centered around the downtown area, so he really wants to get out and see the whole country- which apparently is super small and you can drive across it in like 30 minutes. As mentioned before, I plan on going with him the next time he goes.  Not sure when that will be but they're saying sometime in 3-6 months.
Louis is getting his shed built.  He can't wait.  He wanted a 3 car garage but I didn't so his compromise was having a shed outside to store the lawnmower, tools, holiday decorations and that kind of thing so that he has more space in the garage to work on his sculpting and molds.

Meagan:
I'm sure you know by now, but if not- I quit the Gap in May.  What you probably do not know is that I've been volunteering at a homeless shelter forty hours a week since February.  I love it.  In April, I was called by the director and offered a position to be the Daytime Program Manager- they wanted to start paying me!!!
 Basically our shelter is the only one in town that focuses on the family unit as a whole and allows them to stay together- however your family unit may be.  We also have a "single" side where men and women without children can stay, but they are separated into separate dorms- even spouses.  We are also the only shelter in town that has started a daytime family program.  What I do, is manage that program.  I write standards and guidelines.  I approve the classes for the programming.  I approve and/or write curriculum or supplemental curriculum for the various programs.  I oversee the preschool program and curriculum.  I coordinate the volunteers and their donations to the family side and a million other things.  It is absolutely the most amazing job I could ever have.  It has been such an amazing experience and I am grateful every day that things worked out the way they have.  It is not something I could have known, but I'm super happy the universe had it figured out for me. :)

Rachel:
Miss Rachel just got back from a vacation at the Oregon Coast for 10 days.  She had a really good time, and we're excited she is back.  She continues her piano and violin lessons and is getting to be a really great player on both instruments.  She is planning a trip to Costa Rica this next year with her school, which is going to be awesome.  She is starting 8th grade here soon- her last year in middle school. It blows my mind that this time next year we will be getting ready to put her in high school.

Bella:
Bella just sprained her ankle playing basketball. No fun.  She has gone several places this summer: McCall, Lake Tahoe, Park City and she headed to Lake Chelan on Wednesday for five days and then the week of the 12th, she's heading to the Oregon Coast with nana and papa.  Her jr high orientation is next Wednesday....sigh. She will be trying out for club basketball this year.

Zoe:
Zoe just got back from 4 days in McCall for Stella's birthday.  These two had personal yoga lessons, one hour massages at the spa, got to drive Grandpa Drakes boat all around, had a special dinner at the Shore lodge and God only knows what else.  They always have fun and get spoiled with grandma and grandpa. She has also been lots of places this summer: McCall, Lake Tahoe, Salt Lake City, camp in McCall, then back to McCall,  She will also go to Lake Chelan and the Oregon Coast. Zo is going into 5th grade this year! She has started play the violin.  She has lessons and will be joining the orchestra in school.

Both girls and I are going to the Niall Horan concert tomorrow. Should be fun.

Bella and The Pirates of Penzance

Bella's last band performance of elementary school as well as her first ever appearance in a play that you had to audition for. She was Isabella, one of the daughters, in the classic Pirates of Penzance.

Playing her clarinet!

Trying out her makeup for the play.  How beautiful she is.










Thursday, July 26, 2018

2018 Photo Dump V

The girls in Lake Tahoe at the beginning of the summer.

Zoe putting' some little girl in 3 point arm hold in jiujitsu

Zoe's last day of 4th grade

Olive Garden




Basil being the cutest girl you've ever seen

she's a very hot puppy and needs a little fan of her very own! :)


look how awesome those cinnamon rolls turned out!

it went from this...

to this! :)

look at all that wind blowing through all this hair!


Zoe and Stella roasting marshmallows









dinner at the melting pot with my love

Zoe being a little dork


date night at the melting pot...again

Bella and papa up in McCall getting ready to go paddle boarding

date night

red lobster this go round.  We were going to go to Kyoto but apparently they close on Tuesday.  Red lobster it was .


my lover in San Francisco waiting to catch his flight to Singapore.

a selfie to my lover while he was half a world away

my loves view and breakfast from his Singapore executive suite! lucky bastard!! :). His job sent him to Singapore for a week on super short notice, and while he was on the company dollar and they sprung for a last minute 5,000$ plane ticket to Singapore...We were not going to even consider doing it.  However, he will have to go back at least one more time to check and/or deem complete the project he was sent over to create.  I get to go the next time! They promised to give us at least a months notice versus 3 days so that we could get a more reasonable plane ticket over.  The best part of it, is they put him up in an 700$ a night Marriott executive suite and I get to ride his coattails on that one!  Im way too cheap to pay for anything much above a best western when we travel- lodging is just not my priority. I would much rather spend that money on activities or souvenirs or what not than on a fancy hotel... HOWEVER... don't you think for a second Im not jumping on that opportunity on someone elses checkbook.

hard at work immediately upon arrival...14 hours ahead of us


blue sky bagels! yum


ice cream at subzero



yay! my love finally made it home! :)

donuts