What do you think...

It's not official yet but we are getting closer. I am having fun thinking of all the possibilities of redoing this house.

I am not exactly the best decorator, which is why I will be relying on my sister to help out with this project.

Here is the 1st question... What color should I paint the outside of the house? I have been exploring blogs and other websites getting ideas but I haven't come to any conclusion yet. Here are a few super cute houses that I have seen. What do you guys think??? I would love to have your ideas.

khaki w/ white trim

white w/ black trim

white w/ grey trim

Another tan w/ white trim

A tribute to my Golden Girl... I love you Layne!

On July 26th, my amazing friend Layne turned 26!!! and Yes, that means it was her golden birthday. She made me proud by decking herself our in gold.

On the Saturday before her birthday, Colette, Layne, Jamie, and I went down to L.A. to watch "In the Heights" in the Pantages theater. I love the theater and I especially love musicals. Can I just say that I wish my life could just break out in song and dance all the time. I didn't know exactly what "In the Heights" was about but as I watched I wasn't let down. It was an amazing show and I would definitely suggest that everyone go see it.

I am not quite sure if anyone knows just how long Layne and I have been friends.... well let's just say that our moms were friends before we were even born so when we were born exactly 2 months apart it was a smooth and natural friendship. I am truly blessed to have a friend like Layne that I have literally spent my whole life with and praise God for the person that she has grown up to be.

Here are 26 favorite memories that I have with Layne over these past 26 years.

1. Camping trips to Carpenteria

2. Filling out bathing suits with sand and pretending that we had huge bellies.

3. When we were little I would take the candles down that were too high for Layne to reach and she would eat them.

4. Spritzer and chili picante corn nuts at Hartland

5. Making up many dances together

6. Finding out that Layne was getting to come to RBG in 4th grade

7. Planning our barn dance in my dad's new shop

8. Dee Dee giving us good luck fishing up at Huntington

9. Dress up, dress up, and more dress up

10. Homemade movies... "get on the hog"

11. Staying up to all hours of the night beating Mario Bros.

12. Having Layne there when Katie and I cleaned our room so that she could take all of the stuff we didn't want.

13. The best college roommate ever!! Sch and Krause House

14. Spring Break at NewPort beach (melissa's tattoo)

15. Dying our own hair

16. Camp outs in my back yard

17. 2 words... Pancake Pantry

18. Layney Loo

19. Neicey Woo

20. Making brown bobbies

21. Getting a ride inside of the cotton picker with Layne's dad

22. Layne's car catching on fire (loved the bug)

23. Picking a football team because it's always more fun to have someone to cheer for

24. Sunday afternoon bike rides with tandy

25. Smoking our 1st cigar by the 13 palms

26. Three legged race champions in the Awana Olympics!!!

Let's make some more memories.

Love you Layne!

San Luis Obispo Triathlon

Well, Andrew and I completed our 2nd Triathlon this past weekend. The weather couldn't have been better and we finished in about 1 hr and 40 mins. (According to Andrew's watch). Swim and bike went great and I felt great. The run on the other hand... I was tired. I have been having a little knee trouble so I haven't been able to run for about 2 months. I thought just doing the elliptical on my run days would be fine but it was not the same. I guess I know that for the next time.

The only picture we took. A victory picture after we finished.

After the triathlon we stayed the night at my Grandma's Morro Bay condo. The perfect place to go back and relax at.

zig zag quilt top

Well, here is my first go at a quilt... Luckily I have a sister who is bomb.com at sewing. We did this one together.

Sorry for such a bad picture

Our Feil family trip to Shaver

Every summer the Feil family goes camping up at Stoney Creek in the Sequoias. This year we made a slight change to the location of our trip. Instead of camping we ended up staying in Shaver at G-Sue's cabin. As always the cabin was perfect and we had an amazing time. We played some Tetris party, Taboo, and of course a vicious game of Monopoly. I have definitely married into an incredible family!

The day before the trip Andrew, Bryan, Kim and I got on the phone with Rod and begged him to bring his boat. Our begging was successful so we spent the weekend out on the Lake.

Our captain!

and the rest of the crew...

Yes, that is Andrew and I...

Englewood Block Party

One thing that I love about The Well is that for the 4th of July they encourage people to host block parties on their street as a way to get to know and connect with their neighbors. Bryan and Kim did just that. On their street, Englewood, they got permission from the city to block off their street and host a party for all of their neighbors to be apart of. The party included a bounce house, Bryan bbqing up some amazing burgers and hotdogs, face-painting, and on a hot day in Fresno what could be better than a sprinkler for kids to play in. By the end of the day about half of their street was out there. All it takes is someone to throw out an invite and people want to come.

Bryan and Kim, you guys are amazing!!!

Andrew and I are in the process of moving down to the Susan B. neighborhood and are hoping to buy this house across the street from Bryan and Kim.

Who loves cleaning!!!!

I think one of my favorite things is cleaning out that ol' junk closet or drawer. You always find treasures of some sort. Andrew and I cleaned out our black hole closet last night and found all kinds of goodies. I think you will be seeing a few of them in my next few posts. Katie, you would have been proud!!! (and yes, I found the ear warmer that is on my head in the closet.)

I know, I asked myself the same question.... How do we have that much junk all in 1 closet?!?!?

4th of July

We always have a birthday/4th of July party at mom and pop Feil's house. Andrew, his dad, and his uncle were all born on the 4th of July... how crazy. This year was even more special. Erin and Matt joined the party on their way through Bakersfield on their honeymoon trip. Layne also came over. Since we wont see Erin for a long time we thought we would take one last picture... 4th of July style.

B.F.F. - Best Friends Forever

Costa Rica ...

As I mentioned in my "Super Sawyer" post, we just got back from Costa Rica. What an amazing place!!!

Week 1: The 1st week was spent working alongside Students International within 4 different, run down communities there. Everyone on staff there had an amazing attitude about what they were doing. They said that they were just living in Costa Rica and doing little things to change lives and show God through spending time with the people. The simplicity of their mission was inspiring to be creative where I am at and with the people I live around and do life with.

Week 2: The 2nd week was spent enjoying the country. We traveled around with 2 other amazing couples, Allie and Jesse Penner, and Breann and Kris Kadieux. Here is a top ten count down from our trip...

10. Jaco Beach

9. Taxi Boat

7. Montezuma

8. Ivan's House (Our house right on the beach)

7. lounging on hammocks on the front porch

6. Waterfalls

5. A.T.V.ing around the peninsula

(Not sure where these pictures went??)

4. Crazy huge lizards on our patio

3. Breann breaking her ankle

2. Spending alot of time in a Costa Rican hospital

1. Taking a great trip with amazing new friends!!!

This is just a snap shot of our trip to Costa Rica.

Super Sawyer

We have spent the last 2 weeks in Costa Rica. One week with an incredible missions organization, Students International, and the 2nd week on vacation. The 1st week we were there we stayed with the head of the Costa Rica branch and his family. They had two kids who both had birthdays while we were there. Olivia turned 6 and Sawyer turned 4. One night Sawyer (who was suppose to put his clothes in his backpack for school the next day) brought his clothes into the living room and proceeded to put his pants on his head and use his shirt as a parachute to jump off of the steps. Before he could jump he had to run into his room and get his safety goggles. Eventually his shirt made its way to become a cape and finally the outfit was complete.

Jesse Penner was there with us and Sawyer thought that Jesse needed to give it a try as well. We definitely laughed a lot that night.

We are going to send them a thank-you care package and in it we are adding this official "Super Sawyer" cape that I made.

My Golden Breakfast...

I just came across these pictures from my birthday and had to put them on my blog. I have an amazing husband! Every year Andrew makes me feel so special on my birthday and this year was no different. You saw my golden party outfit/pictures but I forgot to mention the golden breakfast that he prepared for me that morning before school. Everything was golden (or yellow and orange).