The Rain?

Can I blame the lack of pictures on the rain? My camera will get wet! Okay, we have just been so busy with high school and grad school. We aren't holding out on you with pictures, we have been holding out on ourselves with fun. And, did I mention that we are trying to live as poor as possible for one month to see how much we can save? It is kind of fun in a depressing toast with water and no cushy cinema seats sort of way. I haven't spent a single dime for 9 days. Mike, well . . . somehow rock climbing shoes beat out milk. :)

Pumpkin Passion

I love the sugar ones that used to go on top of my birthday cupcakes, I love the ones that have uneven eyes carved out of them every year, I love the ones growing on vines in patches, and I love the pureed ones that go in my soup, pancakes, muffins, smoothie, bagel, and cookies.  So, imagine my level of bliss when I found a flier for the great pumpkin regatta.  In the middle of the dirty community lake in Tualatin, grown men climbed inside 1000 pound pumpkins to race.  

And we carved some of our own.

Portland

After a night watching the ballroom dancers of BYU. 

For the Perfect Pumpkin

A dose of red

Brittany is in town, visiting from Logan, so Mike, Katie, and I took her to all of our favorite places in Portland.  Our first stop on Saturday morning (after Mike cooking for us and a few hours of Mario Cart) was a U-pick farm in Tigard.  We found delicious apples and of course got a pumpkin or two.  It was so fun to have Brittany here.  More photos from our weekend to come. 

The Colors of Fall

Voting

I am so curious about how you are voting.  Not who you are voting for, but how you decided.  Are you voting along a party line?  Are you voting based on personal impressions of the candidates?  Are you voting based on one particular issue?  If so, which one?  

I told Mike this weekend, after months of rather heated yet stimulating debates, that I would make my final decision based on the sole platform of education.  I'm not sure that's fair, but that's my confession.  Education matters to me.  I think it is the sole governmental program that can create equality and progress.    

Please don't tell me who you are voting for, but post how you decided who to vote for.  I would love to hear. 

Weezer Concert

It was so much fun going to the concert last night with Katie.  Mike was working hard for his degree while I got to play.  Doesn't seem fair, but I'll run with it. 

Wednesday Wanting Thursday

Tonight the young women tied two beautiful quilts.  I love the midweek activities but tonight it seemed to serve as a daunting reminder that the week is really only half over.  I need the weekend.  Or a night at a Weezer concert. 

Tomorrow I am breaking from my week routine and pulling out the concert clothes that Mike is kind to remind me don't exist!  How did I get by with every article of clothing sporting an animal emblem in the upper corner? 

Conference weekend

Hanging out with Katie

Great food by Mike

Wii competitions between sessions

School Days

Jen's, aka Mrs. Wecker's, classroom.  My largest class is 37 students so we are pretty crammed in here.  Notice the thick stack of paper I have yet to grade.  

Mike off to his first day of class.  I love the hands-in-the-pockets walk.  It captures the suave reluctance that school always seems to evoke - Whether getting through high school or getting an MBA.

My last sighting of Mike before he leaves for the night.  I'm so glad he is getting this degree but I will certainly miss hanging out with this guy two nights a week.