earthquake

This post is mostly to get that ugly picture of Hot Topic off the top of my blog. But also to let you know that we had an earthquake this morning. Around 5:25 am the Puget Sound area was shaken by a 4.5 earthquake. I know...that's not big at all. They say it lasted for 15-20 seconds and that people as far north as Victoria, British Columbia could feel the tremors. I slept right through it...I had worked a crazy 12 hour shift yesterday and was exhausted. Brandon claims it woke him up but he didn't know what woke him up until after he heard the news report. I'm bummed I slept through it. I guess I will have to take everyone's word for it that it really happened.

busy season starts

Do you guys remember this store? I have never shopped here but I remember the good old days when I would go hangout at the mall and passed by this crazy place. Lucky for Brandon he got to spend the night here for his first inventory. From 5:00pm Monday night to 9:00am Tuesday morning Brandon was at the Olympia Hot Topic counting studded dog collars and Twilight paraphernalia! Talk about a good time. Poor guy was so tired by the time he got home he crashed until later that afternoon then woke up and started working again. I think this has been the worst part of busy season so far. Other than that I can't really complain. He has been home by 9:00pm everynight and hasn't had to work on weekends...I have been the one working Saturdays :( But now watch...I probably just jinxed myself and he won't come home until 11:00pm.

Families are forever!

January 10, 2009 was a very special day. After more than 6 months of having Kail and Kalvin in our lives, these two cute little boys were sealed to their parents for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. What a special occasion to have all my family together in the temple as my Grandpa performed the sealing. I'm so happy I was able to be there. Congratulations Greg, Chris, Liz, Kail, and Kalvin! You guys make a beautiful family!

Love it!

I LOVE this cookbook! All the recipes in here are simple, easy, fast, and only take a few ingredients. Plus it is really healthy...if you follow the recipe perfectly. Confession: I don't! Whenever it says to use fat free this or that I use the fat full stuff...it tastes better that way. I guess I am defeating the whole purpose of the book and Bill Phillips would be disappointed in me...but hey I could be eating a lot worse. I also love that the serving sizes are for 2-3 people which is perfect for our little family. Whenever I make a lasagna or casserole it seems like we are eating it for a week just to finish it off. Anyways, just had to tell everyone how much I love this book. I would recommend it to anyone. Sorry Debby...I promise to give it back soon. Thanks for letting me borrow it. :)

Garden d'Lights

Every year around Christmas, hundreds of volunteers transform Bellevue Botanical Gardens into a festival of lights. They take thousands of commerical Christmas lights and tightly bundle them to create flowers, vines, shrubs, and little critters. I have been wanting to go all season and thankfully because of the snow they extended the show through the first couple weeks of January so we could. Pictures can't capture how cool the displays are but here are a few attempts.

Some of my favorite creations were the palm trees, sunflowers, fountain, frog, monkey, squirrel, parrot, grapevines, tomato plants, and of course Willie the slug. In the clubhouse there was an 'aquarium' full of fish, plants, bubbles, crabs, and seahorses. It was amazing and I absolutely loved it. We are definitely making this a Plaster family tradition as long as we are in Seattle.

Two thumbs up!

On New Years day Brandon and I went to see Marley and Me and I have been thinking about it ever since. It was such a good movie! I had tears streaming down my cheeks at parts and then laughing my head off at other parts. It stars Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston. As a newly married couple the Grogans decided to adopt a cute yellow Labrador. Soon the puppy grows to be a 100 pound ball of energy that turns their house into a disaster zone. What I really loved about this movie is how it portrays lifes ups and downs. It's not just a show about an unruly dog but a show about marriage and balancing family life and your career...something I think we can all relate to. Brandon was the one to suggesst going to this movie...I think he is trying to convince me to get a dog. And it was a very good attempt.