Sushi lesson

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 07:37:48 -0700

We had mentioned to Matt and Kara that we were going to take a sushi-making class, and Kara instead volunteered the services of her step-father Stephen, who is a sushi-making machine! Kara’s parents were gracious enough to invite us to their home for a sushi-making extravaganza and a feast to follow.

So Ryan and I wanted to try on our own, and we were pretty pleased with our results. Let us know if you want us to cater any upcoming events.

Cross Country adventure

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 07:40:07 -0700

I’m not a skier. Never have been, and have never wanted to be. I am terrified by the thought of barreling down a mountain, on a frictionless surface, riding two toothpicks. And yes, I was born and raised in Utah, home to the state-proclaimed “Greatest Snow on Earth”. I’ve been toying with the idea of trying again, just because Ryan loves it so much, as do most of our friends, and it would obviously be nice to be able to do this together. So when Matt and Kara suggested we try cross-country, I agreed, mustering up my nerve and putting on my game-face.

Turns out...it was quite a bit of fun! It was nice day, the dogs loved it, and we were able to enjoy a day out together with good friends. I’ve got a bit of practicing to do...but no falls, so I’m pretty happy with my performance.

My graceful form

Everett catching some zzzzzz’s

Family portrait

Chili Open

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:46:06 -0700

My Dad has been a proud member of the Sugar House Rotary Club for years, and his Dad was a member before him. I have a lot of memories of Rotary events as a kid, leaving school to get to go to “Father’s and Daughter’s” day (before women were allowed as Rotarians). For the last 19 years, Bear has been in charge of the Sugar House Chili Open, one of the largest charity events in the state. The Chili Open is an awesome event- a dinner and auction on Friday night, and a day of golf in the snow at Wheeler Farm on Saturday. The charities helped by this event are all such great organizations. Check out the details at utahchiliopen.com...and next year, join us!!

Friday dinner and auction at the Grand America:

Saturday at the Barn at Wheeler Farm:

I’m Baaaaaaaack....

Fri, 1 Jan 2010 22:37:55 -0700

It’s been a while...and I’ve missed this! I got caught up in Facebook and found that all my thoughts, feelings, pictures, stories, and contacts were so easy to deal with on one slick web page. But I think I’ve grown a bit tired of it. This is MY space, for my family and my friends and what I think is important. I can share what I want and you can either look, or not, but it won’t just scroll into your life along with who bought what gun in Mafia Wars or who needs you to sell them a chicken.

So, we’ll give the blogging thing another go at it. I figured I’d start with our 2009 Year in Review. Give it a second to download if you really are interested in watching all 16+ minutes. It’s good to see you all again!!

Matt’s first triathlon

Sat, 23 May 2009 22:09:11 -0600

Our dear Buddy Matt had been inspired this year, along with so many of our other friends, to finish a triathlon. He registered for the St. George, the same weekend that I did the Iron Girl in Vegas, but apparently strong winds and unfavorable conditions turned swim-bike-run into the dreaded run-bike-run. He still did awesome, of course, but he didn’t get to get in that water and face his fear head-on.

Early in the training process, Ryan, Matt, and I went swimming, and Matt literally couldn’t make it half-way across the pool. We helped him out, and he took some lessons, and he was now ready for an open water swim, so not being able to do it in St. George was very disappointing. So he and Ryan registered for the Stansbury Tri, and they both did so well! Ryan had a great race, and we were so proud of Matt who came out of the water looking strong and happy. Good job guys! And here’s to many more races.....

Ryan, then Matt, out of the water...looking good!!!

GREAT FINISH GUYS!!

Bear’s Birthday

Fri, 22 May 2009 16:02:46 -0600

Anyone who knows me...or has met me...or anyone in my family...or has ever seen this blog...will know that my family is very close. We get together for every birthday and holiday. And every Sunday night for dinner. And sometimes Friday nights as well, just if no one has anything else to do. It may seem a bit much to some, but it’s just how we do it, and this was Dad’s turn. I think he’s 62??? Yes, that math seems to work. He’s a happy guy, and has been his whole life.

My Dad, a retired jeweler who took over the family jewelry business at a pretty young age, is living the high-life and enjoying his retirement to the fullest. He spends his days having coffee with his buddies, followed by a work out at the gym, and then goes to Rotary meetings, bowling meetings, goes fishing or RV’ing, goes bowling, watches hockey, watches the Utes, works on his family’s genealogy, and plays Papa to Nathan, Max, and Mia. Sounds like a pretty good life to me. So, we had a birthday party. Happy birthday, Dad!!

Mia wants her beer back

Nathan

Max

Mia

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD/PAPA/BEAR!!

Our first anniversary

Sun, 17 May 2009 19:42:52 -0600

To celebrate our first anniversary, we drove down to southern Utah to visit Zion National Park. My grandparents retired to Toquerville, so as kids we spent a lot of time there. In fact, you take the Toquerville exit off I-15 to get to Zion, so the trip through town held great memories for me. It’s been a while since I’ve been there, so I forgot how familiar the red mountains and desertscapes are to me. For Ryan, it was his first trip to Southern Utah, and we really enjoyed hiking to Observation Point in Zion Canyon. You can see the steep switchbacks in some of the pics...and it was a loooooong way up.

Getting started

Still a long way to go

Finally! An entire view of Zion Canyon

A view of Angel’s Landing

Switchbacks

iron girl triathlon

Sat, 9 May 2009 14:21:30 -0600

What a great weekend! Kara and I did this event last year, and were able to inspire a whole lotta gals to do it this year! And our wonderful partners came with us for support. A bunch of us stayed at a beautiful condo at Lake Las Vegas, and there were more of us at the main hotel. Lake Las Vegas is a beautiful, quiet area and we had a great time staying there. It was a wonderful site for a really inspiring event, encouraging women of all shapes, sizes, and ages to embrace their athletic ability. Everyone had a great finish...all in the top half of the sprint distance, and those crazy Olympic distance girls had really good showings as well. What a great weekend!

Pre-race transition area

Amy and Kirsten getting PUMPED!

Stacey heading out of the water

Way to go, Iron Girls!!

A trip back HOME

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:37:04 -0600

After living in Washington DC for four years, I definitely left a piece of my heart there. I still love to go back whenever I can, visit friends, see the sights, and enjoy one the greatest cities on Earth. Ryan and I were engaged there, under the 4th of July fireworks at the Washington monument, so we wanted to go back for an early celebration of our first anniversary. To commemorate the occasion, Ryan bought me tickets to see Placido Domingo, my favorite tenor, at Constitution Hall. It was absolutely breathtaking...an experience neither one of us will ever forget. While there, we able to see my med school bestie Matt, which is always a welcome occurrence.

Outside Constitution Hall Pre-show drinks: The lovely Molly and handsome Matt

The Master: Placido Domingo

A slice after the show

Wisconsin Avenue in G-town The Iwo Jima memorial

The White House seems so much cooler since November

Smithsonian

The site of our engagement on the National Mall

The National Botanical Gardens

Ryan 4th Street tri

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 09:19:40 -0600

Ryan seems to have caught the bug. This triathlon was at the U of U to benefit the Utah Homeless Clinic, known here as the Fourth Street Clinic. Being that I know how difficult it is to provide health care to the homeless, I find this to be a very worthwhile cause. The swim was in the U of U pool, and the ride was a mountain bike ride up through the foothills. The very wet, muddy foothills. Of course, Ryan did great and had a blast and he is looking forward to his next event.

Half Marathon

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 09:08:28 -0600

Regarding this entry’s quote, we only did the HALF marathon, but yes, it was certainly an experience. I can’t even remember why we signed up for this thing in the first place. Insanity, perhaps? Ryan was a great sport- he could have finished well before he did, but he stayed back with me for about 11 miles until I finally convinced him to take off and run the last 2 miles strong. This was one of the hardest things I have ever done, but it was also such a feeling of accomplishment afterwards. Unfortunately, I wasn’t conditioned nearly enough, so now I keep thinking to myself, “If I had just trained harder....if I had logged more miles...” I did, however, beat my goal time, so I am satisfied with that, for now. I wouldn’t be surprised, however, if there was another half-marathon in my future.

Passover

Wed, 8 Apr 2009 09:08:38 -0600

In Judaism, Passover commemorates the story of Moses leading the slaves out of ancient Egypt, parting the Red Sea, etc. etc. If you have ever seen the Charleton Heston classic, The Ten Commandments, well, that is basically the story. To recognize this, we have a dinner called the Seder (Say-der), and it is usually a very long dinner with prayers and readings that goes well into the night. Thankfully, we have found a way over the years to expedite our Seder, as the kids (and I) tend to get a bit restless through the dinner.

When we were kids, we would usually have Passover Seder at my Grandma Sis’s house, and she had little red wine glasses for us. We would drink Welch’s white grape juice when the adults had their wine. My mom still has those little wine glasses, and now Max and Nathan use them. This year, they somehow taught themselves how to take shots, and the vision of these two little boys, saying “Cheers” and clinking glasses, then imagining them about 15 years from now, was just too much for me (and too cute for words.)

Everett is here!

Fri, 3 Apr 2009 09:17:35 -0600

Our baby boom continues! Everett Jackson Agresta came in to the world at a sturdy 7 pounds, 22 inches long. Congratulations to our dear friends Matt and Kara! We are so excited to watch Everett grow up, and we know what great parents you will be :)

The icebreaker

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 09:07:43 -0600

Ryan finally caught the tri bug, so we registered together for the Icebreaker out in American Fork. It was called “ICEBREAKER” because the run from the pool to the transition area was ridiculously cold. Transition times were long as people put on layers of clothing, but overall it was a good event. Ryan did well (of course) and is ready to take on more tri’s in the future.

Swim....bike....run

Cabo san lucas

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 21:19:37 -0700

Quite simply, it had been too long since we’d seen the sun. When our dear cousins Jan and Anne suggested we join them for a week in Cabo San Lucas, it didn’t take much for us to say “Si!”. We left the cold and snowy conditions in Salt Lake just in time for some sun, sand, and cerveza.

It’s such a quick and easy flight to Cabo and we had some great scenery along the way...like the Grand Canyon!

Once we were there, we didn’t do a whole lot. We soaked up some rays and drank a few margaritas. We spent some precious time with Jan and Anne, and Jill and Dan. We read and swam and ate and slept in. It was a great trip and a much needed break.

Scenes from the new underwater camera.......

Jan and Anne took us out to an amazing beach where you could see the whales spouting and flapping right up close to the shore. Watch closely...you can see a spout on the right!

Anne and Jan

All in all, we had a really wonderful time. Generally, I enjoy the Caribbean side of Mexico more because I like the calm, warm water. That being said, Cabo San Lucas is a really lovely spot, and I’m sure we will go back there again.

Sweet Isabel

Mon, 9 Feb 2009 21:16:45 -0700

More additions to our baby-clan!

Little Isabel made proud parents out of our friends Mike and Jen, weighing in at a hearty, yet delicate 6 pounds, 14 ounces. I haven’t had the chance to meet gorgeous little Isa yet, but I simply cannot wait. Jen and Mike will make the best Mom and Dad, and it has been such a joy to watch Jen throughout her pregnancy. What an inspiration. Jen has also done an amazing job “blogging” about her journey into motherhood...and taking the sweetest pictures of Isa.

jenandmikeadams.com

Congrats Mike and Jen!!!

OUR new “nephew”

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 14:22:51 -0700

After a long wait, and many weeks of bedrest and contractions, our little man Jonah Aren Goldsmith arrived, courtesy of our dear friends Mor and Joel.

A little known fact...I first realized that Mor was pregnant while looking at my wedding pictures. I saw a picture of Joel pouring a glass of water...certainly it was for Mor...and I knew immediately. She was pregnant. Turns out she was just about 5 weeks along at the time. See the incriminating evidence below.

And now he’s here! All 8 pounds, 13 ounces of him!

I had a chance to go to Oakland to visit, and yes, he really is that gorgeous. I couldn’t stop kissing him all weekend, and I already miss him terribly.

Congrats Mor and Joel...we love you guys!

OUR YEAR IN REVIEW

Thu, 1 Jan 2009 23:03:14 -0700

2008 was quite an eventful one for us, and here’s 16 minutes of the wonderful year we had.

(You can get a better quality picture of the same movie here)

Tag...I’m it!

Tue, 2 Dec 2008 22:00:01 -0700

I haven’t played tag since I was a kid...I never really liked the game actually. But when mama-to-be Jen “tagged” me on her blog...I just had to play along. Apparently, the rules are as follows:

*Post the rules on your blog
*List 7 random things about yourself
*Tag 7 other people to do the same, pass along the tag

So here goes...7 random things about me:

One. I LOVE MEXICO. I love the food, the beach, the people...love it. Would live there in a minute if I spoke Spanish and weren’t completely addicted to my niece and nephews. Spent a month in Playa del Carmen “studying” at the end of my residency. Have been all over the country and can’t wait to go back...will be in Cabo this February.

Two. I LOVE BROADWAY MUSICALS. And I know an embarrassingly large number of showtunes. Les Miserables is probably my favorite, but South Pacific is a very close second.

Three. I’M NORWEGIAN. My Dad has traced my Mom’s ancestors back to the Vikings. Very cool actually. Goes back to a man named Gavum in the sixteenth century. No last name, like Prince, or Cher.

Four. I THINK I WAS THE CUTEST BABY EVER. It’s true.

Five. I USED TO LOVE LOVE LOVE BASEBALL. I knew every team, every player, all their stats, and the division standings. Opening day was like a holiday for me. Kind of lost my interest in it somewhere along the way, but I still always enjoy a game.

Six. I HAVE NO MIDDLE NAME. My Mom wanted to name me Grace, after her Grandma, but when I came out 9+ lbs and 17 inches long, I think she knew better.  
Seven. I CAN READ HEBREW. Well, I can follow along anyway if someone else is reading it aloud.

I think I’m a little late on the tagging...but I tag Matt P. and Dina (about her OR Drake-man) and Mor and Chellie and Marni (on your Facebook page).

The utes... undefeated

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 10:27:34 -0700

Wow, what a game, and what a season!!! The Utes pretty much dominated the whole game, which was a good thing, because my heart couldn’t have handled a close one. We started off with my Dad’s friends tailgating early in the afternoon, and Ute fever was definitely in the air.

My Dad and his BFF Mike

As game time approached, nerves were running high, but we got a great view from our GREAT seats and could appreciate the beautiful view as the crowd filled in.

The team took the field, and the marching band played, and we put on a powerful display...to VICTORY!!!!

At the end of the game, 45,000 crazy Utes fans rushed the field, and we all celebrated a perfect season, and a convincing victory over our forever-nemesis, BYU.

BRING ON THE BCS BOWLGAME!!!!!!!
GO UTES!!!!!

HALLOWEEN

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 08:28:12 -0600

Okay, so it’s like a month later, but they were still so dang cute I have to post their pictures! The Jedis and Power Rangers invaded Baba and Papa’s house on Halloween and had such a good time! Princess Leia and Obi-Wan met up with the Red Power Ranger, and they went out to gather their sugar fortune.

Max was a little timid at first, but once Nathan showed him that all you have to is ring the doorbell and strangers give you all sorts of candy, he was all in.

Auntie Stacey and Uncle Ryan had a great time, too.

Max’s third birthday

Sat, 18 Oct 2008 12:01:09 -0600

It seems like he was born just yesterday, but it was actually 3 years ago!! Unbelievable.

Maxie has a personality all his own. He is one of the most charismatic, energetic, and good-natured kids to ever walk the planet. He loves his cousin Nay-Nay and his little sister Mia, and he is so generous and sweet with them. It is always a pleasure to be around him. He was so excited for his birthday party at Jungle Jim’s Playland, and we all had a very good time...especially the birthday boy!

The rides were all a big hit...airplanes, bumper cars, roller coasters. Big fun!

The games were fun too...Nathan won tons of tickets...and there was only one air-hockey injury.

The celebration continued with pizza and cake...Max is my boy, because that kid LOVES cake!!!

Finally, presents! Max had a lot of help opening everything up. That kid made a haul!!!!

Happy Birthday, Max!!! We love you very, very much and look forward to many more happy birthdays with you!!

Love,  Aunt Stacey and Uncle Ryan

our weekend with friends

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 22:33:39 -0600

Ryan and I took off for the weekend to see my dear friend friend med school Mor, and her husband Joel. Whether we are rollin’ in Vegas, chillin’ at Sundance, or hangin’ in Puerta Vallarta, Mor and Joel are always great company. This time, we had a little extra company...Mor is pregnant!!! We are so happy for them, so went out to spend a little time together.

Our trip started off with much excitement on the plane. An older gentleman a few rows ahead of us was having some difficulty. I’m not sure what was going on, but the flight attendants became very nervous and called over the PA for a doctor or nurse. I am usually hesitant to get involved in those things, but when it looked like the guy was really in trouble, I went to see if I could help. He had been unresponsive, but was doing better with some oxygen. I think he just passed out while he was sleeping...the blood pooled in his legs and he had a vasovagal reaction (that means fainted). I spent a little time with him, asked him some questions, took his blood pressure, wrote a note, and he was fine. He was a little embarrassed when the entire emergency response crew met him at the gate.

Saturday was very exciting, as Mor and I ditched the boys and went to the Cal-Colorado State game. I had taken an aerial shot of the stadium in anticipation of the big game.

The weather was lovely...quite warm, in fact. It is always fun to watch a little college football, so we really had a nice time at the game. (Cal beat the Rams, too. Good for Cal...good for the Utes.)

The next day we went into beautiful San Francisco, and after brunch, we ventured off into the Japanese Tea Garden.

For some reason, Joel had to have his hand on someone’s belly in every picture taken of him!

The gardens were beautiful and we really enjoyed the scenery and of course, the company.

We are anxiously awaiting the addition to Mor and Joel’s (and hence, our) family...he should be here before we know it! You can check out their blog on our LINKS page to see pictures of the little guy :) See you soon, Mor and Joel!

a day at the fair

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 20:35:19 -0600

Ryan, my sister Sam, and I took Sam’s two yahoos Max and Mia to the Fair this weekend. Maxie loves the sheep...not so fond of the cows...but as long as he had uncle Ryan to protect him from the mad bovines, he knew he’d be okay.

I don’t know why, but I always like the fair. Ryan says the smell reminds him of his grandfather’s ranch back in Montana. I just like the Najavo tacos and kettle corn. And it’s always nice to see a farm animal or two.

She seems rather unaffected

Ryan says this guy lost his job at Serta

Mia showing off her cow shoes... and leather diaper bag

If Greta was a cow

All in all, it was a very nice day...if somewhat exhausting. My only regret is I didn’t get to try the deep-fried peanut butter sandwich. Maybe next year.

Marni and the hurricane

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:25:47 -0600

I met Marni at Bonneville Junior High when I was 13 years old, and by my count, that means we’ve been friends for more than 20 years. Here are our pictures from the 1988 yearbook. Sweet hair.

We went through school together, as well as years of JCC Camp, a car accident, an earthquake, sleepovers, neurotic mothers, family illnesses, nieces and nephews, farewells and reunions, and numerous other adventures.

When Marni met Jose, she found a soulmate, and she moved to Houston not so long ago to be with him. She didn’t realize just what an adventure she was in for. As Hurricane Ike moved toward Galveston, nearby Houston was under a close watch. Marni didn’t know if they would be part of the mandatory evacuation, but she knew it would be bad. She and Jose stuck it out, with her faithful dog Spencer by her side, and rode out the storm. I was biting my nails for days as I would get online to check out the “Hurricane Watch” every chance I could.

Thankfully, Marni, Jose, and Spencer are doing just fine. They are without power for several days...maybe weeks...and are temporarily relocating to Mobile, Alabama. We are terribly sorry for all the people who experienced such loss and devastation, but we are glad to report our friends are in good condition and spirits...and now can say they’ve been through a hurricane!!

We miss you Marn!!

Jose and Marni at our wedding

Wasatch Woman 5k

Sat, 6 Sep 2008 22:34:03 -0600

My girls and I participated in the 3rd Annual Wasatch Woman “Love Your Body” 5K/10K to benefit SPEAK, Students Promoting Eating Disorder Awareness and Knowledge. It was a great event, with over 600 women of all shapes and sizes, encouraging each other to promote being well and healthy. I found it very ironic and somewhat disturbing that a laser center and medical aesthetics spa had a promotional booth. In other words, “Love your body”...after it’s been tweezed and rid of hair and wrinkles. Kinda missed the point there.

We did enjoy the beautiful view, and Amy’s little guy Roman came in first...in his age group.

We went for breakfast afterwards, and Kara (above, far left) informed us that she is about 12 weeks pregnant!! We were thrilled and very impressed, being that she had just run a 10K! Jen (above, far right) is about 18 weeks along, and Amy and Jenny both have darling little boys. Needless to say, the conversation had a lot to do with pregnancy, babies, and child-rearing. I quietly ate my huevos rancheros. Yum.

Happy Birthday, G-DoG!!

Wed, 3 Sep 2008 22:00:18 -0600

Our little girl Greta turned 2 today...that’s already 14 in dog years!! We can’t believe it. Not that long ago, she was our little baby girl.

She started growing before we knew it, and I don’t know that we really knew what we were getting into. She was an 80 pound puppy!!

She’s loves the cold winters and tolerates her mother’s sense of humor :)

She has survived a bowel obstruction (swallowed toy), several more trips to the vet for multiple swallowed objects, she has chewed up our floorboards, dug up the yard, and slobbered over each and every house guest...but we love her so much and wish her a very happy birthday!!

If Dogs Made The Rules

1. If I like it, it's mine.
2. If it's in my mouth, it's mine.
3. If I can take it from you, it's mine.
4. If I had it a little while ago, it's mine.
5. If it's mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.
6. If I'm chewing something, all the pieces are mine.
7. If it looks just like mine, it is mine.
8. If I saw it first, it's mine.
9. If you are playing with something and you put it down, it automatically becomes mine.

Labor day hailstorm

Mon, 1 Sep 2008 21:40:34 -0600

A wrench was undoubtedly thrown in people’s plans for Labor Day barbeques and picnics in the park. The hail moved in quickly and I found myself hoping the windows didn’t break...but all was well. It was SO loud and seemed like it lasted for hours...but really, it was only minutes.

All in all, no damage done...but we’ll see how my newly planted ground cover holds up.

Why did the chicken cross the road?

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 23:31:54 -0600

Apparently, to get to our house.

The other night, Ryan informed me, much to my disbelief that there were a couple of chickens in our front yard. He discovered them after Greta started going a little nuts, and took off after them. The black one escaped over to our next-door neighbors house, and the little red one stayed with us for awhile.

He came up to our front door....

...and politely declined when Ryan tried to shoo him away with a rake.

He then took a whiz on our garbage can, and rummaged through our garage.

While Ryan stood guard, calming the killer chicken, I went out back and flagged down our neighbor, Mr. Colleti, who has a mini-farm right behind us. Turns out, the runaway chickens were given at Easter as cute little chickies...not so cute
anymore. Colleti came to retrieve his chickens with his oversized chicken-catcher, and our adventure with the chicken came to a peaceful end. (Don’t worry...he got the black one from the neighbor’s house, too).

Olympic Pillow fight

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 22:59:14 -0600

While watching the track and field events with his buddy Uncle Ryan, Max must have been overcome with athletic inspiration. And what better an outlet for him than a good old-fashioned pillow war.

Max was very supportive of our Olympic athletes, yelling “Hurry, hurry!! Run!” to the runners, and explaining to Ryan that they were, in fact, running.

Greta’s first swim

Sat, 9 Aug 2008 12:17:33 -0600

Our girl Greta, despite her water-dog heritage, has always been a bit timid when it comes to the water. She has a broad, strong chest and webbed-feet, a big ol’ rudder tail, along with an essentially waterproof outer layer of fur. She was made for the water...she just hasn’t figured that out quite yet.

To get away from the city heat, we drove to the top of Millcreek Canyon, landed at about 7600 feet (and 78 degrees), and started our 3.1 mile trek up to Dog Lake. It’s a beautiful hike up, climbing about 1300 feet, with aspens and wildflowers in full bloom.

By the time we got the lake, Greta was pooped, and so was I. I was a little nervous about her trying to swim, because if she got into any sort of trouble, it would take everyone at the lake to try to save her. I kept telling myself, “She was made for this, she was made for this.” 
Our first attempt went as expected. She saw the stick out in the water, but was much more comfortable close to shore, and close to her mother.

With our second attempt came a little more bravery...she walked out until she couldn’t touch anymore, then again, remembered she wasn’t quite ready for this.

Attempt #3- it wasn’t very deep, and she wasn’t out for very long, but our girl swam.

We were very proud and happy parents...and G-Dog slept for two straight days.

Becoming triathletes

Sat, 2 Aug 2008 08:51:47 -0600

Off...the...couch...

I did a triathlon in April as a way to get in shape for our wedding. It was such a great experience, and I wish I could have bottled the feeling I had when I crossed the finish line (which was a complete turn-around from how I felt when I got in the water...which was more like “What have I gotten myself into??!!”)

I went to Lake Las Vegas for the weekend to do the Iron Girl sprint distance, with my friends Kara and Jen. Kara is an amazing athlete, and performed phenomenally well. Jen was our cheerleader/photographer, and I was plugging along, putting one foot in front of the other. I was way too over-confident on the swim, not taking into account the cold water or the chop, and I can’t tell you the last time I have been on a bike. Literally, I had no idea how to even work the gears on my rented bike, because the last time I rode a bike, it was a Schwinn 10-speed, and pretty easy to maneuver. Running has never been a joy of mine, but I did it. Swim. Bike. Run.

Coming out of the water

Kara kicking butt!

The finish line

We did it!

So that was the plan. Swim. Bike. Run.

What happened was....Swim. Bike. Run. Plan wedding. Get married. Go to Europe. Get entrenched in new job. Visit friends. Finish basement. Forget where gym is...and lose membership card. Use all new kitchen tools to discover joy of cooking...and eating.

So that’s it...we are done with this couch-potato lifestyle. We each bought new road bikes and hired a triathlon coach (oh yes, we did), and we are going to get back in shape. I am going back to Iron Girl in May...this time an Olympic distance. Ryan wants to do an IronMan...someday. He’s going to get back in “Navy Shape”, which I must admit I am looking forward to. He promised to wear his military issue short-shorts for the swim portion. Short-shorts...he he.

U.S. Navy Search and Rescue Swimmer Class

Phuket, Thailand

We figure the more people we tell, the more accountable we will have to be to actually go through with this, so feel free to ask us how training is going. And ask to see Ryan in his short-shorts. That kills me.

Finishing the Basement

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 19:43:43 -0600

1550 square feet of potential greatness. We’ve got a big space for a TV, we’ve wired for surround sound, and will have a wet bar. Guess we’ll be starting to watch football. Oh, and we will have a guest bedroom so we don’t have to put guests on the Aerobed shoved in the office, and my brother-in-law will have a real-life toilet to pee in.

BEFORE...

DURING...

We are patiently awaiting “AFTER”.... to be continued....

Coupeville, WA

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 23:11:56 -0600

On a whim, we took off to the Northwest this weekend to visit my Dad’s cousins, aunts, and uncles. We flew into Seattle and had a bit of time to kick around the famous Public Market, and the home of an empire...world’s first Starbucks.

We drove an hour north to Mukilteo, and caught the ferry, about a 20 minute ride, across the Sound to Whidbey Island. My Dad’s aunt and cousins live in Coupeville, the small town on the island where my Grandma Sis grew up. My Dad’s Grandpa Mo owned and ran the Prairie Center Mercantile in the center of town, which is now the Red Apple Market. I was actually quite moved to see the old sign from his store and think that this is where so much of my family history started.

Grandma’s old house

We stayed with my Dad’s cousin Jan and her partner Anne. I have never known two more warm and loving people, and they were so welcoming. They live on an amazing piece of property, and we really did feel like we were in a different world. The first time we pulled out of their long driveway we saw two bald eagles sitting on a telephone pole...I could hardly believe my eyes.

We went with Anne out to the strawberry fields, and ended up picking dozens of fresh strawberries, some of which were used for shortcake that night, some of which went into jam the next mornings, some of which we couldn’t resist eating right off the vine.

My Dad’s aunt Muriel has lived in her house on the beach for over 30 years, and we were lucky enough to spend an afternoon out there. It was such a nice family get together...so wonderful to connect with my family. My Dad’s Aunt Del and Uncle Mayer, as was Aunt Muriel. Cousins, friends, family that I have never been able to spend enough time with, I was now able to connect with and introduce to Ryan.

The next day, we drove a few miles down to Ebey’s Landing, and hiked up over the bluff to the most spectacular view of Puget Sound. It’s amazing to think that this is where they live...I guess people feel that way when they see our mountains. Still, there is something about the sea...

Ryan, Stacey, Jan, Anne, and Jill

A drive over Deception Pass, then back to Seattle to catch a flight back home. Quick trip. Good times.

Kathleen and Jeff's Wedding

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 23:30:06 -0600

All through medical school, we would tease my roommate (and for four long years, my other half) Kath about going out and finding her “perfect match”. He was from New England (to match her New York sass), he loved basketball (as she was a star player at Holy Cross), and in our dreams, he was a teacher. Of course, we knew this was a joke, because her perfect match could not possibly exist.

Well he does.

Kathleen met Jeff around the time I met Ryan. We courted around the same amount of time, got engaged around the same time, and married around the same time. We know how lucky we are to have had each other during medical school, and we also felt so lucky to go through such an amazing time of our lives together.

Kath was a gorgeous, magazine-coveresque bride, and Jeff was beaming all night long. They were married at her beloved Holy Cross in Worchester, Mass, and I was honored to be included in her wedding party. Can you find me?? Where’s Waldo???

I was truly so happy to see my friend find her soulmate in Jeff, and I know that they will be happy together for so many years to come.

It was a quick trip for us...flew into Boston on Friday, drove to Worchester that night, went to the wedding on Saturday, then back to Boston on Sunday for a late flight home. Ryan’s never been to Boston, so we hung around town for awhile. Not enough time. We’ll be back....

Chellie and Travis's Wedding

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 15:10:21 -0600

Ryan’s sister Chellie and her long-time love Travis got married today. The bride was absolutely stunning, and the groom, as handsome as ever.

Ryan and Chellie grew up just a year apart, and have shared a special bond because of it. They went through school together, and both went on to be engineers. Travis and Chellie met in college at Montana Tech, and now they both work and live in beautiful Boise, Idaho.

Welcome, Kye!

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0600

We got a new neighbor! Kye Isaac Fixter was born today, on Father’s Day, to our friends and neighbors Katie and Mark. He is a beautiful, healthy little guy, weighing in at 7 lbs, 13 oz.

Sleeping Kye
Big brother Aberdeen

We have been so lucky to have such great neighbors in Katie and Mark. Unfortunately, they will be relocating back to Jackson Hole, and we will miss them terribly. At least we’ll have a place to stay in Jackson! Greta will miss her buddy Aberdeen, and we will certainly miss Mark, Katie, and Kye.

A hole in one!

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:43:29 -0600

He did it!! It’s true!! He had a reliable witness and everything.

Congrats, Ryan.

Old Mill Golf Course
Hole #7
Par 3
156 yards
9 iron

Stacey's Look-alike

Mon, 2 Jun 2008 21:15:12 -0600

My sister Elys lives in my Grandma Sis’s old condo. My Dad lived there for awhile when he was younger and then my grandma and grandpa lived there for years. The other day, Elys was moving some of her things out of the basement of the condo, and this old photograph fell onto the floor.

We don’t know who these people are, but my resemblance to the young girl on the bottom left is uncanny. My Dad sent it out to everyone on his Mom’s side, and no one recognizes any of them, so the mystery remains. We think it must be from my Grandpa Neisen’s side of the family. The investigation continues....

Honeymoon in Italy

Mon, 19 May 2008 23:14:27 -0600

Ahhhhh, Italy. What a trip.

Check out the details on our HONEYMOON BLOG

Our wedding

Sat, 17 May 2008 00:00:00 -0600

After two years together, Ryan proposed in Washington DC on July 4, 2007, underneath the fireworks at the Washington Monument. It was such a magical moment for both of us, and I didn’t think anything could top it. That is, until our wedding day.

I had always thought I wanted a very small affair...nothing fancy, maybe a barbeque in the back yard or something. But when we started planning, we realized we had so many people that we wanted there to celebrate with us. So much family and so many friends--we really did want a big party! So that’s what we had.

The view from the 23rd Floor of the Wells Fargo Building was unbelievable. It had been cold and rainy for weeks...but not that weekend. That weekend was sunny and beautiful. We we married by Unitarian reverend Anita Gordon in a short, very sweet ceremony, with the Wasatch mountain range in the background.

Anyone who knows Ryan and me knows how we feel about good food. Well, our food was amazing. Mushroom risotto, roasted red pepper chicken, salads, grilled asparagus...everything was outstanding...and we ate and ate.

As the evening wore on, the wine and champagne flowed. Our “Best Women”, my sister Sam and Ryan’s sister Chellie, gave beautiful touching toasts, and of course, we all cried like babies. Friends and family mingled, and we danced the night away to the Joe Muscolino Band.

We really did find it very overwhelming to have so many family and friends, many from so far away, who all came together to celebrate us. It was humbling and very emotional to look around and see just how many people care about us. We realized on that day just how very lucky we are.

At the end of the night, our good friend (and next door neighbor) Katie went down to the news studio on the first floor of the Wells Fargo building to her post as weekend anchor on the evening news. We gathered some friends and went down to the street for a post-wedding interview on the news, just to cap off a truly amazing day. (I am waiting for a copy of the clip to post, so please check back, because it’s pretty amusing.) You can check out some more wedding pics on our “Photos” page.