What we've been up to...

March and early April were busy with all sorts of random things, and it has been really nice to have the last week be so quiet. Here's a few photos of what was keeping us busy...

We prepped the guest room for Christine and family's visit, which included wrapping up the work on the dresser that Fritz began over Thanksgiving. This is Ashley's great aunt's beautiful tiger maple dresser that needed some restoration work done to it...

Over Thanksgiving, they took off the old base and constructed a beautiful new one (wish I could easily post a before photo). All we had to do was stain the bottom and reattach the top which they had planed to smooth out. Looks great!

Unfortunately I didn't get a SINGLE photo of Christine and family while they were here! I think I was preoccupied with some other news we had percolating  ; ) 

After the Schusters left, we had an engagement party for Bryce and Heather at our house, which turned out to be a good time. Here's part of the group at one of the tables for dinner. Hector, Bryce, Michelle and the rest of the group had a tradition of doing taco nights when they are all living in the bay area, so we re-created a taco night "norte" (as we called it : )

And as usual folks headed downstairs for pool for the night. I snuck upstairs to bed at 11:30 while the rest of the party continued till the wee hours...

Thankfully I felt great the next day on Easter - made some brunch, hid an Easter basket for Ashley, made an asparagus torte and ate dinner at our friends and neighbors Jonny and Rebkah's. A really nice Easter, although we don't have nearly the cute photos you all do from the holiday : )

Early the next week I headed to Southern CA for the week for work. Was obviously working during the day and in the evenings I was able to go for some long walks around Laguna Beach and some of the other towns. Beautiful plants everywhere.

The coolest yard I'd ever seen! This was the entrance to the house from the sidewalk ...

And you walked down stairs to this cute patio. On the left is a tree house that is at street level because of the hill. Hard to see from the photos, but SO NEAT. The houses were just gorgeous.

Crazy Laguna Beach tree

It was full on spring when I got back to pdx. I know I've posted bazillions of photos from my work window, but seriously, this rainbow was HUGE!

And it was a double - so pretty.

 Now we have a few low key weeks before preparing for all our visitors in May! So excited to see everyone! : )