The Rules

I've been asked by many people what "Rule 2" means or about the Rules in general. So I'm providing an explanation. 

The Rulebook illustrations were drawn by Andrew as a surprise, and they were true events, which made it awesome.

Rule 0: No Lying
This rule came about sometime after we started creating rules but we found it so important that we decided to create a Rule 0 to precede the others.

   

Rule 1: No Dying
Andrew and I were on our first backpacking trip together in Northern California (it was his birthday weekend). He and I were going fly fishing on the other side of the lake and we had to cross a boulder field to get there. Being the boy he is, he jumped from a large boulder to another. I told him he wasn't allowed to die, that was rule number 1.

Rule 2: Live Adventurously
Continuing from the previous rule: Andrew then replied that rule 2 was live adventurously and jumped to another boulder.

Rule 3: No Getting Caught in the Bushes
Continuing from Rules 1 & 2: Andrew was teaching me how to fly fish when his cast landed his fly in the bushes behind us. He informed me as he untangled his fly and line that rule 3 was no getting caught in the bushes.

Rule 4: No Falling In
A couple weeks after the first backpacking trip we went again for my birthday. The weather was completely opposite along with the location. Instead of sunny, (mostly) warm California we were in cold, snowy Oregon off Hwy 140. We had to cross an icy-cold stream (there were a few inches of snow, at one point we were hiking in snow up to our knees) and I'm not the best when it comes to walking on slippery rocks and trees. Therefore, no falling in was made a rule.

Rule 5: No Blaming
I don't exactly remember how this one came to be a rule but we were dating by then. It might have had something to do with talking on the phone since our relationship was long-distance for the first year.

Rule 6: Sleep Only When Allowed
One night as we were talking on the phone Andrew fell asleep. I wasn't upset but he felt bad the next day so he created the sleep only when allowed rule.

Rule 7: No Broken Promises
This was created when he promised to call me one day and either got too busy or fell asleep or forgot, I don't remember which. But I forgave him. (He also promised that his little red car was great in the snow... yeah, right.)

*Most rules are meant to be broken
Andrew was very adamant that this was added to the Rules. So far, most of the rules have been broken but we aren't keeping track :)

Home for Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Christmas was very busy and eventful this year! We traveled from San Francisco to Seattle and back again with a couple stops in between.

I was able to start my journey north on the Thursday before Christmas. Andrew had flown to Salem the previous Sunday so I was planning on picking him up in Salem on Saturday on the way to Seattle. I thankfully had an early shift at work so I got home early, loaded up the car, and was on the road by 11am. I was so excited to have dinner with my family and to snuggle with the animals after 5 days alone in the apartment. The drive was great until I just north of Redding. 

Then I heard that chains were required on the Siskiyou Pass. That's fine, I always carry chains, I drive a Subaru, and I actually like driving in snow. Then traffic stopped due to a chain checkpoint. After about an hour I was driving again. Then due to an accident traffic stopped again. The supposed 30 minute wait turned into hours. Here are pictures I took when I stopped. 

After 45 minutes of sitting I heard on the radio that "Blizzard Conditions" caused 1-5 to be closed about a quarter mile north of where I sat. Snow continued to fall and pile up while I sat in my car. After about two and a half hours traffic finally started to move. I was relieved I didn't have to spend the night in my car (I was prepared though. I had lots of food, water, and warm clothes). After hours of driving and praying the Siskiyou would remain open, I finally made it home. It took me eleven hours. Normally it takes us six. 

My parents, Laura, her fiance Sheldon, and I planned on driving to Seattle for Christmas on Saturday, picking Andrew up on the way. Due to the storm, it was predicted that the Sexton Pass would be closed due to snow Saturday morning. So around 5pm Friday night we started loading up the cars. I drove to Salem with Sheppie and stayed the night at Dan and Sarah's house while my parents stayed in Cottage Grove (just north of the pass). Saturday morning we all met up and Andrew, Laura, Sheldon, and I stopped at Ikea in Portland to pick up some wedding supplies (yay!) while my parents went to Seattle. 

We stayed two days in Seattle visiting with my grandparents and family we were able to see. Early  Christmas morning Andrew and I packed up and drove down to Salem to see his family. After a couple days in Salem we drove to Medford. We had Christmas with my grandparents and cousins, stayed the night, then drove to San Francisco. 

We had a wonderful Christmas but the time with family was too short. We're really looking forward to being closer to family in a couple years!  

Laura made these cute mugs for herself and Amber, her best friend, who is going to college in Texas. 

I made on for Maggie who is in Wyoming.

We returned to SF to find an adorable ornament in the mail from my Aunt Jonna and cousin Tatum. Thank you! I love it! We had it on the tree until we took it down a few days ago. 

On the left is the ornament from Aunt Jonna and Tatum, and on the right is an ornament my mom made for us. She had my dad dig out from the yard waste bin the section of tree Andrew had sawn off and had my sister take it to our Woodshop teacher at the high school to cut it into thinner pieces. Thank you Ms. Chris!

Karen gave us this duck that found it's way onto the tree as well :)

 On non-Christmas related notes, we've been adding furniture to the apartment!

This is one of my favorite pieces that my cousin Tamara has refurnished (see her work here). I saw it online and fell in love with it. Andrew bought it for me as a birthday present back in November. I absolutely LOVE it! We had talked about how we need a bench in the hallway so we can sit and put our shoes on and this antique phone bench is perfect!

Now we have dressers!!! My grandparents gave us the one in the middle and Dan and Sarah gave us the two on the outside. THANK YOU! Bye bye boxes of Andrew's clothes!

The weather here has been great and our little indoor garden is expanding due to the sunlight.

 All of the plants have grown so much! Just yesterday we added basil to our garden, yum! 

Our kitchen isn't so bare anymore!

Andrew spends his weekends watching football, checking scores...

and of course, tying flies WHILE watching football :)

Thanks Matt and Amanda for the TV! It's amazing compared to the little 12in screen we had before :)

Happy New Year!

Celebration Pie

Tonight Andrew had his last class of the semester. It's hard to believe we've been in SF for over 4 months now. Time has flown by. 

We're also celebrating that Andrew got a job! He starts the beginning of January in the Business and Accounting offices on campus. Go Andrew!!! Since Andrew is 1/4 of the way done with grad school and he is now employed I made him an apple pie. 

I attempted to write "Congrats" in pie crust on the top. It's not the most beautiful pie, but boy, does it taste good! I use any excuse I can get to bake but I've been holding off on making an apple pie. I think us both being employed and Andrew finishing the semester with flying colors is a great reason for pie! :)