Farewell 2011!

Well, it's that time again! Time to bid another year adieu and look forward to what the new year has in store for us. But before we do that, let's look back at how 2011 treated us:

January - What I Wore Wednesday, a.k.a. WIWW, continued into 2011 {a fun way to look back and see how my style has evolved}; all of the kids in Sam's family treated his parents to a Portland Trailblazer game for Christmas, which we attended in January; and we spent quality time with family & friends.

February - I bragged about my brother's accomplishments; some Valentine's baking occurred; and more WIWW posts.

March - You got to know me a little better; we celebrated our SIL & MIL's birthday and a baby shower for our niece; I fell in love with the cute town of Seaside, OR; neither of us get Spring Break off, but we still enjoyed the weather with friends + family; and, of course, Kristi kept us well fed.

April - Sam built us {+ the Weathers} raised beds for our garden, which turned into a complete backyard makeover; Lily got a new Molly Mutt bed; my SIL's church through her a beautiful baby shower; and we spent Easter down in Eugene so we could listen to our SIL sing one last time at her church down there.

May - Kristi & I went to see Something Borrowed after reading the book a couple years back; Sam turned 29 & we celebrated both his birthday + Mothers Day in Sandy; and Linnea Elizabeth finally made her appearance {a little over a week late} & we all fell in love instantly!

June - I hoped on a plane to see one of my best friends in TX; there was some quality time spent with my college roommate; my brother graduated from college; I continued to read more books thanks to the BlogHer Book Club; we moved my BIL & SIL up to Portland; and Sam & I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary!

July - 4th of July was spent with friends + sparklers; I saw Sara Bareilles in concert with friends; and Sam & I went to the east coast {his first time + I haven't been back in 5+ years} to visit my dad, attend my cousin's wedding, + celebrate my 26th birthday.

August - thanks to Kristi & Sherlai, I attended my second concert this year - Gabe Dixon {+ we got to meet him!}; Sam's family came down for a 'staycation' at our house; and Sam built himself a backdrop for my WIWW photos.

September - I shared how I was feeling lately; we remembered 9/11 - 10th anniversary; and I participated in a scarf swap.

October - Sam & I visited the Oregon Garden for the first time {and are already looking forward to using the membership we purchased}; I played catch up - hair color change, breakfast date with Sam, exploring Portland with Kelly, family photos, and a trip to Redmond to see Michelle + the kids; and we all got together for the 4th annual pumpkin carving party.

November - Sam created a moving picture of our adorable niece that I had to share; I bragged about my talented friends - Jon & Rachel; another 'about me' post; we took Lily to her first dog park; Thanksgiving was spent with Sam's family this year + I shared what I was most thankful for!

December - lots of highlights - more dog park visits, fun with friends, watching my BIL do what he loves, seeing family, & selling my car; I participated in another swap - this time gloves; went to the theatre for a holiday performance; Christmas cards were sent out + the house was decorated; and we managed to see both families this Christmas season.

Overall, I would say this year was a good one for us. We traveled, spent some good time with family + friends, and welcomed our first niece. Even with 2011 being so good, I'm still excited to welcome 2012 and see what it has in store for us. So until next year... :)

Weekend Highlights

To be honest with you, I actually tried to make an effort to document my weekend with pictures so I had something to post here. Sad? A little. In reality, I love taking pictures, but most of the time I forget to take my camera {or iPhone, usually} out to capture life as it's happening. I do enjoy being able to look back at past posts, even it doesn't pertain to anyone else, so I will continue to post, pictures or not.

Here's a couple of this weekend's highlights:

We took Lily to the dog park again and actually let her

off the leash for most of time. I think she had a great time because

she slept for the remainder of the weekend :)

My Saturday night was spent celebrating Kiley's {Sherlai's husband}

40th birthday party! This party was straight out of Pinterest -

there was live music, barbecue, and a photo booth {above}

all taking place in an old barn! Simply amazing, if you ask me!

On Sunday, we drove up to Sandy to see Sam's family.

We've been following along with our brother-in-law's weekly class at church

via the internet and we're so happy to get to see his teaching in real life!

We also drove up to see this cutie!

I wish she'd stop growing so fast, but I do love seeing

her personality change each time we see her!

And finally, it was the end of an era...

I said goodbye to my faithful New Beetle on Sunday afternoon.

The car that got me through college, my long distance engagement,

and the first few years of marriage, all with very little trouble.

But I was happy it is going to another young girl who will

{hopefully} enjoy it as much as I did!

Happy Monday!

Thankful

While this post isn't going to be terribly unique {my Google Reader has been full of "thankful" posts all week!}, it's still important to me to share some of the most important things I am thankful for this year:

My brother graduating {with honors} from college
+ the time we all spent together this year.

The Grable family's constant love for each other.

And this beautiful baby who has changed all of our lives!

Our opportunity to go see my dad, step-mom, & brothers back East
and the positive changes that came after the visit.

Friends who have become some of the most important people in my life!

Lily, our crazy pup that appears calm, but definitely keeps us on our toes.

And this man, who has never made me feel anything
but loved since the day I met him!

Lastly, I'm thankful for all that God has shown me this year. It hasn't been easy to trust in Him, but the outcomes have been better than I ever imagined!

I hope you all can take a moment to reflect on all the blessings you have to be thankful for this year. Happy Thanksgiving!

Lily's First Dog Park

Since Friday was a holiday for both Sam & I {thank you to all the veterans out there!}, we took advantage of the free time to take Lily to her first dog park!

We'd both been a little hesitant to take her in the past because she's a small dog and is still learning to listen to us when we call. So when we arrived at the park, instead of letting her run free like most of the other dogs there, we decided to keep her on her leash and slowly get her used to the large number of dogs she'd meet there.


There was one trail around the dog park that was almost deserted, so we let Lily run leash-free for a little bit, making sure we weren't too far away from her though. This might have been her favorite part of the day - dog & leash-free :)


We already have future plans to get Lily out to the dog park again, in hopes that she'll become more socialized around other dogs & people. She's really a sweet pup, but can just be a little protective and sometimes skiddish around others. Here's to more dog park visits!

Scenes from New Hampshire

Last week, Sam & I hopped on a plane and flew across the country to the beautiful state of New Hampshire to visit family & attend my cousin's wedding. Here are a few of the {photographed} highlights from our visit:

{The one I couldn't have traveled without!}

{A couple of nights at a beautiful bed & breakfast,
courtesy of my dad & step-mom}

{The bride + groom and the main reason for our trip}

{2 out of 3 of my brothers on my dad's side}

{My step-mom & step-brother tearing up the dance floor}

{Sierra & I first met back at my wedding - 3 years ago -
but we seemed to pick up right where we left off :)}

{A long overdue picture of my dad + I}

{Me + my swim buddy}

{Wilson, the pup, finally warmed up to me}

{On the way home after a long day of travel}

Other highlights not pictured:
*Finding an job I'd love to work in someday - wedding planning!
*Enjoying the old feel to the New England towns
*Learning to play the Wii
*An Italian birthday meal with the whole family
*Spending hours just talking with family I haven't seen in 3 years!

While I spent many summers back east when I was growing up, this time felt different {in a good way}. I can't wait to go back and sincerely hope it's not as long between visits until the next time!

Love: Molly Mutt dog beds

Our pup, Lily, was recently in need of a new dog bed, so where did I turn? The Internet of course! I searched through my Google Reader and came across Molly Mutt dog beds and knew I had found Lily's new bed. With different sizes & patterned covers {we went with the small Mr. Postman duvet}, this bed can change with your decorating needs. And I love the stuff sack you place inside the cover for the sole purpose that it keeps everything together inside!

I think Lily may still be getting used to her new sleeping quarters {she had her previous bed for almost 3 years}, but I can tell you I'm already a big fan of the style & quality!

*FYI: I was not compensated for this post, I just love to share what I find!

Over the Weekend

My inlaws are two of the most selfless people I know & this weekend was no different. Who thinks to invite their kids to their birthday weekend getaway at the beach? My MIL & FIL, that's who! After being gifted a cute beach house for the weekend, they turned around & invited all of us to join them. Sadly, Matt & Krista couldn't make it {you two were very missed!}, but the rest of us jumped at the chance to get away for a night!







Some of the highlights:
*Multiple {long} walks to the promenade and only one resulted in getting rained on!
*Eating Tillamook ice cream {the best!} despite the cold weather.
*Seeing our pup, Lily, have the time of her life running around on the beach & chasing the seagulls.
*And as usual, there was a lot of food, games, & good conversation.

I mentioned it a couple times throughout the weekend, but only having been up to Seaside once or twice before, I'm pretty sure it is my favorite Oregon beach town and I can't wait to go back!

Farewell 2010!

Oh my! How has another year has just flown by? I'm still trying to figure how to slow everything down just a little bit, but until then shall we revist 2010?

January - New Years was low key, but I did share some resolutions that I think I did a pretty good job keeping; I started the year with a little courage & bared my soul with a letter to my younger self and some of the ups & downs of life; my outfits of the day {OOTD} made their first appearance; and I found out I'd be getting another {amazing} sister!

February - I shared {the one & only} check up on my resolutions; we took a trip to Silver Falls; I talked about my favorite {free} iPhone apps and a few of my favorite things in our home; and found happiness in what is around me.

March - Sam & I {as well as one of our friends} were hit with food poisoning; and I posted a couple of my favorite OOTD's.

April - we hosted Easter at our house this year; I recalled a trip to Minto-Brown park with the pups; Spring Cleaning hit our house; I introduced my 'personal assistant'; Sam & I bought tickets for the 6th Blazer playoff game {& had a great time!}; and we took one last trip to Bend before my mom moved.

May - I gave a shoutout to my favorite little guy - Levi - on his first birthday; we jammed a wedding shower, engagement photoshoot, & Sam's birthday {plus more!} into one weekend; I flew down to Napa for my mom's 50th birthday; my good friends took some {memorable} family pictures for us; and my SIL, Laura, & I threw a couple's shower for Matt & Krista.

June - we had another multi-event weekend - this time with a wedding, a bridal shower, & also we fit in some yard work; I got deep again when I talked about where I'm at & the chapters of life; Sam & I went back to Bend for one of my high school friend's wedding, but this time we stayed in a hotel {so weird for me!}; we had to say goodbye to a very beloved dog way sooner than we thought; and we had a low key celebration for our 2nd anniversary.

July - 4th of July was spent with Sam's family again {except this year was unseasonable cold}; I took the plunge & got bangs; I was very spoiled on my birthday; we officially got another sister; and I shared a few thoughts.

August - I went to my best friend's beach bachelorette party & then she got married on a farm {both very magical events!}; I won a giveaway!; my OOTD's changed a little; New Orleans was pressing on my heart {again...}; our pup decided to be a little mischevious; and we had another great Grable Family Beach Weekend.

September - we hiked Ramona Falls with my MIL & FIL; I shared some finds from the internet, as well as several more OOTD's; and we found out we were going to auntie Meaghan & uncle Sam in May {except it wasn't public knowledge to the blog yet :)}.

October - these stencils had me smiling from ear to ear; I recounted a scary moment in my life; I saw my aunt after she ran the Portland Marathon; my countdown list was full; and my best friend & I spent a lovely Saturday together, catching up & eating cupcakes.

November - Pumpkin Carving 2010 was held at our house; Sam took his first official photoshoot; I drove over to Redmond to see the Heaters for the first time in almost a year; I created some fun holiday photo cards {except I didn't end up actually buying any}; and of course I shared what I was thankful for & our Thanksgiving trip to California.

December - a lot of the regular posts continued {WIWW & Love...}; our sister, Krista, sang again at her church's Christmas concert and we were lucky to attend; the news of a niece made us all excited to meet the little one in May; we went to 2 Portland Trailblazer games & they won!; there were plenty of weekends of fun in Sandy, including Christmas; and lastly, our annual Christmas picture.

This year was filled with highs & lows for us, but through it all, I've continued to enjoy the art of blogging. As for next year, only time will tell where things go and I'm excited to see happens. See you next year!

Because it's Monday...

And I'm already celebrating the holidays, here is a {photo-heavy} list of a few of the things I'm most thankful for this year:

A mom who is so happy in her new surroundings!

A peace of mind when thinking about our sweet Buster.

And the new fondness between Lily & I!

A SIL joining the {already awesome} Grable family!

And the baby that will be joining these proud parents above in May!

The friends who have made time for me when I know their lives are already busy enough!

And a husband who makes me laugh everyday!

Boy, do I feel blessed! Happy Thanksgiving all!

Weekend Highlights: Pumpkin Carving!

On Saturday, Sam's family {with the exception of my SIL, Krista - hope you're feeling better!} made the trek over to our house for a little pumpkin carving & birthday celebrating. Some of the highlights below:

The creativity was certainly in full force with the pumpkins this year. While some were a little serious about their pumpkins {myself...}, others were just silly - portrayed above by my BIL Matt!

My inspiration came from our pup Lily, using the stencil I posted about a couple weeks ago. It was a lot harder than I anticipated, but turned out pretty cute if you ask me.

And the secret is out {I was given the 'okay' to post on the blog} - I'm going to be an auntie in May!!! The onesie above was a birthday gifts to my SIL for the new baby! To say we are excited is a huge understatement!

Other things not highlighted by pictures:
*Never ending birthday gifts for Laura. {Happy Birthday today sister!!!}
*Crock pot full of homemade chili.
*Mini pumpkin cakes, brownies, & ice cream, oh my!

As usual, the day flew by thanks to this group of people. I am a big fan of holiday traditions with this family and can't wait for next year's carving party!

Love: Year of the Chihuahua Calendar

I'm not usually the kind who goes out and buys a new calendar every year, but after seeing ModCloth's Year of the Chihuahua calendar I might* have to become that person! This reminds me of our Lily and would look pretty cute on my desk at work.

*Unfortunately it's already sold out at ModCloth, but I am determined to try to find it else where...

Love: BH&G Dog-Breed Pumpkin Stencils

{photo via here & here}

Better Homes & Gardens Dog-Breed Pumpkin Stencils had me at hello! With a couple specific pups with permanent residence in my heart, I instantly loved the idea and can’t wait to make my own. Plus, they have over 10 other dog-breeds to choose from!

Please come back & share if you decide to turn your favorite dog into pumpkin form!

Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall!

I think I'm one of those people who breaks up the year into the traditional seasons - Spring, Summer, Fall, & Winter - due to the fact that I grew up in a place where we saw all four seasons through the weather, both the good & the bad. So since September is right around the corner, I thought it fitting to share a few things to bring in the new season.

First, where has our summer gone? The last 3+ months have been jam packed with family & friends and we are pretty worn out. Between several beautiful weddings {congratulations once again to the Carrillos, the Grables, & the Di Cristinas!} and the passing of our sweet pug, I think the reasons are pretty clear. This summer will be one we won't soon forget.

Secondly, how do you like the new look here at Grable Tales? Thanks to Krameymartin Designs and Jonathan David Photography, we've got ourselves an updated look here and I'm loving the change! What do you think?

Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall!

Minor Weekend Repair

While Sam & I were at work on Wednesday, someone {namely our chihuahua pomeranian pup - Lily} thought it would be a good idea to rig herself out her cage in our bonus room and start digging by the door. Her hard day's work left her stuck in the bonus room and us with a whole in the carpet {above} . All I can say is thank goodness for handy FIL's who are willing to help with a home repair you or your husband know nothing about.

On top of the {long awaited} Grable family stay-cation taking place at our house this weekend, we'll now also be fitting in some time to repair Lily's damages. I'm hoping for a lot of laughs & fun with the in-laws over the next couple days so my grudge against Lily will be erased.

Happy weekend to you!

Buster

The last week has been a blur! Our little life was flipped upside down on Tuesday when our chipper pug was definitely not himself. After a trip to the vet and several x-rays later, the diagnosis was confirmed that Buster had a herniated disc in the middle of his spine.

Our hearts broke at the news & our minds raced around thinking about how Buster had been himself only 24 hours prior and all of the sudden he was losing mobility in his hind legs at a rapid pace. Our vet informed us that medication might ease the situation for a while, but that spinal surgery (read: thousands of dollars & months of recovery) was the only complete cure, and even that wasn’t guaranteed with the the lack of response in his legs. What were we going to do?

We immediately called family & friends to pray. Pray for peace. Pray for comfort. And most of all, pray for a miracle. We did the same, but focused most of our time being by Buster's side 24/7 caring for his ailing body. Our life quickly became a roller coaster with being hopeful that Buster will get through this one minute and the next hearing cries of pain and wondering what we could do to help.

Over the next four days, we had several visits and phone calls with our vet, discussing the options available and finally decided, for the sake of Buster's quality of life, to put him to sleep. Can I just let you know that making that decision and saying it out loud was probably the hardest one either of us has ever had to make? Because it was. And we are still feeling the decision now even if it was for the best.

Personally, I can’t help but feel like I’ve failed my sweet puppy by not being able to get him through this. Seeing him in so much pain was horrible and when he would look up at me, I would immediately start to cry because there wasn’t anything I could do to help him, except continue to love on him & keep him as comfortable as I could.

There will definitely be a period of mourning for Sam & I with this loss in our family, but knowing that Buster isn't in pain anymore does bring a sense of peace to us. Even if we still miss him like crazy!

To those who sent encouraging words, called to see if we were ok, and just hugged us when there was nothing to say - thank you!

And to our Buster boy - we love you more than words can say & will not forget the joy you brought us every day for the last two and half years!