here we go again.

I tried to find a good layout for my xanga page, before I started a new entry. As it turns out, xanga is a dying breed, and nobody cares much for inventing new layouts for it. I've known this for a while, but I have finally (I know, I've said this before) decided to go forth with blogger to post our updates out here in seattle. it can sometimes give me problems with uploading photos, but we'll just see how it goes.

Two weeks ago marked Jon's return to busy season. It will be the 3rd busy season we go through together, 4th if you count the one in the beginning while we dated. I don't count that one, because neither one of us cared if he worked until 10 or 11 pm, because we stayed up until almost 3 every night anyway, not being able to bear going back to our own respective apartments. Haha, oh dating. How not-real life you are.
(in fact, my best friend is currently going through this infatuation stage with the boy she is in love with, and it's bringing back a lot of memories I had forgotten. Like how sleep moved down a few notches on the basic needs list, replaced by "Need for Time with said object of infatuation." I miss the giddy feeling of this stage, but not the sleep deprivation.)

But yes, busy season. Each return to it has been unique, the first one happening when we had only been married 2.5 months. And that was brutal, I can't lie. It was no coincidence that Jon left PwC after that year, as it took a serious toll on us to rarely see each other, and as I spent evening after evening alone in our apartment for three, four, into five long months. I didn't have a job then, was in school only part-time, and didnt have many friends living around us.

But then we moved to Seattle, packed a couple years of marriage under our belts, and Jon missed the work he had done with that company. So he went back last year, while I had my career to focus on, and more friends to see, and Jon & I having learned many great communication skills since getting married.

And I sit, wondering how this next season will go. I have a job that I truly love, great solid friendships, a cat I love :), some really great hobbies, different activities in the next couple of months to anticipate and prepare for... I'm feeling really great about what could otherwise be a few dreary months. And this is the best part - in order to put a definite end to a season of work that has a tendency to stretch on for as long as you'll allow it (that first year, it was mid-July!), Jon & I have both booked vacation starting May 1st, and we have solid plans to finally take that promised trip to Italy! Such a fun thing to look forward to. We have all sorts of travel books, and I cannot wait to start booking places to stay and define everything a bit better.
anyway, that's me trying to optimistic about very minimal time I'll have with Jon over the next few months, but I'm sure you'll hear me get frustrated in the future...

We've gone through some car changes lately. In short, Jon's beater of a honda is seriously circling the drain and could die at a moment's notice. So while he's traveling longer distances at early & late hours, we think it best he drive my reliable jetta. As for me, I'm trying to embrace true city living by taking the bus the majority of the time, or even (bum bum BUM) making good use of the bicycle I received from Jon for my birthday. This has been the warmest January EVER (mid-50s and sunny every day!), so I dusted off the bike and am living life without a car at my immediate disposal. So far it's going well. Havent tried to bring home a gallon of milk on my bike yet though...

We enjoyed a ten day, whirlwind visit to the midwest in early January. It was crammed full of seeing old friends, seeing even older friends get married, lots of road trips, and great family hangout time. Oh yeah, don't forget the -20 degree temperatures...it was full of that too. (gosh, am I thankful for our mild winters out here.)
I brilliantly forgot my camera's memory card at home, so any pictures I have are all from my phone. haha, here they are:

I can't describe how cold it was out in the midwest, unless you're reading this from the midwest. Here's the view out of our chicago hotel room. The chicago river was slow flowing, as the ice started to pile up on top of it. I'm bummed we didnt get to enjoy our old city, as we spent most of the time huddled indoors.

My chubby little neice, Merian, who is the sweetest little girl ever. Just a laid-back cutie, who loves her older brother, and simply to be a part of things. Just look at these legs!

My sister & her hubby just bought a home!! It's the first time they've had the opportunity to place an offer and go through escrow. So fun to see their new colonial, and exciting to picture what the finished product will look like. Here's Katie next to their first "sold" sign:

always so sad to say goodbye :( I love these kids more than anything.

A good buddy from work had a masquerade for her birthday, so that was fun to get dressed up for :)

I gotta be honest, that dress was working hard. I hadnt worn it since Jon & I first started dating, and I dont have the same body as I did four years ago :P Excited to run the St. Patty's Day Dash here in seattle in a couple of months. It's a nice goal to work toward.
annnd, I'm annoyed with blogger, so I'm going to end this for now. I need to work a bit harder at keeping up to date with our lives out here. Take Care!