Get 'r Done Round #2

As if you didn't know it already, I really love my family. My amazing parents visited Nick and I this weekend with a mixed agenda of business and pleasure. The business/pleasure ration is very much 3/97 but still...we did have a few projects to get done around the house. Luckily my dad's livelihood and hobbies are one in the same: fixing stuff. So we had at it and got a lot done. Lamely, I did not take a single photograph while they were here (I have no excuse...I need to train myself to be more picture orientated), but I thought a bullet list of our accomplishments could take place of a picture. To be fair, my dad did 97% of the stuff, but because he is an inclusive kind of guy, he would say that in a matter of 2 days Mom, Dad, Nick, Brea and I:

• Rewired the garbage disposal so it doesn't blow the breaker every time we turn it on
• Replaced weather stripping around our front door for higher efficiency during the cold months
• Repaired the wood base one of the french doors...the wind can be harsh around here
• Fixed the shower door to stop the water from leaking out
• Re-caulked the kitchen and bathroom sink
• Tuned the locks on all the doors for easier functioning
• Partially built the air filter replacement system for our furnace
• Replaced broken shingles on the roof (see that wind is fierce!)

There were times when Nick and Dad were working together on a project and there was no room for me...so I cleaned things that I typically put off...like washing our big bay windows...inside and out and vacuuming under the couches (I really try to avoid this at all costs...). It was great! Plus, dad helped me with quarterly taxes...yuck!

But don't think we didn't squeeze any fun in there. We toured the town on Bellingham and Fairhaven on bike, had a celebratory birthday dinner for dad (steak, potatoes, corn, salad and dessert of course: Buttermilk Yellow Cake, layered with chocolate pastry cream, bananas and whipping cream), hit up Hellingham at the Up-Front Theater (improv show) and went to church. So...not too bad for a weekend with the folks. Nick and I know we are spoiled with such great parents (including ours in Texas!!!)...what a blessing God has given us!

Fall is Here

I was reflecting about my blog today and found myself a bit frustrated with it. I seem to fail in the "blogging often" category. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if any one even read this anymore because my blogs are so few and far between. I figure this is OK considering in a few years, it will be nice to look back and see where I was (sometimes it is so easy to forget) and where I am (sometimes so hard to imagine).

I admire my consistent blogging friends...like my dear friend Anne Marie who is traveling through Italy right now and posts every day, if not multiple times a day to write in great detail about the adventures she has taken part of. Or my incredibly creative and amazing photographer friend Shannon, who posts often the most beautiful pictures of her kids, nature and so easily blogs about the perks of life (like kids cocoa at Starbucks). I doubt I will ever be an everyday, creative photo posting blogger...but as I tell myself so many times throughout the day about many things..."compare and dispair Andi...compare and dispair."

On a different note....I have been enjoying the beautiful Autumn weather. Fall has always been my favorite season. All the color changes, the crunchy leaves that are so fun to stomp on and the crispness in the air. I often look out our front windows in our living room and see the leaves from the neighbors yard dance their way from the branch to the ground. It really is quite a sight. I also love to add a few Autumn accents to the house.

I wouldn't call myself a seasonal decorator, but I just so happen to have a lot of brown, red and orange stuff. Chalk it up to buying my condo a few years ago in Kirkland in the fall and needing to turn an empty place into a decorated home. It didn't even dawn on me until the following January that most of the stuff I bought were fall colors, because that was what was available in the stores. Ah well...I don't mind...it just gets me even more excited when this time of the year comes so I can switch it up a bit.

Today I am particularly cheery because I my work-space is bright and warm. Our house is a comfortable 69 degrees without the furnace running (thanks to a passive solar home design).

My "office"

It's the little things in life that makes the difference. Speaking of which...make sure you vote! I sent my ballot out today!

Wedding Season 2008 Comes To A Close

A feeble attempt of my photography to portray how Steve can transform a tent into an elegant wedding reception. Check out his website for real pics of his talent.

Late on Saturday night, another season came to a close in my life: 2008 Wedding Season. After the bride and groom had made their vows, cut their cake and danced their first dance as husband and wife, I made my quick rounds of goodbyes to the families, vendors and staff, slipped on my jacket and drove myself out of Semiahmoo Resort. It was a joyful drive home...a 30 minute trek of reflecting over the summer's festivities, experiences and well... nightmares.

I learned a lot this spring and summer as a wedding coordinator for the oh-so-talented and amazingly gifted Steve Moore (http://www.stevenmooredesigns.com/). Like how to ensure a wedding will start on time when the bride arrives an hour and a half late to the venue for pictures, and has yet to apply her makeup and put on her dress. (Please note that the groom was impeccably timely....come to think of it...all the grooms and groomsmen this summer were ALWAYS attentive, helpful, timely and courteous. Too bad society has given them a bad reputation for being just the opposite of that.) Or the time the groom disappeared during the garter toss and I sprinted up and down the halls of the resort to locate him while his bride sat patiently in the middle of the dance floor with 400 eyes on her and twenty single men swarming her. Or the SEVERAL times a weather call had to be made 20 minutes before the ceremony because of the dark clouds and gusty winds felt like Washington's first typhoon approaching. Don't think for a moment that weather-calls are easy decisions to make when thousands and thousands of dollars have been committed to these outdoor venues, rented chairs, string quartets, sound systems and flowers, not to mention the hours dumped into finding the "perfect spot," laying out the ceremony floor plan and practicing just how the processional will transpire.

Don't get me wrong, of all the nightmares that happened this summer, the beauty, elegance and charisma that a wedding brings out far out-weighed the traumatic, dramatic and sporadic moments. For example, seeing the happy couple stare longingly into each other's eyes throughout the night...knowing that this wedding is going to last. Or the times when not a single glitch occurs (logistically) during the night and the MoB, FoB, BM and MoH all come up to you to compliment the workings of a well-ran wedding. And of course...the most important of all...being surrounded by such an amazing team of professionals who love what they do and do it well. Nothing makes a wedding coordinators job easier than having vendors who are reliable, consistent and enthusiastic. Wow! I do feel so very blessed to have seen what I have seen, done what I have done and I look forward to another season of it next year. Until then, I will continue to do behind the scene stuff, building up my business, oh and enjoying my Saturdays OFF!

Growing my Computer Knowledge

Man oh man...it only took me a year and a half to understand how Blogger works, but ahhhhh....now I can rest at peace because: I GET IT! That whole side bar thing really through me for a loop, but see what can be done with a Saturday morning (as your husband is at Whistler, riding his heart out)...an updated profile and new picks, links and blogs!

Go COUGS!

Last weekend the Lopez clan hit I-90 East for yet another Lopez Family extravaganza. All six of us (well...7 if you count my sister's bun in the oven) piled into the Toyota Sienna, with the new pop up camper trailer in the back and hit the road to Pullman (a 7 hour drive - one way).
For those of you who know Matt, my brother in law, you know that the Cougs are not to be taking lightly. For as long as I have known him, Cougar Football would rank high, if not the highest, on the list of all-time-favorite-pass times. I am talking a die hard. The man has flown my sister all over the country to watch the first game of the season, not matter what the cost. He LOVES it. So the family decided to take this 14 hour road trip to see just what the fuss is all about...we were to attend our very first Coug football game.
This being my first time to step foot in Pullman, I have very low expectations. After all I have heard to two repetitive things about this school:
1. They party hard
2. Extra curricular activities (besides partying) was cow tipping
So needless to say, when we drove into town I was pleasantly surprised. I saw hills, green trees, a beautiful campus and lots of young people with energy that can only be given off in a college town. We parked our car and trailer in the overflow parking lot near campus (our accommodations for the weekend), and hit the town walking. First stop was dinner: Stella's, the land of amazing Pizza and Calzones. After dining on our fab pizza (I recommend the Birkenstock) we began to soak up what was to be a common sight for the Cougar weekend as we toured the campus: clusters of young college students, screaming, cursing and just pain ol' having fun all around us. Matt was an amazing tour guide...full of random facts about the buildings and landmarks. We put in miles and miles and I am happy to report that I was taken away by the campus. As I said above, college campus' give off this vibe of energy and exuberance. WSU was no exception. You could almost smell the individualism, new experiences, youth and learning in the air. I was astounded at the Student Union Building...the x-box players, the full size movie theater, the Rock Band playing hard with their audiences pounding free Full Throttle's, one after another, the Bookie (Barnes & Noble), the goreous view of the Stadium...it was quite impressive. We headed back outside for a closer birds-eye view of the stadium...preparing ourselves for the game yet to come. Then, the peace and solitude quickly ended as we ventured to the land of skimpy clothes, high heals and foam parties: Greek Row.
My adorable cousin Matthew, is a "pledge" in one of the fraternity houses at WSU...a freshman this year (gosh they grow up so fast). I couldn't tell you which one, because they all sound the same to me: Phi Betta Kappa, Delta Phi Betta, etc, etc, etc. Anyways...my determined mother thought it would be a great idea to visit Matthew, so she gave him a call and passed the phone to Matt to get directions. So there we were, 6 (7) gawking, plainly dressed (as in wearing jackets and tennis shoes not the obvious college wear of short skirts (girls) and no shirts (boys - headed to the foam party), out of towners walking down Greek row looking for cousin Matthew. Finally we stumbled upon him and he took in his family (like it or not, here we are) with amazing grace. Luckily, he was on "risk management" (making sure the "brothers" aren't getting out of control) so he gave us a tour of the frat and the run down of what it's like to be a "pledge." After a bit, we parted ways and headed back the 2 miles to the camper trailer...after all we did have to rest up for our game the next day.
The game, I am sorry to say was a bit of a bust. Cougs lost to the Oregon Ducks 63 to 7 or something terrible like that. However it was great fun to finally capture the true experience of being at a game ourselves. Plus I got to eat the best ice cream ever from WSU's very own creamery, as well as work out in the state of the art recreation center, and analyze the cheerleaders moves with my sister (I may have caught a collective 10 minutes of the game). After wards, we hit up Stella's for yet another dinner, then back up to the Student Building for a free viewing of Get Smart (hilarious).

My balloon visor...it was 80 degrees and we were sitting in the direct sunlight. Good think Nick always has balloons in his pocket.

All in all the weekend was awesome! Well worth the drive over there...but what can I say...I am a sucker for family time, new experiences and delicious food!

The boys - Wow...there's a lot of legs in this pic!

David and Isabelle's Baptism

Four glorious months ago, our friends Pete and Joy gave birth to two very adorable and healthy children...TWINS: Isabelle Marie and David Aaron. The kids have been enjoying their life thus far; which consists mostly of eating (at the same time while holding hands...I mean really, could they be any cuter), sleeping and taking in all the smiles and dreamy eyes of anyone who meets them. I would say that Pete and Joy have adjusted beautifully to parenthood. Their eyes shine with pride when you talk with them. And believe it or not, doubling their family's size has brought them closer together than ever before. It brings Nick and I great joy to watch our friends love their kids with all they have to give. Joy, LeAnna (Godmother) holding David, Nick holding Isabelle, LeAnna's Daughter, and Peter

Nick was recently asked by Pete and Joy to be their kid's Godfather. With great jubilation, Nick accepted and has been enthusiastically sharing the news of his new-found role to everyone...not to mention threatening (with a wispy voice, while scratching his neck): "If you hurt those kids, I will have to break both your kneecaps." It's funny what given a title can do. He may need to catchup on some Godfather movies to play the role just right.

On Sunday, we took a trip to Bainbridge Island to be a part of Isabelle and David's Baptismal. They were sprinkled with water and anointed with oil, asked to be blessed by the Holy Spirit and commissioners of Jesus Christ. It was a beautiful site and an honor to be a part of such a special day (Isabelle above, David below). The hours following consisted of great food, conversation and watching Nick clean up David's spit-up every few minutes. It will be quite the adventure to watch these two grow up to be individuals and we look forward to their trips up to Bellingham...so Uncle Nick and Aunt Andi can show them the ropes.

The Colonnade

A few weeks ago, when Nick and I were showing his brother around Seattle, we stumbled upon a bike park underneath the freeway overpass near downtown. This is like no bike park we had ever seen. Built in what was once a blackberry-infested, drugie-dominate hangout is now a beautifully groomed bike park with more bridges, jumps, drops and steep stuff to practice on than you have ever dreamed. We gave ourselves a walking tour of the place, then after mopping up all of Nick's drool, we said we would make a trip down ASAP with the bikes and give it a spin.

Last weekend, on our trek over to Crystal Mountain to visit with the folks, we decided to make a slight detour and try out the park. We padded up, lowered our seats and tire pressure and had at it. Mind you, the biking world is relatively new to me, so although I LOVE this sport, it also scares the crapola out of me. When I see the 15 foot drops, the 2" skinny teetertodder logs and the "line" that is essentially at a 90 degree angle, I have a deep, urging desire to throw my bike aside and go mope in the car. There is nothing more discouraging than feeling like I could never accomplish such terrifically horrifying stunts. This is when Nick comes in. His rational sense never ceases to surprise me...especially when he reminds me that there is this thing called progressive skill building and having FUN. He takes my damaging competitive edge away from me and allows the fun of bike riding to come out. So I joyfully play on the lower bridges, the wider teetertodders and practice my wheelie drops off 5". Then when the guts start to surface I may follow him on a line or two of a more challenging route. One that consists of short, shallow breaths and hanging on for dear life until it is over. Then I smile, say thank you and do it all over again and again until I actually enjoy myself. Ah yes...I am learning, slowly but surely. So maybe one day I will be hitting the "fatty" drops, but until then, I will remember that baby steps are just fine. Oh and I will take pictures of Nick doing them.

Nick Vann, LEED A.P.

I am proud to announce that my amazingly talented, dashingly handsome, exceptionally intelligent, earth-loving, God-fearing husband, Nick Vann, is now an official LEED AP. What is a LEED AP? I'm so glad you asked. Well, lets start from the top:

"The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria. It is a third party certification program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings...." (http://www.usgbc.org/)

So in other words, it takes a holistic approach to building buildings efficiently, healthfully and with low impact. Due to my little education in this area, I can't convey the multitudes of amazing things this means, but a few things are using passive solar, no VOC paints and renued resources during construction. Actually, the overall idea is super cool: LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

They focus on all types of building:

So...it makes me wonder why all buildings aren't built with those same performance goals? Ah well...that is a different blog...for now we shall stick with Nick.

For years Nick has been wanting to become an Accredited Professional (AP) in LEED. The test is a gnarly, in depth, tricky little bugger but after hours upon hours upon hours of studying, he finally committed and took the test yesterday. I mean you should see the manual...I kept on confusing it for the phone book. This accreditation will be tremendously useful for Nick's job now at David Evans and Associates (DEA) and for the years to come. As the "earth friendly" trend continues to grow, and will one day become a standard, it will hopefully prompt builders and developers to turn to DEA looking for the professionals in this area. As of now, Nick is the only LEED AP in the Bellingham office. A tremendous triumph and blessing, as sustainability and green buildings is one of Nick's deepest passion.

I wanted to thank you all who were praying for him throughout this process...it was beyond helpful to know that there was a band of prayer going out for him...and the Lord answered, as He always does. So thank you and congrats to Nick! I am so proud!

Leavenworth - Birthday Camping '08

Levi hanging with the ladies...Momma (Jess) and Kristen

A few weekends ago, Nick and I and a few friends headed east of the mountains to celebrate he and Art's birthday. Leavenworth brought great adventures and many hours of relaxing around the campground and town. We lucked out and got two sites next to each other; one site designated for the families with children, the other site for the families without children. Guess which site got more sleep??? We spent the morning chilling around the fire chatting...then the afternoon rock climbing, biking or sleeping by the river. It was wonderful fun to hang with a group of awesome people. I did find it rather ironic that we were celebrating Art's 25th birthday and Nick's 35th. I guess it just proves that you are as old as you make yourself to be!

Andi taking a shot at rock climbing:

Art and Ryan deep in focused consentration during an intense game of horseballs at the campsite:

Annabelle trying to understand why her daddy is blocking her shot:

Nick enjoying the scene and fueling up after a very intense and HOT 4 mile climb on his bike to get to Xanadu trailhead:

A Texan in B-Ham

This past week, Nick's brother, Matt, blessed us with his presence at our home in Bellingham. Matt was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas and still resides there...working hard as a Department Manager at Office Depot and spending his free time in the "saddle," but not on a horse...on his road bike. After our visit down there in April, Matt decided it was finally time to pay us a visit.

Upon his arrival, it was great fun to watch Matt take in all the great North West has to offer (his first time to Washington, EVER). From tall evergreens lining the freeway to "there's snow on that mountain!"...I could tell this was going to be a whole new experience for him. We walked 100 miles around Seattle, and showed him life in a big, face paced city. From the Space Needle to Pike Place Market to the waterfront...we saw it all.

Then we helped him recover from all the cars, people and steep streets by heading back up to Bellingham to show him just why we live here. Since both Nick and I worked during the daytime, we encouraged Matt to hop on one of our bikes and explore the city Bellingham-style. In between his explorations we enjoyed fabulous lunches together and had some good laughs. One afternoon even got to take him raspberry picking with me...something new for him. He was quite the helper.

The evenings were much more packed. Nick and I, of course, had to show him our favorite thing about Bellingham: Galbrieth Mountain. We hit up both sides (Ridge and Galbrieth Lane) on two different occasions. Though the uphill was a bit challenging for him (remember - San Antonio is FLAT), he tore it up on the downhill...Bob's was nothin'!

We also had a chance to hit up Mt. Baker on his last full day here. Late in the day, we headed up to Yellow Aster Butte (same place Nick and I got engaged) for a hike. With night and heavy cloud cover creeping in fast, we weren't able to make it to the top....but close enough to once again show Matt the majesty of this land. He was astounded to see so much green, steep hills: "when does it end???", and snow in July! Matt hadn't been in snow since 1997.

And once again, in true Matt fashion, he did a fantastic job keeping up with his crazy hosts, who crammed as much activity into one day as humanly possible.

I am sure that Matt is enjoying his relaxing plane ride home, but we hope that he had a great time and now he has a better perspective of how the Vann's roll in Washington!

Just a little side note...one of my favorite moments of his visit was him texting his friend a picture of our thermometer. San Antonio ranges from 95 to 100 degrees everyday, by 10am. It was 60 degrees here, all day... funny how we can take what we have for granted.