Ok, ok - I guess we'll jump on the bandwagon too with Adina's prompt. We do definitely need to be better about blogging but it's so hard when we are all so close and see each other so frequently!

• Starlight 5K Run & Parade - Eric ran his first ever 5K with me for the annual Starlight 5K & parade through downtown Portland. Kim and her friend Amy ran with us as well and it was a lot of fun. After the run we got to sit and watch the parade with all the family that could make it out.
• Oregon Coast Trip - We were originally planning to have the wedding at the Oregon Coast Aquarium so we took a trip to the coast to tour the aquarium and see what it had to offer. It was beautiful but we found something even better.
• Epic Relay - The crazy weekend of running - Eric's first relay experience and one where he definitely got integrated into the family quickly. I'm amazing the events of the next weekend still happened after all that. :)
• We're Engaged! - As we already posted all about, Eric took me to the coast and proposed in the perfect proposal on Gleneden beach. And so the planning commenced...

 July

• Camping at Billy Chinook - an awesome few days with the family at Billy Chinook Reservior in the Oregon desert. VERY hot for us fair skinned gingers but we held out and doused ourselves in sunscreen about every 15 minutes. Our first camping trip and it was a success apart from the squirrel who decided to chew a hole through the side of our brand new fancy tent! Thank to REI for replacing that for us!
• Camping at Beverly Beach - Eric & I followed up the 4th of July camping trip with a solo trip to Beverly Beach, OR where the weather is just a bit cooler. The camp there is right next to the beach so we were able to stroll down the beach at night (aw!) and enjoy the sounds of the waves at night. We also got to explore a lot of the Oregon coast that weekend from Florence all the way up to Cannon Beach. 

August

• Eric's Cousin's Wedding @ Skibowl on Mt. Hood - one of Eric's cousins got married in early August so we made our way up to Mt. Hood to see the event. I was taking notes the whole time but they did a great job. We even got to take a ski lift up to the ceremony at one of the warming huts!
• Visit from Caitlin - My great friend, Caitlin, who is from Victoria B.C. but who I met when I was studying in Norway, came down for a weekend visit with us. She hadn't met Eric before (but had heard lots about him!) so it was nice to have her get to know him. We took her to Powell's, breakfast at Mother's Bistro, Multnommah Falls, made her watch Aliens - all in all a great visit. 
• Engagement BBQ - Our informal celebration of the engagement was also in July. We had some delicious food and got to hang out with everyone and most importantly, everyone got to meet Eric's mom. She had a great time and really liked everyone. 
• Marnie's Trip to San Diego - for the last weekend of August, Marnie took a trip down to San Diego solo for Michelle's 30th birthday celebration. I definitely missed Eric, but it was fun to have some good times with all my best friends. We stayed up way too late and talked a lot but we also got in two trips to karaoke, a trip to Sea World, Seaport Village, burritos, In-N-Out, Sprinkles Cupcakes, China Fun, and my first trip wedding dress shopping! It was a full weekend - no pun intended.

• Big Al's - For Labor Day weekend, Eric wanted to play arcade games so we spontaneously decided to check out Big Al's in Tigard. We played video games, ate deli food and even did some bowling before the day was done. Avery fun unplanned date. :)
• Columbia River Labor Day - On our day off, we met up with the rest of the family in the middle of the Columbia River on some sand bars. It was a pretty awesome place to be - right between Washington and Oregon. Good food and good company.
• Ducks Football Game with Andrew - Eric got a really good deal on three tickets with awesome seats at the Oregon Duck's football game so we decided to take Andrew with us since we figured he was old enough to enjoy the game and understand what was going on. He was really fun and very well behaved during the entire drive and game. They had some fun games like throwing and kicking footballs before the game - I think those were his favorite parts.
• Ira Glass in Concert - Next day I dragged Eric with me to see my nerdier side and listen to a lecture about the value of radio for telling stories by Ira Glass, host of This American Life. It was a very interesting and entertaining time for us and it was just as weird as I thought it would be to see his voice coming out of a real person instead of a radio.
• Oktoberfest @ Mt. Angel, OR - Last weekend, Eric planned a mystery date for us. I literally did not have any idea where we were going until we were about a block away and I started seeing signs for Oktoberfest in Mt Angel. It was a really fun day of walking around different little stands, eating yummy bratwurst and German chocolate cake and enjoying the sunshine while it lasts. Very good planning, Mr. Eric.
• Double-Date with DnA - Eric & I went to Kell's Irish Pub and Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade in downtown Portland for a fun double date. We also found the 24 hour Church of Elvis on our walk between locations. Only in Portland!
• Wedding Dress Shopping - Just yesterday, I got to go wedding dress shopping again but this time with mom, Kim, Brooke, Jane and even little Brie. We had a great time going to a couple of different shops and even getting a yummy lunch together at the Cheesecake Factory in the middle of the day. I had one dress in mind that I have been drooling over for months that I was pretty sure would be "the one". It was the first one I tried on and - yep - it was "the one"! I tried on several others just to make sure but nothing came close to that first one so the order was placed and I get to try it on again in January! Eric isn't seeing the dress until the wedding day so I'm not gonna post anything here to make sure he doesn't see it. I'll show pictures to those that are interested individually instead. 

Coming soon...

• Very busy at work - still leading up a lot of problem-solving for the company with our new brand and trying to get everything consistent in an environment where almost nothing is. This summer's main event was getting the remodeling started for all of our offices and solidifying the design and scope of that. It's been a challenge and very stressful at times but it is all fun work. I also wrote, produced and directed a short promotional video for our company, which both Dad and Eric are in. Once it is final, I'll share with everyone.
• Trying to stay only about up to my knees in wedding planning. We've got the location reserved - Heceta Head Lighthouse on the Oregon Coast - and the dress has been found as of yesterday. I have a lot of other elements at concept level but I've done pretty well with getting the big stuff out of the way before the holidays, which was my goal. I think everything will really pick up in January and then especially after the cruise in March.