Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from the Seattle Schienbeins, everyone!

Dylan, with his newly missing teeth looking fierce!

Sweet "Pumpkin Head" Rowan, the MOST adorable nephew EVER

...

this has been a impossibly tough week.

emotionally draining for lots of reasons...too complicated and frustrating to sit down and explain.

but also exceptionally difficult because people we love dearly are also struggling.

where would we be without the endless ocean of support of our friends and family?

catastrophically lost, I'm certain.

but we press on, hopeful that the coming days and weeks will be filled with good news and positive change.

Already behind...

we staycationed this year instead of hitting the road this year...and it was a LOT of fun.

our great pals, The Montgomerys, staycationed with us this year and we decided to divide up our days so that each of us planned one whole day for the whole group.

I chose for us to be tourists in our own city...breakfast at Portage Bay Cafe in South Lake Union followed by a trip on Ride the Ducks, a food tour of the Pike Place Market, dinner at Stell's and dessert at Simply Desserts. so, yeah, we basically just ate all day. ;)

On to the ducks!...(photos courtesy of Erich since he was sitting by the "window")

The Space Needle (across the street from the Duck Launch)

One of the MANY Starbucks we saw on our journey...Cha-Ching!

Along the waterfront for awhile and this is what Erich snaps a picture of.

Qwest Field-Home of the Seattle Seahawks and the Seattle Sounders

Safeco Field-Home of the Seattle Mariners

An old ivy-covered building in Belltown

A dude with a rad 'fro

A closed Seattle institution...The Lusty Lady

The Pink Elephant Car Wash, which we learned is the oldest drive thru car was in America

Heading into the water at Lake Union...and also where we found our next home

Seattle skyline from the middle of Lake Union

Gasworks Park

Experience The Music Project - across the street from the Duck launch

the ginger-haired bully sitting in front of Josh who we all would've gladly thrown overboard.

On to the food tour of the Pike Place Market!

The tour is through Savor Seattle Food Tours

Our stops:

Spring Rolls

Hot Mini-Donuts

Smoked Salmon

"Never Believe A Man With A Pink Umbrella"- Pike Place fish mongers

Our tour guide...with his pink umbrella!

Seasonal local fruit

Clam Chowder and Lobster Bisque

Piroshkies

Homemade Cheese on Homemade Crackers & Spicy Mac 'n Cheese

Crab Cake bites

Me in my natural environment...doing karate in a "bamboo forest". one of the many pieces of public art in Seattle

$10 bouquet from Pike Place

Josh & Teresa at the musical fountain at the Seattle Center

Erich & me

we weren't sure if we'd be too full from the food tour to have dinner afterwards, but it turns out that the combination of small samples and all the walking equals massive hunger! we decided to head to Stell's, across the street from SPU (where I work). Stell, the owner, is always working and is such a sweetheart. oh, and the food is amazing! (no pics...too busy eating and talking!)

last stop was Simply Desserts in Fremont to grab some desserts to go. we knew that by the time we got back up to the lake house that we'd be ready for sweets.

stuffed, happy and exhausted we all hit the sack...it was a great day!

visit with the "portland" schienbeins

so one of the most A.M.A.Z.I.N.G things that happened this past year is the birth of our nephew, Rowan James Schienbein. Rowan's parents are Erich's brother, Thomas, and Thomas's wife, Monique.

his birth story is pretty amazing. the fact that Rowan is here today alive and well is a testament to Monique's diligent and selfless bedrest for what seemed like forever. And Rowan was still born at 33 1/2 weeks.

but this baby Schienbein is now healthy and growing like, well, a Schienbein.

the whole fam came up to Seattle today and we got to visit for a nice long time. (mmm, sweet baby smell)

we love our Uncle Erich and Uncle Erich is smitten with us. what a pair!

Rowan met the Montgomerys today...here he is with Teresa just before peeing on her. awe.

Uncle Berto came up to see everyone, too! it was a pretty big day!

did I mention today is the first day of my week-long vacation? hallelujah! can't think of a better way to have kicked this vacation off.

love, Love, LOVE you, Rowan! thank you for coming to visit with us today!

when's the best time to turn over a new leaf?

I'm the type of person who likes to attempt to start new routines at milestones, like at New Year's or on a birthday. I don't know. There's something about picking a meaningful day to start something new that has always appealed to me. You know, like starting to write in a journal, cutting out fast food, going to bed at a descent hour, and (gasp) working out.

Now, for those of you who know me well, starting something new doesn't mean that I ever, with any consistency, keep doing it said new thing. But I'm always hopeful that someday I'll develop that discipline gene.

Well, here I am, at 30. I've got that itch again to start something new again. I'd love to be in shape and feeling like I'm doing something good for my body. Heck, I'd just love to be able to tell my doctor that I'm exercising regularly, and not be lying. I'm hoping that this time, with the help of some friends, that it will have some staying power.

I, Stacia, am going to be doing C25K at lunch time, 3 days a week.

After you've stopped rolling on the floor in hysterics, let me explain my logic.

Yes, I've never been a runner/jogger/speed walker...but I aspire to be someone who can take off for a jog and really enjoy it. And since I'm doing it with a couple of co-workers at lunch time I feel like there will be some accountability to keep at it.

Here's hoping that this time next year I'll still be going strong.

(this'll be me soon...minus JT)

where to begin...

I'm 30.

This seems as good a point as any to start. Yes, it's my birthday today and I am no longer in my 20's. Is anything different now? Hmm...

It's been over a year since I blogged last. Remember? (or just scroll down) My folks were getting on a plane for Africa for their 2 year adventure, and I was, frankly, a mess.

Well, I got over it.

And lots has happened.

Seems like more than I can tackle in one blog post. So we'll take it a little bit at a time, which will allow me to weed out the many less-than-exciting parts of the last year.

But for tonight let's just start with I'm 30.

and I had what could arguably be the B.E.S.T. birthday I've ever had.

To begin, I was greeted this morning, on my drive in to work, by my frontline rep co-workers who had all gotten up super early to decorate the Fremont statues in honor of my birthday.

I was SO surprised! I am usually one of the first people in the office and was so touched that they had all gotten up much earlier than usual to surprise me with this! All I can say is that I work with the best team in the world. So, you will all be receiving official "thank you"s, but here's a shout out to my peeps: Carlie, Donna, Whitney, Alicia, Rosanna, Kevin and Jon!! You all are amazing and I feel so honored to get to work with each of you every day.

As if that wasn't enough, I got to work to find that my cube had also been decorated to commemorate the big day! (Thanks to Carlie, Alicia and Christi!)

(oh, did I mention there were Top Pot donuts, too?!?)

All day I was greeted with heartfelt birthday wishes from co-workers and students. And I was productive! Unheard of...

I had the perfect birthday lunch at Stell's with Whitney...cheeseburger, onion rings and a mixed berry milkshake. Perfection.

Spent the remainder of the day answering the question, "What are you doing tonight to celebrate?", to which I replied, "My husband and I are going to dinner at 13 Coins".

Or so I thought.

Cut to the end of the day and me waiting outside for Erich to pick me up from work. He had gotten stuck in traffic and was running a bit behind.

Or so I thought.

We head out on the road and I notice that he misses the turn to head downtown towards 13 Coins.

"Babe, we're supposed to turn here."

"No, we aren't."

"Yes, but 13 Coins is that way."

"Well, we're not going to 13 Coins."

Oh.

Now, I'm baffled.

But, wait, this is how we get to Matador.

"Are we going to Matador?"

"I don't know...are we?"

He can be incredibly infuriating.

Once we finally found a parking spot, we hoofed it to Matador to find one last surprise...a party for me!!! WHAT?

As I glance around the table, I am floored by the outpouring of love from friends from all parts of my life. Josh & Teresa, Jenn, Sara, Shauna, Carlie, Kristin, Bri, Rosanna and Donna. Truly amazing.

And is there a better way to end the day than with a Matador Cadillac Margarita and happy hour nachos with the most incredible group of friends that a gal could ask for?

Why, yes. You could then be treated to a lot of laughs and an Orange U Glad cupcake from Cupcake Royale.

Seriously, though, guys...you made this transition into my 30's the most amazing day, when I wasn't expecting it to be much different from the rest. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Know that it meant more to me than any of you will ever know.

With all the love that I have (which is a lot),

Stacia