Nightstands & Doors & Paint...Oh my!

Look at these nightstands Colin made! Crazy huh? We'd been searching for some nightstands to match our bed for awhile, but they were so darn expensive Colin decided just to make some. He just finished them tonight - aren't they great!?! He's made so much for our house: our bed, new cupboard doors, mirrors, a vanity for me, and some cute little shelves. It's definitely saved us a lot of money!

We've also been redoing all our interior doors/trim the last few months. Today we finally started on the last 2! Yay! Those will probably be finished Sunday and I'm so excited to be DONE with them! (I never want to see another paintbrush, peice of trim, or unfinished door EVER again! I'm ready for a new project!) Next up: the bathroom! We will be re-tiling, painting, and putting in our new vanity and mirror. So excited!

This is what happens when you're a nosey little puppy and have to be in the middle of any and every painting project. Not only was her nose painted, but her tail and her side too! She didn't care though...until I gave her a bath. Then she just pouted by slouching down her head the whole time. :) Funny girl!

Now off to Eastern Washington to go white water rafting on Saturday! Pictures to come!

Rain, rain, go away...let the Beavers win today!

Friday & Saturday were some crazy rainy days here in Oregon. It absolutely poured, especially on Saturday morning....the same day as the Beaver game. We went to breakfast with Colin's cousins and as we sat in the restaurant it rained like mad outside. It continued to rain until right before the Beaver game started, then just a little through the first quarter. We completely lucked out with the weather, because we stayed mostly dry! The game was a really good one. We scored a touchdown within the first 12 seconds of the game. OSU's Beavers won 34-7. Thanks Jesse & Amber for the tickets! We're planning on going again with our friends Scott & Kristiina on Halloween.

Below are some pics of the game. Colin, his cousin Tarren and I all sat together. Tarren plays on a city league football team so he was really excited to see "the big guys" play. I think the people count was in the 44,000's. Pretty good turnout!

Reser Stadium

The boys goofing around...

This is Tarren's, "Please don't take a picture...if you do...I'll make a monkey face" look.

What's a blog entry without the infamous self portrait picture?

Our last camping trip of the season.

*Warning* Lots of pictures!

This weekend Colin and I went on a little solo camping trip up to Green Peter/Lake Foster in Sweet Home, Oregon. Most people camp on the side of the road near the lake, but we decided to head up more towards the river and hike down a hill to a little remote camping area. It was so beautiful - the pictures really don't do it any justice. My thighs are not liking me today from all the packing in/out of our stuff! Totally worth it though! On Saturday we noticed our neighbors/my hair dresser camping out just around the bend. We hung out with them for awhile during the day and later on during the night. Colin's parents and nephew Brayden met us for awhile Saturday afternoon with their chocolate lab Bella. Here are some pics...enjoy!

The view to the West from our campfire.

Our camp all set up!

Rissy had the best time camping. Look how big she's getting!

And she's quite the swimmer too.

Another view of our camp. you can see our tent in the middle right of the picture if you look hard enough.

Down the road a bit we stopped to take this picture of Green Peter. Look how amazing the water is! It's a reservoir so the water is really fresh.

This just about sums up the dog's trip. :) The water was so clear we could see little fish swim and all the rocks at the bottom of the river.

Colin floating on our little rafting boats.

My camping buddy!

So pretty!

Mr. Brayden. I had to crop the picture because he was happy as a clam running around as a naked boy! He thought it was so hilarious when Uncle Colin and Papa Ron were throwing huge rocks into the water and making giant splashes!

Apparently Duke thought Brayden's Batman chair was just the perfect size!

Rissy found the perfect napping spot. On our suitcase covered by the tent.

We were by the campfire one night and we looked over and saw her hanging out in our blow up rafts. I can't say I blame her, they are really comfortable!

This trip was so fun. The weather was beautiful and it was just really nice to get away just the 2 of us. (with a couple of visitors of course!) We did a lot of relaxing and even played a competitive game of rummy. We made bets and OF COURSE I won, so I get to have Colin take me out on a date night next weekend! I think one of the best parts of the whole trip was toasting bagels, cooking hot dogs and smores over the fire. We didn't bring anything the required a grill...just the good ol' campfire!

Wow - What a week!

This week was pretty busy for Colin and I. He's been having an increasing number of patients and I've been working at a video relay center being the "middle man" interpreting between hearing people using a telephone and deaf people using a video phone (think web cam). The people there are great and it gives me some work during the summer when freelance is few and far between!

Last Friday Colin and I took the dogs to the river to swim and play. When we were ready to leave, they were soaking wet so they rode in the pick up part of the truck. Duke isn't used to this and was on the side of the truck too much and fell out while we were driving about 15 mph. I saw it happened and completely lost it. (If any of you know me, Duke is my baby and I think I'd just die if anything happened to him!) He was okay, but got scuffed up pretty badly. After seeing that he was bleeding all over me we noticed a big gash under his chin. We took him to the vet's office at 8pm and thankfully our neighbor (the vet) was just about to leave. He examined Duke and found that he did need stitches. So, 5 stitches, antibiotics, and a couple numbing shots later, we were headed home. Amazingly, he doesn't seem to be sore and his stitches are in a spot that he can't lick/scratch at. Poor guy. Here are a couple pics:




Despite the trauma of this all, (well, probably more to me than Duke really.) we headed over Saturday morning to Waldport, OR to go crabbing with some friends/family. The dogs came along too. We crabbed Saturday and got 7 total. This morning we packed up and headed to the beach to let the dogs de-energize before the car ride home. I was so excited to get this picture of them:



The whole ride to Waldport Rissy couldn't relax. She was WAY too excited, so I whipped out the camera and took a picture of us.


Next weekend we're going camping for a night just the two of us and the dogs. Then, the weekend after Labor Day we're off to Eastern Washington to go white water rafting with my parents and Laura/Justin. We're super excited about that! I'll be sure to take lots of picture and post them. :)

Our little Nepali spunkster...

If anyone wants to read more about Gita, read my sister's blog. It is very descriptive and gives great perspective on Gita's past and present life. And how cute does she look in her new dress?!? And with her sticker book? AND with her photo album? Ok, I guess she's just cute in general. :)

Our little Gita...

I wanted to share this super sweet picture of "our little Gita". That is what our family has officially been calling her. When Laura went to Nepal last month, she met and fell in love with this cute little girl. Her zest for life and spunkiness won over her heart, which in turn has won over ours. When Laura met Gita, she had 2 changes of previously worn (by other kids) clothes like most the other girls. This is the brand new dress Gita picked out to start the new school year off. To me, it's amazing how a $4-$6 (American money) dress can make a little girl so giddy. It's unbelievable the things we take for granted.

A little background on Gita - she was rescued from slavery from another family she had been working for. Her parents sold her into slavery to be able to afford a better life. After selling Gita, her parents then moved to India with Gita's brother who is worth more because he is male. Two weeks prior to Laura arriving in Nepal, Gita had been rescued by the place Laura volunteered at. She and other slaves are known as the Kamlari girls - aka - the slave girls. Once rescued, Gita lived at an orphanage in Narti which provided her with a roof over her head, food and an education. Gita has recently been moved to Kathmandu 12 hours away, to be given better schooling and living conditions.

I'll keep everyone updated on this beautiful little girl! We get updates through the Volunteer Nepal owner Michael from time to time so I'll be sure to pass it on! Please keep your fingers crossed that Gita transitions to Kathmandu well and enjoys living there.

Let them eat Cake!

I Just wanted to share a couple of the cakes I've done recently. Colin's family friend Kelly taught me how to lay fondant last month so I could make a cake for my mom's 50th birthday party. She's so skilled and I was so lucky to have her help me out! Thanks Kelly! The other cake was done for a friends anniversary get together. Those Dahlias were fresh from my flower garden!

Mom's Cake

Anniversary Cake

4 years and counting...

Happy 4 years of dating to my lovely boyfriend and I. :) We started dating 4 years from today after meeting in the tiny town of Sweet Home Oregon. I'm very lucky to have such a supportive, smart and wonderful boyfriend to help me through this thing I call life. I'm so fortunate to have someone who shares the same beliefs as I do and keeps me in check when I seem to go overboard. Love you babe and here's to many more years!

Forget the proposal, it's PARTY time!

Aside from all the hoopla with Laura & Justin getting engaged, we just HAD to party it up for Laura's 28th birthday! Here are some of the pics that were taken that night...

What's a post without a self picture?

My high school friend danny and I (with my pimp cup)

Dad, L's future Mother-in-Law, TJ

Beer margaritas anyone?

Dude, where'd Lee go? Simmer down there Mrs. Handy!

L's future sister in law Jayme

Lee & Justin

L's future sister & brother-in-law
Dani & Jared (and a sleeping baby Evie too!)

Jen & I

Laura & Lee

The shirt Dani got her for her b-day, says "We love auntie Laura"
from Ky, Chance & Evie

Happy 28th Birthday Laura!

Perfect way to top off a great day...

Last Friday (July 17th, my sister's b-day) I was invited by Laura and Justin to go to a fundraiser for Point Defiance Zoo called Zoobilee. Basically you get all fancied up and go to the zoo, eat, drink and be merry. It was such a good celebration...especially because Justin finally, after 4 1/2 years, asked Laura to marry her. If you want to read how he did it, go to her blog here.

Before getting into the limo.

L & J with the "Proposal Tree"

Ok, so Mrs. Handy #1 has a ring, Ms. Handy #2 has a ring...
I'm feeling a bit left out. :)

Justin's best man Brian, Justin, Laura & I

Apparently people like to walk in front of us as we take pictures,
then get mad at us. haha

Had to rest the feet and call the boyfriend.

And this is what happens when there is unlimited alcohol,
a designated driver, and a nerve racking proposal over with.
Did you notice the bling on the left ring finger?

Update on Laura's Nepal trip...

Just wanted to update some of you on my sister's trip to Nepal. She will be coming home this Wednesday after a month in Kathmandu and Narti. From the few emails, updates from Justin and her blog, she has had a great time but to see the countries poverty is a bit unbearable. Their culture is completely different from ours and the views on women are especially different.

Laura worked in an orphanage for a couple weeks with girls who have been in slavery and abused. Most of them have scars from being beaten during their time in slavery. Thankfully, they were rescued and now live in the orphanage where they receive care and schooling. They have few possessions and often can't afford the luxuries we have here including fruit, meat and clothes. Most of their meals consist of rice and curry vegetables.

One of the reason's I'm writing this is because my mom and I were just on the phone talking about possibilities for collecting clean, undamaged, used or new clothing to send to these orphanages. If any of you do have items you can donate, I'd love to start collecting them so we can ship them to these little girls who have little to nothing. (ANY sizes, anything you might give to a thrift shop or any of your children's/niece's/nephew's outgrown clothing would be really fabulous.) To me, it puts a new perspective on going out and buying a $60 pair of jeans when it is equal to 4,620 rupees. To give you an idea: a coke is 15 rupees, a skirt is about 400 rupees ($5.20) and a nice meal might cost 77 rupees ($1). It makes me realize how frivolous our culture is and how such a small amount can make a huge difference. Completely eye opening.

If you want to see more about Laura's trip, you can go to her blog at: Laura's Nepal Blog

If anyone has any clothes or contributions to donate, please email me at KaraHandy@gmail.com

I think together we can help makes the lives of these sweet girls a little more happy. Please wish my sister a safe travel home and I'll post more when I have more information to share on her trip!

4th of July

This 4th of July we were lucky enough to have our good friends Trent and Tiffani come to Albany from Portland with their almost 16 month old daughter Madison. Colin went to school with Trent and Tiffani and I became good friends during that time. It's amazing seeing Madison now that she is so big, because we were at the hospital the day she was born. Seems like just yesterday!

We had a small BBQ which included Colin's parents. It was a nice and relaxing day...and super hot too! I think it was in the mid 90's. Madison was even brave enough to try out the kiddie pool. Well, kind of. Lets just say she got used to the idea after Trent jumped in with her. Later that night we headed down to a park in Albany and watched the fireworks show.

Here are a few pics from the day...

Madison is SO happy! Barely a peep from her all day!
How stinkin' cute is she??? I personally think she looks like the Gerber baby.

And she's just learned how to give kisses!

Did I mention Tiff's almost 7 months pregnant with her 2nd?
A little boy this time! How amazing does she look?

Oh I just love how squishy she is!

Here you go Katie!!! Finally snapped one of her big belly.
If that's what you want to call it! :)

Let's just say Madison didn't exactly love the idea of the kiddie pool.
We had to fill it with warmer water so she'd sit in it.