1 Year

August 14th we celebrated our first year by going to Bend, OR.   We slept in, relaxed, soaked  in a jacuzzi, and ate way too much.  We rode a lift up Mt. Bachelor and enjoyed the nice weather wherever we went. 

It was great to reflect on a wonderful year together.

This Summer So Far

Mike and I have had an awesome summer so far.  We've gone to the beach for the Rhyasen family reunion (made a yummy stop at the Tillamook cheese factory), we celebrated my birthday with plenty of yummy desserts, we saw fireworks with the Raia's for the 4th of July, we visited the Ape caves and the Vancouver Saturday Market, and we had my mom and sister visit (and went blueberry picking.  We have some other fun things planned so we can make the best of the rest of the summer.  More details to come.


Here's some photos of what we've done so far:

As for other news, our nephew Alex is doing well as he battles his Leukemia.  He has been undergoing chemo therapy and has handled it like a champ.  We're hoping to find out the next steps in his treatment plan soon.  Thanks again for all of the support and prayers.  The family really appreciates it.
Much Love!

Update about Alex

Here's an update from Chrissy's online journal regarding Alex's bone marrow transplant:

"we just were told zack (Alex's big brother) is not a match for alex for a bone marrow transplant,  so they will start looking monday.  they have no idea how long that will take."  Keep Alex in your thoughts and prayers that they'll find a match for Alex soon."

Thank you for all of your help.

Hope for Alex

To the few of you who read my blog, 

I'm asking for help.  

Last month my sweet nephew Alex was diagnosed with Leukemia.  He is 14 months old. As you can imagine this experience has been very trying for Alex and his family.  Alex is being treated at Doernbecher Children's Hospital and is going through chemo therapy.  He is taking it like a champ and is lucky to have a loving mom and dad that is always by his side as he battles cancer.

Mike and I have started a facebook group for Alex.  The purpose of the group page is to inform others of Alex's condition and to show everyone how they can help.  Click here to check out our group page.  You don't have to have a facebook account to check it out.

Right now we need help creating a sterile environment for Alex to come home to after he gets out of the hospital.  His family is in need of new house items as they create that safe environment. We created a registry of what is needed. We're trying to get these items to them by the end of June, for their new apartment. By clicking here you can go directly to their registry.

Another way of helping is posting something about little Alex on your own blog to see if any of your readers would like to contribute.  Any help is really appreciated.

To read more about Alex from Chrissy's own journal go here. 

The Rose Garden

One of my favorite placed in Portland is the Rose Garden. We went up there the last day of the Rose Festival to see it.  The fun thing about seeing the roses is reading the clever names people have made up for the roses.  One was called Black Magic, another Flirty, and I've even seen Dolly Parton in the past.

 

Field Trip

Last week we took a day trip up to Timberline Lodge on Mt Hood.  

It was the first weekend I wasn't stressed about school or worried about getting an assignment done.  

I was happy to get out for a little field trip.

(Does the lodge look familiar? Its the same one from The Shining...I'm too scared to see the movie though.)

"Lots of people go to school for 7 years!" "Yeah, they're called doctors..."

At last, my degree has come along. This last month I finally graduated from BYU. Even though I have been going up to school at WSU, I was able to get my degree from the place where I spent most of my time, tears, and fun. I made the trip and walked in Utah. I was really fortunate to have a lot of my family there.  They were so supportive and I had a blast.

Here's Some Photos of the highly anticipated day:

My little sister is also graduating this year from good ole' MHS:

While I was in the area I was able to see my mom's cabin (she's a woman of many projects).  They looked great!  She is a busy lady.

(i put in this last photo because it is awesome of me and my mom - what a photogenic pair!)