Ice Skating

Date nights are always fun, and David and I like to try different things, whether its going out to eat, going to see a movie, walking around the town, or even ordering in and watching a movie.


Friday night, we decided to go out and try something completely new for us to do as a couple.... ICESKATING!


We live down the road from the Sherwood Ice Arena and when I received a coupon in the mail for $7 off admission, we knew this was something we wanted to do.

Me standing outside the Ice Arena, sorry it's so dark!

When we got there, we were not surprised to see that we were the oldest people there skating. How much older we were was the surprising part. David and I were at least 10-15 years older than most people (which is saying a lot since I am only 21). It was hilarious. It seemed that the Ice Arena is the place to be as a middle schooler on the weekends. David and I had SO MUCH FUN though.

David putting on his skates

Ice skate feet

Here we go!

Stepping on the ice, David and I both felt like a baby deer learning how to walk. I couldn't stop laughing because I was sure we were both going to fall and knowing us, it would not be a gentle, graceful fall to the ice. It would be a big dramatic scene with screams or cries for help or something. Luckily, neither of us fell, although there were a few times I did scream out when I was losing my balance.


I used to want to be a professional ice skater. I'd practice around our pool table on my rollerblades growing up. Of course that dream has long since gone, but I was extremely impressed with some of the the younger people. There were two boys who were going so fast and like cutting in and out of people. I'm convinced they are hockey players. There were also young girls in the middle doing the fancy turns and spins and skating backwards.


All of this was very advanced compared to me, haha. David was able to go fast and skate backwards and stuff, but not me. I was taking my sweet time, and was perfectly content doing so. :)

Anyway, if you ever get the chance to go ice skating I would highly recommend it. It was probably one of the most romantic dates we've ever been on. There was something about holding hands and gliding around in a circle that was amazingly romantic, especially when they turned off the lights and turned on the disco balls and strobe lights, while playing "Drop it Like it's Hot." Yeah, that happened.


:)


We had such a good time and can't wait to go back. 

Couponing!

Well, I see why people are addicting to couponing.

I have tried several times to get in the groove of couponing but I could never really figure it out. Yesterday though, I had a coupon breakthrough. I experienced my first coupon-high. Haha!

I got online yesterday and started looking at my favorite coupon blogs, Frugal Living NW and Coupon Connections, as well as the coupons on Target.com, and Coupons.com. After looking through them, I started seeing the deals making sense, sparked off the Simply Lemonade coupon that a guest at my work gave me (bless her heart).

So, I packed up my coupon box, and headed to Target where I can save even more by pairing the coupons with my discount and my Redcard. As I pulled into the parking lot, I received a call from my sister who happened to be on her way to my Target store too! It was a hilarious coincidence and it worked out perfectly for us!

A lot of the coupons I had were buy three, get one free type situations, so I was able to use my coupon and Kat was able to pay for half, because really, I don't need five boxes of Cherrios. :)

I was having a heart attack over how full my cart was. I don't think it's ever been so full before and I can see where the stress of couponing comes in, especially when we went through the check out lane and the total crept above $100 ($105.28 to be exact).

After Kat and I went through everything and divided it up between the two of us, I purchased the following items:

2 bags of Crispy Crowns
1 family sized Stoffer's Lasagna
1 family sized Stoffer's Mac-n-Cheese
1 bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos
1 bag of Taco Doritos
1 loaf of 12 Grain bread
1 package of Sandwich Thins
1 package of Pillsbury break-and-bake cookie dough
2 tubes toothpaste
2 toothbrushes
3 boxes angel hair pasta
1 package of turkey deli meat
2 triple meat Party Pizzas
2 pepperoni Party Pizzas
2 cans of Cream of Chicken
1 can refried beans
1 can olives
2 jars of spaghetti sauce
1 jar of alfredo sauce
1 box Cheez-Its
3 boxes of Cheerios
8 13-oz bottles of Simply Lemonade
9 13-oz bottles of Simply Apply juice
2 13-oz bottles of Simply Orange juice
4 13-oz bottles of Raspberry Lemonade

Total:

55 items = $105.28

BUT!

I spent a grand total of: $34.85

I am SO excited and am going to try and be really consistent with my couponing. I'll let you know if I find any really good deals.

Speaking of that, Coupon Connections actually blogged about a deal I found about toothpaste. Find it here. How cool is that? She got the location mixed up, I got my deal at the Sherwood store, but still! :) Whoo hoo for making a realllllly popular coupon blog! :)

Good luck! If you want any deal ideas or want to know how I got certain products, let me know and I will try my best to help.

Happy couponing!

Birthday Boy!

On September 4, 1985 Kevin and Sue Green gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. Who knew that 25 years later he would be marrying... ME! :)


David turned the big 2-6 this Sunday and to celebrate, his side of the family met us at Red Lobster for dinner on Saturday night! We enjoyed some amazing food and had a great time having the entire family there together. Since David's folks live in Minnesota, they haven't been able to spend the last couple birthdays with him. Thanks to the birth of my amazing nephew, Everett, they were able to be here on David's birthday! :)


Saturday night/Sunday morning (it was exactly midnight), David opened the gifts I got him. I had them numbered from one to three, and they were all different sizes. First, he opened a plain black knit hat. I could tell he was a little weirded out... who gets a beanie for their birthday? Haha. It will make sense soon, I promise.


Second, David opened a bag that had a black OSU t-shirt in it (are you catching on?). He was really excited and I was happy to see it fit perfectly! He starting catching on too and was smiling sooooo big. It made my heart so happy.


Finally, he opened the most exciting present. Two tickets to the OSU vs. Arizona State football game on October 8! :) He has never been to a Beaver game, so it should be really, really fun. David was so excited he actually got a little emotional. He is so sweet. :)

David at Target wearing the new shirt I got him.

Sunday we slept in and went to Buffalo Wild Wings for lunch. David found a burger and french fries (with salt and vinegar on them) that he LOVED. I, of course, had chicken strips and french fries. Yum, yum, yum.


We came home and snuggled with a movie and then David had to go to a work meeting.


Overall, it was a really relaxed birthday but we both had a lot of fun.


This weekend we are completing the celebration with a trip to the BEACH! My family has a beach house in Lincoln City so we will be going there for a couple days to relax. It's actually the first time since we have been together that we won't have to bring homework or think about school and everything! Whoo hoo! I am SO excited and it's supposed to be 82 degrees the whole weekend! :)


I am so thankful for this man and love him so much! I'll post pictures once we get home. Have a great weekend everyone and stay cool! 

No More First Days of School

I have to admit, it feels very strange not buying new school clothes, school supplies, or thinking about school. Working at Target, I see kids anxiously buying supplies and occasionally meeting up with others and discussing their classes, new teachers, and new schools.


This is the first time in 15 years that I will not experience a first day of school. I went Preschool through my three years of college and that's it. I have finished school, unless I decide to get my Masters down the road (which I have been considering for a bit now). It's crazy that something that has been consistent for 15 years is suddenly complete. Wow. 


I started thinking back through my 15 years of education and had a few memories from each year stand out. I wanted to share those memories with you, and encourage you to share your memories back! :)


I remember in... 


Preschool: Lying on the squares of carpet, pretending to nap but staring at the hallway instead. Boys in my class used to hide in the cupboards of a rolling cart for some reason. My classmates and I got to take turns bringing something for snack time. When my name was selected, I brought Goldfish, and my teacher noticed me making them "swim" into my mouth and announced to the class how silly it was. To this day, I still make Goldfish swim into my mouth. 


Kindergarden: I met some friends that I have carried throughout most of my life. I remember sitting on the carpet and playing with covered foam blocks and painting on easels for the first time. I also remember getting in trouble for washing the paint brushes in the bathroom sink and not the other sink. Some boy drew on the bathroom walls with his poop.


First grade: I accidently spelled train like "trayn" but was placed in a high reading group. Wore forest green sweat pants and pig-embroidered overalls to school (I literally wore the sweat pants, like every day). 


Second grade: I learned to spell "because" using a song I still sing in my head today. B-e-ca-use. Hmm, doesn't really make sense without the beat, but still, it's a good song. :)


Third grade: I was transfered out of Mrs. O'Brien's class because it was too easy. I learned how to write in cursive in Mrs. Stroh's class


Fourth grade: Mrs. Anderson's class was in the portables... my first class outside of the main building. I stayed home sick from school one day and Ali had to come home sick because she threw up her Rice Krispies on the playground before school started


Fifth grade: Read Where the Red Fern Grows and hated it. My classmates and I found out a cool way to make a recliner out of our desk chairs by flipping them over and using our backpacks as a cushion


Sixth grade: First year in middle school. We walked to school with our friend Rachel (who we met before Kindergarden). I went to Outdoor School and Mom allowed Ali and I to wear a light layer of mascara and lip gloss


Seventh grade: First year as a three sport athlete. This love of sports (volleyball, basketball and track) would continue up until my freshman year in college). Our English teacher, Mrs. Carlson, told Ali and I in front the entire class that we were her "fashion icons." Some days, we would come to school and she would be wearing the same outfit as us. Seriously


Eighth grade: Ran for student council for RHS, didn't get it because of a boy named Dennis. Had to write an apology letter to Mrs. Carlson because Ali, Yianna and I laughed when a guy named Moon was dancing in the hallway ,when we should have been listening to her read something to us. Avoided detention, but this was the closest I ever got (proud to say that I have NEVER received a detention)


Freshman year: Started my first year at Reynolds High School. Got involved with FCA and began journalism classes 


Sophomore year: Got on Sophomore class council because I told ASB (who was deciding class council) that I could be a kitchen utensil I would be a spork, because they are unique. Pretty solid answer don't you think? I had Taco Bell on my mind, obviously. Also, almost broke the school record with my 4x4 relay team for track. 


Junior year: Got on ASB, first time I was varsity in all three of my sports


Senior year: Graduated Valedictorian, Lettered in three sports, ASB again (involved with 11 extracurricular activities), prom princess, homecoming princess, a part of Relay for Life planning committee (that year we raised over $38,000), editor-in-chief for the school paper, wrote an article that made my teachers cry (not in a good way)


Freshman year at George Fox University: Straight A student (A- though in Environmental Science with Chinchi Chen), met a really, really, really cute boy named David Green playing volleyball during our Serve Day carnival. Met him again during our Intro. to Video class and fell in love. David told me he was falling in love with me, and that I should love him too, after knowing him for three days. :) :)


Sophomore year at GFU: Had a radio show for the second year in a row, was R.A. for 19 girls in Coffin 3W, summitted the Middle Sister in Sisters, OR, played intramural sports for the second year in a row


Junior/Senior year at GFU: Married my best friend and love of my life, David, in May of that year. Honeymooned to Hawaii for 14 days. Moved into our first apartment and could walk to classes. Got our first pet, a fish named Huckleberry Finn, graduated with honors (3.88 GPA) and Lambda Pi Eta honors, worked on the school paper as an editor, had a radio show with David.

First year out of school: David and I moved out of Newberg and into a two bedroom condo that we love. I was promoted at work and David became full-time at Apple, our niece turned three (today!) and our nephew was born (on Aug. 22), my sister moved to Germany and won't be back until December, and we went on a road trip to Idaho. 

It's hard to believe that education has played such a huge part of my life. In reality though, it's just a 15 year chapter of my life. I can't wait to see what the next chapter is like. Who knows, maybe the next 15 years will involve a new home, new additions to our family, a new car, new positions in our jobs... the Lord only knows.


:)


Needless to say, I am excited to see his plan for us as graduates of the educational system. 


:)

HE'S HERE!

Meet the CUTEST little boy in the world. My nephew, Everett David Jensen, born today at 12:06 p.m. He was 22.5 inches and 8 lbs. 15 oz. :) We are SO in love!

I'll link to my sister-in-law's blog when she posts about her delivery. It's her story to tell and I want you all to hear it in her own words. :)

Baby Update

No news to report yet. I ended up falling asleep on the couch-bed for a few hours before waking up to Patti's contractions. She sounded like she was battling some rough ones last night, and I knew when she said, "I think I'd like the epidural now," that it was time for David and I to give Brett and Patti some privacy.

David woke up and was completely delirious. He was wandering and we got settled in the waiting room. Sue took one couch, David took the other, and I slept on the floor. I was happy to give the couch up for David though, haha. He was SO tired, and I already had a few hours of sleep in me.

We woke up just before 8:00 a.m. and David and I headed down to the hospital cafeteria. It was actually pretty good! David had an omelette and I had a two breakfast sandwiches. Mine were dry but David's omelette looked delicious... minus everything but the eggs, cheese, and bacon. :)

We are currently sitting in Patti's room again. It sounds like her and Brett got a few hours of sleep, which is good. Apparently Everett is in Patti's ribs still, but we keep telling him to come to the light, haha.

We'll see how long Everett decides to stay in hibernation. Hopefully he'll get out of there soon!

Everett Update

No baby yet.

I am struggling to stay awake, but I have nothing to complain about considering I am not the one with an IV in my arm and a baby in my body. :)

Patti is doing great though. She's trying to stay comfortable, Brett is on the computer, David's mom is watching TV, and David and I are challenging each other in Words With Friends (I am winning).

:)

Nothing else happening on the baby front. I'll keep you posted. :)