somethingaboutschloemers

Considering the fact that Jeffrey is obsessed with anything outdoor (backpacking, hiking, climbing, skiing, etc.) it is pretty surprising that we have never been on a backpacking trip together. I grew up going with my family regularly but really have not been since junior high so I was itching to get out as well. We had gone on a few hikes and had planned to do more this summer but with Jeffrey being in Alaska, it never happened. So one of his first weekends home we decided to go up to Pamalia Lake. We didn't end up leaving until 4:00 PM so we only hiked a total of about 3 miles (this was a good thing considering the fact I was breaking in new boots...which was pretty disastrous actually). We pitched our tent, made some dinner, and made a smoky fire with damp wood. Anyways, it still ended up being fun for our first trip together and hopefully next time we can leave a little earlier and take on something a little more strenuous. Here are some pictures of our trip! Enjoy =) Getting r...

One of my dearest friends Sarah Eaden came to visit Jeffrey and I a few weekends ago. It was a wonderful weekend of winetasting (www.orchardheightswinery.com) , going to Oktoberfest in Mount Angel (www.oktoberfest.org), eating dinner at Montage in Portland (www.montageportland.com), and just spending some much needed time together. This summer, I pretty much saw Sar every day. Usually our get togethers involved running or some sort of other physical activity but rarely was there a day when we did not see each other (and I'm not complaining). I have known this for a while but have really come to this conclusion: Sarah is truely an amazing person. Her gentle spirit and listening ears have helped get me through so many rough patches over the last few years. She has always been there for me in her own way, and it is just what I have needed. She always seems to offers words of wisdom at just the right time and is NEVER afraid to tell me what she thinks. She is honest with me, and that i...

As I grudgingly pulled myself out of bed this morning at 6:23 AM to get ready for a class which I simply had to "make an appearance at", I thought about how much I wanted to crawl back in bed and snuggle up next to my warm husband. It was O, so tempting considering it was about 50 degrees in the room but I mustered up the courage to slide out and make my side of the bed, so to keep the option officially off limits. My shower seemed to liven my sleepy self and I hurriedly got ready for the day (hair, makeup, get dressed, make a smoothie, take vitamins, fill up water bottle, pack backpack, give Jeffrey a kiss goodbye, start freezing cold car, climb in, and drive). I don't really enjoy my 50 minutes of concrete from Salem to Newberg 2x a day but have some what gotten used to it. This morning, however, when I stepped outside, I was blasted with 39 degrees of crisp and refreshing goodness: Fall! It was the first morning I actually FELT a shift in the weather and it was so...

So my little brother is graduating from high school this year. He is so grown up in ALMOST every form of the word and I couldn't be a more proud big sister! When I brought up senior pictures to him, pretty all I got from him was a grunt. Now he has always been know to be rather....well....not photogenic so I expected his response. I asked him if he had any ideas of who he might want to take them and I was surprised to hear him say ME ! I have always considered myself to be a decent photographer but was not quite sure if putting my bro's senior year in my hands was the best option. But after thinking over how unmotivated he would be with any other photographer I thought it would be a fun adventure. I talked to my friend Anna TenBroek who happens to enjoy photography as well (and is pretty fantastic!!!) and we set a date to take him out and 'shoot' him! So one day after work, the three of us piled into my brother's huge truck with two shirts, a pair of romeo's, an...

It is currently 4:35 PM. On a normal day I might be surprised at how quickly the day how flown by. But not today. Today has been one of the longest days EVER. Let me explain. I got a text message Saturday night after my family got home from our Ross Lake trip (which was wonderful-I will write on that later) from Jeffrey that said simply "homeward bound". I about peed! I called him immediately to confirm the news and he told me they decided to come home 2 weeks early. My response was pretty much lots of tears and excitement and more tears and excitement. I hadn't been expecting him for another 2 weeks and given my experience on the camping trip it couldn't have been better timing! I haven't been able to talk to him since Saturday so I don't really know all the details but I think that they will continue to fish out of the Puget Sound for the next week or so. So I will still be heading to Salem without him more than likely but at least I will get to SEE...

So my sister and her husband Brandon are home for the week. My brothers Steven and Manny are here. Dad and Jenny are here. I am here. I can not help but think during this wonderful time of reunion about my own husband in Alaska. It has been more than two months now that he has been away and I am really missing him like crazy. The main reason that Lisa and Brandon came home for the week was to go on our annual boat-packing trip to Ross Lake. It is always anxiously anticipated by everyone and this is the first year that we were all going to be able to go as a family, all new spouses included (seeing as there are three additions within the last year). This year our adventure was going to be an extra day longer making it four days of wonderful canoeing, kayaking, swimming, and camping bliss! Jeffrey and I have been looking forward to this all year and when he found out he would be going fishing we knew that among other things, Ross Lake would not be in the cards for him this year. S...