Finding Portland

While we have been enjoying our time in Nebraska immensely (hello? sunshine anyone?), there are a few things that we miss about Oregon that we just haven't found a Nebraskan replacement for yet.  Coffee, mountains and waterfalls, just to name a few. Another thing I miss is all of the U-pick produce opportunities.  I really missed my annual 9 pound haul of blueberries back in July and the blackberries in August.  But we found a great Nebraskan replacement this past weekend: U-pick apples!  We had a great time enjoying yet another sunny September day at the Kimmel Orchard outside of Nebraska City.

Around here lately...

And now a word about employment

Well folks, the time has finally come.  I'm employed. And I'm so happy about it. I start a new job tomorrow with Gallup--I will be the administrative coordinator for the in-house legal department which basically means I'll make their jobs easier every single day.

It's a funny thing, you know, having a job.  Especially after not having one. All summer, I have been job searching, wishing and hoping something really good would come along.  Now that the time is actually here, I'm feeling very bittersweet about the whole thing.  I will miss the little adventures Kate and I had everyday, I will miss going to the park and sitting in the sun in backyard while she splashes in the pool. I will miss those three precious hours in the afternoon when the house was napping and I could get something, anything done. I will miss going to Target for no real reason other than to get out of the house and go somewhere. I will miss our weekly playdates with Harper and Hudson as they are starting to become friends, real friends. I will miss my girl.

But, there are so many things to look forward to. I'm excited for a routine again, a reason to set an actual alarm clock. I'm excited to meet new people, build new relationships and learn about a new industry that I know nothing of. I'm excited for a 9 to 5, Monday through Friday, regular hours job. I'm excited to help provide for my family again.

So wish me luck on my first day back. Ooo, I'm going to need it.

The First Boat Ride

Before we left Portland last spring, B had booked a couple of wedding shoots for this fall, so he flew out for Portland on Sunday leaving us girls all by our lonesomes.  So Kate and I took a vote and unanimously decided to go visit Oma and Papa for a couple of days to pass the time.  Since B was out in Portland seeing all of our friends and Craig and Bridget and eating good food and soaking up good Portland summer weather, we thought it was only fair that we do the same.  And by the same, I mean, go to Wayne, take the boat to Yankton and proceed to have a lovely evening on the water.