Point No Point

On Monday, I drove Danny and Chris (Brock and Sonny too) up north to Point No Point.  The weather was weird (semi-sunny and humid/muggy) and I thought it might be the best opportunity for us to take a stroll on the beach. 

View to West of Point No Point

Driftwood castle

On a clear day - you can see Seattle just over the rock

The driftwood reminded me of a sea monster

Darn wieny kept looking away from me

Chris and Broccoli

Don't worry - Be happy!

He was lovin' it

Sonny being difficult

Point No Point Lighthouse

We had a great walk down the beach and back.  When we were almost back to our starting point, I just happened to look out at the right moment and see a grey whale's tail surface and go back into the water.  Danny and Chris just missed it, so we stood there watching for a bit and ended up seeing what I think was a small pod of greys.  It was pretty neat, and I gave myself a little pat-on-the-back for taking them up there and being able to see something like that.

The patting-of-the-back quickly stopped and became more of a slapping-on-the-forehead when we got back to the car and I reached in my jacket pocket for my keys.

No keys.

Panic set in and I began seeing "WTF!?!" flashing in my head (and certainly not in a what the feedback way).  I knew my keys weren't in the car, because I couldn't have locked it otherwise.  And I distinctly remembered turning around and re-locking the car once we hit the beach - just to be sure.  

Danny and Chris decided they would retrace our steps, while I stayed there with the pups.  The poor dogs were so thirsty and Brock had spit all over hisself.  Of course - the towels and water were in the car.  

Score two more points for Lauren.

I think Brock and Sonny shared my thoughts about the whole debacle.  We sat down on a bench to wait and they were so embarrassed - they wouldn't even look at me. 

Embarrassed childrens

I also text Ryan to tell him what happened.  

Our conversation went something like...

Me: I lost my keys on Point No Point.

Ryan: Are you kidding me?

Me: No. I wish.

Ryan: Lauren, you are kidding me right?

Me: I would not joke with you about something like this... For this long.

Ryan: Let me know when you find them.

Me: I hope I get to do that.

Not too much time went by and I heard the glorious and familiar meep meep of the Forester unlocking.  Some other beach-goers had found my keys in the sand right where we had decided to turn around.  We think that when we were climbing over/under some of the massive drift wood, that my keys fell out and we didn't hear them hit the sand.

Talk about an interesting and unintentionally-over-interesting trip to the beach.

Take Luck,

LP

Tour Guide, Extraordinaire

Ryan's parents are in town this week, visiting from St. Louis.  This isn't their first time here, but the last time they were - we were all busy trying to put on a little wedding.  The wedding plans and hoopla somewhat overshadowed any tourism that they had in mind.

Imagine that. 

The Peters family took over Seattle on Saturday. I played tour guide for Danny and Chris.  But, I should probably keep my day job.

Gum Wall at Pike's Place

Danny and Chris at the Gum Wall

Market sign

Market piggy bank

Amazing bouquet we brought home

View of the sound

Cool stuff for sale

View of Seattle Rock 'n Roll marathon-ers running down Alaskan Way Viaduct

Rode the crazy-fast elevator of this guy

View of Lake Union from Needle

View of downtown Seattle from Needle

I think you can see Bremerton?

Love birds on top of the world

All in all, it was a great (and tiring) day, and I think Danny and Chris got to see some of the highlights of Seattle tourism.  I think they were amazed at the amount of people out-and-about, especially compared to downtown St. Louis.  Rachel and Spencer joined us for a little bit, after they realized that a bus wasn't coming for them.      

We had lunch at some little place downtown, and it may possibly be the last time I eat fettuccine alfredo.  Ever.  Not three bites into my lunch, my stomach decided it wasn't too happy and completely kicked my you-know-what.  After that, I became the tour guide who frequently stopped to sweat a little, breathe through my nose and out the mouth, and dance around a little.

You would have thought I had just run the marathon.

Take Luck,
LP

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day!

I don't think any fathers read this blog, but still.  It's a wonderful day to celebrate and honor our Dads.  If you want to read my post about Mother's Day and my Ma, go here.

I think about a lot of the things my dearest Daddio has taught me, and my head instantly fills with advice, lessons, motivation, perspectives and wisdom.  He is the smartest man I know.  Period.  I like to think I get my "positive outlook" on life from him, because that is how he operates - positively.  

Daddio and I in Hawaii (2008)

Daddio and Bubba getting ready for the wedding

My Dad was quite the stud athlete growing up and through high school.  I know he wanted to instill sports and the disciplines associated with it in me and my siblings.  He did.  

Dad "Quarterbacked" CK to the State title in 1969

I started playing sports at the ripe age of four - soccer in the fall and tee-ball in the spring.  My Dad was always right there in the action with me, and it stayed that way until I graduated from college at 22 and finally ended my softball career.

Mom, Dad and me on Senior Day

My Dad and I didn't always have the smooth and great relationship we have today, and it was because of sports that our relationship became turbulent.  I had natural ability, and like most parents, my Dad wanted to turn my natural abilities into something special.

We joke about it now - the time we spent in the backyard pitching, hitting, taking ground balls, practicing free throws and dribbling a basketball around cones, dribbling soccer balls around laundry detergent buckets in the front yard, and math time together at the dinner table.... But it wasn't so funny to me back then.  I think I mostly thought he was slowly trying to torture me.  He pushed me so hard, and at the time I just wanted to be a kid.  Looking back I would not have changed a thing, because he made me into the athlete I was, and to the positive, hard working adult that I am now. 

I know how to work for the things I want, and know how good it feels to get what I deserve because I have earned it.

Some highlights I can vividly recall from our times together are:

-A video of me around the age of five, hitting off the tee.  The tee was set up across the street and my Dad would field the balls from the gravel outside my house.  The video shows us practicing together and at one point I say, "You're getting your exercise today, huh Dad?"

-Pitching to my Dad in the backyard, and him constantly telling me, "Oh, only 50 more" when I would ask, "How many left, Dad??"  By the time I was 15 or 16, I wised up and started keeping my own count.  Not that it mattered - we were done when he said so.

-If he thought I was being lazy (which may have been true after 200 pitches), he would tell me how slow I was pitching; that my little sister could throw harder than me and in fact - he didn't even need a glove to catch my pitches at all!  Well, me being his smart-ass daughter - that just revved me up (nice work, Daddio).  So I would throw the ball into his bare hands as abosolutely-hard as I could.  That'll teach him.

-Walking into a gymnasium with the pitching bucket, gloves and a bat, and a basketball (just to make sure we had all my athletic bases covered).  The other gym-goers probably thought, "What the world are these people doing with all that sports equipment??  I'm staying out of that gym."  

-Anytime I would say, "God!" in frustration.  His response was a simple, "God can't help you right now."  Thanks a lot for pointing that out, Dad.

-Me coming home in the summers from college and I was the one asking him to go outside.

Trust me, I could go on and on and on with stories of my Dad and I.  My poor Mom was usually right in the middle of our skirmishes - which were frequent.  Our relationship transformation happened around the time I was 17 or 18, when he realized he may be just a little overbearing.  It's been awesome and wonderful ever since.  The tables turned when I got to college, and I finally realized that all my hard work had paid off - I just needed to keep working harder.  Like I said, I wouldn't change most of it because it made me who I am, and gave the opportunities it did.  Without my Dad's persistence, I would not have ultimately met Ry-Guy.

So, thanks for everything, Daddio.  You are one-in-a-million.  Or maybe a billion.

I feel really fortunate to also have a wonderful father-in-law.  I have loved seeing Ryan and Danny's relationship grow and develop over the last three years, especially since Ryan moved to Washington.  My father-in-law knows me well.  Anytime we are visiting them, he stocks the house with Sugarfree Red Bull and bagels. What. A. Guy!!

Danny and Ryan

Father and Daughter-in-law

Take Luck

and Hug a Dad today,

LP

Love Letter

Dear Mr. Peters,

We just had a riveting discussion on the terminology used to describe a baseball bat, and the difference in the terminology used to describe a golf club.

Just so we're clear, neither of the words heel or toe are involved when describing a bat.

Your toe is a bat head and your heel is a knob.  

If we were to use terminology like you crazy golfers, baseball and softball coaches alike would be using phrases such as "Keep your toe up," and "Throw your heel at the ball."  

That could get really confusing.  

Can you imagine kids' reactions when hearing these coaching tips?  They would probably take the advice literally and either be prancing around like ballerinas in the batter's box with their toe up, or walking on their heels to "keep their toes up."  And then, they might try karate kicking the ball as it is being pitched toward them to "throw their heel at the ball."

Silly, Ryan.

I know you were just kidding, but I wanted to document and remember this conversation.  I love our discussions and debates about the most random stuff.  I love being silly with you. 

And I like when I'm right. 

Muahaha.

Take Luck,

LP

Flashback Friday - The Meeting

I probably should have made this my first official "Flashback Friday" post, instead of first dictating Ryan's proposal.  I am a fairly (ok, really) organized person, so I am a little surprised that I didn't think of sharing our story in chronological order.

Moving on.

I think I've mentioned before that Ryan and I met while working for Wells Fargo Financial in Fairview Heights, Illinois.  Somehow we were both duped into accepting positions as Credit Managers.  I think it all sounded good during the interview process, but the actual job was a completely different story.  Let's just say I cried during the first week.  

Yep. 

Of course since it was my first day on the job I was excited about the new endeavor and eager to learn.  I met all my co-workers and they were probably thinking, "Why in the world is this girl so excited and... Happy??"

I knew Ryan was special from the very beginning. And if you ask him, he would probably tell you the same thing (at least I hope so).  He has told me that when we met and said hello for the first time that day, it went something like this:

Me: Hi, I'm Lauren

Ryan: Hi, I'm Ryan... I love you.

(He said the "I love you" part to himself)

I say I knew Ryan was special from the very beginning because it was so easy to see that he was a good guy.  He was beyond nice and courteous to Wells Fargo customers when they called or came for an appointment, and his laugh and smile made my head turn and heart leap.  Our friendship remained a friendship for awhile, since we were both in relationships with other people, but our respective relationships ran their course and didn't work out.

I distinctly remember a particular morning when Ryan had just parked his car in the parking lot as I pulled up.  Looking back, its hard to believe that he actually showed up before me for once, but that's beside the point.  When I saw him, I got a little (ok, a lot) nervous and while trying to "play it cool," put my car into park before coming to a complete stop.

This caused my car (and me) to lurch forward in front of my future husband.

Awesome.

Until recently, I was totally and 100% sure that he didn't see the lurching incident.  He didn't laugh when it happened, and didn't say anything to me about it... So I assumed I was free and clear.

I was wrong.  Very wrong.

I also like to remember one day when I happened to get up from my desk and turn around (Ryan's desk was behind mine) to see Mr. Peters looking at me.  We made eye contact and I'm pretty sure my heart skipped a beat... Maybe two. 

Once we hung out outside of work a few times, it became crystal clear that this was what we had been waiting for.  There was no pressure, no games, no history, no nothing.  It was just us being us and loving each other for exactly who we are.

I think you know how it turned out.

Something I often think about, is all the "things" that had to happen in order for us to even meet, let alone be where we are today.  The opportunities, the choices, the "yes's" and the "no's," all lead us to Wells Fargo Financial, for goodness sake.

It is amazing how things work out.  

You meet hundreds and thousands of people in your life - and it only takes one to change it.

I cannot wait to see what else is in store for us.

Take Luck,

LP

A Nugget

We have big (or perhaps little is more appropriate) news to share!

Coming this October...

Baby Webb!!

Ryan's sister, Cara and her hubby, Ryan are welcoming their first baby in October.

And, it's a boy!

3D image of the little guy

 It looks to me like he's doing the wave-under-the-chin-thing from Little Rascals.

We are so excited for Cara and Webb.  It seemed like right after Christmas time Cara called to say that they were going to start "trying" in the next few months... And then a few weeks later she was calling to say, "Surpriiiiiiise!"

When we were in St. Louis for that weekend back in May, she had a tiny little baby bump.  She sent me a picture of the growing belly the other night, but I told her I would keep that to myself.  Believe me she looks adorable, and I really want to pat the baby belly.  We'll get to see her/them in early October when we go back to St. Louis for Ryan's buddy's wedding.  By then she will be getting super close to delivery time.  

I am secretly (or not so secretly) hoping that she has this little man early or when we are there...

It could happen!!

Cara sent us some pictures of the nursery, and I can't wait to see it once all the monkey bedding is on the crib.

Crib

Dresser and monkey pillow

A view of the nursery

Right now they have his name choices narrowed down to two: Connor and Liam.  I can't wait to hear what they choose.  Either way, its going to be perfect.  

Can you tell I'm excited??

You'd think I was the one that was pregnant.

Not so much, people.  I get to live vicariously through Cara.

Here's wishing Cara and Baby Webb (and Webb too!) a healthy and smooth remainder of the pregnancy. 

Take Luck,

LP

Chasing Cars

In my inaugural blog post, I shined some light on why I titled my blog "Chasing Cars, Hearts and Seahorses."  Chasing Cars is one of my favorite songs of all time, so it seems appropriate to incorporate it into my blogging voyage.

Last night, while Ryan and I were watching Just Go With It, one of the songs that played during the movie was a mash-up of Snow Patrol's "Chasing Cars" and "Every Breath You Take" by The Police entitled "Every Car You Chase." 

Musical bliss. 

Turn it on, crank it up, and enjoy.

Oh, and watch Just Go With It.

We laughed so hard, we cried.

Take Luck,

LP

Love Letter

My Dearest,

I am going against your wishes and advice in posting this, because apparently it would make a killer movie plot.

I am not so sure.  In some circles it may sound totally and utterly crazy.

This morning, after I dropped you off at work (at, ahem, 5:10), I came back home and hopped back into bed.  I then began dreaming one of the craziest and most vivid dreams ever.

Here goes.

Mom, Dad, you and I were in Oklahoma City watching SIU softball in a hugely massive softball stadium that was apparently built right in the middle of downtown.  There is a large steel fence that surrounded the ballpark.  Out of nowhere, a giant tornado started making its way directly toward the stadium.

The announcer told everyone to get out of the stands and to sit on the concrete in between the steel fence and the stadium, but to NOT hold onto the fence.  The beastly tornado kept on coming.  We see an airplane flying in and it gets taken out by the tornado, and explodes.  The exploding airplane is now coming right for us, along with the tornado.

The bad news is, the firey airplane hurled into us and we died instantly.

We were are all immediately reincarnated into somewhat mythological creatures.  You became a jaguar/cheetah cat.  

I became a shape-shifting humaoid-fox (not humanoid-fox like a hot and sexy humanoid, or Megan Fox, but a humanoid-mammal thing).  I can't recall what Mom and Dad were.

 

Anyway, when we reincarnated, we were under the ground, deep in the earth.  I don't know how but we were able to dig our way out and ultimately rise up.  Our digging didn't seem to take us very long, but when we surfaced many years had gone by.  

The (seemingly) cool thing was that when we appeared on the surface, we were human again.   We were trying to tell everyone that we were killed in the massive tornado/airplane explosion.  It seemed to scare some folks.

I wonder why?

The really sad thing was that when we appeared on the surface, you had no idea who I was or any recollection of being my husband. You had on your wedding ring, but couldn't think of what your wife looked like or who she was.  

She was standing right in front of you!!

 You were also a dentist.

I woke up sweating, breathing hard, and thinking, "W.T.F?" (and certainly not in a what the feebdack context).

Craziness, I tell ya. 

Quite frankly, I can't imagine it would be very successful in the box office.  But, I appreciate your enthusiasm and support.

Here's to hoping that you would remember I am your wife if we are ever faced with a natural disaster or crazy-terrible-airplane-exploding accident.

Take Luck,

LP

10 on 10: June 2011

Ten on Ten: 10 pictures on the 10th day of the month!

Document a snapshot of your life & find beauty among the ordinary things in your day!

My second Ten on Ten.  The stars aligned today and allowed me to actually execute this.  First, I actually remembered (ha!).  Second, today was my day off so I actually had an entire day to "document."

8:00 am: My cuddle buddy on the couch.  He took up all the room, and I squeezed in wherever I could fit.

9:00 am: I had control over these...

10:00 am: Ate a giant bowl of Special K Red Berries

12:00 pm: Watched an adorable dance routine put on by my sister-in-law, Haley and Kenny.  That girl loves Black Eyed Peas.

1:00 pm: Riley Boy wanted to call Uncle Ryan

2:00 pm: I caught someone with a pacifier

2:30 pm: Not too much longer and our pink house will not be pink anymore. 

2:30 pm: Getting ready to put our patio furniture to work and host a BBQ this evening with Ryan's work buddies.  (Ignore the yucky shed...)

3:00pm: The adhesive of our white/cork board is not adhering anymore.  It now rests on the kitchen table.

3:00pm: Can't wait to watch Just Go With It with Ry Guy

So far, it has been a great day.  Can't wait for a (hopefully) great weekend.

Take Luck,
LP