Why even have a blog?

Wow, I am a lot more terrible at this blogging thing than I expected. Who would have guessed?

To make up for my lack of news, how about some nice Christmas decor photos! We put up real Christmas lights for the first time, and I was up on the roof a few days in a row getting it right. I have a new appreciation for the house lighting scene in "Christmas Vacation" now, as it took a few tries for us to get it all lit without shutting the house's whole electrical system down.





This a sled and reindeer handmade by Mike's grandpa (many years before he passed away). It was handed down to us from Mike's mom this year.











And check out this gorgeous sunset as we were finishing up our lights! I guess we can't compete with what God can do. :)

It's that time of year again...

We didn't get them new costumes this year, but I think they're getting used to the capes. Tannen actually wore his without too much complaining the whole night! Unfortunately, we didn't nearly as many kids trick-or-treating this year, so the dogs weren't at all interested in being door greeters. They just laid around in their outfits all night. Not very impressive superheroes.

Disneyland is magical

As mentioned in a previous posting, Mike and I took a road trip in August with a couple of good friends, Simeon & Alli. Yes, the four of us stuffed all our luggage into Mike's Toyota Echo and all piled in for a 17-hour drive down and back. And we are all still friends!! We got to spend 5 wonderful days in southern California, 2 of those at Disneyland, 1 at Six Flags, and 2 just hanging around their old stomping ground (they both lived down there in college and knew the area very well). It was a great trip! Here are some highlights:

Mike, Kate, Alli, and Simeon at Six Flags Magic Mountain. It was sooo HOT!!

About to take off on an old wooden roller coaster at Six Flags. Much fun followed.

Mike hanging on for dear life on a swing ride at California Adventure. We all enjoyed teasing him. :)

Mike, myself and Alli waiting to board the scary elevator on Tower of Terror. Needless to say, I didn't really want to go on it, but pouted my through the fear.

Check us out in the front row on the left. I screamed and stomped and held on to Mike for dear life the entire ride. But Simeon and Alli had a great time laughing and pointing at my reaction once the ride was over. :)

One of our first rides of the day was Splash Mountain at Disneyland, and we got SOAKED!

Here's Simeon and Mike looking a bit awkward on Grizzly Rapids at California Adventure.

Alli and Kate looking tough.

Our good friend, Jesse, was able to meet up with us at one of our Disneyland/Cali Adventure days!

On one of our off days, we walked around Hollywood for a bit. This is us looking confused in front of the famous Chinese Theatre.

Mmmmmm..... In 'n Out burgers are the best!

We picked up a hitch-hiker on the way home, who ended up having some personal boundary issues.

September doesn't exist

So I guess in Shipster blogworld, September didn't even register. Oops, sorry September! For us, this month was just a lot of working, cleaning, working, getting estimates for windows, having a garage sale, working, and watching some awesome new TV shows! That doesn't look nearly as good written down as it was to live, let me tell you. :)

Next week, Mike and I are celebrating our 3-year anniversary on October 8th. Wow, 3 years already?? It feels like it's gone by so fast, and yet also feels longer than that at the same time. I feel like we're already an old married couple in a lot of ways. Especially when we argue over what he said and what I thought he said. I guess the honeymoon stage is over. Just kidding, Mikey. :)

I guess since September wasn't all that exciting for us, I'll just leave you with a very funny clip. And since Mike isn't around to use his super powers to convert it to a video I can post right here, you'll just have to make due with a link to YouTube. Enjoy!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5tmnBeNv18

(Caution: those who do not think Flight of the Conchords are hilarious probably should not click on the above link... you have been warned)

When the Shipleys were parents for a week

Wow, what a crazy summer this has been. After Eric's wedding, Mike and I went back to work, then celebrated my birthday (I finally have a nice bed frame now!), then had my uncle and cousin stay with us and do some tree work, then had Mike's niece and nephew with us for a week, then went on a road trip to Disneyland for a week. What madness!

We got home last weekend, and it's been nice to just sit back and catch up on sleep and TV. I've got lots of pictures to share of our wonderful time at Disneyland, but for now I need to post some of Nick and Madison, who we had a blast with the first week of August. I have a much greater respect for parents now, too. :)



Here are the kiddos shortly after falling off the swing in our front yard. Aren't they precious? :)














If you look closely, you can see Madi in one of the top branches. She loved climbing our tree and was out there every moment she could. It was great, and I even managed to get up there a few times with her.














One of the days, I took them ice skating in Portland, and they loved it! I wish I would have allocated more time for it, because neither of them wanted to leave.
















Me and Madi at the ice rink.














Another shot of them on our swing.

















Mike and I took them to the Clark County fair on a bright and shiny Sunday, and we all had a great time!












Here you can see the kids chasing Marty at the Vancouver dog park.













Silly Uncle Mike playing xBox with Nick. They loved playing Halo 3 together.
















During one of our trips to the dollar store, Mike and Madi got creative.

The Best Wedding Photo Ever Taken

Erica just sent us this photo this morning, and we can't stop laughing about it. Isn't Mike's expression just priceless? :)

Wedding Recovery

Last week was a crazy week in South Carolina getting ready for my brother's wedding on July 19th. But we're home now, and in one piece! It was a beautiful wedding on a hot, muggy day (thankfully, it was all indoors), and now Eric and Erica should be in Jamaica on their honeymoon.

I didn't take any of my own pictures (because I'm a doofus). But Nancy generously sent me a few pics of the rehearsal dinner and wedding day that she took, so here's what I've got so far:


A girl and her brothers -- Scott, me, and Eric at the rehearsal dinner (which was a tropical theme).










Mike and me outside the church where the reception was held. I'm looking pretty chunky here, but I promise I'm not pregnant!










Me and my niece, Kelly, who is 10 months old. She could be my baby, and I wish she was! Mike was making her smile all week, and it was so fun to be around her so much.