Our little secret

Gabe and I have been wanting to bring another dog into our home for some time now. At our old house, we tried a few dogs, Tucker and Jack, but they were just too big for our little home.

Well now that we are settled in our new home with lots of room, we are both ready again to bring home a BIG dog.

Here is a sneak peek at what we are looking for - -





HOW COULD YOU SAY NO TO THIS? I CAN'T WAIT!!!

My little side job - -

I sell high quality stering silver jewelry for a fun side job. I got my first big bonus with Silpada this week. I earned $500 in free jewelry! I have also earned well over $1000 in cash in the last four shows. Not bad for a few hours of work. If I could consistently do shows like this, think how much extra income we could have! I have a craft fair this weekend, and I hope that will boost my customer base.

You can view my catalog online at www.mysilpada.com/kelly.strine

Whooosh

I can't believe that it is only three weeks until Christmas! How could this be? It seems like summer was just here.

Nicole comes home from Dominica in a little over 2 weeks already. I am excited to hear all about the really cool things that she has learned while away at Med School. She is one of the smartest people I know and I love talking with her. She is able to retain so much information, like a sponge. I am quite jealous of that ability. She has let her hair grow, and I am sure has a gorgeous tan. Don't let that tan fool you into thinking that Med School in the Dominica has been all roses. It is still a third world country!

We soon will have a new year upon us, full of change and opportunity. I sure hope this year starts off better than this year did!

Live for the little things,
Kelly

My friend Lisa

Words that describe my friend Lisa
Inspiring
Hilarious
Dedicated
Quote taker
Motivated
Caring
Beautiful inside and out
French Chef
Creative
Mom
Camp Director
Entertainer

I could go on - but I will stop.

I was touched that Lisa thought of me the other day. She had flowers delivered to me at work. At first I couldn't understand why she would send me flowers that said "Thinking of You - Lisa"

It took 15 minutes or so of me asking, why would Lisa be thinking of me....how strange...how out of the blue...how wonderful...how touching...how thoughtful...how unexpected and delightful!

Then it hit me, just the magnitude of what Lisa did for me.

She in three words told me "I know what you are going through, I get it, I've been there, I know how hard it is, don't give up, it will happen for you, I am sorry you are going through this, I am here for you whenever you need me! . . . I am thinking of you."

Those flowers meant more to me than any others I have ever received. They more than lifted my spirits that day. They allowed me to forgive, to refocus, and to jump in with both feet again! Try, try again.

Lisa, is someone that I look up to, that I aspire to be like, and I hope that one day I can give one of my friends what she gave to me, the day, I received "Thinking of You" flowers.

You just never know...

A few weeks ago I called a friend that I (re)met through Tony and Tina's Wedding. Her name is Joan Ambriz, she played Mrs. Vickie Black. And she was the most hilarious woman there. She made me laugh every night, and she is just a firecracker.

She told me that she just found out that she had a brain tumor and was going to be going to have surgery at the UW.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/joanambriz

Check out her story and post in her guestbook.

Wishing her a fast recovery.

All the Things...

The Things I Am Not:
mother
addicted
athletic
fake
business owner
college graduate
runner
dishonest
Lavish
Feminine

The Things I Am:
In love with my husband
desperately wanting a child
homeowner
wine drinker
lover of dogs
food lover
appreciative
thankful
laughable
clumsy

The Things I Love:
Gabe
My family
My friends
That we own our home
Dogs
Horses
Food
Wine
Swing dancing
Music
Performing
Entertaining
Poker
Dreaming
Natural Beauty
The smell after it rains
Camping
The ocean
Suspension in water
Great customer service
Money
Things that are soft
Thai food
Sushi
Egg Nog Lattes on the first day that it snows

The Things I Want To Be:
mother
Pregnant
business owner
runner
athletic
chef
in check with reality
better gardener
Artistic
On Stage
Unafraid of Flying
mini-van owner
graceful
accomplished
acknowledged

The Things I Wish I Was Better At:
Gardening
Cooking
Cleaning
Organizing my Time
Being a Friend
Being a Sister
Improv
Singing
Dancing
Sewing
Knitting
Corresponding with friends and family
Showing my appreciation of others
Loving unconditionally

The Things I Wish I Had:
children
a guarantee to have a long happy life with Gabe
my grandparents closer to me
forgiveness
understanding
successful business
a better relationship with my family
financial security
a cottage near the beach
my nose pierced
musical talent
an athletic body
healthier lifestyle
a good digital camera
a video camera
a month each in New Zealand, Italy and England
a chance to see Journey in concert again
gym membership
cable
Bouvier
Great Dane
Property in the country
mini-van
new kitchen
large outdoor living space
new moulding in our home
a finished basement (wood burning stove,carpet, furniture, guest room)
landscaping in the backyard
A better appreciation of what I have
Lazy Sundays

Things I Want To Do Before I Die:
Be a mom
Have a long happy life with Gabe
Have my grandparents know my kids
and my kids to treasure them they way I do
Own my own sucessful business
To see Gabe succeed
Fianancial security
My own night club
Spend a month in New Zealand
Spend a month inIreland
Spend a month in Italy
Spend a month in England
To fly without fear
Work on a ranch
Learn to Ballroom dance
Skydive
Zipline
Meet my grandkids
Live in the Country
Wake up when I want to
Become a Runner
A bikini body
Perform in something BIG
Win a poker tournament
Meet Ellen DeGeneres
Live in Chicago
Race JetSkis
Catch a swordfish
Swim with Sting Rays again
Hang Glide
Do Burlesque
Whale Watch
Snuggle with a Lion
Learn how to play the drums
Tattoo my thigh
Climb a Mountain
Spend time in Glacier National Forest
Dive at the Great Barrier Reef
See my children get married
Have my grandchildren to our house for Christmas Eve
Be an auntie
Learn how to make stained glass windows
Have my nose pierced
Sing Cabaret
Run A Bed and Breakfast
Meet Ming Tsai
A weekend with Gordon Ramsey

The year without a baby

The year of no baby started back on January 1st. That is the day we found out that we lost our baby. That is not how you want to start of the new year. It was tough.

We went out for Sushi and Tsing Tao beer. And then spent the rest of the night in quiet, in bed, under the warmth of the electric blanket and each others arms.

The next week I had a DNC and with that came complications that took me into the following week. And more doctors visits and more ultrasounds. My OB asked that we abstain for 2 months to gives things a rest. Yeah that was 2 months of hell. I won't go into details, but not being able to comfort each other in such an intimate way was difficult.

We went to the first of many fun get togethers at the home of Caleb, Adam, and Tod. We sang and played Rock Band in the SubMarine lounge until the wee hours of the morning.

In January we bought a house,put our house and the market and started moving. It doesn't look like a lot of work on paper but when you consider that Gabe and I work full time then have to come home to organize, pack, prime, paint, clean, etc. you can imagine the hours put out.

Right after we moved, Connor (Gabe's brother) went through a tough time and "ran away" from home. We talked him into staying at our house while we sorted this out as a family. Mom and Connor got back on track and Connor stayed at home again. And later in the year started dating Autumn.

We went to Hawaii for a quick weekend get away with my grams and my two aunts. It was a long distance for a short stay.

But it was well worth the trip. We boogie boarded (well sort of), and spent an entire day under an umbrella on the beach relaxing. We had fantastic dinners every night with my aunt Caroline and Gramma. We took an OutRigger ride out off Diamond Head, one of the highlights of the trip. We hung out with strangers on the beach, I got pushed down and rolled around by a wave in all my clothes. After that we decided to go swimming and swam in the dark water for 2 1/2 hours listening to the live bands and watching tiki torches flicker. We snorkeled at Waimea Bay and walked for miles. And my family got to know Gabe a little better.

I got pregnant again.

This time my OB said "don't get pregnant for at least 3 months, give your body some time to get back to normal". This was a doubled edged sword. It hard to hear him say "you can't" but at the same time I knew it gave us 3 months to get things in order.

We auditioned and were cast in Tony and Tina's Wedding an improv show at Northern Quest Casino. It was the funnest show I have ever been a part of and I met the most amazing people!

This began 40 some days straight of absolute fun and adventure and pure exhaustion with Andrew, Jeff and various friends. There was a spark in me that lit a fire that has burned hot for several months after the show. Andrew and I had many fun play "dates". We hiked mineral ridge, rode the hottest Gondola ever, drank wine, took tons of pictures, snuck into the cemetary and enjoyed getting to know each other better. Jeff and Andrew stayed many weekends with us and we have designated a room just for them.

Jeff and Andrew have become lifelong friends and brothers of choice. I love them. We have such Fun together!

Gabe and I started dancing. Swing dancing to be exact. We love to go out and dance to Hot Club of Spokane (HCoS) and Six Foot Swing. (SFS) - I'll post more about this later with pics.

Kristina and Rowan had one of our favorite bands, Six Foot Swing, play at their wedding. We had a blast!

We spent the 4th of July up at the lake cabin for the first time in a LONG time. Gabe and I bought a tent and camped with Jeff. It was tons of fun. Stephen, his girlfriend Chelsea, and dog Charlie came over from Seattle. They joined my brother Chris and wife Misty, Aunt Julie, Kelvin, Aunt Caroline, Alix, Melissa and Gramma. We gave gramma her violin for her mother's day gift. She was so excited to start playing. We had fireworks and a new boat to celebrate the 4th. Aunt Julie took my cousin Alix and me out for a fast and high flying ride in the pull toy. We almost flew out a few times! And we played Rock band with Alix and Melissa.

Caleb, Adam and Tod started a rap band called Debutante Savant (Hip Hop for Perverts) and I love them. No details here, but if you want to know more you can google them. They would like that...ha ha

I took a girls weekend with Tricia, Lisa and Katie Kerby to Leavenworth. It was the first time I have really felt like I had a girls weekend. At least as an adult! More details/pics on this later as well. Cheers!

We finally got unpacked and hung pictures on the walls. We had our house warming party and have several get togethers throughout the summer.

We said good bye to Tom Olson who went to Chicago to do improv.

Now we are into the fall.

My brothers Chris and Teddy helped us get wood ready for the winter.

We spent a fantastic night at the Glover Mansion dancing the night away to HCofS and SFS. They had their first annual Monster's Ball. We will definitely make this a yearly tradition. Then we went to the Halloween Hangover party at the SubMarine lounge, played Rock Band and got a private Debutante Savant performance.

And the long and short of it is that it has been one hell of a year, with no baby. And we now have the green light to start trying again.

Wish us luck!

It's only the beginning

This is post #1. The beginning.

I had to start somewhere and well here we are. Welcome.

I made the decision to begin this blog for two reasons. One I have too many friends and family scattered about that I would like to keep in touch with. Let them get to know me a little better and keep in the loop about my happenings in life. And two I take a lot of pictures. I post to my facebook and myspace, but not everyone gets to see them because they don't have accounts. This is another way for people to see what is going on and to have All the Little Bits (of me).

More to come later . . . .