We've Moved!

Well, there was no time to lose once I got home Friday night...we started moving into our new apartment Saturday! :) It was time to have more space, a dishwasher (YES!!!!!), a great view and just do the move now before next summer when Jared has Boards I. So...funny story here...our neighbors and friends, Aaron and Vi, moved out Memorial Day weekend because they are ready for more space and a change before they get married in September. They moved into the bottom unit of this duplex you see below. Well, they found out the unit above would be available come the end of June and they mentioned we should move too and then we could all still be neighbors. :) You probably get the story now...we were niehgbors, and now we are all neighbors again and we're so excited! I'm so happy we get these next several years of dental school with them because there will be so many fun memories to come! As a write, Jared is sitting on the porch with Aaron already talking about next quarter which starts next week. :) So we are in the top unit now (we've been going like crazy since Saturday...my muscles are pretty sore!) and already LOVE our new home! So here's our new address should you ever want to drop us some mail....

Coming to an End

Our 10 day visit is coming to an end... :( It's gone by so fast but we have had SUCH a great time as a family and I will cherish this vacation forever!!! It was much needed for me and my sisters and I'm just so thankful that we all love each other so much and have so much fun. I'm sad to leave tomorrow, but I am excited to get back to Jared. I definitely have missed him! :)

My cousin Mitch and I got this fire going for us last night. I think tonight we'll add smores to the mix and have one more fire!

The 3 girls made dinner for mom, dad and grandma last night. We all know by now that I'm a huge Giada fan, so we did 3 of her recipies last night and did an Italian dinner. Pesto Crostini, Carbonara, salad, and an Apple Pecan Crostata for dessert. My sisters make the best sous chefs!

Mom and Dad took us to Twigs for dinner one night since Twigs is all of our favorite place to eat in Spokane. It was fun to get dressed up and go out together!

The martini's at Twigs are sooooo good! Try the Kosmonaut!

We're girls...so we have to do pedicures right!?! :)

My BBF Krystn came over with Orland to visit. I really miss her and we don't get to see each other as often as we'd like since they live in Europe but on the rare occasions where they are home and I am too, we definitely meet up! We do a great job keeping in touch through novel-sized emails but there's nothing like being able to actually hang out! And Orland is the cutest little guy ever (who will be a big brother to a sister soon) and love getting to see him too!

Friends and Family

Spent all day today with my best friend Ashlee and had so much fun! Can't remember the last time we had this much time together- no interruptions- just us hanging out all day. She is 6 months pregnant with baby boy Schultheis and I think she looks great! Went for coffee, maternity clothes shopping, grabbed to-go dessert at Lindaman's, had dinner at mom and dad's and went for a nice walk together. Just like we always used to...I love the way time can pass with a friend and then when you get together again it's like there was never a span of being away! :)

Grandpa and Grandma Pike and the Pike girls

Had Father's Day brunch over at grandma and grandpa's and got to see all the cousins, aunts and uncles. I love the Pike Mafia and I love how we have all always been so close! Here we are with all the Erb kids...can't believe where time goes...I remember rocking Caleb to sleep when he was a baby and here he is (far left) graduated from high school and going to Gonzaga in the Fall! Where does time go?

Went wine tasting up at Townshend Winery up on Greenbluff all together. So much fun to do as a family. Try the Huckleberry wine they have there...delicious!

Nothing like Greenbluff. The fresh smells, fresh produce, fresh air...it's just so beautiful up there and this is one place I really miss living down in So Cal! So glad we caught a good weather day up there!

Original 5!

Having fun up here in Spokane with the 'original 5'-dad, mom, me, Nina, & Alla...here's what we've been up to...

Sushi lunch today with mom and shopping downtown.

Visiting the Hill family. I used to nanny for them back in college- I can't believe how grown up everyone is now. This family is the cutest family ever and I would love to model my family someday after them. Stacy was my old high school English teacher, now friend, and I really value her wisdom and knowledge in my life!

Mom and Dad got "flocked" yesterday. It's a fundraiser for Young Life where you can pay and have someone's yard flocked for 24 hours. Such a cute/fun idea and a great way to raise money for kids to go to summer camp!

Cooking away in the kitchen. We made homemade energy bars (Nina was super good at them!), red velvet cake, vanilla wafers and home made mac and cheese!

We all brought our aprons that mom made us for Christmas this year.

Visited dad at school and got to have lunch with the 5th graders! So much fun to get to talk to 10/11 year olds...

Still here until next Friday...more fun to come!

Outta Cali...into the Northwest

We're no longer in Southern California...we're headed up to the Northwest! Just the sisters- no boys- for 10 days of fun, fun, fun! We flew out yesterday in the 95 degree weather and woke up this morning in Spokane to a chilly and rainy 50 degrees. :) Oh well...we're all just excited for lots of family time, catching up with some friends, sleeping in, and lots more.

Too Much Fun

We've been having so much fun lately and I'm finally posting a little update. Things have been busy with Jared finishing his D1 year- he is now a 2nd year dental student! We've been busy with friends, saying goodbyes as people leave for summer break...busy with a bunch of other stuff too, but details will come later on that. I've had many moments lately of feeling just so grateful and thankful for our life down here in So. Cal. God is really blessing us with great friends, opportunities and fun times down here and we are looking forward to the summer ahead! It's going to be a busy summer...and even though Jared still has school all the way through, we have some fun stuff coming up that we're excited for!

Yesterday we spent the day in LA with Nate and Kim. Went to church...made tacos together at Kim's for lunch...went for a walk...played football together at the high school field near Kim's place...got iced coffees and just enjoyed what we all love about a 'Sunday afternoon.'

Had a beach day out at Huntington with a bunch of friends Memorial Day weekend which was really fun. The guys surfed and us girls just sat at the beach and chatted it up.

Last weekend I went to my friend and neighbor, Vi's bridal shower out in the OC. I love a So. Cal shower...a nice vegetarian lunch at this cute cafe, pretty much all Crate and Barrel gifts, and the cutest cupcakes to go as party favors. :) I had a lot of fun. We're so excited for Aaron and Vi to get married in September...and we love having them as our neighbors!