Matt and Melody

Mt. Rainier - by our house

2008-07-02T20:50:00.000-07:00

Our Friend, the Eagle

2008-07-02T20:49:00.001-07:00

This Eagle loves to sit in the tree outside our house. Sometimes he sits there with a friend of his. It is so amazing to see Eagles this close.

Padre and Madre

2008-07-02T20:47:00.001-07:00

Aren't they cute?

Eowyn - My favorite Niece.

2008-07-02T20:17:00.000-07:00

Ben and Galadriel took a little vaca together and I got to have Eowyn for a few nights. It was so fun. She is such an angel. I love her so much. I think she is the cutest thing in the world.

San Jose del Cabo with Matt and Sabrina

2008-06-04T20:36:00.001-07:00

Matt and I had the chance to go on vaca with Matt and Sabrina to San Jose del Cabo for a week. It was such an awesome vacation with them. If anyone has ever wondered, they are great traveling partners and Mexico is such a fun vacation spot. Here are some pics of our great time.

Our 6th Anniversary

2008-04-29T19:52:00.000-07:00

Saturday, April 26th was our 6th anniversary. We are so blessed to have such a wonderful marriage. That day we spent the morning together and then went out to a nice restaurant. I feel so lucky to be with Matt. It feels good to be married for 6 years and still be so happy and best friends!

Eowyn Update

2008-03-09T21:34:00.000-07:00

Have I mentioned lately how much I love this kid?

Happy Birthday Tuff

2008-02-16T20:37:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to post a recent picture of our angel Tuff. He's growing so big and strong! He just had his 3rd birthday.

Eowyn

2008-01-08T20:44:00.000-08:00

We are absolutely in love with this kid. She's an angel!

The Boys

2008-01-08T20:41:00.000-08:00

This winter we all went up to the mountains to get our Christmas Trees. Here is a pic of the Herrera/Hardebeck boys. I love these men!

Hawaii with Jenette

2007-12-09T22:15:00.000-08:00

Jen and I went to Hawaii in October with our moms, aunt, cousin and Gramma Mugga. We had a great time. Fun in the sun with the best cuzzo in the world! This is a pic of us at Senor Frogs. Believe it or not, Gramma picked the restaurant! She's a party animal!

Lily, Tuff's other Favorite Cousin

2007-12-09T22:09:00.000-08:00

Everyone meet Lily. Lily is dad's, I mean mom's, I mean Michelle's little dog. We love Lily and so does Tuff...FOR DINNER! Welcome to the family Lily!

Maverick, Tuff's favorite cousin

2007-08-30T23:44:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, Steve and Alie have a new (4 month old) little doggie named Maverick. We were a little skeptical of how he and Tuff would do together. But, much to our happiness, they love each other. They love to play. Mav chases Tuff around the yard. Tuff paws Mav down when he's tired of him. It is hilarious to watch. So, our concerns are not so strong now and the cousins are fond of each other. Welcome to the fam Mav.

Life is good

2007-08-03T23:41:00.001-07:00

I am just amazed at the feelings I have being an aunt. I love this little girl. It is so fun knowing that this is Ben and Galad's baby. Galadriel has been amazing this first week of Eowyn's life. Isn't Galad beautiful? For anyone who's seen her lately, I think we all agree that Galadriel looks so beautiful and has such an amazing outlook on life. I love you Galadriel. Ben also has a great view on life. It is so fun to see him with Eowyn. She has definitely already won daddy's heart. And Ben's still Ben, making jokes with Eowyn, having fun with her. This kid is going to have a good life with great parents. I love you too Ben!

My Beautiful Niece Eowyn Joy

2007-07-28T21:49:00.000-07:00

I am so happy to introduce to you Ben and Galadriel's baby girl. Galadriel delivered her on Tuesday, July 25th at 3:34 in the morning. Her name is Eowyn Joy. (A-O-win) She is the most beautiful baby girl that I have ever seen. I never thought that I would love a baby so much so fast. I can't imagine what it's like to be the mom. I absolutely adore Eowyn. She is perfectly beautiful. Congrats Ben and Galadriel!

Matt's HUGE fish

2007-07-17T22:04:00.000-07:00

Many of you know and some of you don't that Matt caught a HUGE largemouth bass. This bass was only 7 ounces shy of our state record. It was 11 pounds 2 ounces. Matt has been getting accolades left and right from incredible bass fishermen and women. He was given a standing ovation at his Bass club meeting. Today at Auburn Sports Marine he was told that he is "considered a legend around these parts". I am so excited for him. Way to go babe!

The Boys Turn 30!!!

2007-06-26T22:46:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Matt and I met Matt and Sabrina Schlesinger and Luke and Gwen Bumela to celebrate all three boys turning 30! Luke turned 30 in October, yesterday my Matt turned 30 and in July Matt Schles will turn 30. So, to celebrate, we all rondevued to a secret location (kidding, kidding) to beautiful and environmentally friendly Oregon to spend some time together. It was a blast. We went to the body exhibit and got up close and personal with the human body, we ate together at far too many restaurants, we heard Sabrina and her sis Corrina sing karaoke, (well Corrina sang Karaoke, I think Sabrina thought she was leading worship...but, leading worship or not, she was the only one with guts enough to do it...her and Corrina...I think it's a Stratton thing!) we shopped, girls got pedicures, boys went to the fishing store, we went to beautiful Japanese gardens where we were told that we are helping erosion (what the?), we saw about 50 buck-naked people riding their bikes in downtown Portland (Sabrina's highlight, I think...) and most of all, we laughed, laughed and laughed. Matt and I had such a blast with Luke and Gwen, Matt and Sabrina. What fun friends! Thanks for the wonderful weekend.

THANK YOU

2007-05-17T21:44:00.000-07:00

I don't have any pics to post right now but I do want to tell everyone that if they are wondering if they have any friends out there in this big, vast world I have discovered how to answer that question...First of all, you have to start a blog. Then you have to abandon the blog for almost one year. Then post a few things...Then, to your amazement, you will discover that you have wonderful friends that are out there...some close by, others far far away...

All of that to say, THANK YOU to all of you who have basically said, "Welcome back." And to those of you who said, "It's about time." And to those of you who said, "I was waiting to see if you'd hit the one year mark." You all really have made me see that I have wonderful friends who really do care about my life. For this, I am reminded how lucky I am!

To tell you the truth, I am so blessed in life. I am blessed with a wonderful hubby and a wonderful family and absolutely wonderful, loyal friends. Thank you for making my life so blessed.

2007-05-11T23:16:00.000-07:00

I am so lucky to be blessed with such an awesome cousin Jen...or Jen Venuti...or Jen Jen...or J-Fed...or JW or George. (Not sure where that last one came from.) Anyway, we had the chance to go to Hawaii together last year, October 2006. It was 8 full days of hanging out, laying in the sun and having fun together... mom, aunt and gramma were always within shouting distance...which made the trip that much better.

This post is really just to say how blessed I am to have a cousin who is such a wonderful friend. The best cuzzo in the world.

2007-05-09T23:12:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of Matt coming home from Rivers Inlet, BC with a blown motor on the big boat. They drove 18 hours with a put put motor across the open ocean. Thank goodness mom nor I was on this trip with them. The men would not have been happy campers. But I still think Matt looks like a babe in this picture.

2007-05-09T23:06:00.000-07:00

This picture was taken on the movie site of "Predator". It was filmed in Puerta Vallarta. It was quite a drive to get back to where the movie was shot but it was well worth it...Not because of the movie location but because when we finally got there, it was beautiful. There was a lady making homemade tortillas right there on the side of the entrance. The flowers were beautiful. It was fun. And all of a sudden this helicopter crashed right behind us and Arnold Schwartzenager rolled out of the cockpit and looked at us and said, "I am the governator!" (what the?)

2007-05-09T23:03:00.000-07:00

This picture was taken on a "panga"...in other words, a small shabby boat that looks like it's going to fall apart any minute...in Cabo San Lucas. Although you can't tell from the picture, we were like 10 feet away from this whale and 2 others. It was absolutely incredible.

2007-05-09T22:59:00.000-07:00

This is Matt and I in Cabo San Lucas in January when we went on a cruise. It was our first cruise. It was a blast. We went to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerta Vallarta. We loved all three stops but Cabo and PV were our faves.

I'm Back...

2007-05-08T23:25:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone...

After pressure from everyone...well not everyone but a lot of people...I have decided to update my blog. Last time I blogged I told you that I would put up pics of my vaca to Mexico with James and LeiLani. I am sorry to admit that that trip was almost a year ago. So, needless to say, I will not be posting pics of that trip. Bigger and better things have happened since then...

For example, LeiLani and James had their baby Max. Or like, we bought a new house. Or like, I'm going to be an aunt because Ben and Galadriel are expecting a little one. Or like Cara and Justin are parents to a one week old child.

Life happens so fast. I live a good life and am so grateful for it. More to come...No timeline though, I'll get to it when I can.

2006-05-21T23:27:00.000-07:00

I love my husband.

2006-05-21T23:25:00.000-07:00

Now, I think this picture is so cute...am I just a biased dog momma? :)

2006-05-21T23:23:00.000-07:00

Looks like a certain little doggy needs braces!

2006-05-21T23:22:00.000-07:00

You all might not know it, but Tuff is smiling.

2006-05-21T23:21:00.000-07:00

We've been working on our curb appeal. It's nice coming home to a pretty yard!

2006-05-21T23:08:00.000-07:00

Picture from Lake Tapps. The mountain is beautiful from this lake!

Vamos a México.

2006-05-21T23:02:00.000-07:00

It's true! Matt and I have planned a vacation to Mexico. I am so excited. I'll take some pictures with my new camera and post them. I can't wait!

We have a new camera...

2006-05-21T22:59:00.000-07:00

In hopes of removing myself from Sabrina's Abandoned Blog list, we bought a digital camera so that we'd have stuff to blog. Just kidding. But we did finally get ourselves a decent digital camera. I've posted a few pics. It's fun having a camera finally...

2006-05-21T22:58:00.000-07:00

Lake Tapps, May 2006

2006-01-11T22:35:00.000-08:00

Matt and his bro Aaron...I came home from work to find them like this on the couch, identical!

2006-01-11T22:34:00.000-08:00

At my work Christmas party on December 16th.

2 Months Later...

2006-01-11T22:19:00.000-08:00

Life is good...Matt is officially a Realtor. Hooray! He has been studying and recently passed his test. Life for me is normal. Nothing new. I still love my job.

The most exciting thing lately is that we bought a new washer and dryer. It's amazing how little things can make you so happy! Our dryer completely quit on us so something had to be done. I'm excited about it.

My Uneventful Life Continues...

2005-11-20T21:38:00.000-08:00

Once again, I have very little to say...I am working a lot and Matt is working a lot. Tuff is doing just fine. I think that he is beginning to think that he is human. I just spent 4 days in Washington DC with Jaime where we saw President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Mrs. Cheney and Pat Sajak from Wheel of Fortune (he was on a tour). It was great spending time with Jaime and going on a mini vacation!

I will write again...It might be awhile but I will. I can't stand the thought of being on Sabrina's "Abandoned Blog" list!!! :)

Update on our lives

2005-08-02T20:24:00.000-07:00

I have heard the rumblings throughout the blogger world of our friends. So here I am responding to the rumblings...Matt and I are doing great. Not much has happened since I blogged last. The most exciting thing that happened is that Matthew James was born...and that didn't even happen to us! So, you can see the excitement of our lives...very limited.

One thing I can update you all on is that we had to put Chip to sleep. He was old and in pain. Poor fella! So, he's in doggy heaven now. I like to think that he's a lot happier there.

Other than that, work as usual, life as usual...

I do have to say though that I love my life. I am so grateful for our friends. What an awesome group of friends we all have!

P.S. How do you get those voting things on your blogs? I love them!

2005-08-02T20:21:00.000-07:00

Matt and Lexi on baby Matthew's birthday.

2005-08-01T21:22:00.000-07:00

Tuff at 4 months old.

2005-08-01T21:18:00.000-07:00

Camping with Darren and Amelia. July 05

Hello Again

2005-07-28T22:17:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends...I must say...I feel so loved that you take time to comment on the fact that it takes weeks, sometimes months for a new post. It cracks me up every time! So, here I am...Life is good. No news. Hope you are all doing well!

I am alive!!!!

2005-06-15T22:23:00.000-07:00

Hello friends...I tell you what, it is so nice to see that you care about whether or not we are alive!...Well at least whether or not we update our site... (ha ha ha). What wonderful friends we have. I am excited to share with all of you that we are moving up in this world. We now have a computer at home and as of Monday, we have Internet. So...with that said, it will be a lot easier to update our blog. "I love technology..." (-Napoleon Dynamite)

Anyway, thanks for the shout out Robin, and for the wail Sabrina. We heard you both loud and clear...and here I am...So you see...it works.

Well adioso for now.

Let me clarify...

2005-05-14T23:01:00.000-07:00

In my post entitled, "It's a sad day when..." I refered to being sad about my site being all about dogs. I hope you all know I was NOT talking about Matt!

2005-05-14T22:56:00.000-07:00

Tuff on a bad day...

2005-05-14T22:55:00.000-07:00

Chip looks hysterical to me in this picture. He hates getting baths and especially hates when we dry him off with a towel. He acts mopey and his ears drop...as you can see.

2005-05-14T22:53:00.000-07:00

Matt and Tuff.

It's a sad day when...

2005-05-14T22:52:00.000-07:00

You know it's a sad day when you look at all your friends blogs and they have pictures of beautiful children...fun times...posts about thier lives...And then you look at your blog and all it talks about is dogs...Lame!

2005-05-14T22:50:00.000-07:00

Matt with a sweet fish.

2005-05-14T22:41:00.000-07:00

Chip Herrera

Choice Chocolate Chip

2005-05-14T22:38:00.000-07:00

Many of you already know Choice Chocolate Chip, AKA Chip Herrera. Chip is our english pointer. His 10th birthday was on April 15th. He is a great dog who likes to try to get out of the gate and escape from us...go figure.

2005-05-14T22:37:00.000-07:00

Tuff Herrera

Meet Tuff

2005-05-11T16:54:00.000-07:00

This is our new addition, Tuff Herrera. He is a pitbull puppy. He is 16 weeks old and is a lot of fun. He goes to work with Matt every day and he and Chip, our english pointer, are good friends...