Library Cards for Chris and BriAnna

We recently went down to the county library and got library cards. I had forgotten how awesome the library is! It is like a free book store! Both of us love reading and we found out we can check out up to 100 items at one time. Needless to say, we will be taking advantage of this luxury right away. Here is what we have checked out so far.

Harry Potter 7 Review

We recently watched Harry Potter 7.1. Below is a video blog of our review.



Have you seen Harry Potter? What did you think of it?

A Walk in the Park

I am still making my way down the path towards becoming a better photographer and today offered a perfect opportunity to practice and improve. Surprisingly today was sunny and warm, which compared to the dreary and chilly weather we had been having lately was a great change. Chris and I didn't want to waste this rare occurance of sunshine so we headed down to the park and decided to take our camera with us. We have basically taken a picture of everything in our apartment, so this provided a great chance to venture out and see what we could capture in nature. After walking around the park for awhile and taking pictures here and there, this is what I came up with:

Here are just some cute pictures of Chris and I sitting on a bench at the park.
Can I just say that first, I LOVE our camera and the quality of pictures it produces. Second, I LOVE using photography to get creative and capture little moments in time. It amazes me how much I enjoy taking pictures and experimenting with different shots. And third, it is on days like this that I realize how truly beautiful Washington is and all it has to offer. The scenery here is one of the reasons I LOVE Washington, nothing beats being surrounded by luscious green trees, well except for maybe a tropical beach. The only problem is I hate how many rainy days we have to endure. I hate rain, I hate how it gets the bottom of your pants soaking wet and I hate gloomy, dark, cloudy days. In spite of it all, I have learned that in Washington you have to learn to take the good in with the bad and learn to appreciate that it is the rain that gives you the beauty.

The Art of Photography

Chris and I recently bought a camera and after we brought it home and started taking pictures with it I realized that I don't know the first thing about photography. I have never taken a class in photography and im usually a point and shoot kind of a person. Since this camera is of a nicer quality I thought it was time I learned something about photography and how to make my pictures look more artistic and of a higher quality. Chris gave me my first task of going around the apartment and finding ordinary objects and displaying them in a creative way. After experimenting and going around to different objects this is what I came up with:

A pie dish

A couch pillow

The side of our kitchen table

Glass serveware that holds canola oil

A button on my sweater

A kettle

What do you think? I have to say that this task was very fun but challenging. I am definitely a beginner with much to learn about photography. Do you have any advice that can help me on my way to becoming a better photographer?

Autumn Leaves

Fall is officially 3 days away and although summer is my favorite time of the year, I have to say that I am for once looking forward to the arrival of Fall. Yes I will deeply miss swimming in the pool, wearing colorful clothes and laying out in the sun, but these are the reasons I am so eager to become acquainted with Fall once again:

1. At last you get to bust out all those cute scarves, sweaters, boots and hats you've been dying to wear

2. The scenery all around you changes as the leaves display autumn time

3. You get to celebrate Halloween and Thanksgiving with your family and loved ones

4. The sound of rain lulls you to sleep

5. You have even more reasons to cuddle up with the one you love
What is it that you love about this time of the year?

Our Camping Adventure

Recently Chris and I went camping with my family out on the Olympic Peninsula. Chris had to work on Friday and since we didn't know how busy ferries can be, we decided that we could just leave after he got home from work. Little did we know that weekends are a very busy time for ferries and that we would have to wait in the ferry line for 2 hours. Making our trip out to Lake Ozette 6 hours instead of the planned 4. It was, however, fun to ride on the ferry with Chris as we enjoyed the relaxing and smooth ride across the Puget Sound.

Once we got on the other side, we realized that our journey had just begun. Our destination took us through very remote and highly unpopulated towns, letting us enjoy the scenery around us. Washington is a very beautiful place to live, if only it didn't rain so much. On our journey to the camp grounds we ran into long, winding roads. When you keep seeing sign after sign of caution winding roads ahead mile after mile, you know you are going to be in trouble. Let's just say that getting out to Lake Ozette is an adventure by itself.

After many hours of being on the road we finally made it to the campsite where my parents had said they were at, Lost Resort. It's no coincidence it's called Lost Resort, as it is 21 miles down a deserted road out in the middle of no where. Once we got there we realized that my parents had never told us what campsite they were at. Since it was 10:30 at night and there was no cell reception out there, we figured we were out of luck and would simply have to drive around until we spotted my dad's red truck. After doing a loop twice around the campsite, going out on foot seemed to be our only option. Im sure many campers were annoyed after getting headlights and now flashlights shined into their campsite, along with the occasional MCKELL....MOM.....DAD. As we were walking around we ran into a deer that was seriously only about 5 feet away from us. I know it is lame to get scared of a deer but yes Bambi did frighten me. When you are in their territory deer have the right to run you over if they want to, and take my word for it when a deer is staring at you in the middle of the night they are a lot bigger and scarier than you think they would be. Needless to say I quickly ran away from the deer as Chris was laughing at me.

After continually going around the campsite on foot and not finding my family we began to think that maybe we were in the wrong place. We found out from some other campers that there was another campsite just down the road. As we pulled in we finally saw my dad's truck parked in the first camping site. So what turned into a 30 minute scavenger hunt could have been a two second find if we had been in the right place. Although it was a very stressful car ride, the reward was worth it in the end.

After pulling into the campsite I looked up at the night sky and saw hundreds of stars. I had never seen a night sky so clear as it was that night. I guess that's what happens when you are out in the middle of the woods, very far from civilization. Not only were the stars clear but there were tons of shooting stars and I could actually see the tail following behind it. After talking with my family for awhile, my mom and I swore that we heard a bear close by. So we all quickly said goodnight and ran into our bear proof tents.

The next day we continued our journey by taking a 3 mile board walk hike through the rain forest down to the beach. It was low tide so the beach was covered with dried up seaweed, which had attracted an innumerable host of flies. It was kind of a disgusting end to our hike, which was disappointing. Luckily we had the good sense to not let that get us down, so we hiked for another 1/2 mile down the beach and saw that the tide was so low that there was a path to a sacred indian ground, which we found out later was called Cannonball Island. It was there that we found a nice patch of clean sand and clear ocean water. This might not be that exciting for those who are used to California-esque beaches, but in Washington sandy beaches are a very rare to commodity. So I guess our hike was well worth it in the end after all.

After our hike back, swimming in the lake to cool down and swapping stories by the campfire, we decided it was time to head home. Seeing as we didn't want to have to wait another 2 hours in a ferry line, we decided to follow my dad and take another way home. It was still a four hour ride home but that didn't bother me nearly as much as almost getting hit by a crazy driver. That's a whole other story in itself but luckily the car missed both my dad and us. Needless to say it was quite an adventure and we both had a great time.
This trip reminded me of the many camping trips we took when I was growing up. Let's just say those trips were never organized and were very spontaneous. I remember one time we didn't pack any real food and we ate crackers and fruit snacks for dinner, then we all slept in the car since we didn't even bring a tent. But I have to say that trip was one of the most memorable and fun camping trips I've been on. It was on this trip that we discovered Strawberry Creek, a place that holds many fond memories for everyone in my family. I think it's the unplanned and spontaneous things in life you remember the most.

What is your favorite camping memory?

Summer Breese Makes Me Feel Fine

Lately I feel as if summer is simply melting away and my days are going by way too fast. I can't believe it is almost August and that summer is coming to an end. Although my days seem to be slipping by, this is why, so far, my summer has been so memorable.

1. Chris and I are married now and enjoying marital bliss. This fact alone would make it the best summer ever. I love life, I love Chris and I love being able to start and end each day with him. It is so amazing to start your life with someone and to feel yourself growing closer to them everyday.

2. Chris and I have embraced our adventurous side this summer by making sure we make every weekend we have count. This has let us fill our weekends with all sorts of trips. My favorites being.... Our random trip to the city of Bellingham, where we ventured off to an unknown city to explore and see what it had to offer. Our first camping trip, where I learned that just because you're telling the scary story, that doesn't mean you won't get scared. Finally, going down to the beach, where we sat out in the rarely seen sunshine and listened to the calming of the waves. 3. With Chris gone at work all day I have been able to fill my days with my favorite leisurely summer activity....Reading. I don't know why but there is something about grabbing a good book, coozying up in your favorite chair and reading all summer long. I have never been much of a reader but every summer I can't get enough of it. So far this summer I have read books, such as, Fablehaven, The Candy Shop Wars, When Love Walked In, The Percy Jackson Series and my most Favorite of all...... The Hunger Games series. Each book has taken me to a new world full of mystery and wonder. Right now I am currently reading The Help, I'm curious to see exactly where this book will take me.

4. My beautiful cousin, Allene, from Arizona, stayed with my parents this summer here in Washington. I have enjoyed every adventure we had together, the memories we created with each other and the friendship we will now have forever. She filled my summer with games of charade, trips to the zoo, museums and movie theaters, hours swimming endlessly in the pool, birthday parties, ferry rides, trips to the beach, Mariner's games and most of all laughter.

What has made your summer memorable?

Our Wedding Date

We are excited to announce our wedding date is June 12th, 2010 in the Seattle Temple, where we will be sealed for time and all eternity! Yay for eternal marriages! :) If you want an invitation post your address below in the comment section.

Our Engagement Story

Chris: We've had a lot of people ask about our engagement story. To answer your questions we decided to post it on our new blog.

BriAnna: Really, I just wanted to make sure Chris told the story right....

Chris: So it was Tuesday, February 23rd, I had planned on proposing to BriAnna on the weekend of the 26th. Obviously she didn't know this, but she did suspect it was coming sometime soon since she knew I had the ring.

BriAnna: I decided to go to Arizona at the last minute to visit family and I wanted to spend time with Chris before I left the very next day.

Chris: I had made other plans with my family that couldn't be changed very easily, so I decided to tell her I couldn't make it up to visit her. She was devastated. She cried and cried and cried...

BriAnna: Oh stop it! That's not true! You were the one crying you big baby...

Chris: Uh...eh..hmm..well anyway, After telling her I couldn't make the hour long drive up to her place I quickly went to Albertson's and bought her favorite flowers.

BriAnna: I had NO idea he was coming.

Chris: ...yeah you didn't. So, while I was driving up to her place I had my mom check around online for some romantic restaurants. My mom called me with a perfect little italian restaurant just 10 minutes from her house.

BriAnna: I figured I was staying home for the night so I started painting, and ALMOST put on my pajamas. At this point I figured I wasn't going to get to see Chris before I left for Arizona.

Chris: After making reservations at the restaurant I called BriAnna's mom on the house phone to make sure BriAnna had her clothes on and wasn't in her pj's.

BriAnna: My mom suddenly came in and asked me to get her a Diet Coke from the store. I told her "no" because I was upset Chris wasn't stopping by to see me so I didn't want to go anywhere. Little did I know she was trying to get me to put my shoes on. Then I heard a knock at the door. No one else in my family would answer it, so after debating about who was going to answer the door I finally went down-stairs to see who it was.

Chris: With the ring in my pocket, flowers in the car, and a blind-fold in my hand, I pounced on her as soon as she opened the door and blind folded her. "Oh Chris!," she said, "I thought you'd NEVER come!"...and then she broke down in joyous tears.

BriAnna: Oh What-EV-er! That is not what happened at all! I told you I had to get my shoes on you goof!

Chris: Oh yeah, I guess that is what happened....

BriAnna: Yes, I went upstairs and put my shoes on and,

Chris: ..it took forever..

BriAnna: I did not take that long! Then I came back downstairs and let you blind-fold me. To be honest I was a little nervous with you leading me. I had no idea where you were taking me. I think I kept asking you over and over, "Where are you taking me?" didn't I?

Chris: Um, you asked it a few times. Mostly you just laughed because you were so excited to be in my presence.

BriAnna: ...yeah (not). I was excited, but mostly surprised. You caught me 100% off-guard.

Chris: After getting her in the car we drove to the restuarant, with her blind-folded and the flowers in the back seat

BriAnna: It seriously felt like we drove for a long time. I was surprised we were only 10 minutes from my house. I got out of the car blind-folded and he told me to run with him holding my hand. I refused to run because I was scared. Then I saw car headlights through the blind fold, in the distance getting closer. Then I ran...

Chris: Yeah, that was funny...we ran across the street into the restaurant. I gave the waitress the flowers and then took the blind-fold off.

BriAnna: The restaurant looked really, nice and romantic. I was really impressed, but the main thing I kept thinking was, "Man, I shouldn't have just eaten dinner!"

Chris: So we sat down and when they brought out our main entree they also brought the flowers.

BriAnna: I was highly impressed, and surprised you remembered lilys were my favorite flower.

Chris: I know, I know...I'm good.

BriAnna: (rolling eyes)

Chris: After dinner we went to the Snoqualmie waterfall but it was cold and rainy so we looked at it for five minutes.

BriAnna: It was cold, but I just remember being really happy and 100% completely surprised.

Chris: Then we drove back to your house and watched the most romantic movie EVER! Master and Commander! oh yeah!

BriAnna: haha, it was not romantic at all!

Chris: You picked it out...

BriAnna: I had no idea you were proposing that night, plus I had never seen it before.

Chris: Ok, that's fair. At this point I had it all planned out that after kissing goodnight on the doorstep I was going to walk away and let her close the door just incase she even remotely suspected I was going to propose.

BriAnna: After kissing goodnight I closed the door and then I saw him through the window in the corner of my eye heading back to the door.

Chris: My goal was to be on one knee when she opened the door, but right as I got to the door she was opening it. I pulled her outside and said, "I have one more surprise for you." ..man I am romanitic!

BriAnna: (Laughing) I thought you had either forgotten something at my house or had to use the bathroom last minute. He's done both of those numerous times, so I still had NO idea you were going to propose.

Chris: After pulling her outside I dropped to one knee and asked her to marry me. What were the first words out of her mouth? "You can't do it yet!" repeated over and over.

BriAnna: I was so surprised. I had convinced myself you weren't going to do it yet. I had thought you were going to propose when I returned from Arizona.

Chris: After asking you to marry me I put the ring on your finger, but I couldn't remember if you had actually said "Yes" because I only remembered you saying, "You can't do it yet!" Then I sheepishly asked, "Sooo, did you say yes?"

BriAnna: I responded I had said yes! And then we kissed again and you went home.

Chris: Yep that's how I remember it.

BriAnna: I told you I wanted to be surprised and not expect it. And obviously, I had NO idea. So, it was a perfect night. I was so excited I couldn't stop smiling.

Chris: I love you so much! You are the most amazing girl ever! :)

And they lived happily ever after...The End