River, Park, Sleeping & Ice Skating

Wow, I need to blog after every picture worthy happening, instead of having to combine so many things into one super lost post.  Here goes nothing!
Marcel got a job and we decided to celebrate.  We floated the Boise River, something I hadn't done since high school and something we'd never done together.  It was a great afternoon spent together just talking.  We also discovered that I'm the worst paddler ever.  Well, I can paddle just fine if Marcel tells me what direction to paddle.  I can't paddle on my own to keep us from running into trees and rocks.

A few Friday's ago, Marcel and I took Lilli swimming at the pool in my mom's subdivision.  It didn't last long before she needed a major diaper changing, so once we were done, we stopped at their little park.  She climbed to the top to go down the slide but then never would go down it, but she loved the binoculars and kept saying "I see you".

Lilli isn't really smiling (maybe we had told her it was time to go) but I love this picture!

We took Lilli with us to Marcel's classroom to start getting things set-up.  I thought I wouldn't get anything done because she was there and would want too much attention, but she was actually very helpful, so helpful in fact that she barely made it out of the parking lot before falling asleep...

 Saturday, August 20th was teacher appreciation day, and Marcel went and was appreciated.  A bag full of wonderful classroom supplies!

That same day was also free ice skating day, and you better believe we went.  It was free, after all, and that definitely fits in our budget :)  Just like when we went roller skating, I really struggled at first, but eventually got the hang of it.  Marcel, of course, is like a professional, especially compared to me.

Tomorrow is September 1st and that is the day I officially start counting down the days until my birthday.  And this year it is my golden birthday.  I think that is cause for a extra big celebration!

Mr. Bailey and other news

As of about 10:30am this morning, Marcel signed his very first teaching contract!!

The day of Hannah's wedding, her photographer told us the school she worked at had a part-time band teacher position open.  She gave us the email address that would get his resume directly into the right hands.  His resume went in Saturday, and even without the application they sent back to him to complete being done, he had an interview yesterday morning.  Only about 3 hours later, he was offered and accpeted the position.

We're very happy about this position and now that it is just right for Marcel at this time.  It serves as yet another reminder that God does have a plan for us.  When we felt like we needed to turn down the job he was offered in Boise, it was hard and neither of us understood it, but now all the pieces of our puzzle (at least in regards to Marcel's employment) fit together!

In other news, here is what we've been up to, at least what we have pictures to show for.  And yes, some of them are very old!

We met Marcel's mom in Kennewick after having Snoh for 3 weeks.  We have always talked about being able to take a drive when we're not in a hurry to get to where we're going or coming home, so on the way home we decided to stop at the viewpoint near Pendelton.  It was so beautiful!  On a side note, while driving with Snoh, he said, "Hey, we're in the desert.  I think I'm going to see the pyramids soon."  He wasn't too bummed when we informed him that we weren't going to Egypt!

We saw Harry Potter 7, Part 2 and LOVED it, after Marcel had to tell the people in front of us to stop talking.  Really, they were having a full on conversation.  We waited until after the movie for our picture, but still Marcel didn't want a flash, so you can't really see either of us.  This same day we enjoyed PF Changs & TGI Friday's appetizers with some wonderful coupons!

We went to the Boys & Girls Club night at the Boise Hawks game with free tickets Marcel got at work.  It had been a long time since I'd seen a baseball game and we had a great time.

And Miss Lilli has become quite the reader, even wanting to read Marcel's super boring sound tech magazines.  Even more, she's become quite the posing queen.  I only had her 1 day this week and Marcel and I are both missing her like crazy. 

Burkdoll Wedding

On August 5th, my baby, but grown-up, sister, Hannah, got married.  Her and Matt spent a whole week in town and we had a blast:

Monday night, we had a bridal shower, but somehow managed not to take a single picture.

On Tuesday, we went go-carting,

and played mini-golf

and "drove" race cars

Wednesday night, we threw Hannah a Bachelorette party at my mom's house, because her i.d. was lost the night before

(it was found again the last night she was in town)

Sisters!

Could we look any less alike?

Presents

We were kinda sad about not being able to go out, but we had fun nonetheless!

Thursday night, we had a rehearsal and dinner

Bridesmaids

The soon-to-be Mr. & Mrs.

After the rehearsal the girls all stayed at my house for the night so Hannah and Matt didn't see each other before they took pictures.  Friday morning started early, with the boys playing golf and the girls decorating.  I kept saying how unfair that the boys do fun stuff while the girls work all day, but it worked out, because Hannah was up getting her hair done by the time the boys got back.  Mariah, Hannah's second grade teacher and the official photographer was great at capturing Matt's first look at Hannah!

 SISTERLY LOVE!

The girls!

Not the official one, but we needed some for facebook right away :)

It was such a beautiful ceremony.  I cried as soon as I saw her walking down the aisle, but having to look into Matt's tear filled eyes made it impossible to stop!

The next day, we watched them open all their gifts.  Most people were very considerate of their wishes of no gifts because of having a 20+ hour drive back to Kansas, but they still got some great stuff and it almost all fit into their car.

We're so happy for you two!!