Quicky Update

Here's the latest on the Schroder/Felder goings-on these days:

Spring has sprung! The yard is ready for mowing, the flowers are blooming, and we are hardly lighting the fireplace these days. FINALLY! We are getting some spring snowboarding in when we can. Mt. Hood is giving us a good time.

The wedding plans are coming along nicely. Everything is falling into place.

Jace is doing excellent in school. He got his first shaving lesson a couple weeks ago. He is feeling (and looking) pretty grown up. He even had a really nice girlfriend for a couple months.

We are all heading to Southern California this weekend...including Tabatha! It's spring break and it's Eric's birthday. So we will be spending our week playing on the beach, visiting friends, and just taking a long needed vacation from daily life.

Gotta go. Eric just barbeque'd some salmon. Yes, I eat salmon now. Let's EAT!

Vday 09

Here's some photos of our rainy, but really fun weekend in Mendocino, Cali.

Let the planning begin!

So it's official. The venue has been booked! The wedding day is confirmed for Sept 12th. It was so much fun discovering this place. Eric said I was having as much fun as he was shopping for a car.

Old Friends

I spent last week in Baltimore, MD for our annual sales meeting. It was non-stop meetings, agendas, smalltalk and sleeplessness. My favorite part of the week was spending time with two of my favorite colleagues and friends. With Dawn living in California and Crystal in Chicago...I was so lucky to see them everyday for a week. I didn't realize how much I missed them. We have been friends for the past 8 years, I think. Somebody caught this shot from their camera phone. Dawn on the left, Crystal in the middle, and yours truly on the right.

While you were out

So for the past 2 weeks, I have been pretty much gone on business trips. My fiance has been a very busy man! I am still amazed at the job he did remodeling Jace's room. Before the finished product there was graffiti and holes in the walls, stained carpet, no suitable furniture, windows that didn't open and a floor that was sliding downhill. Let's not forget the SMELL. Years of a boy eating, farting, burping, sneakers, and god knows what! I can't wait for Jace to come home today to see his new room. Of course Jace will complain, because that's what he does best and he'll act like it's no big deal, so not to damage his 14 yr old coolness status...but I know he secretly will be beaming. These guys worked hard to get this room done so fast.

Amsterdam bound

Looks like I am off again to Amsterdam! City of canals, Anne Frank, the Red Light district, bicycle lanes, tall dutch people, that weird smell coming out of "coffee shops", and....Idexx! Be back soon.

I love Mexico

My first trip to Mexico was in 1990. I was 13 and my parents took me to the Yucatan. We spent one week touring the ruins, snorkeling, riding public transportation and sharing a room with my brother. The 2nd week of the trip was just my mother, sister and I on a small island, Isla Mujeres. I probably was a brat the entire trip, but I have nothing but fond memories and knew I wanted to go back.

The next time I went to Mexico, it was almost 10 yrs later. It was 1999 and I was living in Phoenix. Some girlfriends and I took a long weekend across the border to a party town called Rocky Point. I still don't know if that is the real name or not. I just know that I was 23 and I don't remember much of that trip accept that I liked being in Mexico again.

My 3rd trip to Mexico happened 5 years later in 2004. I was dying to check out the west coast. So Tabatha, Jenn, Mandie and I met in San Diego. We bummed a ride into Tijuana, down to Rosarito and ended up in Los Gaviatos at our rental condo. We spent an entire week hitching rides, laying on the beach, dancing, and being girls. It was my first trip with a group of really close friends and I knew that this was the way to do it.

My 4th trip to Mexico happened just 2 years after that, in May 2006. I wanted to revisit to the Yucatan this time. So me, and my childhood best friends (Tab and Michele) booked an all inclusive 5 night trip to Playa Del Carmen. Even though I came down with a cold, my face was swollen and I got sun poisoning, I still loved the trip. I laughed so much on that trip, that my ribs were bruised. I think Tabatha won the award for most entertaining.

My 5th and most recent trip to Mexico happened in Dec 2007. I had recently moved to Oregon, I was in love and my roommate at the time had convinced me to check out this surf town called Sayulita. So I flew with Amy and her boyfriend at the time to Puerto Vallarta. We decided to go big on the rental, since we collectively had 5 people staying with us. Wow. I have never stayed in a more beautiful place in my life. A NYC friend, Ariana, flew to meet us and then a couple days later, Eric flew in to meet me. This was a big step for us as a couple. It was our first vacation together and it's where I confessed my love to him. (cheesy, I know). I still dream about being there with him. It changed my life. We both share the same passion for that country.

Right now, I am planning my 6th trip to Mexico. We leave at the end of March. This time it will be with my new family, Eric and Jace. We are returning to the Baja for a week of playing, surfing and adventure. I am hoping Tabatha can join us, since she and I have been exploring Mexico together for 5 years now. I also need a girlfriend there so we can laugh on the beach and pretend to be 23 again.

Here are some photo memories. Click it for a bigger version: