Quick update:
Dustin got a job as a Financial Analyst for Longview Fibre, a paper company based in Washington. He will be over a few of there plants in the intermountain area, but he will be stationed at their plant in Spanish Fork Utah. He starts training up here (Washington area) on Monday for 6 weeks and then we will be moving back to the Provo area. We are excited for a new job, being back by family and Utah friends and to have four seasons. With that said I will tell you that I have at least one daily breakdown knowing that we have to leave our wonderful friends, ward members, and neighbors up here in Portland.
Oh ya and at some point I might get a free minute and try to update our blog. Sorry.
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Our Best One Yet
The night before we went to Utah we decided to have a family sleepover. We made our biggest fort to date and had a great time watching videos. The good news was that we only had to remake it one time :)
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Good Times and Good-Byes
We have had a challenging, yet wonderful, ride at Costa Vida over the past two years. While we were not successful at keeping the doors open any longer we were definitely successful in almost all other areas that were important.
We became like family. From those that were with us from the day we opened, to those that just joined us a few months ago, we truly had a great relationship. We couldn't have asked for more kindness from our employees. When we told them that we would be closing the doors, they came up with the idea of staying open two extra days. They said we could use up the food and say good-bye to our customers, and decided they would work for whatever came in (whether good or bad-gratefully it was good:)). They really loved this place and all of you that they got to know so well. They even offered to have a fundraiser to try to keep the doors open. That is just the type of people they are.
We had the most loyal and great customer base ever! Dustin would call me during those last days of operation in tears. He said he was so sad that I didn't get to be a part of such a wonderful experience. He never could have imagined the love and support we received from the ward and church members, neighbors, businesses and those throughout our community. He said it was amazing to see how kind people could be and their out pouring of generosity and love. The restaurant was packed and it was a great way to say good-bye.
Our employees did some great things for the community. Both years they decided to donate their tips to buy Christmas gifts for the kids at Doernbecher Children's Hospital. This was really neat, because our employees didn't have much for themselves, yet they were so willing to give.
We became like family. From those that were with us from the day we opened, to those that just joined us a few months ago, we truly had a great relationship. We couldn't have asked for more kindness from our employees. When we told them that we would be closing the doors, they came up with the idea of staying open two extra days. They said we could use up the food and say good-bye to our customers, and decided they would work for whatever came in (whether good or bad-gratefully it was good:)). They really loved this place and all of you that they got to know so well. They even offered to have a fundraiser to try to keep the doors open. That is just the type of people they are.
We had the most loyal and great customer base ever! Dustin would call me during those last days of operation in tears. He said he was so sad that I didn't get to be a part of such a wonderful experience. He never could have imagined the love and support we received from the ward and church members, neighbors, businesses and those throughout our community. He said it was amazing to see how kind people could be and their out pouring of generosity and love. The restaurant was packed and it was a great way to say good-bye.
Our employees did some great things for the community. Both years they decided to donate their tips to buy Christmas gifts for the kids at Doernbecher Children's Hospital. This was really neat, because our employees didn't have much for themselves, yet they were so willing to give.
During the month of December we were able to have a Costa Vida Christmas party. While we were low on funds everyone decided we should have a potluck dinner and play games. Not everyone was able to make it because of the weather, but it was just nice hanging out and letting the kids play. It is wonderful to have employees that are also friends.
We have one last picture that Dustin took on his phone before we closed the doors, so I am hoping he will post it here. But for now we just want to thank everyone for the wonderful memories you have given us at Costa Vida. We love you and are so grateful to have these memories with us forever!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Chrismas 2008
Although Chrismas was not how we had it planned, it was one of the best ones ever! To begin with the kids and I were suppose to fly to Utah on the 22nd. After sitting on the runway for almost 3 hours and then in the airport for another hour, where Jacob was bit by a dog, our flight was finally cancelled. We left home a little sad knowing we would not be able to get a flight for at least a week, but we were determined to make the best of it. That was easy because first of all we had our family and second we had as much snow as they did in Utah.
Anyway this is how our Christmas Day went:
As a kid, my parents made us wait at the top of the stairs until they could get the camera ready and music on before we could come down to open presents. We would go down one at a time from youngest to oldest. This has now become one of our traditions.
The kids made cookies and had milk ready for Santa. They said they know he loved them :) And I am pretty sure they were right.
The kids had a blast playing with their toys throughout the day. Savannah doll stuff, Jonah a wii game and a fixed up bike, and Jacob with his T-Ball gear. That night we went to see "Bolt" with the Smith family. Great movie for the whole family. After the movie it was back to our home for leftovers for dinner with the Smiths and Jarvis's. And we can't forget about playing the Rockband. Thanks you guys for making our Chrismas so great!
Anyway this is how our Christmas Day went:
As a kid, my parents made us wait at the top of the stairs until they could get the camera ready and music on before we could come down to open presents. We would go down one at a time from youngest to oldest. This has now become one of our traditions.
The kids made cookies and had milk ready for Santa. They said they know he loved them :) And I am pretty sure they were right.
The kids had a blast playing with their toys throughout the day. Savannah doll stuff, Jonah a wii game and a fixed up bike, and Jacob with his T-Ball gear. That night we went to see "Bolt" with the Smith family. Great movie for the whole family. After the movie it was back to our home for leftovers for dinner with the Smiths and Jarvis's. And we can't forget about playing the Rockband. Thanks you guys for making our Chrismas so great!
We are how old?
During the month of December we celebrated my birthday(33), our anniversary(10th) and Dustins Birthday(35). Man we are getting old! We didn't do anything major, but it really was great just spending time together and with the kids. This is our picture from Dustin's Birthday. The kids made him monkey bread in the shape of a "D".
Anyway I couldn't ask for a better life, better husband or greater kids. I love them all and feel so blessed.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
A week of Pre-vacation
The snow ended up hitting Portland pretty hard in December, so school was cancelled the week before Christmas break started. Some snowy days, some icey days and even some dry days. While it killed the restaurant, the kids had a blast with the snow. The kids could be found playing at all times of the day outside. One night we even did some sledding at 10pm with the Jarvis family after Dustin got home from work. We wanted some family time and it was great.
Kasey Jarvis (our neighbor, best friend and second dad to the kids) built these great snow forts for himself, I mean for the kids, to have snowball fights.
Jonah, Jack and the rest of the neighborhood boys could be found at any given time playing in them until they finally melted.
Here is some footage of the fun the kids had in the snow.
Where To Begin?
No really. I don't know where to begin. We didn't drop off of the face of the planet, but so many changes have occured in our lives that I don't know where to begin on our blog. I think I will take the next few days and play catch up on the last month of blogging and then you will know where we are at.
But for right know I will give a brief overview: School was cancelled for one week because of the snow, Christmas party at Costa Vida, Costa Vida Employees give their tips for gifts to the local children's hospital, our flight is cancelled to Utah for Christmas, we spend christmas in Oregon, a week later we get a flight to Utah but Dustin can't come for 10 more days, while Dustin is in Oregon and the rest of us in Utah our bishopric is released and Costa Vida closes its doors (both we were not expecting), the kids and I spend some time with family, Dustin comes to Utah, the Murphy family goes to the temple together, Savannah is baptised, we go back to Oregon and I am called as the first councilor in the Young Womens, we are triing to tie things up at Costa Vida and look for jobs, the kids go back to school and now it is time to regroup, sell our home and figure out what our next adventure is. Any suggestions?
But for right know I will give a brief overview: School was cancelled for one week because of the snow, Christmas party at Costa Vida, Costa Vida Employees give their tips for gifts to the local children's hospital, our flight is cancelled to Utah for Christmas, we spend christmas in Oregon, a week later we get a flight to Utah but Dustin can't come for 10 more days, while Dustin is in Oregon and the rest of us in Utah our bishopric is released and Costa Vida closes its doors (both we were not expecting), the kids and I spend some time with family, Dustin comes to Utah, the Murphy family goes to the temple together, Savannah is baptised, we go back to Oregon and I am called as the first councilor in the Young Womens, we are triing to tie things up at Costa Vida and look for jobs, the kids go back to school and now it is time to regroup, sell our home and figure out what our next adventure is. Any suggestions?
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