Happy Holidays

One thing I'm really enjoying about being in Seattle during the holiday season is the crisp, cool weather. It's usually a high of about 50 to 55 degrees and the trees have all changed color and now have lost their leaves.... something that southern Californians don't really get to experience fully. The beauty of true seasons!
As Thanksgiving approached, Ryan and I had the sense like "now what since we're married and we dont have any family around." This year was the first year we were together for Thanksgiving, which was great, but a bit out of place since we're in a new state. We thought about cooking a turkey dinner, but it didn't seem right just for the two of us... we like share special times with special people. So we joined some new friends from church, Justin & Katylin, for a gourmet Thanksgiving feast. They went all out and I must say, Justin made the best, most juicy turkey I've EVER had! It was a wonderful evening.
To see some pics of our feast, visit Katylin's page: http://www.slide.com/r/ifZToyVM4D_NSPwjAC4i65xYf5GmPbs2?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original

The Sunday after Thanksgiving, Ryan and I went to cut down our very first Christmas tree. We drove out to Northbend where we looked at lots of tress, trying to decide which one was the perfect one to take home....
Finally we found the perfect tree.... not to small (as above) and not too big... Ryan found a perfect noble fir!

Right before Ry cut him down

There's his stump in the middle of the saw

Now Mr. Fir your coming home with us!

All growing up, I can remember spending hours with mom trying to pick out the perfect tree at Christmas tree lots in So. Cal. But nothing compares to picking out a real, live tree that's still in the ground! We kind of felt sad that we were cutting him down, but it was a great memory.

Now decorating Mr. Fir was another adventure all together. We had homemade chocolate chip cookies, apple cider, and of course Christmas music to get us in the spirit. Mom would spend hours putting on lights so I had lots of training in this area. Luckily, it only took us about an 1/2 or so to put the lights on.

Ry hanging our new stockings on our mantel

Ry putting tinsel on our tree

Our lovely tree and our first Christmas!

We had a nice evening decorating, I think we're ready for Santa to come now. Coming soon... a video our apartment for all those who have been asking! Merry Christmas!

(Btw- the red hair was an accident and now is in the correcting process of going back to brown:0)

Wedding Photo website update

Our photographer has updated his website, so if you'd like to view our wedding photos, here's how...
1. Go to: http://www.lukasvandyke.com/
2. Find "Clients" on the tool bar
3. Then go to "Proofs"
4. Now find our album "Ryan & Shanna"- you should see our picture

Lastly, our wedding album will only be up until Aug '09

Photos

I've been informed that my links for our wedding photos aren't working, so hopefully these will work:

Lucas Van Dyke, our wedding photos- Go to "Order Prints" (top left) and find us:
http://www.lukasvandyke.com/

The Wedding Week:
http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2012037&l=040b9&id=159900253

Our Move to Seattle:
http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2012779&l=dfb2d&id=159900253

More Wedding Photos

In addition to the links listed at the bottom of my first post, I just remembered that my Maid of Honor, Audra Budd, captured some amazing moments right before the ceremony. She also has some photos of the bridal showers. Enjoy!
http://picasaweb.google.com/audritabonbon

Seattle Culture

I'm trying to adjust to being in a different state, the cool weather, the greenery... but there are some weird things about Seattle that I just find very strange. I think the strangest thing is driving here. First off the lanes are very narrow and I feel like I'm about to hit the car next to me or the curb! Yikes. And the speed limit! AHHHHH! The speed limit on the freeway is 60mph and of course that translates into 55, max would be exactly 60mph. What in the world?! I, on the other hand, have only ever driven at least 70 in Los Angeles, more like 80mph. Now I'm going crazy because I'm stuck behind everyone who's going 55!

Next are the bike riders. Everyone here rides a bike, even though it rains-which doesn't make sense to me. And I guess now that your on a bike that means now your magically considered a car. So they drive/ride in the middle of the road and hold up traffice. But if your from here, its ok, you just slowly pace behind them. I just dont get this- why dont you ride on the sidewalk like LA bikers do so we can all get where we're going a little faster? I'm going to have to get use to watching and driving safely around these bikers.

Pedestrians and J walking is an epidemic up here. In LA pedestrians know their place when they're crossing the street. You look before you walk out into the street and if a car is coming then you wait for it to pass before you cross. Not in Seattle! Pedestrians cross wherever and whenever they want, even when cars are coming! They will stop traffic to cross the street, annoying!

One thing that's been nice to get use to are the freeways that go over Lake Washington. This is something you'll never find in LA. You get a beautiful view while sitting in traffic. Something cool you can do here is canoe in Lake Washington right under the freeway passes and into the marshes and the lake. Kind of interesting to be going faster than the traffic on the freeway in a canoe.

These are pictures from our canoe adventure

Oh and there's traffic here all the time, maybe its because everyone goes so slow! Speaking of freeways, they have these freeways that are called "express ways." It's a freeway that runs between the two opposing directions, but is only open to go one direction at certain times of the day. This just sounds like suicide to me- lol. I'm not quite sure how it works yet, but i know this would not be an alternative to traffic in LA because people would end up going the wrong direction and kill each other.

The street lights are even different. They hang on wires rather than metal rods. I've heard this is because they have wind storms here-yikes. And what in the world is a blinking red or a blinking yellow light suppose to mean? I guess I'll find out.
That's it for now, but I'll be updating this list of interesting things about this city soon. Hopefully I'll find some fun interesting things that I like :o)

Newly Weds!

Where did the month of September go? Wait, where did the month of August go? Ryan and I have been married 66 days officially today and it all went by so quickly! 6 month of wedding planning for one day which all seems like a beautiful dream. Now all the excitement is over and we're here in Seattle. What in the world?!

Well, let me back track and start with the wedding and I'll eventually get to the here and now. Hmm, the wedding.... For the most part, it all went as planned and we had a great time with all our family and friends. We we're so blessed by all those who took care of the details. Thank you!
Here are some highlights that I remember from that day, even though it was all a blurr:
* We were running late!
*I was very emotional b/c I hadn't slept but a few hours the night before
*I wrote my vows as I got my hair done
*All my bridesmaids were so helpful- thank my friends!
*Almost had a moment in the lobby where Ryan would have seen me!! AHH! I was waiting in the lobby for the car and from a distance I see Ry walking in all dressed in his uniform with his best man. I ducked below my maid of honor (Audra) and screamed "there's Ryan!" The other bridesmaids commanded him to stop and then the groomsmen escorted him away- very funny moment now, but panic then.
*Some lady in the hotel lobby said I was the most beautiful bride she had ever seen, awww :0)
*We went to take pictures at the Rock Garden (reception area) before the wedding & some of the bridesmaids went to the ceremony location instead- lol.
*The sunflowers were beautiful and my rose bouquet smelt so sweet!
*When we were finally at the chapel, it felt like we were waiting up in the bridal room for hours before the ceremony actually started.
*It was fun watching from the steeple as the guests arrived.
*The flower girls and ring bears all looked so nice!
*I got really nervous about walking down the aisle in front of so many people
*Right before walking down the aisle, I watched the youngest flower girl fall down the stairs and all her flowers go flying and I was very surprised that she didn't start crying! Amazing!
*I remember small glimpses of peoples faces as I walked down the aisle.
*Ryan looked so handsome, like price charming!
*The ceremony was beautiful, I felt like it was just Ryan and I up there displaying our love for one another with the help of Ron Davis. I never once even realized that there were 100 people behind us watching.
*Ryan made me cry during his vows and made the audience laugh when he said he'll strive to always be sexy for me.... lol.
* Next thing I knew, we we're kissing and man was it a nice long kiss. I think I might have even made a "mmmm" sound :0)
*The Marines all looked so sharp, especially during the arch of sabers. But no swat on the bum.
*Ryan smashed a wine glass- random, I guess I didn't hear this detail during all the plans.
*My bridesmaids surprised us with a limo for the reception! And mom made a sweet "Just Married" sign- so fun!

The reception went by tooo quickly! Can we have a "do-over"?
*We had the grand march
*The toasts we're started without any drinks- wedding flop, oh well. But the speeches we're heart warming- thanks Eric & Audra.
*My sister cried as she read a poem she wrote for us.
* Ryan thought it would be cute if we served each other, arms all entwined, after the toast... but I guess he couldn't see that he was serving me too much as it flowed all over me and down the inside of my dress... lol! Yeah, we didn't try that again.
*Ryan sweetly served me cake by making me lick his finger tips
*I tossed the bouquet very carefully from the rock in the center of the water fountain and Sandra caught it!
*I literally bit me on accident when trying to remove my camouflage (to go with the army theme) garter- ouch!
*The cake was excellent and I know this b/c I had 2 pieces of cake and 3 cupcakes! I didn't eat much food, but I know where my priorities are!
*Ryan made double the money during the money dance than I did! Very surprising but funny.
*And before we knew it, the evening was done and we were heading to our honeymoon suite at the Bonaventure in downtown LA with Matt & Nicole Wrye as our chauffeurs at 2:30am.
*Our room was decorated by the bridesmaids, champagne waiting with candles and rose petals.
*We enjoyed champagne and more cupcakes as we celebrated Ryan's 28th birthday and looked out at the amazing view.


The next morning after only one hour of sleep, we left for 10 days in Cancun! It was wonderful! Our room at the Grand Mayan Resort was an apartment big enough for 8 people with 2 bedrooms (thanks to Ry's parents). After we got over being sick with a nasty head cold, we then had some fun. We got lots of rest, spent time at the pool, went salsa dancing, spent time at the beach, went to the spa and got a couples massage, and got scuba certified. Then we headed down to Playa del Carmen to stay at a friends condo just a few blocks from all the city life (thanks Mesa's). We dove in the Cenotes (underground caverns with stalagmites and stalactites), shopped, ate lots of great food, and swam in the warm clear water. Just a wonderful time!

To see our wedding pictures from our photographer to Lukas Van Dyke's website and find us:
http://secure.sendtoprint.net/proofbook/galleries.asp?CouponID=VanDyke&ig1=date&orderby=date

Here are links to my Facebook for more photos-

Week of the Wedding:
http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2012037&l=040b9&id=159900253

Our Cancun Honeymoon:
http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2012237&l=aadbd&id=159900253

An awesome restaurant in a real CAVE in Cancun: