Move-in weekend

Hal writes:

This weekend was move-in and orientation at PLU. The fun started Thursday and kept going until classes started on Monday. Here is a picture of my colleagues and I on move-in day.

One of the fun events during orientation is "sound off". During this event, each hall does a hall cheer and tries to be the loudest, most spirited group. The picture below is of one of my halls during their cheering.


The PT Cruiser went over 100,000 miles this weekend. Anna was on the highway when it happened, so she wasn't able to take this photo until she got back to campus. Also, we made our last car payment (2 years earlier than the loan required!) so instead of having to send in money for the car each month we can now save money each month towards a future car purchase (but hopefully not for another couple of years). Hooray for budgeting!

On Saturday of orientation I actually had minimal responsibilities, so Anna and I drove up the Kitsap Peninsula and ended up visiting Poulsbo, WA. This is a small community with roots in the Norwegian tradition.

A picture of some of the shops, bakeries (at least four different ones in two blocks) and businesses down the main street. The store fronts all had Scandinavian architecture.


Anna down on the waterway in Poulsbo.

Our hodge podge lunch from a Norwegian bakery. In addition to the soup and sandwich, we had some amazing butter cookies and a slice of strawberry-rhubarb pie.

We decided to drive across Bainbridge Island and take the ferry across to Seattle on our way back. This was an attempted self-portrait with the Seattle skyline in the background. We were also going for the "wind swept" hair look.

Clouds over the hillside? Look again, that's Mt. Rainier poking up through the clouds in the middle.

A closer look at downtown Seattle.

And, of course, the Space Needle.

Austin's wedding and Staff Retreat

Hal writes:

As someone who works in higher education, not only in student affairs but as a residence life professional, I do not get to know the joys of a three-day weekend that includes Labor Day. With the typical move in (or preparing for move in) coming this weekend, I typically work during this time. I would say poor me, but then I remember that I get more time off during the Christmas holiday than others typically do, so it all works out well.

This weekend one of Anna's coworkers, Austin, got married. We drove north of Seattle to Kenmore, WA where both the wedding and reception were held at Inglewood Country club (known for, among other things, as the place where Arnold Palmer first golfed his age, a 62). The photo below shows the wedding set-up, complete with golf course and fountain in the background and the musician. I would call the music "cello karaoke" as the man playing the cello had it hooked up to a karaoke like machine that played the other instruments in the orchestra. Pretty cleaver, yet somewhat disturbing.

Here are Anna's coworkers. From left to right: Kim (PT), D'Lyn (massage therapist), Austin (PT Aide), Nancy (PT, Anna's boss), Leandra (PT Aide), and Anna.

While Austin and Annie are away on their honeymoon, we have been dog sitting their Maltese Hurly. As you can see, the morning of the wedding we were all a fluster with last minute concerns about the details concerning the wedding.

This weekend I also went with my 17 RAs on a staff retreat. Each staff does an overnight retreat between RA training and move-in/orientation. My group had two cabins on Anderson Island. I didn't take that many photos, but if you have a Facebook account you can see more photos of my staff and I on this trip. This is where the men stayed during the retreat.


The guys enjoying some breakfast burritos that Chad made.


Here is my staff (except for two of them) on the ferry ride between Tacoma and Anderson Island.

Am I lost while driving on the water? Actually, the 12-passenger van I was driving happened to be placed at the front of the boat and made it look like I was driving the boat from this angle.

Anna snapped this picture in the middle of me constructing "Hemmes", the new daybed from IKEA. I finished it tonight, so if you are ready to come visit us we have a new bed waiting for you. (Hint, hint, that means you should come visit.)

Other news:

Our friend Amber has a blog. She just began her year long pastoral internship in the Compton area of Los Angeles. You can hear more about her adventures here: http://amberincali.blogspot.com/

Move-in and orientation begins at PLU this Thursday, so I'll probably be busy for the next week until classes start.

Fantasy update: My baseball team got a first round buy for the playoffs this week as I came in second during the regular seasonal; my football team should be drafted shortly; this fall I'll be playing Pick 'Em with both NFL and NCAA football. Lots of virtual trophies to be had!

Solitutde amidst training

Hal writes:

I'm currently amidst RA Training and have been very busy with preparing for the start of another school year. During the weekend, we escaped to view some of Washington in beautiful weather. But first, a picture of Anna with her pooch in front of the half built (but now complete) secretary desk we got for our computer.

The next batch of photos come from Twin Falls State Park. Riley was a hit among the small children we met on the path. Here Anna and Riley are exploring a tree.

One of the falls.
On the bridge overlooking the two falls.

The second set of falls.

Hal enjoying some trail mix by the stream.

An elderly man takes some time for spiritual reflection on a rock in the middle of the stream.

Anna in the stream.

Riley waking up from a nap while we had lunch.

We drove to another overlook called Snaqualmie Falls.

A better look at the hotel/resort overlooking the falls. (And the power plant across the river.)

A better view of the falls.

Our IKEA furniture order arrived this weekend, so we hope to have photos of the apartment soon.