Steve Sr. Retirement Party

We have had a lot going on in the past few weeks and it has been really hard to update the blog. Things have settled (until the baby arrives) so I will be updating frequently.

Enjoying our dinner up on the stage

We drove down to Reno, because Nik's Dad was celebrating his 22 years on the bench as a District Court Judge. Keri, Nik's sister, was in charge of putting this whole thing together and it was not a small feat. It was held at the Silver Legacy and about 600 people attended. It was a beautiful setting with incredible food and even better speeches. Every member of Nik's family gave a speech along with family friends, another Judge and a few of his clerks over the years. It was a fantastic evening and such an honor to be included in the event. Keri did a great job and I know Steve couldn't have been more honored to have this event as a closing to such a substantial career.

Keri gave a fantastic speech

Steve speaking to the crowd

Steve giving a present to his secretary (Kathy) of 22 years

It was a wonderful evening. Both sets of my parents were able to attend and we enjoyed seeing and meeting many people that have been a huge part of Steve's life.

Portland Baby Shower

Haley and John (bottom 2 on the right) were so kind to through Nik and I a baby shower in Portland. Some of our closest friends in town were able to attend and we had a blast enjoying the evening. They made all sorts of appetizers and there were plenty of drinks (even for the pregnant lady).

With Andrew and Wanda Wrisley

Enjoying our evening

It was such a wonderful evening and it made Nik and I so happy to have such a great group of friends in a place we have spent the last 2 plus years of our lives together. Thank you Haley and John for putting this together.

Two Years

Hi all, It's Nik here:)

I figured it had been a while since I wrote a post, and considering all of the deliciousness of life, I had to jump in and share with a big ole spoon full!

Speaking of spoon-full, while I was eating my breakfast this morning I realized it has been 2 years since Erin and I moved in together to our tiny little apartment on St. Claire St. in Portland. Although we haven't grown much in living space, our family has certainly grown (which I am sure will be the case for a few more years to come).

Back on September 14, 2010 I arrived home from being over-seas for 6 months in Germany. I had seen Erin twice since I left in late March, but had not been back to the USA since then. Not to forget was the fact that we had decided over that time that we should live together once I did get back, and we picked Portland as the starting block. So, when my plane landed in Portland, Oregon late on the 14th of September, I came back to the USA living in a new city, with a beautiful girl, and a wonderful dog in our very own place in SW Portland. As good as I had it then, things only got better! 

Throughout the last two years, we have seen family additions with Liam LaDuke, Dax Latham and Connor Kosach, and added our own addition with our puppy, Emmie. Little did we know that right when we got Emmie, we made yet another addition. Yes, of course, we a talking about Baby "K" and Erin's pregnancy! On a different note, we also inherited a brother when my sister, Keri, married Sam Ottesen: The Big tall guy from Canada who loves Hockey and plays a little golf on the side. He is ok for a Canadian:)

On a personal level, life with Erin has been such an amazing ride. From the time I got home to her and Wanda 2 years ago, we have done nothing but grow on an interpersonal level. From our engagement in October 2010, to our wedding in January of this year, and all throughout her pregnancy since the wedding, (I still can't believe we got so lucky to be expecting right after we got hitched:) we have had an amazing time!

For all of the blog posts in which she brags about me, or says what a good husband/fiance/boyfriend I have been the past few years, I cannot express enough of how I feel the same. I realize that one blog post about her awesomeness every few years is certainly not enough, but I want everyone to know that Erin is an continues to be a very inspiring, loving, hard working, and an overall EXCELLENT person and spouse. Life has been so easy with her by my side and I am so thankful everyday to be a part of it! I know that she is going to be a terrific mother, and I cannot wait to see her with our little one in the coming months!

So, with all of the dramatic and wonderful changes that have occurred in the last 2 years, there is only one word to sum it all up. "AWESOME!"

One thing Erin and I are certain of is that there will always be awesome changes ahead, and life gets harder, more challenging, and WAY better as time goes on. We hope the next few years go by in the same awe-inspiring fashion as the last two, and we never stop growing in the years ahead. We also hope we get to share it with ALL of you!

With all of that said, we certainly will enjoy today, and we can't wait for tomorrow and the days, months, and years that follow.

-Nik-

Here are some great pictures from the past two years which I thought everyone would enjoy:)

Portland, September 2010

Our "First" Anniversary- Hood River, Oregon- October 2010

Go Giants! 2010 World Series Champs!! St. Claire Apartment- October, 2010

Loving Portland, January 2011

Callie, Avery, and newest addition- Liam LaDuke

Latham's with Baby Dax- July, 2011

Gail's 60th! August, 2011

Keri and Sam's Wedding- September, 2011

Erin's 30th in San Francisco- October, 2011

Moma Susie and Baby Connor- Christmas, 2011

Grandpa Bob with Liam and Dax on our Wedding Day- January, 2012

Wedding Day- January 28, 2012

Emmie and Erin- February 6th, 2012

Introduction to Baby "K"- April 2, 2012

Ben and Jeanie in Astoria, Oregon- May 2012

Steve, Gail and Nik- Hood River, Oregon- May, 2012

Honeymoon in Kauai- May/June, 2012

Baby "K"- 20 weeks along- June 26, 2012

Nana's Birthday- August, 2012

Lake Tahoe- August, 2012

Erin 31 weeks along- September 12, 2012

MORE TO COME IN THE MONTHS AND YEARS AHEAD:)

31 weeks

Wow, I feel like I have grown so much in the past couple of weeks. Sleeping has become a daily challenge and my energy level has definitely been on the decline. We are all in good spirits though, life is good and we are trying to enjoy every moment of the last few weeks of pregnancy. Our prenatal classes have made us very excited to meet our little one and we feel like everyday we get closer to due date (or month), we are more and more prepared. 

I will be taking my maternity leave in late October and we have decided to have little Baby K in Reno. Don't worry we have already found a doctor, a hospital and a place to stay. We will be in Reno by the end of October just in time to to settle in and deliver. This way we will be around for all of the fun holiday festivities and everyone can meet our little girl. 

Baby K is about 18-19 inches long at this point. She weighs about 3.5 pounds and she is a little mover. More now than before, we can feel her rolling in my belly. She still kicks but she is a little big to make huge movements. It is fun to feel, but even more fun to watch. 

29 Weeks, but who's counting?

Wanda and me strolling along the beach

29 weeks has flown by. I can't believe I am already into the third trimester. I am growing everyday and the easy things are starting to get a little bit harder. My favorite pair of shoes are wearing out, because I have worn them so much. They are nothing special and if I wasn't pregnant they definitely would not be the favorites. They are only flip-flops, but they seem to be the only shoes I like wearing these days. Nik and I have been going to a birthing class on Thursdays to learn about the process of labor and delivery, caring for the baby and breastfeeding. I feel like it has taught us a lot and it has really helped Nik see how much he can be involved in the labor process. It has also been a wonderful thing to do together. 

The baby is now about 15 or 16 inches. She weighs almost 3 lbs and continues to move about many parts of the day. She is about the size of a butternut squash (seems very festive for the time of year we are heading into). We love to sit and feel her moving around and are in awe everyday about this process and how far we have come. It's about 11 or so more weeks until we meet our little girl and we couldn't be more excited. 

Recently, I took my staff out to the beach for our annual Field Day. It is a day where we get to shut down the store and get paid to go play. We headed out to Indian Beach (just above Cannon Beach). We got lucky with the weather, it was gorgeous. Nik and the doggies came along and we spent the day BBQing, relaxing and playing with the dogs. It was a great day to get out of the city and have some fun. All the pics in the blog are from the day. 

family photo

San Francisco Visit

After a great visit with my side of the family, Nik and I headed North to visit with Steve, Susie and little Conner (Nik's brother, sister in-law and nephew). We spent a nice afternoon with them in Berkeley. Conner is growing up so fast and is quiet the happy kid. He also has the best half smile around.

Emmie and Conner hanging out 

Emmie and Conner were born about two weeks apart

The next couple of days we spent our time in the city, San Francisco that is. We did it all: Ferry Building, the Marina, Palace of Fine Art, shopping in Union Square, the Ocean, Haight Street and the best part we had dinner with my sisters, Ali, Mariah and Mitch (Ali's boyfriend). The only thing we missed was a Giants game, because they were on the road that week. 

View from Treasure Island

26 weeks preggo

Playing at the beach

Baby shopping on Chestnut St

It was so much fun being tourists in a city we used to call home. We love visiting and can't wait for next time.

Nana's Birthday Celebration

Happy Birthday Nana!!

Last weekend our whole family met in Los Altos, CA for Nana's BIG birthday bash. It was so great to see all the cousins and their families, my sisters and their families, my dad and Sherri, and of course Nana. There was 9 kids all under 7 years old plus one on the way;) Nik and I had so much fun. The family met in a park on Saturday and took some family photos, then we enjoyed a wonderful lunch while the kids had a pirate scavenger hunt and the dogs got to play tons of fetch. Later that day we all went to dinner at Buca Di Beppo. We spent the evening looking at old photos of Nana and we all made sure to get tons of photos. Nik also did a great job of entertaining the kids while the parents enjoyed the yummy grub.

The Lyle's, Latham's, LaDuke's and Kosach's

Nana and Me

Pirate scavenger hunt

everyone enjoying the treasure at the end of the hunt

Can't leave Baby K out of the bunch 

Dax on the swing

Uncle Brad during dinner at Buca Di Beppo

Dad and Sarah enjoying the dinner