Run run run...

As Patrick has mentioned before we started running/jogging in Oregon. It's something that we wanted to continue once moving back to Utah and thought it'd be fun to do a 5k sometime this Fall. I was looking at different options and nothing was really calling to me. We just needed a race that we could run together and that would give us a tee-shirt. But then on Living Social they offered a race deal on the Color Run! So we signed up to run and did it a few days after getting back.

 We stuck together and ran the whole time!

During the race there were different color stations were workers throw colored powder on you, or pour it on you in some cases. 

At then end of the race there was music and a stage with dancers. We participated in a couple of "color throws" were we would count down and then throw our colored powder in the air. It was super fun and we made sure to keep our mouths closed.

 As one point they had a small hose they were using to squirt us with colored water!

  The race was a just for fun race which meant no timing. But we're pretty sure we finished it under 30 minutes.

 Patrick loved it! After the race he wanted to sign up for a timed 5k with no walkers so he could see how fast he can do it.

It was a little harder to clean off the powder than we anticipated. But we cleaned off our faces and arms before heading home. You better believe that it took a long time (many days) to clean all of the red/orange dye out of my ear!

More fun in Portland...

Here are more fun happenings from the summer.

 Jack got baptized!

 Patrick and I loved going to the Asian store. We loved trying new things, this was a soft roll filled with pork!

 Maddie liked helping me with our laundry. She liked to fold clothes and try them on.

 We went on some picnics at the park and always ate more dessert food than real food. 

But they had fun!

A favorite past time was to wrestle with Patrick after he came home from work. Yes sometimes it was topless wrestling.

 DQ lunch date on Saturday :)

Someone went through a phase where they only wanted to wear swimsuits.

 Snowcones with Grandma Flynn.

 Maddie liked to go on a "walk around the block" with me in our last few weeks there.

 Patrick bought us matching exercise shoes at Nike! I love them!

 Morning cartoons one Saturday. As you can see I had some competition if I tried to snuggle with Patrick.

 Patrick scored free passes to Bullwinkle's, a fun center, where we putt-putt golfed, rode bumper water boats, go carts, played laser tag, had free food, and had tons of fun!

 We got to play arcade games too.

 We hiked Multnomah Falls and Wakeenah Falls again.

 And I am happy to report that it went a lot better than the first time. It looks like all the running we did paid off and helped to get us in better shape. I also felt cool in my fancy spandex quick drying exercise apparel.

 Devin & Bridget invited us to go to Black Butte with them and we went. It was nice to have a week with each other where we could just relax and have fun before heading back to Provo for real life to start. One day we went to see the lava rock and all of the mountains at an observation place.

 The ranch had tons of bike paths which we biked, walked, and ran on. We also did our fair share of swimming and canoeing. 

 Patrick in front of Black Butte.

 We hiked Black Butte one day while we were there.

It was such a fun summer. We're so glad we are moving back after school's done in the springtime!

Intel...

Last Monday I had to give my final presentation for my internship. A 40 min presentation on what I did over the summer. There was a lot of pressure and hype for the this and beginning three weeks back it started negatively impacting my sleep. All this knowing that intern full-time recommendations were due a couple days before and so the presentation in all likelihood would never impact my offer.

Well, the presentation came, I rocked it, and it passed. Then I had to wait for Thursday to roll around to find out my offer. I was way nervous that Intel would come in dramatically lower than what I was expecting and it would be a deal breaker. Ashley was nervous too. I had asked around quite a bit and knew going into my exit interview that Intel does not negotiate with recent college grads. When I was finally told the offer I was on the one hand relieved it was within my range of acceptance but a little disappointed and thought I wasn't being valued for all my work experience. After a lengthy discussion with Intel about my offer and pushing on certain things and making sure I understood all alternatives, I accepted!!

I have gone back and forth on how I feel about the offer. The salary was only off by a few percent but it bugs a bit. In addition, my official title will be Senior Accountant. At this point many of you are saying, "yeah, what's new?" However, my aspirations have never included accountant and I didn't think I'd be in this role. That said, it should be an interesting year and a half. I will make the most of it and who know's maybe I will be an accountant for the rest of my life! Yikes! Anyway, Ashley and I are super, super excited!! We've loved Portland and Intel. It's been such a great summer. We are very excited to be settling down in the area after graduation in April!

This is me on my last day of work. I gave Ashley a tour of Intel's great facility despite the look of my 1980's cube.

Wednesday Roadtrip...

With Linda in town we took a drive! Sadly Patrick had to work and couldn't come along for the fun. First up we arrived at Tillamook were we took a tour, sampled cheese, ate lunch, and sampled their s'more ice cream. I felt lucky that this was my 2nd visit to Tillamook this summer.

Our drive continued to the coast.

We stopped at the smallest lighthouse I've ever seen!

 We even got to go inside!

 Maddie and Linda were racing!

 We saw the octopus tree.

 We got to play on the beach which was freezing.

 All of the kids got in the water a little. Colin accidentally fell in but loved it!

The older boys were out in the waves.

We had a great day trip!