Hangin' With the Coopers

I have known my friends Amy and Forrest Cooper, for about two years now. They are both extremely talented artists. They recently opened a photography studio here in downtown Shelton. Check it out! Cooperstudios.net My favorite thing about both Amy and Forrest is that they are always laughing. They are fun people!

Cooper Studios was hired to shoot the last two dances at Shelton High School, and Amy asked me to help out. Of course I was willing. My old high school on prom night, oh it brings back memories.

Here we are Saturday night at the Jr. prom. These are test pics (aka goof off pics) that we shot.





And these pics were from the tolo held in February.

Could This Be the One?

I just may have found an organization that I can volunteer with. My friend Debi has a friend who has served several missions with this group and was able to provide info for me. I am excited to fill out the application. There is even a box to check next to Registered Dental Hygienist so that means for sure no we-don't-need-hygienists rejection letter. Yay for me! I already have my heart set on the where and when, but I am not going to share that until a) I apply and b) the for-sures are in place.

The only downfall is that it is pretty unlikely (ok, very unlikely) that Erin and I will be able to serve together. While I am disappointed in that...It's ok. Traveling by myself always makes me feel like a big girl.

Updates to come!

The View From My Kitchen Sink

I have been so slack with my blogging I decided to bust out two in one day.

About a year and a half ago I attended a photography workshop. We had a didactic session in the morning and then a practical session in the afternoon which included a photo shoot. We were to choose a theme for our photographs, then we presented two photos for critique by our classmates based on what we'd learned earlier in the day. Part of what we were "graded" on was whether or not our pictures had a clearly defined subject. I failed miserably at this part. The humiliation only stung for a second, but I quickly learned that that was my weakness and I have never forgotten it. In fact, I think of it every time I press the shutter.

So why the big lead in? To me, this photo doesn't have a clearly defined subject. Some branches, some flowers, some grass, my street. So what?


The subject is the tulips in my neighbor's yard. Every evening, after dinner, I stand at the kitchen sink doing the dishes and this is my view. And every time my mind ends up with the same thought: Their flowers are so pretty...

Tonight I decided to photograph and share with all of you the scene that I see every time I look out my kitchen window. No clearly defined subject, but still very pretty.

From a Blue Chicken?

Yes, that's right. I haven't blogged for eleven days and now I am talking about...

Eggs.

We have a patient at my office that brings us farm fresh, organic eggs every few weeks. It's great. I opened the carton this morning to find this beautiful blue one. For a brief moment in time I felt like Martha Stewart.

Thanks Easter Bunny!

Note to self...

Make sure there are no chocolate eggs such as this:


-that accompany your clothing through the laundry, or else every article in the load will come out with little stains like this:

For Kaylee

Kaylee...I know today is a hard day for you, however, I thought if I could get a laugh outta ya in the morning, then at least the day wouldn't start out sad.

I found these pictures a few weeks ago while going through old photos at my mom's house. This must have been my sister's and my birthday party. Look how little we were! You are holding my sister's hand. I am not sure who the little girl on the far right is.



Look at me...so young and already thinking of the environment. I don't need a napkin. Save the trees. I'll just wipe my mouth on my dress.

...But I'm Not Smiling

I have wanted to serve a medical mission since I graduated from dental hygiene school. The timing has just never been right. We were first buying a house, trying to get pregnant for a year, being pregnant, having a baby, pregnant again, etc. Also, it has taken me all these years to get Dale warmed up to the idea of me heading off to a third world country with all of the uncertainties that come with that.

First I found a dentist from Seattle who, with his wife, lead dental teams once a year to Bolivia. How perfect for me. My friend Paddy had gone on several of his missions and was excited for me to share that experience. Well...long story short, that organization fell apart and along with it my hopes of practicing dentistry in Bolivia.

Then I stumbled across Operation Smile. This is an amazing organization that provides cleft palate surgeries for children in under served countries. I personally would not be part of the surgeries, of course, but on their website they make reference to their dental care missions, specifically, to Vietnam.

Even better, my awesome RN friend Erin wanted to serve with me. She would be part of the medical team, I'd be part of the dental team...We'd be the perfect duo of volunteers.

We recently got the ball rolling on the application process. I came home today for lunch and checked my email to find this (ok it's only the first 2 sentences, enough to get the picture):

Dear Jessica,



Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Operation Smile!



Unfortunately, dental hygienists are not currently part of our medical mission teams. We appreciate your interest in volunteering and assisting less fortunate patients.


I don't get it. Was I wrong to assume that dental care programs would include hygienists? Dentists don't like not having help...just ask one. I was sad. Sad. Sad. I wanted to write back but all that would have came out would be
...But...but...but...*sniff*...

Really, I don't get it. They have dental pictures and everything on their site. I can't imagine that they only accept dentists and not hygienists (or assistants). I have valuable skills to offer (don't they know??)!! I can even fill teeth and anesthetize! I can't even give my services away for free?? (Can you tell I am grumpy?)

I feel like I am back at square one. I am frusturated. Right now I just feel like putting this mission on the back burner, again. Then maybe someday I can make the stars line up just right and it will actually happen for me.

BTW...you may be tempted to comment and tell me to re-apply and specify a dental mission as opposed to a medical mission. Thought of that already. There is only one app for all volunteers.

Bloody Marys Aren't the Only Thing For Breakfast, Mel

I drive my friend, Melissa, crazy. She thinks I am rigid, anal-retentive, square -if you will. Who knows. She's probably right. So she leaves me this comment on my Cannon Beach post:

How fun! Where did you stay..it doesn't ring any bells with me?

As for the kissy picture, I'll let it slide since I've NEVER seen one of you guys before!

Glad you had a fun weekend Jess.

Oh, and is oatmeal all you ever get at breakfast anymore..I can see the remnants leftover in the bowl of the 2nd to last pic. Live a little woman!

Mel


Mel, I thought of you earlier this evening as I loaded the jumbo size Quaker oat container into my cart. We'd been out since Monday!!

While I was gone, Dale painted the kitchen floor:


Oh, and to answer your questions...

We stayed at the Courtyard. It's about 2 blocks down from your beach house. And the remnants in the bowl were GRANOLA. It's like oatmeal's rebellious little sister

Bella's Teeth Cleaning

Bella got her teeth cleaned today! She was actually wayyyyy overdue, 7 months to be exact. Who is that mother of hers??! Rowan was also scheduled for his cleaning, also, but we were running behind at the office and I ended up only having time to get Bella's done.

She did great and was not quite as leary of Dr. Bowers today. She actually let him take a look at her teeth this time.












Nice and clean with no cavities! Thank you fluoride!


Even at my day job I get to play photographer sometimes.


My audience








Rowan was so disappointed that he didn't get his teeth cleaned today. "My turn?" he asked about 50 times while Bella was in the chair. We let him get up into the chair while we waited for Dr. Bowers to come in.





Dr. Bowers confirmed...no cavities!

Our Weekend Getaway at Cannon Beach

For my birthday, Dale treated me to a weekend away with the location being up to me (within driving distance). After giving Yakima strong consideration (now don't laugh, I used to live there and miss it sometimes!) I decided Cannon Beach would be the perfect spot. We've been through there dozens of times. We stop there everytime we go down the Oregon coast, but we have never really spent much time there. It's a cute little coastal town full of fun restaurants, neat galleries, and trendy little shops.

We were way overdue for some "Dale and Jessie time" as we like to call it. It's easy for your marriage to get lost in the shuffle of life, work, kids, and craziness. It's important to remember the one who is at your side through thick and thin. You have to nurture that relationship and keep the love alive, right? I am married to the greatest man alive, and sometimes I forget just how much fun he is to be around. This weekend was just what we needed. We had a great time.

Dale took this shot of me at breakfast early Saturday morning.


It was so nice to just lay around without any responsibilities. We brought a bunch of movies with us.



One of the movies we watched was Marley & Me. I have been avoiding this movie because I read the book and, well, it's no mystery how it ends. I have never cried so much watching a movie! Good thing our room was well stocked with lots of Kleenex:


Gotta love the self-portraits!




Dale at dinner


Cute architecture


Our quaint little hotel


Saturday was beautiful and warm, which led to a beautiful sunset. We headed down to the beach to enjoy the time.



We were back to where we got engaged, almost 10 years ago. Awww......


"Should I put a kissy picture on my blog?" I asked Dale. He was all for it. Good. So if ya'll find this TMI, blame him.


There had been a wedding earlier in the day and the alter had been left up. I caught these people just enjoying the moment.

We stopped for breakfast on our way out of town this morning. Thank you, honey, for the great birthday present. I love you!