We are moving!!

To billtessawynn

Lucky me

Husband & I, Mushroom Beach - Nusa Lembongan

After being married and talked to some friends about marriage life, I am very grateful that I am the lucky one to have a husband who give me freedom to be who I am, who love me for being me.
I talked to friends whose husband tell them what to do and what they shouldn't do.They should take care house, wear this kind of clothes, don't wear certain kind of clothes, should cook in certain ways, or very picky that it's hard to cook for them.


As for me, it's been a bliss to have a husband like Bill.
Easy going, a bit moody at times (hardly ever!), good eater, big helper, caring and loving, and importantly, he treated me equally.


We are partner in life. Some friends asked me "Who won more in your relationship?" 
Oh well, marriage is not a battle of winning and losing, instead, everything is what's best for our little family.
They thought we never fight. We've been together for almost 5 years, and yes, we do argue. Sometimes big time. Good thing we never argue for too long.


Also lucky me for having a great mother in law. She can be particular sometimes, and get on my nerves, but she is very kind hearted, and except her standard how cooking and cleaning has to be done in her house, she never tell me what to do and what I shouldn't do. And for her particular standard, I don't need to live with it once we have our own place (which we do now!!). 
Compared to friend's in-laws who can be evil-ish, and crazy nagging and bossy, I am lucky!


As for our family which still consist of the three of us for the time being (Muffin counts!), as much as I wanted little crying so badly, I also feel grateful for whatever we have right now. The opportunity to get to know each other better, to do our school work without baby in mind, to establish friendship and to learn and do more stuffs before little crying(s) is here. We both want to have children, we would love to see our 3/4 Chinese babies,and how Muffin will be a good big brother and play with the babies.


Lucky me

turbulence

My dear husband left for the States this afternoon. Me-Mom-Dad took him to the airport to send him off.

He texted me a few hours ago when he was transiting in Taipei, Taiwan, the flight was super scary. Crazy turbulence happened several times, it freaks him out (takes a lot of effort to freak him out)

I was scared for him, but happy he is still alive.

If we were together we might have holding hands and say that we love each other.

Hope the Taipei-Seattle flight will be ALL MUCH better.

I love husband, a lot

Our Indonesian Wedding, June 26th, 2011

June 26th, 2011, the date we've been waiting since last year, is our final wedding reception day.
We were very lucky as all the preparation has been done by my parents. Venue, food, salon, etc. We just need to dress up and show up with our biggest smile and enjoy the day.

The day started pretty late,My mom and I went to pick up Fiona (my best friend who came all the way from Malaysia with her fiance, Alvin, to be my bridesmaid) around 10.30am, then we head to May May Salon in Kelapa Gading Mal to get hair and make up done.

We made appointment to get the make up and hair do for party, a package which costs about $50/person. So there we go, getting our make up and hair done. Once my hair is done, I asked the person who did my hair to put a big white hair accessories which I will wear for the wedding. The manager of the salon saw it, and seems to be fuming. She start to take pictures of my hair piece (without my consent), and few minutes after that she talked to me and mom (who was waiting for fiona to get her hair done)
She said : "Excuse me, I show ur hair piece pic to my boss (through blackberry messenger), and my boss said that this counts as engagement make up, and thus the cost will be $250."
Me: "Are you serious, just because of this hair piece and it will be $250 instead of $50??"
"Yes, because its become different, you know. The make up is different, and you are counted as engagement make up."
"Which part of the make up is different, may I ask? My make up is totally the same with my mom and Fiona, and the only thing different is because I have this hair piece with me, and it's white. If it's not white, will you do the same to me?"
"Please don't put me in a bad position, my boss will yell at me if I didn't charge you with the engagement make up." ---> bad position my ass, she is the one who put herself in a bad position, because she has a big mouth and share my pics with her boss.
"So, the problem you boss is having is on this hair piece, right? This is what caused her to charge me extra $200 for 5 pieces of hair clip you used to attach this thing on my head, right?"
"Yes."
"Fine, then just take it off. I don't care that much. If this is the problem, you should just take it off. I am not going to pay extra $200 just to have it on my hair by you. But do it properly, I don't want you to ruin my hair do, because it is on the package already."

So, in the end I sat again and the person who did my hair took the hair piece off my hair, but I managed to ask for the hair pin to be brought home. He felt so bad, he kept on apologizing. I told him it's ok, as it was his manager craziness, not him.

I was really intended to make her more fuming (I was upset, but I wasn't in a bad mood), so after my mom paid the bill and everything, and she starts to walk away with Fiona, I walked to the manager (who is still fuming at me), and give her a big HUG and a pat on her shoulder. Reverse psychology, understand? Instead of yelling at her (which she expected me to do), I hugged her. So she can't yell at me (I hugged her for god sake!), but yet more angry inside! She can't rule my world with her anger, instead I ruled her, with my hugs.

My dad picked us up, then we all went to the apartment where Bill and Alvin (and the photographers) are waiting. The photographers are from Latreia photography, they are nice and fun people. We hang out for a while, before I put on my dress.

The dress was made a year ago, based on a model I found on a magazine, and I really loved. I made it at Melia Emmy, in Jakarta. And I only have 2 fittings on the dress when it was still really plain. I was very pleased with the end result. It was really simple yet very beautiful.

With my hand bouquet

I put on the hair piece on my own, but I also asked my cousins to bring some more of hairpins just in case I will need more (which I did, she put so much more to keep it stay in place). Some pictures are taken, then we went to the reception place, by that time (around 5pm), I was so tired and got a little bit cranky (very obvious)

some pics and us at the entrance door :p

We did some general rehearsal, and guests are start coming, and the wedding started. The wedding entrance song was Canon in D, as our original song on CD (Shower the People by James Taylor) can't be played (sad). We did all the process (cut the cake, wedding kiss, wedding toast), stand on the stage to shake hand with the guests, which caused me almost have a face cramp from too much smiling.
I was so excited because a lot of my friends are coming. I talked with people, took some pictures, and basically had a great time. Bill seems to have a great time as well.

We had a lot of fun, and in the end I was so tired, I just sat on the floor.

The wedding toast

All photos are courtesy of LATREIA photography.

Back at home

This trip to Indonesia is the 1st trip for Bill & I to be on the plane for such a longg time. It took us 17 hours on airplane, plus 4 hrs transit to get to Indonesia. We were lucky that the middle seat in between us was empty, which really help us to get a good sleep (space is a big deal when u fly that long).



Husband & I, Sea-Tac Airport

I also bought my 1st 42" ugly doll, which I brought to the plane as my pillow. That was comfortable, not to mention cute! He will be the pillow for our couch, as I always wanted since few years back.

Ugly looks funny here, as if I strangle him to death 
Purse filled with the essentials
My dad wait for us in the airport. The whole process with the immigration for Bill went smoothly, only took a little bit long to wAit for our luggage (we brought 4 big bags!)
The drive home was fine, and it was good to be home. Greeted by my mom, met my nephew for the 1st time (he is pretty cute), ate my mom delicious home made food, and Bill got massage right away.

Happy!

Yay!

Remember my blog post here ?
Well, yesterday we found out that we get the house !!!
Means we will sign the contract this Sunday, and officially moving out by the time we came back from Indonesia!!!

We were so happy, even though we will have lots of expenses through the summer (buying furnitures and all).

Pictures coming up on Sunday (hopefully)

Thank you for all the good luck wishes !

Still waiting....

We are still waiting for a phone call from the landlord.
We texted him yesterday, asking if he needs some more paper work.
He said he will get in touch with us this week.
So yeah, we are still waiting.
And every once in a while, we say to each other "I hope we will get the place."

We are so in love with the place.
We even start to decorate the place in our imagination (even though Bill restrain the thought better than me)

We are still crossing our fingers.

Wish us luck.

HOPE

I am crossing my fingers....
We looked into a Mother in Law suite near Columbia City yesterday, and we BOTH fall in love with the place. We have agreed on his terms which will have us to move next week, and have the house empty for at least a month when we are back in Indonesia (means 1 month of rent is wasted), and we gave the owner some cash so he could run a credit check on us.
So it's really depends on him. Whether he will choose us or not.

It was a really small place, being only 650sq foot (60 meter square), but oh its so cozy!
The grassed yard are fully fenced, so it is really dog friendly, and I can't wait to see Muffin laying around in the sun while we do our homework.
It has two beds to plant vegetables so we can try to grow our own veggies.
I imagine us having a bbq party in this yard.

The wall was yellow, with a green window trim, and a red entrance door (I always wanted a red door!!)
Once inside, it is the living room, pretty small, probably the size of my bedroom in Indonesia, with washer and dryer stacked in a little closet behind the opened door. The living room was really bright in the sunny day, having windows on both sides of the wall.

From the living room you could walk to the kitchen, really small, which will make the place really crowded if there were more than two people at the same time.But it was really bright as there is a window to let the sunshine came in. Kitchen appliances are all white, which is a smart choice for a little space, to make the room looks bigger. Refrigerator, dishwasher, and 4 burner electric stove and oven, and a microwave as well. The kitchen cabinets are pretty and the cabinet door was made by a see-through glass.

Bathroom door and bedroom door are all connected to the kitchen.

It was a cute little bathroom, but bigger than anything we ever had in China, with white sink, toilet and bathtub.

Bedroom was decent size, it will fit a queen size bed, and hopefully a little night stand. It has a build in closet on the wall and big window as well.

Yesterday I started browsing into IKEA (cheap furniture for students like us), and looking for little dining table, rugs, kitchen utensils. Looked into Costco for pots and pans ($150 for a decent set of pots and pans...not too bad at all).

Right now I have my hope flying up really high (which I really shouldn't, what if the owner decided not to rent it to us??) for the possibility of having our own nest next weekend.

Keep your finger crossed for us !!!

moving out

Bill and I are planning to move out and rent a 1 bedroom place (can be apartment, MIL suite, etc).
I crossed my fingers. I hope it will happen.
I am excited !
Our own place where we can decorate however we want it !!!

Wish us luck!

some life updates !

1. Bill bought a 1998 Nissan Pathfinder to be our recreational car. The car needs a bit of work, and new sets of tires, and some seat cover. But it is in a really good condition. We took it to the trail a couple weeks ago, and the 4WD really makes a different. So far muffin seems to hate to sit in the back of the car. Hopefully he'll get used to it soon. Below is a picture of Muffin in the back of our Hyundai. 

We must have just got back from a hike, as his paws are all dirty.

2. Bill and I tried to go out for a little hike every weekend, just to get out of the house, and being close with the nature. Needless to say that is is an exercise we both need after a long week of school. Below are some pictures:

Where we were two weeks ago during a rainy day.

 Bill and I

 Muffin after the hike. It was really wet and muddy. He got a bath once we got home.

3. The weather is friendlier now. In fact, yesterday we finally hit 20C for the first time in 2011, and probably since the last November ! Feels great to feel warm in the sun again. That also means that we are outside more often, and I can get to wear dress again. Last week I wear this dress made by my mom to our nephew's little league baseball game.

I looked pregnant here (I wish!)

Bill's teeth are so perfect, mine looks like a hamster :p

Muffin and I enjoying some sunshine at a school where we live.

4. I registered for Summer quarter where I will take Psych200 class online while I'm back in Indonesia (don't even want to think how I could balance holiday and crammed 5 credit classes in 7 weeks !). This is the last class I have to take as the pre-requisites to apply for nursing school. I am hoping to apply in Fall. 

On the fall quarter, I am taking Intercultural communication with Morgan, and Microbiology with Andrew, Randi and Morgan. These are classes I needed to take before I can graduate from the nursing school. I took it in advance, so I won't need to worry about it when I am on the nursing school (I still have nutrition to take as well !)

5. I want it so bad sometimes my heart ache. But it is what it is.

6. More than anything else, Bill and I are really looking forward to go to Indonesia, and enjoy our holiday! Good food, nice-hot weather, beaches, sunshine ! Too bad Muffin won't be there with us. And I am not looking forward to adjusting to the coldness of Seattle once I got back. It's funny how right now I feel that 20C is warm enough for me to wear a short sleeve clothes, and summer will be hotter than now. But if you just got back from Indonesia, where it is 30C every day and night, Seattle is still a little bit chilly.

7. I never been happier and more comfortable for being me as I am right now.

Good Attitude

I have some thinking a few days ago.

I shared to Bill when we went out for a walk.

I've been thinking that everything has come in place so perfectly, to make me like living in Seattle.

Moving is a big thing, and when you move to a different country for the rest of your life, and being away from your comfort zone, it is not easy.

But ever since I came here, everything was just so nice.

Once I got here we traveled to San Fransisco, 

I started school, and made some really good friends, and actually got decent grades,

It was snowing during thanksgiving, and more in December and January.

Bill took me snowboarding, and I actually LIKE it,

I discovered quilting, and love it, and supplies are easy to get here.

I took the Nursing Assistant class, and practice in nursing home and hospital, and enjoyed it,

Went snowshoeing and also LIKE it,

Fabulous friends and study group in school,

Passed driver's license test and NAC state certification test,

etc.

It's not that I never had a bad times, because I do have some bad times, and some bad mood, and some temper tantrum, and some hard times.

But somehow good things came together, and makes me love living here even more.

After I share all these, Bill said: "Well, it's also because you have a good attitude."

"What do you mean by attitude?"

"You are open minded and eager to try everything."

"But I sulked a lot of times too."

"Yes, but it's okay, you still have a good attitude."

I gave his words a thought, and find it true.

Good attitude is necessary.

Being open minded and positive thinking is important.

If you feel good about something, it is easy to make things works.

Great life starts with good attitude.

Life is Great !

1st quilt

For Bill's birthday, I made him a quilt, and my mission is to create a beautiful meaningful quilt, which have a little bit a story behind every fabric pattern.

I don't know much about cutting fabric, and even less on sewing on fleece fabric (they're slippery !)
And I am so glad there is a backing behind the fleece, or else, that quilt will be a piece of shame (considering how ugly and it's not straight !!)

My friend Michelle, who is the owner of quilt finishing business, Finishing Fairies, helped me to square my quilt, put batting on it, sew the backing, put the quilt on her amazing long arm machine, and put the front binding together, and she must have an amazing skill, because the quilt turn out to be REALLY PRETTY !!
If you are in the radius of 30 miles from Seattle area, and have a quilt to finish, contact her, you will NEVER be disappointed.

I finished the binding in a few nights, and managed to give Bill his birthday quilt even though it was 1 week late.

Pictures of the quilt :

The quilt on Bill's old bed (front)

Cute baby pattern for the back

birthday quilt :)

His school

his favourite baseball team 

Muffin (too bad I can't find white dog)

International traveler, spend lots of time in airplane 

He introduced me to pirate booty 

He asked me to make him quilt with cars and trucks, I will make the serious one, someday !

He used to call me little baby monkey

He like the quilt, though I am the regular user.

I cant wait to have some extra time to sew, I really want to make a  real quilt ! 

or to sew again.

January almost ended !!

Life has been so busy for Bill and me.
We both are in school again for Winter quarter, and my schedule has been so crazy !
I practically do nothing but Study, sleep and commuting.

I woke up at 5am almost every morning, and be in class from 130-1030, Mon-Fri, and another class from 5-9pm 3 days a week, and on top of it, I have class on Sat from 11.45-4 pm.
I study or do homework in between classes with Michelle, and usually crashed when I got home.

But its fun.
I managed to get Bill's birthday quilt done, I got drivers license and Green card now.

Some pictures from January :

The little hike we did in the beginning of the month

Birthday quilt

School life :

I got clinical schedule for Feb 20-23rd, together with Michelle at the Nursing home, from 145-1030pm (plus school like normal in the morning !!!)

Busy but FUN !

2010 Christmas Day

We had a wonderful Christmas, by eating hotpot, open Christmas presents and went to Church.

I got a blanket, pink stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, gait belt, red sweater, all from mom and an 8GB IPOD touch 4th generation from Bill !!!

I was really happy :)

Bill love the LL Bean sweater I got for him, Grant loves his presents, and so does mom, Sarah and Dennis.

We all had a great time.

Bill and I managed to went to 9pm mass at HFK Church. The choir was really beautiful and the handbell choir was just great.

It was a wonderful Christmas, and we can't wait till we get to celebrate Christmas with our kids.

Snowboarding trip

We went to Bend, OR from Dec 17-19, for a snowboarding get away.
It will be my 1st try on snowboarding, and I'm excited.

I borrowed my mom in law's snow bib, and got it coated with some water repellent, and Bill waxed his board, packed our bags, and we're ready to hit the road.

It took us 6.5 hours to get to our destination, and it was a pleasant drive with lots of tress and beautiful view.
We arrived in late afternoon, then we went to downtown, and take a little walk and eat dinner, back to hotel, take shower and get an early sleep.

We woke up early on the next day, getting ready to go, and as we got into the shuttle bus stop, we find out the earliest bus is for employee only.
So we went back, bill chained the tires because the road was so snowy.
Long story short, we hop on the next bus, and take the 30 mins ride to Mt Bachelor.

Once we arrived, we immediately rent the shoes and board for me, and got me registered for the the 2hrs lesson.
I was excited. Man the boots were heavy ! and makes me walk kinda funny.

Me and 3 other girls took the lesson with our coach, Alex.
It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.
We take the lift to go up the hill, and going down was fun !
I fell a lot on my butt in the snow, and I fell real hard a couple of times till I feel dizzy for a bit (my neck still hurts till now), but I kept on going, and it's all paid off.
I know how to snowboard in the end of the day.

I'm done at around 2.45. I was so tired.
The way back to the park & ride was miserable, because I was so dizzy and nauseous, and I just crashed into bed after soak my body in hot tub.

Driving home the next day was scary,
the road is extra snowy (more snow fall in the night time), and we have to drive real slow, and we saw tons of car got spun all the way to the side of the road and need to be towed.

All in all, it was a nice gate away.
We had so much fun, and I definitely will go snowboarding again !

below is some pictures from the trip :

Worst visibility ever

Now Christmas is coming soon.

Happy holiday !!!

27 y.o with family and friends !

I woke up this morning because my phone was vibrating, I open my eyes a little bit, and I saw that the name starts with Ma....
So I thought, Maria !

So I talked, and for a while I kept on saying "Thanx, Mar, how's Lionel, etc", then....she said "I was sleeping, but I asked papa to wake me up, because I want to call you"
It's my MAMA on the phone !!! LOL
And I thought it was Maria !! "很笨， 不认识自己的妈的声音“ (-_-")

And this is what happened on the 1st day of 27 y.o :

Dimsum brunch at Noble Court, Bellevue,

Got Christmas Tree at Lowe's

Dinner with super friends at Julia's Kitchen, Indonesian Restaurant :

Andrew

Barry

Michelle

Morgan

And of course, Husband !!

Nasi Kuning :)

A wish before I blew the candle and when I open my presents,

I got THESE :

Brother sewing machine : Bill  --> be creative, and make something !

Scarf, gloves & Ginger Bread : Morgan --> It's winter, so stay warm~

Staples, Sewing stuffs, Graph book, pink pencil & staples, Purse pattern + fabric : Michelle --> creativity + study hard !

The Merck Manual of Medical Information book : Andrew --> thoughtful book to learn tons of things, medical related

The Complete Human Body : Zelah --> know your body parts, a start before A&P

Must love these people, because they're so nice to me.

I am the luckiest person to be surrounded by them.

I had a great day.

Papa + mama called, tons of birthday wishes, and even a blog post by Edison

And super awesome family and friends.

THANK YOU !!!