John's Updates

7.1 From FBLA Nationals to Wenatchee
So on the first week of Janel's break, she flew out to Atlanta for a National competition. One of her Future Business Leader of America (FBLA) students not only made it to Nationals, but came home winning 10th place in his event! As she was gone, her dad and brother were on a fishing trip in Alaska. So, when she arrived back, he arrived back the next day - she picked him up and drove to Wenatchee so she could attend one of her masters courses. She had this 5 hour class again on Wednesday the 16th - in which she came back in time to take care of Sabrina and then one more time on the 29th along with a dental appointment.
7.2 Tim Visits
With my new contract job being official, I was having a much lighter week. A part of me was a little bummed about the full-time role I was offered but fell through (on their end budget issues) in the offering stage, but this role still seems rather good too. WSU buddy Tim came out, arriving a little after Janel left for Wenatchee, crashed for the night and hung out playing games, talking, and we ate some hefty meals - including the Chinese buffet next to Northgate mall.
7.3 - 7.5 Wenatchee 4th
On Thursday evening Kristen drove Summer and I to Wenatchee (Adam was joining us on Friday, Janel was already there helping her dad with the water pump and an issue that came up with his work hand). Rocking out to TV Theme song trivia and 80's tunes on the Zune - we arrived in no time - but terrified Summer. Our parents had arrived earlier that afternoon and they had all just finished dinner. Friday started off with volleyball/badminton net and horseshoe pit setup, and people trickled in and out. Uncle Tom & Diane and Jerry came too! Adam arrived with our cousin Rachel who recently graduated from High School in Coupeville. This year held a lot more aerials than expected. Jason actually was out less this time, watching Sabrina a bit more inside. Jake and Lonni who recently moved to Wenatchee, came out to the event as well. Later in the night, Scott and Stacy stopped by (Scott had just proposed the night before). My parents left the next morning for a trip to San Francisco for the week. Tom & Jerry came back in the morning for breakfast before leaving, and we went over to visit Janel's grandmother before leaving that Saturday.
On Sunday morning we met up with Aunt Gina, Rex, Brandon, Melanie and Tyler along with the siblings and Violet for a breakfast at iHop in Redmond. Melanie had arrived in town for the week, and we all ended up roaming around Pike Place that afternoon before they parted to Spokane. We had also pickec up the wii fit game earlier that day.
7.7 New Contract at Microsoft
I began my new role as Marketing Manager for the NSI Group with the benefit of having a trainer for two weeks! For Ryan's going away party (on the 23rd) we had lunch at Maggiano's and went over to another contractor's (Jon's) house for leftovers...Ryan had to ride Jon's special Lotus (only 6 in the US), which eventually instead of poker, evolved into the card game Poop on your neighbor. The job placed me back in Lincoln Square, Bellevue, three floors below my last gig. For a few days I was reconnecting with people I worked with. Most of my team is not located in the area, so I work on the phone a lot more...which might shift my commute time to be a whole lot easier.
7.11 Dinner with the Smiths & LeMieuxs
On Friday we visited with Jason and Caroline who took me out to Claim Jumpers for my birthday meal, they had generaously surprised me with a wii carier and a home-depot gift card. The next day we stopped in to see how well Adam and Summer were doing at XSV. They volunteered to help Uncle Mike out by working in the store while they took a wekend off. Jason, Caroline and Sabrina cmae by to try some wine too, and we met up with Summers parents and some of her extended family and friends. On Sunday afternoon we got a glimpse of where Adam and Summer might live and we picked up an ice cream cake. night, Gina & Rex came through with Melanie and Tyler and we all had an elaborate rib dinner and Tyler and I shared candle birthday cake duty. Some highlights had to be when Tyler was shouting random things out, and said loudly that I had a snake in my pants, or when everyone was singing the birthday song and Kristen said Adam instead of ahem...
7.14 Birthday Dinner
Monday night after work my parents came back from their trip and we all went to the Olive Garden for my birthday dinner. We came home and they spoiled me rotten with gifts - Zune cradle and cords for plugging into stereo, rechargable batteries and charger for Wii controllers, a ladder for the new house and a shower radio bug. Later on when we met up with Duane and Susie whom also spoiled me with the third season of the Muppet Show DVD.
7.16 Amend
7.17 Sibling Night
The first July sibling night Kristen Vi were not able to attend, and we all dined on Pizza. On the 24th we consumed some Taco Soup and played a card game. On the 31st we all went to the China Buffet (Tim and I had checked out earlier). No movies or new TV shows were aired during those evening get-togethers.
7.18 Dark Knight 7.25 X-Files
This month I also went to the movies. The Dark Knight was great, the line was crazy, but I had pre-purchased tickets. I liked it far better than the first one a few years back - and please yoi can't compare Jokers. Its like comparing 90's vs 60's version, waste of time. The X-Files wasn't as expected, but was great to know what happens with the two characters - it did step it up in ways the told the story, but what has been unacceptable in TV, is normal on big screen, and the science wasn't all that fleshed out (no pun intended) in this as it could have been. The mummy 3 looks tempting...but I think I may hold that off for a rental.
7.19 Dorthea turns 103
We traveled up to Oak Harbor to visit and celebrate Dortheas birthday, visiting with Dave, Karen and Tucker too. That Sunday, in honor of Janel's mother, we went out for a big mac (a first for all of us).
7.26 - 7.27 Beer Reunion
We carpooled with Jason, Caroline and Sabrina Saturday morning and hung out with family through midnight, and back fro breakfast the next day. This year, it was actually cooler outsside at the fairground than it was inside! We visited with Janel's grandma before heading abck home.
Week of the Blur
Then Monday Janel and I did a final walk through, signed an encyclopedia of papers, and got the keys to our first home that friday. My parents were in town and unfortuantly we were unable to get the keys in time to just meet there and give them the tour. Summer reluctantly missed out as she had a camping trip she was a part of. They had stopped by it anyway on their way up (during the blue angels show) and looked at it from the outside. Meeting up with Adam, Kristen and Violet, we all ate at Red Robin for dinner - and my parents gave us beautifully hand knitted placemats for our anniversary (and a little extra). They had just spent the week at the Long Beach Condo, and headed out shortly after dinner. Everyone else stuck around to play the card game Poop on Your Neighbor, and then we spent another two hours dancing and shouting oldies song lyrics (yes Vi did too).

And that takes you through brief look at July!