by jltitus on July 5, 2009
First let me say, I LOVE our neighborhood. Yesterday we had our fourth cul-de-sac 4th of July celebration. It’s so much fun and yet different every year. This year we had another BBQ and potluck. There we so many good things to eat with the burgers and hot dogs. I love that we do this every year. This year there was potato salad, green salad, pasta, watermelon, coleslaw, and more.
After we had dinner we all cleaned up a bit and then the fireworks began. We always say at the end of every year we’re going to get less fireworks because it seems like we do so many. This year was no exception. Eric did a great job of lighting the fireworks and deciding which ones we should lite next. Our new neighbors daughter, Fatima, was so cute. She made another little friend, Emma. The two girls sat together hugging, cheering, and clapping at every firework display. They were so adorable. I think Sammy and Pla got pictures this year. I was so busy getting things ready that I forgot to charge my camera.
After we celebrate the 4th each year I can’t help but thinking how much I really love my neighbors and neighborhood. You know in this day and age it’s not often that you live somewhere that you know all your neighbors, that you like them, and that you do things together. We’re a great neighborhood. It’s like a slice of small town America… but international at the same time. In our small cul-de-sac we’ve got people from India, Africa, Japan, Thailand, and America. I think it’s unique and rare… and I like it.
Thanks everyon for another great party!
Tagged as:
4th of July,
neighborhood
by jltitus on January 1, 2007
Happy New Year to you all!!!
Well the last year has had it’s ups and downs but turned out quite well. I can’t believe we’re in 2007 already. Last night Eric and I had a quiet New Years celebration last night. Eric had to work. While he was working I made us a great turkey, stuffing, potatoes, etc dinner. It was AWESOME!!! Eric and i love those sorts of dinners but don’t get left overs because we haven’t had either Thanksgiving or Christmas at our house for left overs. SO, we had a dinner last night. It was super!! We ate, had wine, and then at midnight toasted the new year.
With the new year comes a few resolutions!!
1) Jona needs a job 
yeah! it’s time
2) Eat healthier (no carb w/o a protein)
3) Workout at the gym more (3-4 times a week) Need to think of some “reward” for meeting this one each week.
Other than that, not a lot to put on my list. I’m pretty happy with things. I do have a few things planned for this year but they’re not like a resolution, more like goals.
- Get my business license before the 14th of February
- Scan all pictures from mom and grandma as TIFF’s and burn for family
- Start my “book of me” scrapbook
- Read more
Oh, before I forget, in an effort of post more about the books I’ve been reading and what I thought of them I’ve made another LJ I’ve posted all the books I’ve read for a while but haven’t put all my comments on them. I did this because when I make my business “live” the CreativeWebsights link will just have the business there, nothing else.
OK, I’m rambling… Happy New Year to you all!
Tagged as:
resolutions
by jltitus on December 26, 2006
I love Christmas for a lot of reasons. I think the biggest reason is that I love being with family, celebrating time together, spending quality time together, catching up and just being together. This year was no different. I was a little worried because Eric had to work right before Christmas Eve and then the day after Christmas which meant we’d have a short visit but everything worked out.
Christmas eve was spent with Eric family. We ate a ton of food, put puzzles together and just spent time together. and I had dueling laptops going for quite a while and at the end of the evening we took a little time to open a few presents. it was a nice night. I had the kids open their PJ’s so they could wear them. They both looked so cute.
Christmas morning we all got up and had a wonderful Christmas breakfast of blueberry pancakes, and bacon. yum…. made a great breakfast for us all. and and Miles and Beth were nice enough to come over a littler early so we could all have breakfast together and then open gifts. Ordinarily it wouldn’t have been an issue but we needed to leave by 11am to make it to yakima for my mom’s family Christmas. It was so much fun opening gifts but watching the kids open and play with theirs was the best. They are both really growing up to be big kids.
The Nathlich Family
I really did have a great time at the Titus house for Christmas but I have to say, going to Yakima and having a HUGE Christmas with my mom, brother, grandma, aunts, uncles, cousins and their kids was the best. I can’t even remember the last time we were all together like that. It was great too because I was able to get a picture of everyone before any of us left. It really made me appreciate my family and appreciate the big Christmases we used to have. I love having a ton of people for the holidays. I had a great time touching base with my cousins and just being together.
All in all this year was great. The weather cooperated, we got to be with family, spent time with my family that I haven’t seen for quite a while, and had great food.
Next year… Christmas at our house!!! Can’t wait!!
Tagged as:
family,
nathlich_family,
titus_family
by jltitus on September 11, 2006
Happy Anniversary to us! Happy Anniversary to US! Hard to believe that two years ago I married the best person in the whole world. I can’t believe Eric and I are celebrating our 2nd anniversary already. Man I wish I was in Oregon right now (note: I’m in Boston for work). So since I’m not at home to say this I guess I’ll write it hear and share with the world.
ERIC……I LOVE YOU!!! Happy Anniversary! Wish you were here J
Tagged as:
eric
by jltitus on July 4, 2006
Tonight was amazing, it was everything I’d hoped and more. All the neighbors came together and we had the most amazing BBQ. Everyone came but people from one house. I thought that was pretty good. It was great to meet all my neighbors after saying “hi” and waving for so long. We all realized that of the 8 houses in the Cul-de-sac, five of us work for Intel. We got to meet the babies in the neighborhood too. The whole night was just terrific. Eric did a wonderful job being the grill master. Everyone brought a dish or two for the potluck. We had more food than we knew what to do with. All of us ate very well.
Lara, the girl in this picture was the first to start the fireworks party. He dad, Brian had bought some fireworks for her to shoot off and do. She started with a sparkler and was a little nervous about holding it and swinging it around. Next it was the popits (you throw them on the ground and they make a snap or pop sound). Lara was nervous with those two but it wasn’t long and she was grabbing handfuls of them and throwing them as hard as she could. It was cute and funny at the same time because she’d throw them and not all of them would pop so, Subash walked around and stepped on them to pop them. We all joked with him that it looked like a new dance.
Later in the evening, when it got dark, Sammy and Pla broke out their Costco sized box of fireworks and started the show. Between Sammy, Pla, Eric and Brian they had two,three and at one point four going at the same time. It was a great night. Everyone said they had a good time and were glad I set it up… next up, and end of summer party after we’re back from Boston.
Click the picture for the rest of the pictures, there are some wonderful fireworks pictures. I’m getting better all the time with the new camera. I love DSLR!
Tagged as:
fireworks,
friends,
hillsboro,
neighborhood
by jltitus on July 4, 2006
I can’t wait, can’t wait, can’t wait. Today is the neighborhood BBQ. It should be a lot of fun. I love our neighbors and celebrating the 4th is going to be the best ever. I got my camera ready to go for the whole evening so look forward to pictures later. Yesterday I went to Costco and got all the things we needed for the BBQ. It was fun buying all the party things. I love parties. I love hosting them and having people over. The best part is as the host it’s my responsibility to make sure everyone is having a good time and making it as easy for everyone to enjoy the night. I think some people forget about that sort of thing but I think it’s important to be at ease but also make sure everyone is having a good time. There’s nothing worse than going to a party, dinner, etc where you’re not having fun or they can’t be bothered.
I’ve been excited about today so much I needed to distract myself from it all. I could have done laundry and things like that, things that need to be done but instead I’ve been scrapbooking. I LOVE scrapbooking! Today I’ve done several layouts and had a blast doing it. I love the creative process of it all. I love selecting the pictures, the paper and creating a unique and fun layout. I’ve noticed too that I have more simple layouts than I used to. It’s like ti do the paper and pictures first then I pick the embellishments to add a little “pizazz” to it all. Oh, crap! it’s 3pm. I got go put the pop in the cooler. I’ll post later with pictures and things.
Tagged as:
bbq,
hillsboro,
neighborhood
by jltitus on June 28, 2006
I’m going to make this quick because I should really be heading for bed right now. So about a week and a half ago I was outside talking to Brian, on of our neighbors, and his girlfriend about the 4th of July and what we all had planned. We got to talking and the idea of a 4th of July Celebration in the cul de sac developed. Nothing super impressive but a BBQ and potluck where all us neighbors in the cul de sac get to really meet each other, socialize and shoot fireworks. So we both talked about it and of course me being me, I said that I’d take care of letting everyone know and plan it. Well Monday I made these simple little invitations and took them around to each of the houses. The plan was to knock on the door and introduce myself and invite the family to a BBQ, unfortunately only one house had people answer the door so I just stuck the invitation in the door to the other houses. I was sort of bummed thinking a person would get the invitation, wonder who the heck was this Jona person as was the invitation legit. Well today it was confirmed. I got two emails from family that I’d left them invitations and they said they were coming. WOO HOO. That along with Eric and I, Brian and his girl friend and Sammy and Pla, the people that were home and are great friends, I’ve got 5 of the 8 houses confirmed for the celebration. I’m so excited. I think it’s going to be a great night.
OK. off to bed.
Tagged as:
hillsboro,
neighborhood,
party_plans
by jltitus on June 21, 2006
It’s 1:10p, Wednesday and I’m sitting here at work trying hard to deny the fact that I really am here at work and I need to do something and the iPod and “surfing” isn’t doing it, so what should I do? Well, I realized that I have yet to post about this last weekend and Father’s day. So here goes…..
So Friday Eric and I got to Ellensburg for the weekend. Jim, Eric’s grandpa, was there too and the plan for the weekend was that “the guys” would be golfing sometime on Saturday while Julie, my mother and I hang out and did, “woman things”. OK, so we get there on Friday and of course it was but a millisecond that Eric sat down with his grandpa and watched golf or some other sport. I had wanted to go around and take pictures of places I remembered from my childhood. Julie and I decided we’d drive around and do that since neither of us wanted to be subjected to sports. So we jumped in the car and headed out. Here’s the pictures:
1) This was my childhood home, just off Tamarack street and down the street from the park. Man, I loved that house and living there. I have many a story about that place and the adventures there, but I’ll save it for my “Book of Me” scrapbooking I’m determined to work on.
2) The “Castle House”, this was the coolest ever place when I was a kid. My parents used to drive by that place every day on the way to the sitters or school and I’d dream about the place and wonder…. What if..
3) Mt. Stewart Elementary School
I went to kindergarten and first grade at that school. My best friend was Barbara Mann. He dad was a cop in town, if I remember. It was there that I had my first crush, Jeff Rainey, wonder what ever happened to him.
4) Mrs. Shore’s house. Mrs. Shore was my babysitter. She lived just about a block from school. I had a blast there. I have such fond memories.
5) CWU indoor pool, the first one. It was here that I learned how to swim. Mrs. Purser was my teacher and man was she mean. I mean she’d throw us kids in the water and tell us to “swim”. Oh the stories. The best though was when she’d make us go off the high dive then jump in (she was LARGE) after us. When you hit the water you really swimming for your life!
Saturday the guys went golfing in Mattawa. Julie and I met my mom there and took off for Othello and “hanging out”. It was a nice day, especially the authentic Mexican food in “little Mexico”.
Sunday was the best day. Greg, Hollie and the kids came over for brunch and we all hung out for a while. Here are some great pictures of the day. It was so nice to spend some times with the whole family. After brunch we got to go to see Greg and Hollie’s new house. It’s super cool and bigger, which is a great plus for them. I can’t wait to see it when they’re all in and it feels like them. What an exciting time for them.
Tagged as:
beth,
bob_titus,
childhood,
ellensburg,
eric,
greg_titus,
hollie_butler,
jim_titus,
julie_titus,
miles,
places_I_remember
by jltitus on April 30, 2006
Yesterday was my birthday and it couldn’t have gone better. I had so much fun, I think I’m going to do that every year. SO what did I do? How was my day? Well, it all started when I was served breakfast in bed by the most handsome guy. I love my husband Eric, he’s so sweet. He made me breakfast in bed and coffee. It was such a treat to wake up and be made a wonderful breakfast. He’s the omelet king. I could get used to that sort of treatment every day.
After breakfast it was off to shower and get dressed for the day. Eric had to work so I planned a “girls day” with two of my best friends here in Portland, oh, and they just happen to work at Intel in the same group I do . I headed to Julie’s and then we went to Natalie’s, picked her up then we were off for a three hour drive to Seattle and Ikea. I’ll be so glad when they get the one built here next year. I love that place and can’t get enough of it. We all armed ourselves with our shopping lists and a cart of each one of us and descended with vigor on Ikea. I think within the first hour all of our carts were pretty full. We had to take a break about halfway and get Swedish meatball lunches so we could make it through the rest of the place. In total I think we were in and out in three hours, which is pretty good for all of us, of course we didn’t get any furniture this time. After Ikea it was Cost Plus and then the South Center mall. Natalie had a funeral she had to go to in the next week or so and she wanted to get some clothes so we helped her find the perfect skirt and top. It was fun, brought back memories of high school where we’d get together and go shopping for the day. We even hit Bath and Body Works. I love that store and always find things I like there. This time I found some coca lotion and scrub and this comfy robe. I sort of wanted to get it all but then the realist entered my head and I couldn’t help thinking, “You don’t NEED this, yeah it’s nice but you don’t NEED this and with Eric’s school not yet determined, do you really think you should buy this?” Then I thought about what Eric had said before I left, “You go and have fun, you know the budget amount and don’t feel bad if you spend that. You need to go have a fun day!” SO I broke down and bought the fun girly things. It was a hard thing to do but it was sort of next to have a bag of splurged on things.
After shopping we went to Claim Jumper for dinner. I love that place. The servings are HUGE and the food is GREAT. We had to wait for more than an hour to sit but once we did we ate like kings. It was such a fun ending to a great day. After dinner we hoped in the car and drove back to Portland. BY the time I got home is was something like 1am Sunday morning. I couldn’t believe that we were gone that long.
AWESOME DAY!!!!
Tagged as:
ikea,
julie_tyus,
natalie,
seattle,
shooping
by jltitus on April 9, 2006
A very BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Eric… Happy 31st. Eric turned 31 today and I have my birthday later in the month. Woo Hoo. I’m super excited for May though because my mom and Eric’s parents are coming down for a weekend and we’re going wine touring and out for a wonderful dinner. It’s going to be so nice to do adult things together. I love wine and tasting and having my family together is the best present ever for both of us. Woo Hoo… Just four more weeks for the tour.
Tagged as:
eric
