Grease

Last night, Marcel and I were lucky enough to be able to attend Grease in Portland's Keller Auditorium. I was invited because I am a part of Pacific's Alumni Association, everyone who graduates becomes a part of it, I didn't do anything special! I knew it was a "cultural" event which Marcel likes to have me do to open my world up to new things, yet it was one I was actually really excited for. Even with the group ticket prices, I couldn't afford to buy the tickets just because so we went for Marcel's birthday, which is on Sunday. I even treated him to dinner before at his place of choice: P.F. Changs. Little did we know, we'd be there for happy hour and get out with dinner for 2 and dessert for $20!

We had a great time, even if they did overplay Taylor Hicks' role in the whole thing! He did get to sing one of his new songs and we decided that it will make the playlist for our wedding, which is getting closer and closer. We can't wait ;)

At P.F. Chang's

The fountain outside the Keller

Grease is the word!

Before the show

My driver ;)

After the show waiting in the parking garage

Birthday Pictures #2

Because I have 735 pictures to go through I couldn't pick just 5 or 6, hence my second post of pictures!


Me and Marcel's footprints. One of mine is by each of his.

My first sand drawing of the day. The one on the other post was the last drawing I did...





My favorite wave picture of many that Marcel took. I have always enjoyed Seaside or Cannon Beach (the 2 beaches we frequent most) but I think I found a new favorite!






Marcel again holding the camera at weird angles, but again the weird angle made a picture we love most. I guess his ideas are pretty darn good (most of the time!)





On our way home we stopped at the Tillamook Cheese Factory. Its really quite boring, but they have really good free cheese samples for Marcel (fyi: MaryBeth doesn't eat cheese and that's one food I'm putting my foot down on trying 3 times) and the best ice cream.



I wanted to get in on taking pictures while the other was eating but it didn't work and this is what I got: a decent picture of my handsome boyfriend.



Again, I just have to say I had a great time on a birthday I wasn't terribly excited for. Thank you to all of you for the birthday wishes you sent my way.

Birthday Pictures

Before the pictures, I forgot to mention in the last post that Marcel is very proud of me after lunch today. I'm a very picky eater and somehow something came up about having to eat something 3 times before deciding if you like it or not. So, he decided that was our new rule, 3 bites of everything for MaryBeth. Today I had 3 bites of clam chowder, which I said I didn't like before the 3 bites, and still don't like. Also we ordered a sampler plate of the brewery's 7 beers because we are both afraid of ordering a normal size drink and then not liking it, and I tried each one. There were a few of them that I could tolerate but none that I really liked and I won't be trying beer again in the near future. But I still passed the 3 taste (or drink!) test and got many props from my absolutely loving boyfriend who spoiled me rotten this weekend!

Okay, now for the pictures!

After the sunrise, I practically ran back to the car because my feet were freezing. Marcel stayed behind to get a picture of me in the sun. It turned out beautifully if you ask me...





The sand dune. I don't think any of the pictures we took of it does it any justice for how hard it was. Oh well, we know what a stuggle we overcame together.

At the top of the dune, proud of each other for motivating the other to finish!

My "yucky" face. I wasn't happy with much of the beer, but tried anyway. Also, should let you know that Marcel took nearly 50 pictures of me eating lunch (and I didn't realize it for most of them) so this is the one I'm choosing to include. If he ever wanted to post, he could show you all those other pictures, but I'm not going to do that to myself.

My goofy boyfriend, but I still consider myself very lucky to get to call him mine :)

Marcel Drew + MaryBeth = FAEA
Forever And Ever Always

23rd Birthday at Pacific City

To celebrate my 23rd birthday--September 26 (yes, I'm the older one in the relationship!), me and Marcel headed down to Pacific City, the first beach I ever visited once at school in Oregon. We left Forest Grove late Friday night and made it there around 10pm--after a quick check to make sure we weren't lost. 8 hours later, yes I was up at 6am, we got up and drove to the beach to sit out and watch the sunrise. We sat facing the water so didn't see the sunrise but were still amazed by the changing scenery and God's creation with each minute we sat there.

The real "reason" for the trip was to climb the sand dune. I did it 4 years ago on my first trip to the beach, and remembered it being hard, but this time it was difficult. It was very good motivation to get my butt moving again :)

We had a great walk along the beach and writing in the sand and Marcel was a fantastic photographer. He always goes over board with pictures, but this time he even out did himself: 735 pictures and a handful of video clips. I'll update the post in the near future with photos, but because I have so many to go through it will take some time and we are headed out for one more birthday event--a movie date! I didn't have this blog on Marcel's birthday, but when he was growing up he had a birthday month (April) until his little brother was born (in the same month!) so he was demoted to half month, but since I was raised on only a birthDAY we compromised on 5 birthDAYs, so since Monday I have been able to use "but it's my birthday" whenever I feel like it.

I had a great time at the beach and overall had an amazing 23rd birthday. I wasn't very excited to turn 23 but for the almost 2 days that I have been 23 it has been perfect!

A teaser for the many more pictures to come!
Me and Marcel sitting on the beach during the sunrise, bundled up (I had 3 jackets on!) and enjoying each other's company...