Deschutes River Rafting

This summer presents a lot of "firsts" for me - another of which was white water rafting! For Michael's birthday, friends and family drove 2 hours to Maupin, Oregon for day on the Deschutes River. It was so much fun! I know I keep saying everything is "so much fun," but this was by far, my most favorite recreational activity this year :) Our guide Shion was totally awesome and prepared us accordingly through all the rapids and guided us to all the cheeky swimming holes. Some were a bit nervy and I got a few bumps and bruises here and there from some close calls, but it was so worth it! I can't wait to go again next summer!

There's a yellow school bus that took us to the river. Yea, just like back in the good old days...
Getting ready to jump in our first swim spot. Chi Chau is gutsy! She jumped in before the guide even said it was OK to!
Our party had 2 boats - the other boat was talking a lot of smack. We thought we'd teach them a lesson, but they still took us down :P That's Tinh hanging off the enemy's boat.

He looks like he's learned his lesson here :)
Another swimming hole. OMG, I can't believe I swallowed so much of that murky water.
It was a tiring but very eventful day!

La Tomatina food fight - Bunol, Spain

[Reuters]

Who's down to do this next year! Its on the last wednesday of every August since the mid 1940's. I think they created this festival just for my birthday! Mark your calenders!! Michael's bday next year to be held in Spain! [those yellow googles are pretty fierce]

Meet Carlton the Clam

This is my first time clamming ever! We had to wake up at the butt-crack of dawn just to drive an hour out to Tillamook and dig up these little suckers! At 6:30 AM, the beach was surprisingly packed. It was so much fun... and kinda' thrilling every time you got a big one :)

You have to dig deep and fast to get one of these big boys. Geoducks... yummm! Look at the baby crab hanging on for dear life!

Gourmet Dinner Club (GDC)

As an extended family, Michael's cousins, aunts, uncles and even family friends are extremely close and oftentimes, get together several times throughout a week just to eat and hang out together! So to make things more exciting over the next two months, they've come up with the Gourmet Dinner Club, whereby a different couple hosts a gourmet dinner party every week. Each couple has drawn a number to see which week they will be cooking and in order to participate, each duo will have to contribute $20 per week as they attend the dinner party. With eight couples participating, the pool of money will total $1280 and will be the ultimate prize for the couple with the best dinner at the end of the eight weeks! The meals will be judged and graded upon taste, presentation, and service.

Unfortunately, I missed the first week, which was hosted by Michael's aunt Di Thao and her hubby Chu Hung, and I heard they had an amazing spread in their backyard deck, complete with (but not limited to) patio umbrellas, daiquiris, named place settings, and banana bread pudding! As avid hosts, Di Thao and Chu Hung have set the bar for Gourmet Dinner Club.

For Week Two of GDC, Michael's cousins Chi Chau and her hubby Anh Minh presented us with yummy shrimp & crouton appetizers, Anh Minh's famously tender ribs, rice, and a unique cucumber salad (???) (sorry, Michael usually does these types of entries - he's better at describing food than I am :) ... complimented by a romantic spread of red roses, candles, and topped off with a lovely-looking flan and coffee (which was served in Kiera's kiddie tea set :)

Meanwhile, the kids had their own gourmet dinner and entertainment, consisting of popsicles in high heels.

Michael and I happen to be the eighth and last couple to host, so we've got a lot of expectations to meet by then, especially as the dinners keep getting more and more elaborate! The bar keeps getting higher and higher, but we're definitely up for the challenge :: fingers crossed ::

Uyen & Tinh's Wedding

Wedding season is here!!! UT's wedding was rowdy and very fun. There was a photo booth which people took advantage of :: ahem :: People got crunked. We all danced. Thang caught the garter again (I swear, if those two don't get married next year, I will be very surprised)!

August 8th

I know of at least four people within a 15 mile radius that have an August 8th birthday, so it only made sense that we head out on the town. But again, why is it every time I do go out, we always end up at Barracudas???

Michael: "Hey Thang, you wanna go meet some chics?"

Thang: Hmmmm - I'm not listening, I'm not listening...

We also ran into Jill's bachelorette party that night!

And each time I go to Barracudas with them, we always end up taking home city property :)

Lost Lake

Some of Michael's friends were already out at Lost Lake and invited us to come meet them for a night. I hadn't been camping in nearly 10 years!!! And I wasn't sure it was my kind of thing, but I figured if Charlie can camp, so can I :) Lost Lake in Hood River was awesome. I felt like I was in a kid's movie about summer camp! We did a bit of rafting, kayaking (well, I didn't do any kayaking - I just sat in the back and let someone else do all the rowing :) and roasted marshmallows over a fire! I LOVE "CAMPING!!!!"