Hawaii Here We Come

Okay now it's finally time for our family vacation! We traded in our timeshare in Vail and actually got two weeks elsewhere (it's a long story but that's how Mike was able to stay at a beautiful resort in Cabo last week) and we've decided to use the second of those weeks in Hawaii! We spent Olivia's second birthday on the big island of Hawaii. While we're not right on the beach it looks like we'll be staying at a beautiful hotel and after the 2 weeks of not really seeing eachother we're all very excited to spend some time together with just the 3 of us! I'll be posting some pictures of our trip soon!

Mexico

So while I've been busy all week trying to get ready for vacation and recouperate from Gamma Phi Beta Convention, Mike has gotten a head start on vacation. Mike had initally planned to spend a week in Cabo with dad and brothers but for one reason or another their plans fell through. We had already made the reservation so Mike decided it would be a good opportunity for a mini-Phi Psi Reunion. Even though I'm slightly bitter he's off in beautiful Cabo while I'm stuck here in rainy Washington I really am very happy that he is getting a change to hang out with some of his friends. We've moved so much over the last couple of years I know it's been hard for him to keep in touch with them as much as he would have liked to. So here's to Mike and the guys, I hope they're having a great time (and that they remember to use sunscreen)!

Gamma Phi Beta Convention Photos

I've put together a few convention photos. Some of these might not make sense (why are there hundreds of women walking around with hot pink hats with carnations?) but I guess I can just say it's a sorority thing. John McCain was staying in our hotel for a few days and he did stop by briefly for a photo op. He seamed nice enough but he does look a little frightened in the picture, what normal man wouldn't be a little frightened to see 800 sorority "girls" running at him with cameras. One of the highlights was a concert by Elizabeth Pitcairn current owner of the Red Violin and a Gamma Phi Beta. Apparently Elizabeth and the Red Violin both lived in the Gamma Phi Beta house at the University of Southern California. The violin travels with it's own private guard!

So where have you been?

We have been very busy and I know that I've been horrible about updating the blog lately! I was in Cincinatti, Ohio for the Gamma Phi Beta Convention last week, this week Mike is in Cabo for a mini-reunion with some of his fraternity brothers, and next week we're off to Hawaii for a week. I don't know about you but just thinking about all the traveling, packing, and unpacking makes me tired!

I had a blast at the Gamma Phi Beta Convention. Some of you may not know this but while we lived in Colorado I worked for the sorority as the Collegiate Coordinator at International Headquarters. When we moved to Oklahoma I stopped working at Headquarters and I started volunteering for the sorority as a regional coordinator. As a regional coordinator I directly supervise several collegiate chapters and right now I work with Gamma Phi Beta chapters at California State University-Chico, Sacramento State University, the University of Washington, and the University of Puget Sound. I really enjoy my time working with these chapters, it gives me a chance to use my master's degree and it allows me to give back to the organization that had such a huge impact on my development. I loved being in a sorority, I had a ton of fun in college but today I appreciate it so much more for the things that I learned that I wasn't expecting to learn. I learned a lot about conflict resolution, I learned how to make "small-talk" and have appropriate "cocktail party" conversations, I was able to experience incredible leadership opportunities, I found a few fantastic friends who I know will be close friends for the rest of my life, I learned how to network, I met my husband, the list goes on and on......
It was great to reconnect with so many of my sorority sisters this past week (all 800+ of us), I'll be sharing some pictures soon.