Sunday, October 31, 2004

Happy Halloween Everyone. Clayton and I had a fun night, Clayton took me out to see all the kids Trick or Treat. It was so fun going round all the houses looking at all the cute costumes, and pretty house decorations. It's amazing to me, I wish the UK would make more of a big deal on Halloween. We also carved a Pumpkin, here's my first carved Pumpkin....


My First Carved Pumpkin.  Posted by Hello

Also remember me posting about the house with Grave Stones and Cob web's, well I finally took a shot. But compared to all the other houses I saw tonight, this is hardly nothing.


Halloween Decorations.  Posted by Hello

This is another house I saw tonight, I managed to brighten it up a bit seeming the exposure was so dark.


Halloween Decorations Posted by Hello

Thanks for all the congratulations on my Permanent Residency, if you haven't read my previous post scroll down.

Friday, October 29, 2004

Today I had my AOS (Adjustment Of Status) Interview. I was well prepared with a big folder of all my documents. Clayton and I were up and out of the house by 7am, our appointment was at 10:30am in Seattle. We got there by about 9am, so we headed for some Breakfast which calmed my nerves a little. After that we headed to the Immigration Department, the normal security procedure occurred. Going through the metal detectors and being searched, all the guards were really friendly so it wasn't that bad. We got to the second floor where we were meant to be, there were many couples waiting. So we waited and waited and waited, and then finally our name was called.

We followed the lady who called us, she was very nice and friendly. We walked into her office, and she swore us in. She made a comment about our big Wedding Album and couldn't wait to see it, in front of her was our big folder which must have been about 4inches thick. She asked us both a series of questions regarding our relationship and Wedding. She flicked through our paper work, then asked to see our Wedding Pictures. We all chit chatted about the Wedding for a good 10mins, she was so nice. After that she said "Well your approved" Just hearing those words was such a relief off my mind, I was so happy. It's funny she never even asked to see my big folder I had prepared for them all week, looks like the wedding pictures were enough.

She then took my Index finger print, I assume for the Green Card. And then she stamped my passport, just for proof that I was approved and that I'm ready to work and travel. This stamp is only temporary, but good for a year. As the Green Card can take up to 3mths to arrive in the mail. She welcomed me to US, as we left her office.

I'm now a Conditional Permanent Resident of the United States. Yey!!

In some other news, I changed a few things on my Blog. The Pumpkin Picture I took when I was at the Pumpkin Patch Farm, I've been playing with it in PSP and thought I'd add it here.

Monday, October 25, 2004

Had a good weekend, Friday night we went to go and see the new movie "The Grudge". It was very freaky, not as good as I thought it would be though. It wasn't like "The Ring" ooh talking about The Ring, they are making "The Ring 2"

Went shopping on Saturday and bought a VCR in GoodWill, $13 with remote, works really well. Also bought "Garfield The Movie". Came home to hear some bad news from Clayton's mom, Clayton's step grandad from Germany passed away. He was 94, and passed away in his sleep.

Sunday didn't do much had a relaxing morning, Clayton worked till 1pm. In the afternoon we both went riding our bikes around our town. It was nice to have a look around, I was amazed at how many houses were decorated for Halloween. There's a house near by that's all decorated in Grave Stones and Spiders with cob webbs. I'm going to take a picture and post it on here because it's just so amazing, very eerie looking. I really can't wait till Halloween now, just to see how many kids will stop by. I'm going to buy some Candy this week, Clayton doesn't think many kids will come by as we are in such a quiet spot.

I have a complaint to make to the WB, last night I sat down to watch the new series of Charmed to find the old season on. I was so gutted, Clayton said they do that to spread the shows over the Season. Well that sucks, especially since that was the show I was looking forward to all day.

My Grandparents called today, so I had a nice chat with them. Also talked to my mum dad, and sisters yesterday which was nice.

Thursday, October 21, 2004

The morning after... Yesterday was really busy, our night out was great though. Clayton and I were both up at 5am, to help some people get everything together for the party. When we had a break, Clayton and I headed out to have our haircuts.. which were long overdue. The hairdresser is the same lady who did my hair for the Wedding, I hadn't seen her since then and she was asking how did it all go. It was nice to catch up with her, I need to show her our Wedding album. Anyway she styled my hair all funky looking, which was cool. By the time we got back to our place it was time to get ready.

It was really nice to get dressed up, hadn't done that in a while. Clayton looked very smart in his suit. We both went over to Clayton's Uncle's just before we left, he took a great picture of us. After that we headed out, Clayton bought me a single red rose and left it on my seat, so I'd see it as I just got into the car. Aww how romantic is he.

We arrived there about 6:30pm, we walked in very overwhelmed as there were so many people there. We didn't know many of them, and we were both very clueless, but we started to walk around. We talked to many agents, which gave Clayton many tips and hints on how to start up his business. There was a silent action there, with many lovely things that I wanted to bid on.

We were all escorted into the dining hall, and there was an Introduction about the company. The party was to celebrate 4 successful years of the company, with close to 150 agents. It was fun to get to know all the people on our table, they all noticed my accent and wondered where I was from. That story came out, on how we met etc. They all thought our story was so sweet, and amazing that we met online.

The Dinner Buffet was really nice, and after everything was said there was a live band. Clayton and I danced, the rest of the night, we eventually got home at around midnight. We also had some wine glasses from the company, with their logo on them. Each person had one on their table, which was very nice to take home.

Below are some pictures of the evening...


Just before we left.  Posted by Hello


At the Dinner Dance Posted by Hello


My Rose from Clayton. Posted by Hello

Tuesday, October 19, 2004

Wow it's been a while since I last posted. Our weekend was good, Clayton and I went shopping on Saturday for clothes. Clayton's Real Estate Company has a dinner dance on Wednesday night, and we both wanted to look really nice for it. Clayton bought a nice new suit, in which he looks very handsome in. I bought a nice fall top, with pretty autumn leaves on it, it looks really cute. I also bought some nice shoes.

I really can't wait till tomorrow night for this Dinner Dance, Clayton and I haven't been out in a while. I'm a little nervous, as I've never been to a company party before. The only parties I went to in the UK, was to go out clubbing. This is more of an adult party. I'm sure everything will be fine, I'm looking forward to having a dance, as there's a live band there.

Ooh I got a Bike, Clayton's friend Chris found me one. He got it at GoodWill for like $20, a real bargain huh! It's in real good condition and has lovely colors purple & blue. Click the picture to get a better look....


My new Bike. Posted by Hello

Tuesday, October 12, 2004

Been busy over the weekend. I went to Seattle for the Welsh women's Group on Friday. We all met at a local Retirement complex, we had lunch there. After lunch we all watched a Welsh Movie called Eldra it was in Welsh with English subtitles, it was about a young gypsy girl from North Wales.

Saturday Clayton worked, but I went out to a local hardware store. I want to build a white picket fence around our cottage, with a little gate leading in. So I went to get pricing for that. It's gonna cost about $300 for all the wood and stuff. I think it'll be so cute around the cottage, there's a small area there for me to plant some flowers, and there's also a concrete patio area. So it'll be nice in the summer. Sunday Clayton worked, I spend most of the day doing some housework. I made a nice Chicken roast dinner. And I baked Apple Crumble, with some Apples we picked in the Pumpkin Patch.

Yesterday I spend most of the day trying to get my Domain website to work, it's so much harder to work than Geocities. I also have to learn how to use an FTP programe, I finally got it working and started to transfer the pages over.

Today Clayton and I have been Babysitting Ben, Clayton isn't used to a screaming baby though. So that was pretty funny to watch him fret, he's like 'what have I done now' I'm like 'Hun you took his bottle away of course he's upset' We got back ealier than planned so we stopped to have some Japanese on the way home.

Got nothing planned for tomorrow, Clayton's working. So I think I might work on my Website a little more.

Thursday, October 07, 2004

Took Liza our Cat to the Vet this morning, they said she had a really bad flea allergy. They gave her a shot to stop her biting herself, and I have to give her a treatment of Advantage flea solution. I'm glad I took her as it could have gotten a lot worse and she could have lost her tail.

This afternoon was fun, Clayton and I went to a local Pumpkin farm that's literally a couple of blocks from our house. It was so cool to go and see all the Pumpkins, it was amazing to see. We don't have anything like that back in the UK, I actually had some Pumpkin pie to. I've never tasted Pumpkin before hehe, it was actually really nice. I got two Pumpkins one for display, and one for cooking I'm going to experiment a little. The place is also a Christmas tree farm, we are going to get our Christmas tree there this year. Below are some pictures from our visit... if you click the picture it opens up a little larger.


Clayton & Natalie at the Pumpkin Farm Posted by Hello


Pumpkin Tree Posted by Hello


Lots, & lots of Pumpkins.  Posted by Hello

Going to Seattle tomorrow for my Welsh Women's Group meeting, we are meeting for lunch then watching a Welsh Movie. So that'll be fun to hang out with the group again.

Wednesday, October 06, 2004

Well the waiting is finally over. I just received a letter today from the United States Immigration Department, our Adjustment of Status Interview date is October 29th. This means I could have my Green Card pretty soon. I can't believe how quick it came, I was watching the timelines and it could take up to 6mths. Mind you I haven't checked in the last month, as I didn't think they'd move that quick. Obvouisly I was wrong. I'm pretty excited as I can start work pretty soon. Hopefully things will go alright, I'm getting really nervous and freaked out, as this is the final step of the visa, well for at least 2yrs anyway. I hope they approve me, surely they can't say no now, seeming we are married. I'll have to get all my documents together, prove that we are married.

Went out today, with Clayton's friend. We went shopping for a bike for me, I thought it would be good for me. Exercise, plus freedom to go out and about when Clayton's in work. It would be good to go back and fore to the store, while he's in work. There's one I found for about $200 which is really good, so I'm working on saving for that.

Tomorrow I'm taking Liza our cat to the Vet. Do you remember about a month ago when she wasn't well, check this post. Well she's gotten worse, she's scratched and eatten her fur so much her tail is furless. So I'm guessing it's not fleas I think it might be a skin allergy of some kind. So I'm hoping the vet can do something.

Monday, October 04, 2004

Hello blog world. I'm a lot better, my chest is still a little tight but that's okay. I've been busy over the weekend. I babysat Ben from like 8am till 7pm a long day, but he's such a cutie. I hang out with Ben's Grandmother's sister Laura all day, she has a 3 year old Girl, and a 4mth old baby Boy. She actually wants me to babysit for her, she saw how good I was with Ben, and asked me to babysit for her kids once an a while.

Saturday Clayton spend all day at a local Train Modeling Show, the museum he's involved in had a layout up there. They actually got 3rd, which is great. Sunday I spend a lot of the day doing housework. Clayton came home from work, and we went grocery shopping.

Oh and the big news here is that "Mount Saint Helens" erupted and is due to erupt again very shortly. The volcano is about 4hrs 200 miles away from us. If it does blow big, then we would only get hot ash, depending on what direction the wind blows. I'm watching the news quite a lot, as this is very concerning for me. I never had this type of thing in the UK, so I'm quite worried about it. Clayton has reassured me, we are far away from the volcano. Everyone back home is worried, as they have heard about it on the news. But I've tried to tell them that we will be okay. I'll keep everyone posted about this via here, as I know people from back home read my blog.

Clayton has a day off tomorrow, but I'm babysitting all day. He'll probably come up and help me out, which is great I love the company.

Today I also registered my own domain name, I've been wanting one for a while. So I'm working on changing my site totally. Please watch the space.

That's it for now.