Wii!

so for christmas, all my aunts and uncles went in together to buy papa a Wii! i think he's going to like it ~ i know everyone else is. here's papa testing his skills at Wii golf.

as requested...

here you go, jess...since that picture of js is so creepy here are some fun random pics from christmas get togethers.

Way too far...

okay people, this is getting ridiculous. do people honestly think jessica simpson has ANYTHING to do with her boyfriend's poor performance last weekend? i mean, seriously. i was checking out one of my favorite gossip blogs and found this gem. it's a website devoted to 'ruining romo.' they actually encourage people to print of this page and WEAR it as a mask to upcoming cowboys games, as if it's actually going to make a difference. it's just mean! not that i'm a huge JS fan, but i think it's gone a little too far.

good news!

i got a new battery for my camera and it works!!

Oh yeah, and...

here's our staff Christmas card. we took it in the dugout at safeco field.

Christmas party...

we had our staff christmas party on friday night and it was a blast! here's a cute picture of all the girls (not taken with my camera, since it's busted). what a fun bunch! oh, and the sombrero was the only decoration pertaining to the 'feliz navidad' theme.

New book!

i'm reading a new book, and so far it's really good. you may have heard about it because it's now a movie, which also looks good. i did want to read it first before seeing the film, though. interesting side note ~ the author is the 25-year old daughter of Ireland's Prime Minister. the book is set in Ireland, but the movie is set in the states, with a trip to Ireland. i'm excited to see where this book takes me.

Bummer!

my camera broke, so there will be a lack of pictures on my blog (unless i steal them from someone else)...i apologize. pix make blogs so much more interesting. maybe i'll just start posting random pictures that don't have anything to do with the text just for kicks.

Also...

want to see this one!

Great Sandwich!

went to a deli for lunch called Salumi. it was delicious!! great sandwiches with ALL sorts of salami and fresh made mozzarella. located in pioneer square, it's a small place, always packed with no seating but totally worth it! put on your patience pants for this one and enjoy!

Call me crazy, but...

i really want to see this movie. don't ask me why.

I've been tagged!

RULES:
1. The player lists 6 facts about themselves
2. At the end of the post the player tags 6 people and posts their names. The player then goes to their blog and leaves a comment letting them know they have been tagged, then asks them to read the rules.

1. i hate doing these lists/surveys/questionnaires, but...for those of you, my many readers (hi mom) who don't know her, i adore melissa so i'll do this just for her, however will not be tagging anyone else.
2. i love entertainment blogs ~ check them regularly, particularly dlisted.com & perezhilton.com (don't judge me, but i won't be posting the links...yes, they're that bad)
3. i can smell anything...seriously, i have the nose of a hound (does that even make sense?). my folks have rolled their eyes on many occasions when i say something stinks...my dad has always said 'the nose knows.'
4. i can always tell a lot about someone by their shoes. another endearing trait i possess that drives my family crazy.
5. i am officially becoming an 'old' lady. i put hot water in a mug, just to hold it and warm my hands. really...i was at happy hour with friends and asked the server for a cup of hot water. by the third order he finally said something.
6. and finally i have a weird obsession with this game on my cell phone...i play it while 'watching' tv.

Another one...

tried out Mexico at Pacific Place. YUMMY!

FOOD!

okay, so i belong to a little dinner group where we try a new restaurant every month that none of us have been to. sounds tough right? not in this city! there are a ton of great restaurants. this week, we went to tulio. it was really good (great atmoshphere, really cozy, great service, moderately priced, downtown) and i would definitely recommend it. THEN, last night i went to dinner with a bunch of friends at bizzaro, located in wallingford, and it was great, too! authentic italian food and really good wine! again, i would totally recommend it. i'll try to keep this blog updated with all the restaurants i go to, and let you know what i think so the next time you're trying to find a new place, you can come here for suggestions.

Precious!

i just love this picture! taken at thanksgiving with my little cousin case, stolen from christy's blog. he's such a snuggle bug...makes me think about this video (also stolen from christy's blog). i couldn't even imagine 1) being a parent 2) loving something that much and 3) experiencing such an enormous loss. we're so blessed to have these little ones in our lives.

Wish List!

so, i was on the eliptical trainer, looking through a magazine yesterday and i came across this ring. I LOVE IT! naturally, i went online at the web address provided in the ad to see how much it is, and where i can find it. unfortunately, both retailers who are supposed to carry it do not. i'm so bummed! since i know you all like to shop as much as i do, please let me know if you see something similar to this. (oh, and i had one before and it tarnished so i can't wear it anymore...looking for a little higher quality...yes, i know it'll be more expensive...)

a pet peeve...

flat fountain diet coke...YUCK! i have many others, but this one really ticks me off.

Fantastic Voyage!

so this weekend, i went to the Movin' 92.5 house party at the paramount theatre with a couple friends. a girlfriend of ours works as a dj for the station and got us tickets. it was SOOOOO much fun! talk about a throw back to the mid-nineties. the line-up included rob base, naughty by nature, tony toni tone, and coolio!! we had such a good time dancing to the 'classics' like OPP, hip hop hooray, and ganstas paradise. wow...enjoy the pix.

Just for fun!

since all my recent posts have been about depressing things, i thought i'd add this cute picture of my roommate jenna, our girlfriend mandy and myself. this was taken on friday when we went out to dinner. good times!

I'm back...

the trip to San Diego was tough but i'm so glad i went. i know it meant a lot to melissa to be there with her, and help get her organized. we spent a lot of time running errands getting things for their rental, like trash cans, brooms, soap, and other daily necessities. we also went to their 'house' so i could see it for myself and let me tell you, it was surreal. the pictures don't even do the devastation justice. so what's next? they do plan to rebuild on the same lot, and as those details get firmed up, i'll keep you posted. thanks again for all your prayers and well wishes for melissa and jesse. they are so thankful for great friends, and the love of good people.

Heading to San Diego!

i'm jumping on a plane tomorrow to visit melissa in their rented apartment. i'm sure i'll have lots to report from my week down there, so stay tuned!

Pictures of the devastation

Before:

After:

UNREAL!

Here is some news coverage of Melissa's garage burning. It's the green and white structure that starts about 24 seconds into the footage.

I spoke with her this morning, and she's hanging in there but she's pretty depressed. The claim adjuster from the insurance company is coming out today to make their assessment and she's hoping to get a preliminary check so they have some funds to rent an apartment. She said they went to the mall and got a few items, so Jesse is back at work and they are staying with Jesse's brother until they find a place to live for the short term. Please continue to pray for them as they deal with this.

More prayers!

please pray for melissa and jesse, who just lost their house in the southern california wildfires. they got a call early this morning to evacuate, so they grabbed their dogs and headed for safety. while watching the news, she saw their detached garage was engulfed in flames, and when the camera panned, she said her entire house was destroyed. they lost everything, absolutely everything! i spoke with her briefly this afternoon, and as you can imagine she's in shock and not really sure what's going to happen. thankfully, they do have insurance. miss and jesse just got married in september. she's been living in san diego for a almost 2 years and just moved into this beautiful house in escondido at the beginning of this year. being a newlywed is hard enough and now they're dealing with this enormous loss. please pray for them!

A New Life

Gramma went to be with Jesus on friday. both jessica and christy wrote very sweet posts, as they have been blessed with a gift of writing. please enjoy their thoughts as i did. here's a fun picture of jessica and i with our beloved pauline. we love you gramma, you will be missed!

We need your prayers!

i just love this picture of my grand parents. it was taken almost a year ago, on christmas eve, when my grandma's health problems began. please pray for my grandma. she's been ill for sometime (description on jess' blog) and this morning she suffered another terrible blow. we're not exactly sure what it is but the doctor said it resembled a brain aneurysm. she was doing a little better by the end of the day but she may never recover. we do know that she is in a lot of pain from a head ache that she's been battling for almost a week now. it's been a very emotional and exhausting day for our entire family. we love you gramma!

I don't know how...

anyone could watch this and NOT think there's a God. this is a really sweet story about a 5-year-old boy and his amazing story. it's about 10 minutes long, but SOOOOOOOOOOO worth it! break out the tissues! Part One Part Two

Punkin' Patch

so, i'm watching bree again (i know...i said i would never do it again) and on saturday we went to spooner farms in orting with my folks. we had a great time! we went through the kiddy hay maze, the corn maze, looked at the animals (okay, most of them were fake, but there were a few goats and ponies), and picked out our pumpkins. bree found one that 'was just my size.' she was such a gem all day and i was so impressed at her boldness through the corn maze. i would have thought a 4 year old would have been scared to go through it but she picked out the routes...very fun! here are a few cute pix from the day.

Mullets...why?

seriously, people. it's NOT 1982 anymore. so there i was enjoying my twist cone from the dairy barn and just minding my own business, waiting for the hypnotist show to begin at the puyallup fair. i look to my right and what do i see? THIS! Wow...that's all i can say. of course i snapped a picture ~ duh!

SO EXCITED!!

tonight is the season premiere of grey's!!! i'll be at the game so i'll be watching it later than the rest of you ~ thank goodness for dvr ~ so don't spoil it for me! i CANNOT wait! i'm equally excited to get caught up on the crew at dunder mifflin. some updates on the shows i've watched so far: 'journeyman' was good...it took a while to get into it, but i liked it. i also like 'life' ~ similar feelings to journey man. looking forward to seeing how both of these shows turn out. now, for 'private practice' ~ i'm just not hooked yet. i love addison, but felt they didn't do a very good job at developing the characters. i've heard a few people say it's exactly like grey's ~ duh! that's the point and i love that, but i need a little more out of these guys. i'm crossing my fingers that next week will provide me with some additional drama, and i'm not referring to the surgical type. stay tuned!!

It's fall!

I love fall...definitely my favorite season. Football games, blankets, and comfort food. i just bought my first roast of the season yesterday. it's in the fridge covered in seasoning right now, and i can't wait to put it in the crock pot for the day tomorrow...there's NOTHING better than coming home from work to a house that smells like that. SO excited. Another reason i love fall is the beginning of fall tv. last night kicked off the season premieres of a couple shows i wanted to see. the first was 'the big bang theory' ~ a little sitcom about a couple nerdy guys and the hot girl who moved in across the hall. jenna and i really enjoyed it, so 2 thumbs up. the 2nd was 'journeyman.' i have to admit it took me a while to get into it, but we really liked that one as well...we like to call it the 2007 version of 'quantum leap.' (and i hate to admit this, but we watched SOME of the new 'batchelor' ~ YIKES!) in all, i was pleased with monday's new shows. i'm looking forward to a few more new shows including 'private practice,' 'big shots,' and 'life.' and let's not forget about some returning favorites including 'the office,' 'grey's anantomy,' and of course 'saturday night live.' i'll post my thoughts on each...

This is why I love...

BABIES!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz-q17TV9fA
too cute!

The New Social Etiquette

These cracked me up...STBY! (click on them for a larger view)

UPDATE!!!

thanks for all your prayers!!! with just 2 weeks left in the season, I MADE MY GOAL! YAYAYAYA!!! and for those of you who haven't heard, this is especially great because my car broke down this week and it's going to cost a fortune to fix it so praise the LORD!

Bubbly!

If you've checked out my cousin Christy's blog, you will notice a post about this great new artist, Colbie Caillat. My roommate, Jenna and I have been obsessed with her song 'Bubbly' for almost a year now. Since i work in radio, i mentioned Colbie to the music director here at STAR. Just a few weeks ago she mentioned to me that they would be including 'Bubbly' in the rotation ~ this was great news! Last night, i had the opportunity to see her perform LIVE at the showbox and it was AWESOME! the CD is definitely one you all need to include in your collection...it's one of those cds you can listen to all the way through. check out Colbie's myspace page here.

Christy's right ~ she is adorable!

A new obsession

So, i spent most of this labor day weekend with my head burried in a book. in between all my social activities ~ a wedding, going out with friends, and hosting a house full of boys who all stand above 6' 4'' ~ i took a couple naps and read ALL weekend! i'm so into this book that i'm almost done with it. and i'm so excited that i found a new author i like. **YAY for reading**

Seattle Sunsets

Here are a couple great pictures of the sun setting over Greenlake, taken from my patio. Too pretty not to share. I love this city!

WOW!

I know it's been a while since the last post and it was totally unfair to dump all the drama and not update, so here goes. I have only one thing to say ~ prayer works! duh, right? I have been so blessed this last week at work. The Lord has provided me with enough business to get me within striking range of my goal! Thanks to you all for the prayers and support! Even if I don't get there, it's been an awesome learning experience. HOORAY!

Life is CRAZY!

So, I'm stressed...like really stressed. I can't complain too much but there's a lot going on right now. Here's an update:

• So there's only a month and a half left in the season, and i'm not at my goal. It's very challenging and i'm definitely dealing with some pride issues. My manager even put up a board in our building that EVERYONE can see with our numbers on it. So i'm praying i can turn over some rocks (or else some rocks will be turned over for me...surrender it and all that jazz...)
• On a good note, the team is performing really well. At this moment, we're first in the wild card race, so playoffs are a REAL possibility which makes things very exciting.
• Weddings, ah weddings. Melissa's wedding is only a few weeks away and we're in full swing. Last weekend was the bridal shower, and this weekend we head east of the mountains for her bachelorette party. It's been very tough to coordinate, but i think we have all the details in place and we're looking forward to a very fun weekend with friends!
• Speaking of weddings, i have 5 weddings in the next 4 weeks ~ yikes! it's such a special time so i'm hoping i'm not too stressed to enjoy each of them.
• TRAFFIC ~ i'm terrified about the impending construction on i-5, which begins tomorrow. i have no idea how it's going to impact my life, but i know it's not going to be pretty. oh well, not much i can do about it so i guess i just have to dust off my britney spears and n*sync cds and deal with it. to all my south end friends ~ probably won't see you until september.

Well, i think that's enough for now. i'm just praying for strength to get through the next month.

SEAFAIR!

I love Seafair weekend! The Blue Angels have been buzzing around the city the last 2 days, and I'm so excited to watch them from the water tomorrow. Pretty much one of my favorite things!

Weekend Fun!

So, I had another fun summer weekend in this beautiful city. We had a birthday party at our house on Friday. Then on Saturday, I was on Lake Washington with my friends all day. THEN yesterday enjoyed a hike with a girlfriend to Mt. Si. **Good weekend!**

I couldn't resist...again.

He's so darn adorable! I think Rocco looks like a cartoon character in this picture.

Junior's Return...

Today marks the first time since 1999 that Ken Griffy, Jr. has come back to Seattle, and let me tell you ~ everyone around here is in a tizzy. It will be very exciting to see what happens this weekend as the Mariners take on the Cincinnati Reds! It's weird how all the memories of days at the Kingdome come flooding back. Cheering on the '95 team, watching my dad throw out the first pitch, going through the Mother's Cookies trading cards, taking my friends to the games...such good times!

Summer FUN!

So, I had another FUN weekend in this beautiful city spent on the water. My friend Nolan invited us all out for the day and we had a blast! Looking out my window now makes me wish for weather like that, so i just keep looking at the pictures. TOO FUN!

Viva Las Vegas!

Well, I just got back from a fun weekend in Las Vegas with some friends and let's say we had a blast! The room was amazing, the weather was perfect, and we met some VERY fun people. I'm in no hurry to get back, but it was a trip I'll never forget. We even saw a few famous people like Malcom from Young and the Restless, Heisman Trophy Winner Matt Leinart, UFC Fighter Chuck Liddell and Mr. Belding! But I think the highlight was meeting the Spanish guys from Jersey. Not only were they adorable, they were extremely funny. I haven't laughed that hard for quite some time. Here are a few quotes from the weekend:

• 'That ain't no gremlin, they didn't feed it after midnight.' ~ Jose from Jersey commenting on Gizmo's tattoo.


• 'I would watch "The Ten Commandments", but I don't like fiction movies.' ~ Jenna


• 'I ain't never ate no flower and threw fire.' ~ Jose again, when discussing Super Mario Brothers.


• 'There's a story here and I'm going to find it.' ~ Jenna...again.

Okay, so you can tell who the funny ones are, but either way...lots of laughs!

May Updates

Okay, again I realize it's been a while since my last post. So much to report, where to begin?

• I finished mommy duty, and I have to admit that I am SOOO not ready to be a mom. Bree was great, but I do enjoy my freedom. I think Rocco is enough responsibility for me right now.


• I've spent a few evenings at Safeco, but in all, I'm enjoying it very much. Let's hope the Mariners continue to play well.


• Go Shawna, it's your birthday ~ yes, today is the big day. Scotty and I turned 27! We started the celebration this past weekend with a big party at my place. It was a blast! AND, Melissa was in town, so that was awesome. Here's a pic.


• Yesterday, we celebrated all the mothers in our family with a bbq at Aunt Lynn's new town house. Very fun!


• This week will be equally busy ~ dinner tonight, baseball game tomorrow, girls dinners on Wednesday and Thursday, another b-day party on Friday and then a weekend full of fun.


• Next week, I leave for VEGAS! 'Nuf said.


• And I just booked a trip to San Diego for Melissa's engagement party.

WOW ~ lots going on!

I might be crazy....

But it's true. I agreed to watch a co-workers 4 year-old daughter for 8 days! I've already gotten the migraine out of the way so I think I'll be fine. But seriously, Bree's a sweetie and we're having fun playing castle and watching Barbie movies. I think I'm going to need a vacation after that...good thing Vegas is right around the corner!

Words Women Say...

1.) Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.
2.) Five Minutes : If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five Minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.
3.) Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.
4.) Go Ahead : This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!
5.) Loud Sigh: This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to #3 for the meaning of nothing.)
6.) That's Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.
7.) Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or faint. Just say you're welcome.
8.) Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking, "what's wrong", for the woman's response refer to #3.

GO MARINERS!

This week, the Mariners opened the 2007 season with a bang! I'm looking forward to see what the rest of the season has in store.

Hopscotch!

This past weekend I attended the 5th annual 'Hopscotch Festival' in Fremont. Talk about fun! I went with 7 other girls, and we had a blast...yes, 8 girls and no drama! We laughed a lot and took tons of great pictures. Here are a couple of my favorites.

Then, yesterday I cooked a bunch of steak on the bbq and Jenna and I watched 'The Departed.' I DO NOT recommend eating steak and watching a gory movie too close to bedtime. I could NOT sleep because of the steak, and then when I did fall asleep, my dreams were awful! All I remember was a lot of blood, gun shots and people dying...YIKES!

Updates...

Okay, so I realize it's been a while since my last post. Give me a break, people...I'm a busy girl! So here's a quick run down of what I've been up to:

• Just got back from another FUN weekend in San Diego. I had a great time sitting in the sun ~ yes, it was 85 degrees in MARCH ~ and spending some quality time with Melissa and Jesse.


• Had a fun coupla weekends full of socializing ~ house warming and birthday parties.


• I got to spend the afternoon with my aunt Cindy, cousin Jess and new 'niece' ~ okay she's not technically my niece, but who's counting, or whatever...


• Melissa was in town for a weekend full of wedding planning ~ what a relief to have most of that under control...it's going to be a beautiful wedding, not to mention a kick in the pants!


• And I'm rocking and rolling at work!


• Oh and lastly, Rocco's left ear is flopping forward...just like in the movies! He's so darn cute, I can hardly stand it.

This weekend is St. Patty's day so it should be another fun weekend ~ hence the picture on top...wasn't really sure what else to put there, and it always looks better with a picture.

San Diego Fun!

I just got back from a fun weekend in San Diego! My best friend, Melissa, lives down there and just got engaged! We're having a blast planning her wedding. We spent most of the weekend around the house, with an occasional trip to the store. Here are few pictures from the weekend.

And since Melissa and I are like sisters, Jesse and I are new best friends, too! I'm so excited to have them in my life! Jesse makes Melissa happier than I've ever seen her.

I couldn't resist...

I just had to post this picture because it's soooooo cute. I think you'll agree.

She's here!

We're all so excited that Baby Hailey is finally here! She's the CUTEST! Here's a picture my Uncle Buzz took of his grandaughter with his cell phone. What an amazing day! Jess did awesome...I am so impressed with her. And Todd was absolutely adorable ~ couldn't get enough of his new pride and joy. I don't think I've heard the words 'sweetheart' come out of the mouth of a man more than what I heard yesterday. They are going to make GREAT parents! I can't wait to see what happens next!

Pink, Pink and more Pink!

This past weekend, we threw a baby shower for my cousin, Jessica. It wasn't just your typical baby shower...there were almost 70 ladies there! WOW! Baby Hailey will be the first grandbaby on my mom's side. We're all very excited for Todd and Jess, and can't wait to have a baby around at family dinners again. I already know Jess will be a great mommy...but I'm personally very excited to see Todd as a dad...this should be fun...I always love a good laugh ;) Just kidding, Todd will be a great daddy.

Here's a fun pic of the cousins ~ me, a prego Jess, Alia and Christy. Check out this cake!

Happy New Year!

Okay, so I realize it's already January 12th, but I've been a little busy. The holidays just flew by, but they were great! I had a wonderful Christmas with my family. But I have to say that my New Years was the highlight. I had the privilege of going to Arizona for 7 days! It was a great vacation! I got to connect with some old friends from high school, golfed 2 times, went to a hockey game, got a massage, shopped, and enjoyed the 70 degree weather. But, the BEST part of the trip was watching Boise State defeat Oklahoma in the best college football game of ALL time. Check out the view from our seats! WOW...that was a trip I will never forget. Hope you all had a great New Years too!