[ random ] (edited to add pictures!)

just a few random thoughts today...

1. only 4 days until Election Day. For this, I am grateful. If anyone ever thinks that one person running for a public office doesn't affect their whole family, send them to me. I'll set them straight!

2. I *heart* Samson in his "Trick or Treat" shirt. I'll post pictures soon.

3. I am in need of rest. and a vacation. and maybe a sick day.

4. I am spending my Halloween night watching football players dress up as football players and cheerleaders dress up as cheerleaders. I wish I was staying home, enjoying the fall evening, and handing out candy to the cute trick-or-treaters.

5. Jessica told me to plan a surprise birthday day with her, Amy, Fran, and Bobbie on December 6th. I hardly ever have surprises - I like to plan ahead and know what's coming - but I'm super excited about this. Thanks girls!

6. I am at a loss of what to get my family for Christmas. I think we should all pitch in, get a new TV and a Wii and call it good. and maybe a trip to Mexico! :) haha...

7. I'm NOT impressed with the new Guitar Hero: World Tour. If anyone can shed light on why it's so rockin' - let me know. I'm a little pissed at it right now.

8. I'm in the market for a new pair of black shoes for work. My Payless black ballet flats are killing my feet.

9. I'm going to Tiffany DeWitt & Doug Schneider's wedding tomorrow. I'm ready for a Good Time! :) It's going to be a beautiful wedding - I'll try to remember to take some pictures.

10. my bed looks so inviting...I have to pick up the cheerleaders in an hour...i think that's enough time to take a rest!

enjoy halloween - i love seeing pictures of everyone's kids dressed up...so cute!!

[ VOTE ]

this is my shout out to

become informed and

vote

time is running out - only 12 days until Election Day, November 4th

that's it for now. you can be sure i'll have a lot more to say about it on November 5th.

[ what a day ]

today was the day from *h*e*l*l*

until I got to see this smiling face:

and her momma...they make me laugh...and smile...and laugh...
(and her Dad too...even though he's a stalker!)

[ sharing the love ]

I have to share this with you guys!

Until 10/14/08 (tomorrow), you can order 50 pictures at http://www.snapfish.com/ for just $.50! (Use the code FALLPENNY08)

After 50 pictures, any that you order are only $.09 - AND if you've never used Snapfish before and create a new account - you get 50 FREE prints!

I ordered 53 pictures last night and with shipping and tax, paid $4.77. I will say their shipping & handling is a little steep, but honestly, it's a good deal.

Just had to share the love...

[ christmas is coming ]

So, what to do on a lazy Saturday? Right! Start to think about Christmas!! :)

(Well....there ARE only 74 days left until Christmas day!!!)

So, here's what I did today (so far):

1. Order Christmas Picture Cards from Shutterfly.com
(buy 50 get 25 free until the end of October!)

2. Finish some gifts that I'd started working on about a month ago
(I still need a few things to completely finish them, but they're pretty much done!)

3. Search the internet for some creative letter ideas and start brainstorming the highlights of 2008

4. Finish a cross-stitch that I'll frame and give to someone

5. Rack my brain to think of gifts for my family
(anyone have any ideas for a Mom, a Dad, a shoe-junkie Sister, and two spoiled dogs?!)

Even though I'm freezing cold right now, I'm thinking of getting a milkshake from Burger Factory...is that crazy?

[ cheer clinic ]

Yesterday, was the 08 Football Cheer Clinic! We had about 60 little girls who, I think, had a blast hanging out with the "big cheerleaders." :)

They learned a dance to "You Can't Stop the Beat" from Hairspray and two cheers to perform. I think it was pretty successful.

I wish I would've taken a picture of Emersyn in her "Future Cheerleader" shirt & fake jeans. She was the cutest thing EVAH!

The worst part of the day was how freaking cold it was!! I think fall is really here....

[ tagged ]

i was tagged by jessica...the name of the game is that you have to post your fourth picture from your fourth picture file. jess guesses that it will be a cheerleader picture....

nope - it's Coco Sophia Chanel, Melissa's dog. I'm not sure why the picture is showing up so small...I guess it's because Coco is so small. She's a Yorkie Terrier and just 4 pounds. She is a cranky dog, but pretty loveable at times. She and I don't always see eye to eye, but I hope she knows I still love her. I just love Samson a little bit more. Speaking of, I couldn't let this go by without a picture of him...

so, now, I tag...Jamie, Kira, Anna, and Jana...have a good time...

[ chs class of 1999 ]

hello classmates!

i've created a blog so we can start gathering our ideas, addresses, and excitement for our reunion...

www.chsclassof1999.blogspot.com

check it out...

[ scentsy ]

i forgot to add a shout out for the cheerleaders new fundraiser:

SCENTSY!!

If you're unfamiliar with Scentsy, let me testify...they are wonderful! They are wickless candles, essentially. There are many delicious flavors that you can put in the top warmer then turn on the lightbulb to melt the wax and release the aromas.

We're selling now through October 17th and all orders will arrive in time for Christmas.

If you're interested in checking out the products, go to: http://www.scentsy.com/annah. In my opinion, the best deal is $44 for a burner and three flavors. If you're interested in ordering, let me know - don't order through Anna's website otherwise it won't count for our fundraiser. :)

(If you are having a hard time choosing flavors, you're not alone! I have Baked Apple Pie in my warmer right now and I love it - but I'm having a hard time choosing what's next! I also love the Sugar Cookie one...)

[ black toenails ]

Just another Sunday afternoon lounging with the dogs. We've been catching up on our DVR and resting up for the week ahead. I caught the movie "Titanic" on TV...I usually HATE watching movies over and over, but Titanic is one I can watch every year or so and not get tired of it. I love the costumes:

I also made some delicious Thai food out of a box...it's pretty much my favorite thing to make for myself when I'm home alone. I doctor it up with cilantro, lime juice, peanut butter, scrambled eggs, and shrimp. It's delish - especially with a RockStar to wash it down.

Yesterday, I spent the day in the Tri-Cities. I took my dad to the airport - he gets to spend this week in San Diego for a transit convention. He also gets to go to TIJUANA while he's there! We sent him with our order for all things Mexican. :) (kahlua, tequila, vanilla, Tylenol 3, tickets to Guanajuato!)

After I dropped him off, I went to Heritage to look for a Vera Bradley bag that I'm eyeing:

it's the small duffel in Peacock...in case you're wondering. :) They didn't have it...bummer...

Heritage had some WAY cute fall/Halloween decorations. I wish I had somewhere to put them! I also ran over to Craft Warehouse to pick up somethings that I needed to finish some Christmas presents I've been working on. I also found two new magazines that I didn't already have - so I got those to take with me to Spokane this week.

I met up with Jen and Jamie at Panda for lunch. I wish I could spend more time with them and their families. They are just such a great dose of reality for me. I love their attitudes and sense of humor. We had a great discussion - and I hope I didn't burden them too much with my trials.

After lunch, I met Grandma and Mom at Target - I surprisingly didn't need that much!! We got Starbucks then went to get our nails done. I got a pedicure and a fill. I forgot to bring my own nailpolish with me for my toes - I have worn the same color for about four years - it's called Kennebunk-port:

and I don't like to take the chance that the salon might not have the color so I always bring it with me. Well, I forgot, so this is what I ended up with:

I hope it people don't think I got it for Halloween - because I didn't. I think Melissa actually has a bottle of this color, so I got it so I could use her bottle of polish to touch it up.

Finally, Grandma treated us to an amazing dinner at PF Changs. I *heart* it there...Lettuce Wraps, Crispy Honey Chicken, Asian Pear Mojitos...the whole things is so delicious!!

On the way home we did a drive by Burden Blvd to see Sullivan's tribute to Bob Koch! :) Thanks so much for your support, you guys. You don't know how much it is appreciated!!

I need to pack this afternoon - I am heading to Spokane tomorrow morning at 6am for a COE training. The COE (Collection of Evidence) is a hoop the state has put in place for students to jump through if they aren't able to pass the WASL. It's pretty much impossible, but I'm going to spend two days with four co-workers learning how to do it. Wednesday, I'm going to a College Board workshop at Gonzaga - which I'm looking forward to, because I get to see the counselors I interned for in grad school. It's the only time I ever get to see them! Also, while I'm in Spokane, I get to see my cousin Craig and my dear friend Jody.

I would post some pictures from the football game on Friday night, but there wasn't anything worth taking a picture of since we can't stunt...thank you very much to our wonderful Athletic Director.

Instead, I'll leave you with this adorable bundle of joy...

...she makes me so happy everyday...and her mama isn't half bad either...:) i'll miss you guys this week!!

p.s. thanks for your kind words everyone - things still aren't great, but hopefully a few days away will help clear my head. i appreciate your thoughts and prayers. i'm not used to this - feeling uncertain about my family, dreading work each day, questioning people's actions and intentions, just not feeling myself. anyway - thanks again for friends.