Shy Smiles

We went and picked up our art pieces today... Check out our pieces on our walls... WE LOVE KELLI MURRAY'S ART!!

World AIDS Day

The 1st of December, World AIDS Day, is the day when individuals and organisations from around the world come together to bring attention to the global AIDS epidemic. 2008 marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day. Whilst we have come a long ways since 1988, there is still much more to be done.

Working

A couple weeks ago the couple that I work for asked me if I wanted to work today. I told them I would check with Ryan to see if he had to work. He asked around and they only got a paid holiday for Thanksgiving, so if he wanted to take it off he would either have to use vacation time (which we are trying to save up for when we go to the Virgin Islands in February) or not get paid (not a very fun option especially around the holidays). Since he was going to be working I told them I would work. Ryan found out earlier this week that 'working' today meant to drive around to local Tilly's and competitors and check out the sales and such going on. He will probably be doing that for all of 2 hours or so, so I guess I could have taken the day off, but at least now I am getting paid. Anyway, since no one is really working today it has been super slow in the office, which is a very nice change of pace. Today I am updating our address book (BORING), so that all of our customers are set up with a standard entry and all have the same info, which means having to pull all of the files and get the missing info. I have made it through about 65 of them so far... Only a few more hundred to go (don't worry, this is an ongoing project I was told, so I don't need them done today, which is nice, because I think I would have to stay for an extra few days to get them all done).

Trot Article

Champions Are Thankful at Oceanside Turkey Trot

OCEANSIDE, CA, November 27, 2008 - The champions, as well as the rest of the record field of more than 4,100, had plenty to be thankful about as heavy rains avoided downtown Oceanside long enough to allow the third annual Oceanside Turkey Trot to go off in ideal Southern California conditions.

Many in the holiday races that help support the Move Your Feet Before Your Eat Foundation, came dressed in costume, including two entrants who maneuvered a 12-foot long slice of pumpkin pie around the course. But the race also had more than its share of fast runners.

With ideal running prevailing despite heavy rains in nearby towns, fast times were needed to win the day's feature race - the Local's Only 5K Run/Walk.

Steve Albanese, a volunteer cross country coach at nearby Vista High School, broke away late in the race to win in 16:00, seven seconds ahead of David Kloz and another second better than third-place Jeffrey Wilson. All three are Oceanside residents.

"I'm thankful for the running community here," said Albanese, who recently moved to Southern California from Chicago. "They are like a second family to me, and there were a lot of runners from Vista in the field, along with another volunteer coach, and I was glad to show them how it's done."

The Locals Only 5K champion was Jessica Sandoval, who ran for Oceanside High School as a prep and recently completed her collegiate cross country season at nearby Cal State San Marcos. Her time of 17:56 was 11 seconds faster than her time here last year and more than two minutes better than runner-up Kelly Bieraugel of Alexandria, Virginia.

Winning the wheelchair title was a beaming Sandra Rush.

"I'm thankful that I can just do this ... have this chance to compete," said Rush, who has been in her chair for 22 years.

The rest of the article here.

Padot Thanksgiving

Looks like we missed out on some good crafts this year... Maybe there will be more to come for Christmas when we are back!!

IC Book Drive

Biggest Book Drive in History
Invisible Children is giving you the chance to get involved without spending a dollar. Donate your books to IC and they can be sold to raise money for northern Uganda.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

I would highly recommend seeing this film. Ryan and I just went and saw it. Very moving.

"The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" is a fictional story that offers a unique perspective on how prejudice, hatred and violence affect innocent people, particularly children, during wartime. Through the lens of an eight-year-old boy largely shielded from the reality of World War II, we witness a forbidden friendship that forms between Bruno, the son of Nazi commandant, and Shmuel, a Jewish boy held captive in a concentration camp. Though the two are separated physically by a barbed wire fence, their lives become inescapably intertwined. The imagined story of Bruno and Shmuel sheds light on the brutality, senselessness and devastating consequences of war from an unusual point of view. Together, their tragic journey helps recall the millions of innocent victims of the Holocaust.

Pelly

I made a friend at the Pier this afternoon...

Food, Food & More Food

We made cheese lasagna, mashed potatoes, crossiant rolls, cherry and vanilla pies. Check out some of the pictures :)

Turkey Trot

I trotted my butt off this morning... My splits were 9:02 mile 1, 18:18 mile 2 and finishing at 28:10. I came in 415th place over all, 178th in the females and 17th in my age bracket (18-24). Ryan was a spectator and took a ton of pictures. The ran stopped for the race, but decided to open up again after the race (so the walk back to our apartment was quite the soggy one. We have posted the race pictures up so far (and will be posting food pictures throughout the day). Check them out if you would like to see me trying to finish the race.

Weather

The race is in less than 2 hours and it is POURING... It hasn't rained in like over 8 months and it is POURING now... Well, maybe this will keep people from coming out and I will get a better place... Hopefully it doesn't effect my time... I am shooting for between 27 and 30 minutes...

[PS Normally, people probably enjoy running in the rain, and I am sure I would too, IF MY FIBRO HADN'T BEEN KICKING MY BUTT FOR THE PAST 2 DAYS BECAUSE OF IT]

Race Tomorrow

Annual Turkey Trot swells in popularity
Event expected to draw 5,000 runners to beach Thursday morning

OCEANSIDE ---- In its third year, the Oceanside Turkey Trot expects to see about 5,000 runners and walkers, more than double the 2,200 galloping gobblers who ran the inaugural event in 2006, organizers said this week.

The race, which operates under the slogan "move your feet before you eat," brings a hungry horde to Oceanside's waterfront for five kilometers of early-morning pavement pounding.

Many arrive in turkey costumes, some come dressed as Native Americans. All are looking to burn a few calories to justify an extra helping of stuffing and gravy later in the day.

More of the article here.

Some E Card

I saw this one and thought of Ryan and I (and how others may see us, hehe)

Starbucks GOES (RED)

Date: Monday, December 1, 2008
Time: 7:00am - 7:00pm
Location: Participating Starbucks locations in the US & Canada

Join us in support of World AIDS Day. We're giving 5¢ to the Global Fund for every hand-crafted Starbucks beverage sold on December 1, 2008.*
Invite your friends! We're counting on every customer to help make a difference. Together, we can do a world of good.
Learn more about Starbucks' partnership with (RED)™ to help save lives in Africa. Visit http://www.facebook.com/starbucks.
* Excludes ready-to-drink beverages and Ethos® Water

----------------------------------

Starting November 27 till January 2, every time you buy a (STARBUCKS)RED Exclusive beverage:
Espresso Truffle
Gingersnap Latte
or Peppermint Twist Mocha
from participating Starbucks locations, well give 5¢ to the Global Fund to help save lives in Africa.
And in support of World AIDS Day on December 1, well donate 5¢ of every hand-crafted beverage we sell that day.
Buy (RED) Help Save Lives.
At participating Starbucks locations, 11/28/08 to 1/2/09. World AIDS Days excludes Ready to drink beverages, Ethos® Water.

Jedidiah Sale

On Saturday December 6th, Jedidiah will be holding a warehouse sale to help benefit The Gabriel House, A Hope Collection Partner. Come by and hang out, pick up some new clothes and enjoy some great tunes by Joel P. West. See you there!

Tumbleweed

I LOVE THESE HOUSES!!! Maybe Ryan and I will be able to build one sometime...

Tumbleweed Houses

Jay Shafer has been living in a house smaller than some people's closets since 1997. In 1999, he created the Tumbleweed Tiny House company, which builds and sells plans for homes that range in size- from 65 to 774 square feet. Yes, that's right, I said 65 square feet! With 20 different floor plans to choose from and a variety of designs, The Tumbleweed Tiny House company has become a small housing phenomenon. According to Mr. Shafer, "As the economy becomes more worse off, the more plans I tend to sell." While the company only builds homes in California right now, anyone can buy the plans for a Tiny home and build it yourself. For those interested in making life simpler, check out the company's website!

One Month

One month till Christmas, which means less than one month till we head back to Michigan for a few days - WHOO HOO!! I haven't been back in Michigan since my bridal shower in July. We are going to try and fit a bunch of stuff in the few days that we are there (like the lights at the Toledo Zoo, Detroit Pistons game, visiting both sets of extended families, possibly serving a meal at the Cherry St. Mission, church, playing with puppies, possibly sledding if there is snow, maybe some Christmas cookie decorating, etc). We are 90% done with all of our shopping. I know, I know, you probably figured I would have been done a month ago, but now that my family size has doubled and I have to get Ryan's opinion on everything it is slowing down the process slightly :) (NOT in a bad way, just getting used to everything of course). I am hoping that we will be able to finish up all of the shopping either this week or next so we can send everything over to my parents house (so that we don't have to take it with us on the plane with the possibility of losing our luggage or something like that - not that I trust the postal service any more than the airlines though). We did finish our Holiday Letter last night (we wanted to take a picture in front of our Christmas tree for the letter), so once I buy stamps after work today and get everything together I will be able to send those out in the beginning of December.

Are you counting down the days yet?! What about listening to Christmas tunes yet?!

Used to get high

Christmas Shots

We were taking a few pictures by the tree tonight (so that we can finish up our holiday letter this week). Check out all of our trials here. We also took a couple more shots of the stockings that we hung too.



This is the shot we ended on.

Thanksgiving Lasagna

We decided that we will be starting a tradition this year (well we started it last year, but it isn't really a tradition until you do it more than once, right?), Thanksgiving Lasagna. My Aunt Linda would always bring lasagna for family holidays, so it isn't a far stretch for me. We found a yummy lasagna recipe this morning (before we went grocery shopping).

Easy Four Cheese Lasagna

We are planning on making lasagna, croissant rolls, mashed potatoes, corn, and individual pies (the little mini graham cracker pie crusts, Ryan will have cherry filling and I will have vanilla pudding). We will be sure to take lots of pictures I'm sure :)

What traditions do you have our the holiday season?! What new traditions are you planning on starting this year?!

Ryan @ Tilly's

Check out two of the LARGE banners Ryan made for Tilly's Three Day Sale. (When the McClurgs were here last month they tried to take a photo of Ry with some of his art in the store and they got yelled at, so we just took a picture outside the store).

Yearbook Yourself

Ryan and I were bored a little during the football game (second half was sucktastic).

Check out Yearbook Yourself if you are have time :) You go from 1950-2000 (every 2 years)...

Baby Gabe!!

Yay!!

Go Blue!

Okay, I am not getting my hopes up, but I will be crossing my fingers for a crazy win tomorrow :)

OSU looks to make history with fifth straight win over Michigan

Despite struggling offensively, Ohio State has the chance to win a share of a fourth consecutive Big Ten title and earn an automatic BCS berth.

The Buckeyes also have a strong shot at winning five in a row over rival Michigan for the first time in school history.

Sitting in a three-way tie for first place in the conference, No. 10 Ohio State needs a victory over the struggling Wolverines and a Michigan State upset of Penn State on Saturday to reach its fifth BCS game in the last six years -- with the Rose Bowl the likely destination.

More of the article here.

Working Late

Today I am working a later shift, 8-4 (instead of 6-2). The reason is we are going up to Escondido and Murrieta to do a few installs of credit card machines at Volkswagen dealerships that we just got their business. I think it will be nice to see the customer. Although I could have slept in for another hour or so, my body didn't seem to want to let me, so I figured I could try and do a few of the things I normally do after work before work today (like blog and such, hehe).

Happy 22nd B-day!

Happy Birthday Kyle!!

I Love You!!

Recovering Soldier

My mom sent me this in an email and I thought it was a great idea (and takes little effort but could make a world of difference in someone's life):



What a Wonderful Christmas this would make for one of our Military recovering from the War, surprise them with a Christmas Card !!!! This is a small thing to do to cheer ther day.

When doing your Christmas cards this year, take one card and send it to this address.

If we pass this on and everyone sends one card, think of how many cards these wonderful special people who have sacrificed so much would get.

When you are making out your Christmas card list this year, please include the following:

A Recovering American Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20307-5001

Please pass it on

The Office

We don't have growth group tonight (Mike is pretty sick), but one of the nice things will be being able to see The Office when it is first shown on TV, hehe... I know, I know, we are nerds! But we like being nerds :)

Frame Toby
Tonight at 09:00 pm NBC (ch 23) All Upcoming Airings

Someone made a huge mess in the microwave and refuses to clean it up.


Dirt is dished over a dirty dish: Tension boils over when a mysterious someone leaves a culinary mess in the office microwave. Meanwhile, Michael has trouble accepting that personnel changes were made. Someone made a huge mess in the microwave and refuses to clean it up.

Toms for the Holidays

WATCH THIS SHORT FILM:

4 Miles again :)

Today I ran another 4 miles, whoo hoo. Sunday I ran 2.5 miles, Monday I decided to bump it up to the 4 miles, and Tuesday I went back down to 2.5. Today I was planning on doing 1.25 (Thursday another 2.5, Friday 4, etc, so that it would go up, down and back up), but because the weather I decided to go for it. The weather was perfect for a run today, about 60 degrees, gray and even a little misty. I ran the regular route I run every day and I overheard a guy (I didn't bring my iPod today) say "Dang, that girl is always running", hehe.

Free Pizza

One large, hold the spam: Free pizza if you friend Papa John on Facebook

Abbondanza! Papa John's is so eager to get new friends on Facebook that it's sending a code for a free medium pizza to anyone who becomes a fan of its group page.

Between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m. Monday, Papa John's group went from around 10,000 users to nearly 124,000. That's gonna cost it a lot of dough. The deal, which will be sent out via the group's updates starting Wednesday and requires the purchase of another pizza, ends December 1.

The Pizza Wars are really heating up. Most of the big pie spinners now allow you to order on their sites, through widgets, or via text messaging. I find it more pleasurable to order Domino's by its website than to actually eat the stuff. Watching that little status bar teasingly track your pie's progress in the minutes before your doorbell rings is a lot saucier than the food.

More of the article here.

Gabriel Adam

WELCOME TO THE WORLD LITTLE MISTER!!

Stacey had a C-Section this afternoon because Mr. Gabe was getting a little to big :) Gabe was welcomed into the world at 9lbs 5oz. Baby and mommy are doing great!!

YAY!! Can't wait to see pictures!!