This N' That

I hope that everyone had a great holiday weekend! It was amazing to have four days (and a half day last Wednesday) off! This is the most time off we've had in a year, and it was wonderful.

We went out and did some things that we haven't gotten to do in awhile, like go to the dog park with our puppy (it gets dark here at around 4:45PM... by the time we get home its too dark to go, and we have had other obligations for the past few weekends). We took her and also her brother, who my mom still has yet to find a home for...

Here are some pictures from the doggy park... they aren't very clear, because I had turned my flash off and it was around dusk (I didn't want to be that person taking pics of her dog at the park LOL!)

Delilah is on the left, "Big Boy" (He doesn't have an official name...) is the blurry one on the right.

Russ and "Big Boy"

Russ with some other dogs & owners... there was a basset hound puppy that was SO CUTE! His long ears were dragging on the ground they were so big!

Later that day we took the dogs back to my mom's and then headed to the mall. I NEED to get some of my shopping done! So far I have only finished shopping for ONE person, & not even a family member!

So tonight, I will be writing down each person and at least three things (so that I can have options) that I think they would like & where I might find these things... the only person who has told me something they would like is my mom, who has only told me some nightgowns and a throw for her couch. Which really, is a great start.

Russ and I have agreed not to get gifts for each other this year because we would like to just save our money for one of three things... 1. New Mattress 2. New Computer and 3. (at totally bottom of MY list, top of Russ') New TV. Personally, I am just fine with the TV we have, but you know how guys can be with those TVs!

I did at least find a few things for one of my friends at the mall this weekend... but that's about it. Getting Russ to go to the mall with me is like pulling teeth, and if I go without him he complains about being at home or being hungry, etc, etc.

So usually I just bribe him with things like...

Gelato... (this is him sad when all the gelato was gone)

Once again, I hope you all had a great weekend... back to the daily grind tomorrow!

-K

Thanksgiving & Black Friday

Above: We each filled out three leaves, writing what we were thankful for...

I'm trying to get my posts up in a more timely manner... so here is a post and some pictures of our lovely Thanksgiving celebration!

Russ, Lilah and I went over to my mom's house which is about... oh, three minutes away from our house. LOL, yeah we're big travellers this year! We had gone over the night before, and I cooked & baked with my mom for awhile while Russ helped Rob (my step-dad) set up some stuff.

On Thanksgiving day, our neighbors (my Mom's neighbors, but also mine from when I was growing up) came over to join us. My cousin, Leah, came over also, I hadn't seen her in quite awhile. My little brother was also home from Chico, so he was there too. It was really nice to have everyone together and it really makes me look forward to Christmas, which I love so, SO much!

For our Thanksgiving dinner, we had TONS of side dishes, including homemade stuffing (made with sourdough bread, artichokes, and rosemary... A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!), brandied cranberries, mashed potatoes, and a barbecued turkey. I have to admit, I'm not generally a turkey fan, but this one was delicious!

My step-dad, checking on the turkey...

Miss Lilah, simultaneously sun-bathing & hoping for some food to drop!

We are all big cheese fans! Here is our amazing spread with some awesome cheese!

My mom, Kyle & Russ...

My mom & her husband...

Me with our wonderful neighbors, Alysia & her mom Lisa!

Kyle, myself, and my cousin Leah...

Kyle & I with Mom...

Russ playing Guitar Hero...

And showing Lisa how to play...

My mom presenting her Thanksgiving table (we had so many people, we had to add on a table!)

Kyle, after dinner, sleeping on the couch...

After dinner we just lazed about in our turkey-induced comas, and then busted out the SingStar and PlayStation & did some Karaoke for awhile!

And just wanted to share one of my favorite pics that I took right before I uploaded these... my two loves snuggling on the couch!

I really love that pic, and was wondering if anyone knows of any photo editing software that can fix "pet eye"? Typical red eye editors just don't work on Miss Lilah's glowing orbs!! LOL

Well, I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, I know we all did!

Earlier today Russ and I met with my boss to go see Twilight. She and I had both read all of the books (I lent her one, and she read through it in a couple of hours! LOL). I have to say I was quite happy with the movie & think that they did a great job with it. I thought that they added some humor (and some more "grown-up" elements) that the book didn't have, and it was definitely a welcome and needed addition to the story.

I did actually run into the mall for a little bit today, (much to Russ' chagrin) as it was completely PACKED. I don't usually mind crowds, but it did seem like a bit much today. Our mall recently expanded (adding some store such as H&M, Tiffany & Co, Louis Vuitton, Love Culture & TONS of others), so things were even crazier than the usual "Black Friday" shopping experience.

We left after a bit, after bumping into my step-sister, Kristina, and my dad's girlfriend's son (whew! yeah, I usually just call him my step-brother) Josh. We did buy a shirt for Russ from Aeropostale and a few headbands for me (I am obsessed with headbands).

So much for getting any Christmas shopping done...

Well, we are about to head out to dinner, Russ and I have pretty much just been "grazing" on snacks all day and are ready for something good to eat!

Have a wonderful weekend!

-K

Last but not least... SF - Day Two

Good Morning (or afternoon... for other time zones)!

Okay, I know you all are probably sick of the San Francisco pics, but I swear this is my last SF blog (well... for this trip to SF anyways...)

These are pictures from the Academy of the Sciences... basically it was like a museum/exploratorium. My favorite part was the aquarium, I love all the colorful sea life, some of it was beautiful, and some of it was disgusting. LOL...

I'll start with the beginning of the day... Kyle thought he was going to have to ride in the very back of the car, here's him trying to stuff himself in there.

And here we are walking to the Academy of the Sciences...

And here are pics from on top of the "living roof" very fascinating! Yes, those rolling hills that look like a meadow... the roof of the building! See below reasons to "go live", although I can't imagine Russ will let me grow a meadow on our house anytime soon...

A close-up of the roof...

My mom and Aunt, Laura, her little sister :)

And now for the animals and aquarium pictures...

And, very scary, but pretty amazing, an albino crocodile (it could have been an alligator... feel free to correct me, I honestly do NOT know the difference LOL)

Outside after the museum... just relaxing in the park.

And finally... after a long and wonderful weekend, here is how it ended for Russ and my grandpa, who fell asleep watching t.v at my aunt's

Once again, I hope you all have a lovely Thanksgiving. I know I personally have a lot to be thankful for and I think it's going to be a really great holiday! I don't mind the four days off in a row either (!!!) this is the most time off I've had in a LONG time!

Take care & be thankful!

- K

Without Rhyme or Reason...

Because I finally can, a short blog

Ok, So I probably should have just done this blog sooner, since it goes with my last post, but this week has just been CRAZY!

My grandma and grandpa were here for awhile, and work has just been busy busy busy! It definitely makes me thankful for my nice short week (and half day tomorrow)!!

So without further ado, here are some random shots around San Francisco... these were mostly all after we went to Alcatraz and we kind of just wandered up the pier and in that general area. Then, we took the bus back to my Aunt's house, because we met up with my aunt, uncle, and my little brother (who rode to the city with us) for dinner that night.

As the title suggests, here are some snaps without rhyme or reason :)

Above: Creepy guy dressed up as a dog & with his three dogs wearing "people clothes"

If you can't see the picture above clearly... it is a man taking his dog for a walk... with the cat riding on the dog's back. That's San Francisco for you!

And breaking theme (do I really even have one?) - here are some pics from earlier that day...

Below: Kyle throwing a penny off of the ledge... because he's a guy and still amused by that.. LOL!

2nd Below: Our parking garage had quotes on each parking spot... I have always liked the one we parked at :)

Above - Kyle & Russ waiting for the bus.

If I don't blog before - I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!