Happy Holidays

OK, my friend Lindsay passed along some good news from Oprah a couple of weeks ago. Now it's my turn!
Go to Oprah.com and click on Holiday Music 2008. She is giving away 8 free Christmas songs that you can burn onto a CD... free and legal!
You only have 48 hours from right now (Wednesday at 4pm pst). Go get it! =)

One month

One month today until Christmas! Yikes! I have been so overwhelmed with getting things done that I didn't really stop to think about the time factor. =)

I am hoping to have some time this weekend to move further along on Christmas cards, get decorations up, maybe find a tree?, and work on report cards as well as plan my classroom for the holiday season. So much to do! haha

DONE

We got a lot done. More than was on my list. We are feeling good about things, and are tired and ready for bed. =)

My to do list

OK, so this weekend Brandon and I are staying home to 'relax'. Brandon turned down the chance to go home for a good friends bachelor party (Brandon is pretty disappointed) and I also decided to just stay home. However... as the week has progressed my to-do list has grown. If I don't organize it and write it down, I will never get the important things done. So here goes:

{1.} Start working on Report Cards-STARTED

{2.} Purchase wedding gifts for one friend

{3.} Make a Costco trip-DONE

*pick up Christmas cards-DONE

*pick up Bunco invites-DONE

*buy supplies for Thanksgiving-DONE

{4.} Make a Wal-Mart trip

*two more white tubs - one for report cards

*contact lens case

*birthday cards for Nate, Luke-DONE, Danielle, other Danielle-DONE

*wedding cards for Sarah, Kevin, and Maci- ALL DONE

{5.} Fred Meyer trip with coupons-DONE

{6.} Clean bathrooms-half DONE, vacuum, dust-DONE

{7.} Print Christmas letter - DONE

{8.} Buy postage stamps at Post Office

{9.} DMV

{10.} Bank-DONE

{11.} Find two more dining room chairs for Thanksgiving

{12.} Rake leaves - DONE

OK, I will leave it at that for now! Looks like our weekend of relaxing is going to be busy!

Friends

Good friends make everything better. Brandon went home to see his family this weekend. So my friend Kelly came over to stay with me. we had a great time! We stayed up late, visited, went to dinner, went to Old Navy twice, vented to each other, hugged each other, confirmed each others ideas and brought new ideas to the table. We cooked breakfast and even hit a football game before it was time for her to leave. I am so thankful for her, and count myself so lucky each day that I have her in my life. Thanks for staying Kelly!

Last weekend my friend Lindsay drove out of her way with her husband and two wonderful boys to come and see me and our new house. It meant SO much to me that they did this. We then spent the next part of the weekend together visiting, sharing, venting, talking cameras and computers and school. We baked cookies and made Carmel corn and even did a little shopping! We had so much fun and it was so great to get to see her somewhere besides Eastern Oregon! haha I count myself lucky each day for Lindsay and her friendship. She has brought me new ideas and listened to my ideas over the past three years.

Thanks for everything girls! I love you so much and think of you daily.

Ice Cream

OK, I have found a great new ice cream!
If you know me you know I love ice cream. I have always loved ice cream. Growing up I ate ice cream every evening. The tradition continued through most of college and into my days in Hermiston. This tradition also carried through into my married days.
I am usually pretty predictable when it comes to the flavors... cookies and cream or cookie dough. SOMETIMES I branch out to chocolate peanut butter or mint chocolate chip.
Like this weekend... I had a sore throat and so Brandon and I just had to stop in Newport and get an ice cream cone. Rather than buy my usual cookies and cream... I did get the mint chocolate chip. I mean, whoa!
So... Monday while I was at the grocery store and I was snooping through the ice cream isle... i found our new seasonal fave.
YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS FLAVOR!
Gingerbread cookie is the one to try. Go to Safeway... buy this ice cream. You will love it. We did.

Pacific City, Oregon

Brandon and I got to spend two days with one of my favorite friends at their family Beach House. It was so much fun!! The weekend started off with them stopping by our new house so they could see it. (I was SO excited to have them here!!!) I wish they could come by more often. Then we all Eastern Oregon carpooled over to Newport and then up to Lincoln City to eat at Mo's. We were all excited to finally be there.

That night we spent our time doing a little bit of exploring, visiting, making popcorn and then eating steamer clams. It was so great to be there with them, to relax, and to catch up on news from home.

Sunday we hung out and visited some more and then had lunch at their favorite local place. It was so great to share their favorites and then do a little playing in the sand afterwards. I was sad to leave them behind, but they needed to get on with their vacation! =)
Thanks so much for the invite Murdocks! We had a blast.