PandA-monium!

A's 25 Random Things...

2009-01-30T10:09:00.000-08:00

1. I have a HUGE sweet tooth (no secret there)!

2. My favorite movie of all time is Empire Records - "damn the man!" And my favorite TV show is King of Queens, even though I've probly seen every episode 3x.

3. Im' a big sap at heart - I will cry at any sad movie - but only when I'm alone... I try not to show that weakness in public.

4. I like to make plans for everything and hate leaving things up to "chance". If I could plan everything I would - just to have control.

5. I'm a bona fide perfectionist... it's both a blessing and a curse.

6. I love to sleep in, even if I'm already getting more than 8 hours of sleep.

7. I hate working out, but feel that as I get older I need to stay fit so I can live a long, happy life.

8. I always wanted to be popular in high school, but later realized that I would rather have a few very close friends than to have everyone like me and not have any sense of friendships.

9. I used to scrapbook... A LOT. And I miss doing it. But it's also so much work!

10. I don't have a very green thumb... I only have one plant, a corn plant - and even that I can't remember to water very often (so I got Aqua Globes... and I forget to refill those too).

11. I like to try cooking new recipies that I haven't made before, and Paul is so good about eating it even if it's not that great.

12. I like to bake, but always feel guilty when eating the cakes, cookies, and breads because I know what went into them.

13. I love spending money on "kitchy" decorative things. My house is full of them, and then I'm constantly trying to buy more things to organize them.

14. I like to use my creative design skills to help my friends in their own homes... whether it's paint selection, art shopping, or designing a whole baby nursery.

15. I can Photoshop really well and I like working on it - I have fooled many with my super-impositions (if that wasn't a word, it is now).

16. I get really bad cluster headaches that last for several days at a time - I have to take 3 Excedrin just to make it through the day, and even then, they don't fully go away - I wake up with them the next day.

17. You might call me a "pack rat"... I save EVERYTHING.

18. I wish I made more money, so that I could take some of the pressure off of Paul.

19. I want to get a Shih Tzu puppy, but am afraid I could not care for it right (if it's anything like a corn plant)... so instead we have a Beta fish (and Paul takes care of it).

20. I want to have kids one day, but am afraid my "life" will be over once I do.

21. I currently don't attend a church, although I am a Christian. I love the Lord, I pray every day, and I have faith that things will always work out for His perfect will and purpose.

22. I have often wondered what my life would be like if I had done just one small thing differently - like gone to a colllege out of state, or travelled abroad for a year, or gotten a big-time design job just out of school...would anything be different?

23. I miss my friends and family back home in WA state. I thought we would have moved back there by now, but with the economy rut we're stuck in, it's looking like a long way off.

24. I'm in love with Dave Matthews - he'd be my "one night pass", and Paul's OK with that... I think.

25. I love my husband more than words can say (and more than Dave), and the life that we've created togeher.

Just for mom...

2009-01-02T18:15:00.000-08:00

I know, blogging 3 times in one day?!?!?!?!

(Click to enlarge)

This is the temporary spot for it... it's been on the wall since mid-December when I decorated for C-mas. It looks real good next to all my nutcrackers and garland there, but I don't know if I'll like it there once the nutcrackers are put away. I'll keep you posted, as we're probly putting it all away this weekend. :) Love you!!!

Posted by: ~Shaboo*

2008 TEST

2009-01-02T17:56:00.000-08:00

Match the headline event to the month it happened in 2008 (sorry I can't format it like a matching game in here...). Try to do it without looking them up online:

JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY
AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER

Detroit Red Wings defeat the Pittsburg Penguins to win the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals 4-2
Democrat Barack Obama wins the 2008 US presidential election, making him the first African American president
Starbucks announces it will close 600 underperforming coffee shops in the US
NY Giants defeat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII
The Games of the XXIX Olympiad commence with the Opening Ceremony in Beijing
OJ Simpson is sentenced to 15-33 yrs. in prison for kidnapping & robbery of 2 sports memorabilia dealers in LV casino
The Olympic torch relay for the 2008 Summer Olympics began in Olympia, Greece
Sichuan province in China suffers an 8.0 magnitude earthquake, killing at least 69,000
Philadelphia Phillies win the 2008 World Series 4-1, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays
Delta Airlines takes over Northwest Airlines and creates the worlds largest airline company
Actor Heath Ledger of Australia dies of a medicine overdose
Crude Oil drops below $100/barrel for the first time since February, and gas prices drop to under $4/gallon

I will post the answers later this weekend. :) No, there is no prize - except a virtual *hug* from me!

Posted by: ~A*

The countdown is over...

2009-01-02T13:30:00.000-08:00

HAPPY 2009 everyone!!

OK, so we all know that things don't always go excactly as we've planned. I had all these grand ideas (including a game to play) and great menu foods ready (including cheese fondue and a chocolate fountain)... well, it's a good thing that most of the stuff I was making don't require a lot of prep time, and as a professional procrastinator, nothing had started being prep'd by the time the cancellations starting ringing in. My neighbor Sara got strep throat that day, Trisha wasn't feeling well and went to bed early, and Crystal got sick the night before with a flu bug. So that took 3 couples / 6 people out of the expected guests list.

Our close firends, Brian and Danielle showed up around 7:30, and by that time I had already changed out of my "dressy" clothes, and into something much more comfortable and casual, since I was upset and didn't feel the need to be a "fancy hostess" any longer. So instead of the whole lot of food I had ready to go, we just had a few bites to eat (mini quiches, mini crabcakes, BBQ lil' weenies, cream cheese & pepper jelly dip with pretzels, etc.) About an hour later Mike, Lisa and Vinny (3 yrs. old) showed up and they were able to stay until about 10:00. We entertained Vinny with some Mario Kart Wii and Monsters, Inc. until he just couldn't last any longer!

After Mike & Lisa took off to put Vinny to bed, I brought out some chocolate fondue, since I wasn't doing the fountain. We dipped away with strawberries and bananas, brownie bites, and smores makings... the dish you can't see had pretzels in it. YUM!!!

Paul & Brian

Danielle & Alicia

After our champagne toast and watching [poor] Dick Clark on the New Year's Eve Countdown, the boys went out on the deck and enjoyed some cigars while D and I stayed in and did what we do best - talking and sipping champagne! We also enjoyed a little Wii Fit, and my favorite new Wii game, Animal Crossing!

So all in all, it was a good New Year's. I guess if you're going to have a party and only a few people show up, it is good to have it be your best friends that show up. :P

Posted by: ~A*

Merry Ho Ho's & Happy Ding Dong's!!

2008-12-26T23:59:00.000-08:00

WOW! It has been an eventful week!

Well, if you haven't seen it or yours was lost in the US mail (as many things have been so far this season)... here is our Christmas Card this year. Since you can't read the bottom corner, it says:

"Wishing you the very best of

everything this holiday season.

Merry Christmas and God Bless!

~Paul & Alicia Jacobson"

Well, we have had 3 days of Christmas this year, because we were sticking to the typical "McClees" tradition of Christmas Eve gift opening and "Jacobson" tradition of Christmas morning gift opening and dinner celebration. Well, due to the blizzard conditions in the great white north (aka Seattle), Steve & Kerry's flight got cancelled and John & Mark no longer wished to drive in the weather's dangerous conditions... so we sent gifts up to them and vice versa their gifts were sent down here - but they didn't show up until today. As soon as Paul got home from work, he wanted to open more gifts and have our "third Christmas!!" Not only that, but yesterday we had a full on turkey dinner with all the trimmings, and Uncle Jim, Aunt Judy, and Auntie Michaele came over to enjoy it with us!

CHRISTMAS #1 - "McCLEES CHRISTMAS" - Christmas Eve night

Tree photo #1

Really mom? Cashmere? Mmmmm... so soft!

Legos and Wii! Nothing goes better together!

Wii game, DVDs, and new cozy PJs!

Some light reading... OK, so some of us do more intellectual reading than others... :P

CHRISTMAS #2 - "PandA CHRISTMAS" - Christmas morning

Tree photo #2

She looks like a pink nightmare!

Paul looks like a happy 8 year old, opening up his Zune MP3 player!

And Alicia looks like a 3 year old, opening up her Wii Fit from Santa!

Christmas breakfast with danishes - ham in the eggs - a new twist to the ol' favorite

Playing with our new Wii toy

Holiday PJs, toes, fingers, and Wii Fit balance board

CHRISTMAS #3 - "JACOBSON CHRISTMAS" - Earlier today, the 26th

Mmmm... birch bark!

Tree photo #3, after boxes arrived today! ;)

Hung the stockings back up with care

Discontinued balls...

Wii game (a penguin one from Mom 0024, imagine that!) and DVDs

Paul's new Man Utd jersey

Opening the last gift... finally! ;)

Well God (and Santa!) has been very good to us this year. Even though I was laid off from my job and the economy / interior design business is down the drain, He had a plan to give Paul a new job and managerial position to balance out the loss we were feeling in my salary. Through his new job, we were also blessed with health insurance (very important to me) and a transportation allowance. On the side, we were still able to afford the mortgage on our home, plus we even started up life insurance this year (wow, we are so becoming adults!). Also, thank you to everyone for all the Christmas gifts! We will enjoy them, and hopefully you'll do the same with what we sent you! :)

So rather than looking back on the year and regretting what we didn't have, we are counting our many blessings! We hope your year has also been as much of a blessing to you and your family, and truly cannot thank everyone enough for being such an important part of our lives and support in this last year. To celebrate, we are having a small, casual get-together on New Year's Eve with some close friends, couples, and their kids that live around in our area. I'm sure the Christmas meatballs and BBQ Lil' smokies will be making an appearance as well as a bottle or two of Asti (my fave)! :)

We hope your Christmas was all that you wished for and full of family & friends!

May 2009 bring you much peace and prosperity, health and happiness!

(Will post photos from our New Year's Eve party

after it happens next week... so stay tuned!)

Posted by: ~A*

What Christmas is all about...

2008-12-24T22:06:00.000-08:00

(Click to enlarge)

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this [shall be] a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

Luke 2:8-14

Merry Christmas to us, Merry Christmas to us! (to the tune of Happy Birthday)

2008-12-24T11:18:00.000-08:00

So, we were going to keep this a secret until my parents got into town, but Mother Nature seems to have conspired against us... so the secret must be let out!!!

Remember those really bad Lexus commercials where a car is on the driveway Christmas morning, and everybody thinks "Who buys a car for Christmas???" We always asked the same thing... but apparently, WE DO!!!! Meet the newest addition to the Jacobson family - our 2007 Volvo XC90, Sven/Glenda (There's two names because it has both a male and female voice on the GPS). In fact, we might just call is Svenda (who am I kidding, we already call is Svenda!).

In a time of epic financial difficulty for the country, this is my company's newest attempt to save the economy. Who cares if Obama or McCain won, consumerism is the biggest victor!

Initially, we were looking to get an S60, the rental car I loved so much on our last trip up north, but we fell in love with the SUV when we got on the lot (I know, I know, stupid Americans and their huge cars.) We had to get one with a special package that folds in the side mirrors automatically to fit it easily in our little garage, so the manager offered to go buy one just for us at the auction! He went out with our Christmas wishlist and found us exactly what we were looking for, and even added heated seats for fun! A didn't think that she needed heated seats, but then she sat down on them for the first time, and now they're her favorite feature. Imagine that.

Now A has all the space she needs to put tables, artwork, and helper monkeys in the back, and with the prices of SUVs these days, it cost the same as a sedan made a heck of a lot more sense.

So, this is our Merry Christmas to us! I guess we'll be getting rid of the Honda, she has served me well. I'll miss her and her two doors that were impossible to get into and out of in the garage, and the hole in the arm rest, and the inability to tell me how fast I'm going or how far I've gone, and the... well, you get the picture. I'm sure she'll serve some 16 year old well until she goes the way of the Yugo.

Until next time, stay classy Stockholm.

Posted by PJ

Pick-a-Pic!

2008-12-15T10:32:00.001-08:00

OK, so I may be copying my sister-in-law's post, but it's too funny not to forward.

Here's the rules:
1) Choose the 4th folder where you store your pictures on your computer
2) Select the 4th picture in the folder
3) Explain the picture
4) Tag 4 people to do the same NO CHEATING! (cropping, editing, etc!)

This picture was taken May 15th, 2008. This is on "Irvine's Bike to Work Day". Paul had a nice chilly ride, about a 9 mile trek. He regretted the decision once he got to the hill on MacArthur. But on the way home, found he didn't really have to pedal until about 2 miles away from home! I got up early that day to document the ride, and I'm not sure he's touched the bike since!

I don't have enough people to tag other than mom, unless Evey and Andrea want to do it again with the 5th folder, 5th picture!

MAD-libs! Yes, I'm that bored...

2008-12-14T23:04:00.000-08:00

Dear Evey,
I don't really know how to tell you this, but I'm in love with your dog. I think I realized it when I threw up in your sock drawer in your closet and sit on the elephant in the corner. I'm sure you're frostbitten enough to understand that I get turned on only by garbage men. I'm returning the pictures from vegas to you, but I'll keep your collectoin of butterflies as a memory.
You should also know that I haven't showered in a month and our friendship is ruined.
Please don't hurt me,
Alicia.

HAHA! This is fun, now do your own!

Dear (someone),
I don't really know how to tell you this, but (1). I think I realized it (2)(3) and (4)(5).I'm sure you're (6) enough to understand (7). I'm returning (8) to you, but I'll keep (9) as a memory.
You should also know that I (10) and (11).
(12),
(Your name).

1) What's the color of your shirt?
Blue - I'm in love with your dog
Red - Our affair is over
White - I’m joining the Convent
Black -Our romance is over
Green- Our socks don't match
Grey - You're a leprechaun
Yellow - I'm selling myself for candy
Pink - Your nostrils are insulting
Brown - The mafia wants you
No shirt - You're mean
Other -I dislike your eyelashes

2) Which is your birth month?
January - That night you picked your nose
February -When you smacked my ass
March - When your dwarf bit me
April - When I tripped on peanut butter
May - When I threw up in your sock drawer
June - when i quoted forest gump
July – when you put cuffs on me
August - When I saw the purple monkey
September - Last year when you peed your pants
October - When we skinny dipped in the bathtub
November - When your dog humped my leg
December - When u finally changed ur underwear

3) Which food do you prefer?
Tacos - In your apartment
Lasagna- In your car
Pasta - Outside of your office
Hamburgers - Under the bus
Salad – As you were eating Kraft Dinner
Chicken - In your closet
Kebab - With Jean Chrétien
Fish - In a clown suit
Sandwiches - At the Elton John concert
Pizza - At the mental hospital
Hot dog - Under a street light
Annat- With George Bush and Stephen Harper

4) What's the color of your socks?
Yellow - Ignore
Red - Carve your initials into
Black - Hit on
Blue - Knock out
Purple - Pour syrup on
White - Put whipped cream on
Grey - Pull the clothes off
Brown - bit of
Orange - Castrate
Pink - Pull the pants off of
Barefoot - Sit on
Other - Drive over

5) What's the color of your underwear?
Black - My boyfriend
White - My father
Grey – The Catholic Priest
Brown – The Montreal Canadian’s goalie
Purple - My corned beef hash
Red – My knee caps
Blue - My salt-beef bucket
Yellow - My illegitimate child in Ghana
Orange - My Blink 182 cd
Pink – Your ‘My Little Pony’ collection
None – My prized statue of Michael Jackson in the nude
Other --The elephant in the corner

6) What do you prefer to watch on TV?
One Tree Hill - Senile
Heroes- Frostbitten
Lost - High
Simpsons- Cowardly
The news - Scarred
American Idol - vexed
Family Guy - Open
Top Model - Middle-class
Other - Slutty

7) Your mood right now?
Happy - How awful you are
Sad - How boring you are
Bored - That I get turned on only by garbage men
Angry - That your smell makes me vomit
Depressed – That we’re related
Excited - That I may pee my pants
Nervous - The middle-east is planning their revenge on you
Worried - That your Ford sucks
Apathetic - That you need a sex-change
Ashamed - That I'm allergic to your earlobes
Cuddly - That Santa doesn't exist
Silly - That there is no solution to you being a dumb kid
Other - That your driving sucks

8) What's the color of your walls in your bedroom?
White - Your toe ring
Yellow - The cut toenails
Red - Your Hannah Montanna underwear
Black - Your pet rock
Blue - The couch cushions
Green - Your car
Orange - Your false teeth
Brown - Your nose hair clippers
Grey - Our matching snoopy underwear
Purple - Your old New Kids on the Block blanket
Pink(ish) - Your love letters to me
Other - The pictures from Vegas

9) The first letter of your first name?
A/B - Your collection of butterflies
C/D - Your photo with the mustache drawn on it
E/F - Your neighbor dog
G/H - The oil tank from your car
I/J - Your left ear
K/L - The results of that blood-sample
M/N - your virginity
O/P - My common sense
Q/R - Your mom
S/T - Your glass eye
U/V - Your criminal record
W/X – Your sucide note
Y/Z - Your credit cards

10) The last letter in your last name?
A/B - Haven’t showered in a month
C/D - Always will remember the pep talks
E/F - i hate your cooking
G/H – am better off without you
I/J – Mocked you behind your back constantly
K/L - Will tell the authorities that you did not steal that whale in the back yard
M/N - Told in my confession today about the moose poaching
O/P - Was interviewed about the car you stole
Q/R - Always wanted to break your legs
S/T - Get sick when I think of your feet
U/V - Will try to forget that you broke my heart
W/X- I told my psychiatrist about the bruises
Y/Z-bought tampons from winn dixie

11) What do you prefer to drink?
Wine- Our friendship is ruined
Soft drink – I’m off to lead a new life as a lemon
Soda – I will haunt you when I’m reincarnated as an Eskimo
Milk - The apartment building is on fire
Water – You should get that embarrassing rash checked
Cider– I have a passionate interest for mice
Juice – You ruined my attempts at another world war
Mineral water – I'm scratching my butt as you read this
Hot chocolate – Your Cucumber-fetishism Is Weird
Whiskey - I love Oprah Winfrey
Beer – you should stop picking your nose
Other – Thanks for the Cocaine

12) To which country would you prefer to go on a vacation?
Italy - Warm tingly sensations
Australia - Best of luck on the sex change
France - Love always
Spain - With tears of sadness
China – You make me sick
Germany – Please don’t hurt me
Japan - Go milk a cow
Greece - Your everlasting enemy
USA - Greetings to your frog Leonard
Egypt – Kiss my butt
England - Go drown yourself about the bruise

Time warp...

2008-11-08T16:45:00.000-08:00

I've discovered I can go back in time! Well, sort-of.

Since I figured out I can post a blog, and date it on the day it actually occured, I guess I don't really have to blog about things the day they happen... and I have a lot to blog about!

So in the coming week you will see some new posts to our blog, that are not exactly "on time" but this way they will still be "in order". :P

The East Coast Jacobsons

2008-11-01T23:59:00.000-07:00

Hello everybody, this is our cousin Matt Jacobson.

Up close and personal so you get to know him well.

And here are the newlyweds.

Tim Jacobson (brother of Matt) and wife Christin.

Newlyweds again (in color)

Uncle Dave, Tim, and Matt.

Arriving in Philidelphia PA on halloween night, Paul and I rented a car to make the 45 minute drive over to Marlton, NJ where the wedding festivities were taking place. We made it that night to their rehearsal dinner (nice of them to invite us out-of-towners!), which was a costume party - little did we know. So we dressed up as - you got it! - TRAVELERS! That night we drove about an hour south into Hockessin, DE to stay with Matt & Alisha (that's right, we have a second Alisha Jacobson in the family - which is why she goes by Alisha #2, at least around me).

Paul & Matt bonding over Guitar Hero.

The next day for the wedding festivities, we got there a little early since we needed to follow M & A#2 (or MandA), who needed to be there early for photos. So we tooled around Marlton, ate some lunch (bad choice given the amount of food to come later that night), shopped at Trader Joe's, etc... We stumbled on this business park right near where the wedding location was, and decided to stop off and get some photos. The colors were to die for!

Mmmmmmmmm, mmmmmm... gorg!

PandA!

Their ceremony was short and sweet. They replied "I Do" and exchanged the rings simulaneously - no vows needed, it was just time to party!

Shortest ceremony ever! 5 minutes - tops!

Announcing the Mr. & Mrs.

First dance...

The 3 West Coast Jacobsons that could make it.

PandA!

Brothers... hmmm can you tell?

The Jacobson men (minus John & Mark...)

The Jacobson women - Alicia #1 with Alisha #2
(minus Kerry - it's really too bad she couldn't be there)

Gorgeous Autumn colored centerpieces!

Cake Topper - beautiful!

On a stunning (and scrumptious) cake!

More centerpieces... each one different.

All in all, it was a short trip, but we got to see family that we can't see all that often, and spend some quality time with them. We need to have another Jacobson wedding out here on the West Coast for them to come out and see all of us next time (hint, hint John & Mark!). ;)

Sunday morning we got up (relatively) early and Alisha had made us pumpkin pancakes! We were on our way up to Boston that day... longest 5 hour drive ever (because it took more like 6-1/2)!!! See next post for more...

Posted by: ~A*

Bowling night with the Trans

2008-10-25T22:00:00.000-07:00

Recently, we got together with some friends of ours (Trish & Vu) who have just found out that they are pregnant with their first child. (Congrats!) Trish used to be our neighbor, back when we lived in the Irvine Company apartments (Vu was her boyfriend at the time, and later they were engaged & married)... and ever since, we have stayed in touch with them (mostly). I'm glad we have, because we have grown to be good friends - and it is always good to have "couple" friends that all 4 get along.

You can never have too many friends!

Trish & Alicia

Vu & Paul

So Trish wanted to go bowling... First, we enjoyed some Vietnamese food at a local Phŏ restaurant. I could not see anything really appetizing to eat there, so went with the old safe standby - chicken fried rice - and it was really good. :P We then went over to Saddleback Lanes for some friendly bowling competition. The girls beat both guys in the first round, and then the guys starting pulling their Wii bowling "skillz" and kicked our butts the second round. Trish has been thinking about joining a bowling league, and even has her own ball named "Froggy" from a league she was in when she was young. I don't know how well that will work out once her belly gets a little bigger though - especially once it outweighs her bowling ball! ;)

It was a fun night all in all, with friends that we don't get to see all that often. I'm so glad we went, and we need to do it again (or something similar) soon!

Thanks Trans!

Posted by: ~A*

Blogging at work

2008-10-13T08:48:00.000-07:00

Blogging at work, is, at its best, a glorious waste of time. At it's worst, it's still a glorious waste of time! Sweet!

Working hard or hardly working???

2008-09-27T21:38:00.000-07:00

P: Well, P has been working non-stop at his new job (which is going well now that it's been about 3 months and they are starting to get somewhere with the banks). We were just down in Oceanside last night at a company-wide 'Surf & Turf' (yummy!) event hosted by the co-owners. I got to meet some of the people that work with P, and I think they now like me better than him!

There was a raffle, which P was not eligible for (boo!)So instead he got to draw the names

There was food; there was drink - and plenty of it!

There were some gang signs...?
There were some strange signs...?
There was some dancing... badly.And then there was laughter - and plenty of it!And there were some group photos taken:

Paul with co-owners Matt and Mark Team "Don't hate; negotiate!"Keri, Paul, Ave, Matt, & Kindra
The whole gang - Paul, Ave, Mark, Kindra, Matt & Keri

And, yes, I was there... here's a pic to prove it

A: And I have been, well, let's put it this way - trying to work non-stop. I have gotten 2 clients now (and possibly a 3rd in another month or so) with my interior design work, and I'm still working the 2 other part-time jobs (the lighting store, and the Ebay listings). I also just got an "offer" for another part-time Ebay lister, for a gal that runs a website from down here in Mission Viejo, whom I am meeting with next Monday to go over details with. If I ever get something worthy of photographing, I will post pictures then... as for now, they are "works in progress".

Posted by: ~A*

Home, sweet, home... TRIP

2008-09-22T18:37:00.000-07:00

OK, so I realize that we have been what you might call "slackers" on the blogging scene... I just like to call it "busy". ;) Well, prepare yourselves for our longest post ever... and lots of pictures too! So recently, as most of you know, P and I took a little trip "home" to WA state, to celebrate... LIFE, including -

Paul's 30th birthday,

our new nephew Avery,friends' baby showers, friends' weddings,

our families and friends in general, and GOLF of course.

His main objective was to get in as much golf as possible while up there (and several of his golfing buddies from CA came up to join in on the tour), and my objective was to "recharge" by soaking up as much of my new nephew that I could squeeze in time for. Our trip was certainly cram-packed (as always). The first day was all family time for me. I went over to mom & dad's house where Andrea and the boys were, so I got to meet Avery for the first time, and see Great Aunt Carol also (who was visiting for a day or so before moving on to other family). Paul was golfing in the meantime with his dad and brothers that day, up in Seattle at Jefferson.

(Yes, this last pic was taken the next night...)

Day 2 - Paul's birthday - September 19th. Spent the morning prepping for the party... making the cakes & frostings at mom's house (thank you for all your help, mom!). It was no easy task. Then headed to SeaTac to get the mid-sized SUV rental P had reserved for us. That turned out to be there was "no stock" on SUV's, so I ended up in a premium Volvo S60. Not so bad for a rental that cost us $35 for 3 days. Paul was golfing at Chambers Bay in Tacoma - apparently the hardest course he's ever played, and soon to be the home of the US Open in 2015. That evening we partied at the Jacobson's with lots of great food, drinks, (thank you for all your help, mom0024!) and then cake! I tried to "surprise" P by having some of his old friends come to the party, but only one really showed up (thank you, Jeff & Nicole for coming!).

Day 3 - Paul took the rental car all the way out to Ghorst (Gig Harbor-ish) to play McCormick Woods and then Gold Mountain. Meanwhile, I was picked up by an old college roomie (Nicole) to go to another old college roomie's (Danae) 2nd baby shower (I missed the first, so I felt that I owed it to her - oh, and she sort of planned the shower around when I'd be in town). That was all the way over in Naches (Yakima-ish), but Nicole drove us. Once back that afternoon, I got all dolled up for the wedding we were attending that night (Damon & Amanda Cargol's) and Paul "freshened" up at the course before heading straight over to meet up with us at the reception. Long day, and probably the only time I'll ever have a shower & wedding in the same day!

Day 4 - Spent the morning shopping with my mother-in-law (mom0024) while Paul golfed one last time at TPC @ Snoqualmie Ridge. I spent some time that afternoon over at the new house of Bryan & Andrea's... just chillaxin' and hangin' with them and the boys. That was the first day of the trip where I didn't feel like I was running the whole time... too bad it was the last day of the trip. That evening was just simple - party left-overs for dinner, Mark & John came over to hang with P one last time, and we finally went to bed before midnight!

Day 5 - Kerry prepared swedish pancakes for P and I that morning, and we spent the rest of the AM packing up his clubs and getting ready to head back to Cali. Got some great shots of Mt. Rainier from the airplane that afternoon.

Overall, it was just a great trip - and well time-managed & scheduled I might add. Getting to see that many people in that short amount of time was just perfect! And we'll probly do it all over again at Christmas time again! Well, if we can afford to go back so soon... :)

Posted by: ~A*

Happy Birthday Brian!

2008-09-13T22:29:00.000-07:00

Our dear friends Brian & Danielle Lacey invited us out with her family to celebrate Brian's 31st birthday. Most years, we've been going out to celebrate as a double-date, since their birthdays are only 6 days apart. However, this year because of our planned trip to WA, we actually celebrated Brian's birthday on the day of. Dinner at Javier's at the Irvine Spectrum was amazing! Well, the 3 other couples ordered what they call the "La Tablita" - a combo plate of meat and veggies with all your own taco fixings. P and I were the only ones to order something different... P got a Shrimp & a Lobster enchilada, and I got the Chicken enchiladas suiza (yum!). All the pics were taken after our meal was finished, so no pics of the food. But I do like the awesome atmosphere of the place - leather padded walls, waterfall wall, cool candle-lit trees, etc. Here are some of the photos (check MySpace for more):

Birthday boy & his wife

Larry & Stephanie (D's parents)
Ashleyann & Braden (D's sister & hubby)
PandA
Birthday flan!C'mon B, open wide! Here comes the airplane!
Sorry, Ash. Just had to put it in there - this is where 2 margaritas gets you. :)

Posted by: ~A*

Matt and Al go for gold...

2008-08-22T22:11:00.001-07:00

If you did not have a chance to watch the TODAY show much during the last 2 weeks while they've been broadcasting from Beijing (in other words, if you go to work in the daytime unlike ME), then

YOU MUST WATCH THIS!!!

This may be my most favorite thing to come out of the Olympics this season, and will be my last "Olympic" post. If you don't want to watch the whole video, you have to at least scan till about 4 minutes in - it's the best part!

ENJOY!! :)

Dynamic Duo

2008-08-19T23:56:00.001-07:00

They look great up there on the podium together.

It's about time! :) Congrats to Shawn and Nastia!

Phelps Phan!!

2008-08-17T12:16:00.000-07:00

8.8.08 and China's lucky number 8...

8 gold medals, in just 8 days.

A-MAZ-ING!!!

What else can I say?

http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/share.html?videoid=0816_PhelpsBody_JA243

Hillarious!

2008-08-15T21:25:00.001-07:00

OK, I know it's my second post of the day, but I just had to post this! Something I read on some one's MySpace:

"Last night, my wife and I were sitting in the living room and I said to her, "I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle. If that ever happens, just pull the plug." She got up, unplugged the TV and then threw out my beer."

The best part is, I read it out loud to P, and he was simultaneously grabbing his beer and holding it in a "baby" way with this sad look on his face as the Olympics were playing in the background!

Hahahahahahahahahaha!!!! :)

"GO WORLD"

2008-08-15T11:02:00.000-07:00

As awesome as the VISA "GO WORLD" ad campaign is, most of the commercials have featured American athletes, and what an awesome thing they do/have done (but really should have been in a separate campaign entitled "GO AMERICA"). Well, don't get me wrong, I love to root for our country's greatest too, but this commercial in particular is my fave from the campaign... mainly because it is actually cohesive with the tag line at the end of the commercial (one of two, the other being the very first commercial in the campaign titled "Come Together"). And I swear, the commercial makes me tear up every time... or is it just Morgan Freeman's genius narration?

Also, to just recap on last night's gymnastic meet, I'm so happy for Nastia Liukin who won the gold! I was really rooting for her over Shawn Johnson, mainly because everyone was basically expecting it of Johnson to get gold - but I always like rooting for the underdog. She may not have won the world championship last year, but that doesn't mean that with a little concentration and a lot of practice, she can't beat out the opponent she's friends & roomies with for gold! She is the epitome of grace and determination!
http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/share.html?videoid=0815_HD_GAW_HL_L1664

Congrats to them both though, for going 1-2 in the All Around for the US for the first time! A great achievement for both of them.

Speaking of VISA commercials, and Nastia, this one is the runner up to my fave:

Posted by: ~A*

One World One Dream

2008-08-10T10:59:00.000-07:00

It's that time again... time to spend about 4 hours every night, from the prime-time television hour until midnight, to watch the world's best athletes compete in the Summer Olympics. Of course, by the time 8pm PST rolls around, we've already accidentally seen the results from the event we will see later that night rolling across on the 'bottom line' of ESPN. (Kinda takes the excitement out of seeing Michael Phelps beat his own world record and win the gold medal in his self-described "toughest event" this season...) There are a total of 28 sports (and 35 individual categories) in the Olympics, but only about 5 of which that I will really watch... swimming, diving, gymnastics, track, and maybe some of the beach volleyball. P on the other hand, loves it all. He gets so hyped up for the Olympics, he's just like a little kid in a candy store! (Well, what else would you expect from a guy who went to school to study sports [and found he could do it in the form of the law]...?)

As a designer, I have to say that the most amazing part of the Olympics this year has to be the buildings on the Olympic Green! I mean WOW! They started transforming the city as soon as they were awarded the privilege to hold the 2008 Olympics, back in 2001. Can you imagine? (Oh, and to make over 6,000 medals with actual carved out dark green, light green, and the rare white jade on them? I think they would have had to start back in '01 to get them all done!) What I particularly find interesting is the aquatic center, or the "Water Cube" as they're calling it. Don't get me wrong, the "Bird's Nest" is really awesome looking too, but the aquatic center is just so cool since it was built in accordance with a water-saving design concept to be a gigantic green architectural wonder. (For the full article on the official Beijing Olympics website, go here: http://en.beijing2008.cn/cptvenues/venues/nac/headlines/n214241555.shtml) It seems like something Frank Ghery would appreciate... Simply stunning!

But by far, my favorite thing has to be the cute little Olympic mascots this season!!! Have you seen these? They've created these characters named Beibei (the fish), Jingjing (the Panda, and my personal favorite), Huanhuan (the Olympic flame), Yingying (the Tibetan antelope), and Nini (the sparrow)... when you put their names together -- Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni -- they say "Welcome to Beijing." Completely the cutest thing ever, but hmmm... does it remind you of anyone? ;)

Well, I do hope you enjoy watching the Olympics this season... I know we will. And don't stay up too late - this is where the wonderful technology of the Tivo or a DVR comes in handy, especially when you'll be playing digital whack-a-mole (between what, 12 channels?) to find all of the events you'd like to see! While P watches the likes of all 28 sports, you'll most likely find me in the back bedroom keeping up on my Big Brother craze 3x a week, or at the computer playing Chuzzle, TipTop, or Insaniquarium!

Posted by: ~A*

Welcome to PandA-monium!

2008-07-31T13:57:00.000-07:00

Welcome!
Well now, somehow you've managed to navigate your way to this beginner blog, hosted by Paul & Alicia. This blogging is all very new to us, so bear with us as we upload, link, html, post, and subsequently blog. Our lives aren't exactly the most interesting, but as most of our family and friends are WA-staters (with the exception of some in Beantown), we've finally felt compelled to post our updates online... so now family and friends can keep up with where we are and what we're doing with our lives. No, that doesn't mean that right now we have "news" to share, but if we do, you will be sure to find it here... please stay tuned and check back often, as we will try to keep it up to date, as best we can.
Welcome to our panda-monium!

~PandA
(get it?)