{today}

staying home from work today with this one.

i have a bunch of days off that i'm not quite sure how to use up before now and the end of the year, so i'm taking advantage of the fact that i am so caught up and ahead of the game at work and actually staying home with my daughter this morning who is feeling less than terrific.

{she is still sleeping......that makes me happy}

after school yesterday she was feeling crummy. i dropped her off, went back to work, and she slept from about 3:30 until 6:45 when i woke her up to get ready for her volleyball game.

which.....we won. we beat north albany in a great game! madison did so great! i wish you could have been there to see her. feeling like crap.....and still got the job done. then came home and crashed on the couch and crawled into bed around 10:30.

it's burrito tuesday.

same restaurant.....same booth....same food.....every tuesday for almost 2 years now. it is a great tradition with my best friend, missy.

so here is what is on the menu for the rest of my day:

laundry

burrito tuesday

get my hair did

take care of my sick girl

not feel guilty about taking a day off.

i have something up my sleeve for later today, so will post about it soon........

{sunday}

mom and dad, zach ayers, and becca were here yesterday for the duck game. mom and dad brought over tons of food and i'm still eating turkey soup today. thank you so much!!

madison and tayler are at the 7th grade boys football game at north albany today.

the picture above was from a fall swap i did about a year ago. the person i did it for didn't really follow through, so missy reaped the benefits and i gave it to her.

our kitty lex is 8 years old this month.

it is so hot out today. not at all very {fallish}....reminds of the weather we had while we were in idaho. the girls look so cute in this picture.

{homecoming 2008}

homecoming 2008......we beat woodburn. woo hoo.

not feeling the hair so much......no fault of my amazing hair dresser.....maybe it's just that i feel shlubby and yuck and bigger than my son in this picture.

can hair make you look fatter?
tyler and zachary

love this picture of zac with his grammy and papa.....

thanks miss for being my photographer all night.

{homecoming}

last night was homecoming at the high school.....rebs beat woodburn.....by a landslide. missy came and took pictures so when she gets back today she will send them and i will actually have pictures to post of my son.....proving that he does exist.

the girls opted to stay home for yet another photo shoot. they are such hams......

i love to listen to this one talk to her friends. she is great at come backs and calling her friends out when they are being something other than genuine. she does it in such an honest sweet way that typically people can't help but not argue with her because she is "calling it like she sees it" and is usually right.

i think she gets that from her mama and her aunt miss!

{limo ladies}

the funniest thing happened at work today.

we got a phone call that someone was donating a {lincoln town car} to the club.

when jessie and i went to pick it up it was a

{lincoln town car LIMO}......

you know what that means.....we had to go pick madison up from school.

" holy crap. that can't be my mom and her friends yelling at us from the limo....please tell me it's not them....it can't possibly be for me......."

"oh my gosh.....it's ashley holding up a sign for everyone to see....are you crazy? are you insane? what are you doing to me??"

"my mom and her friends are so weird."

now this is how you get picked up from school in style.

i love you madison.

{super girl}

my daughter is a ham......fo sho!

{i've been tagged}

the lovely and talented susanne has tagged me.

fact 1 * the sound of people crunching ice drives me nuts

fact 2 * i am obsessed with reality television.....right now it is {dancing with the stars}

fact 3 * i used to stay the night in my backyard in 8th grade and sneak out all night long

{another confession.....sorry mom}

fact 4 * i can get ready in the morning {showered and everything} in 20 minutes flat

fact 5 *i feel guilty for not being able to afford a video camera when my kids were little

fact 6 * i still want another baby {for people that know me....that's not too random}

fact 7 * i spend way too much money on coffee

o.k., so here are my tags for the day..........

sunny

missy

jessie

tara

and a couple of random people who will probably not respond, but i love their blogs.....

heidi

liz

elsie

{have a lovely day}

{happy 9th birthday tyler}

happy birthday tyler.

we love you.

love,

your girlfriend kambria and mr. hunter

{mac's mama is famous}

look who is the albany athletic club's poster girl??

mac's mama is a hottie......not just because she's workin' out either!

{ballroom blitz}

o.k.....so cloris leachman sucks as a dancer.....big time.....but, when we are 82 missy and i are going to use her as our role model. she is kick ass! i love her. she is my favorite!

but....to be perfectly honest.....lance and lacey are going to win. they are amazing.

*update*

i now love warren sapp.......holy smokes.

my new fall obsession....

{....the 21st night of september}

people always ask me what this line on my blog is all about. come on people. you have to know this. i listen to this every single day at work. sometimes more than once. today is the day.....the 21st night of september......get your groove on.

{grandma}

my grandma died on saturday.

i got a phone call from my mom on friday saying she probably wouldn't live through the weekend and then a call early saturday morning that to tell me that she had died.

madison and i went to see grandpa today.......

we will miss her.

{just for the heck of it}

{just for fun}

try it. you might like it.

{sleep over}

apparently the dance last night was {lame}....becca and mckenzie were supposed to stay the night, but becca puked in the car on the way home. her poor mother.

madison's new friend this year {brooke} moved to portland this weekend to go live with her mom. sounds like she will be able to come down and visit every once in awhile though.
puppy love.

{rebels win}

south albany rebels beat lebanon.

22 - 17

zac played defense the entire second half. he did so great. i mean really great.....not just because i'm his mama great....amazingly great.

he barely limped {i think only a little because he was so stinkin' taped up} and he ran just as fast as before. he had some great tackles and came out super fired up at half time.

i'm so proud of him for working so hard to get back out there. i don't think people actually know what he did to be able to play again last night.

he is a great kid.

{what are your plans for the day}

Outside My Window...i see clouds. wonderful, fall clouds....and the trees changing color.

I am thinking...that i wish the girls would figure out who is taking them to the dance because we are getting ready to leave and i want that to be figured out before we go.

From the kitchen...i made acorn cookies again today and put out candy corn in a longaberger basket.

I am wearing...old navy jeans, a white tank with madison's yellow/white striped swing shirt over the top, and my old stand by black flip flops.

I am creating...not a darn thing.

I am reading...the screen.

I am hoping...that the rebels will win tonight.

I am hearing...becca, madison, and mckenzie giggle and run around the house getting ready for the dance.

Around the house...i just cleaned all of the counters and carried the laundry upstairs.

One of my favorite things...is being home.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: getting rid of my cold, going to blackberry junction, finishing laundry, making home made soup or chili, buying some new clothes, and taking a walk.

{apples}

i love this.....it is so true.

{halloween porch}

if i can get motivated

this will be my front porch on october 1st.

you can see more at the curious sofa.

and thanks to sunny for the resource for the witch shoes.

{sick}

sick today.

{happy birthday, friend}

32 never looked so good.

{chat}

oh, heidi......is it horrible that it somehow makes me feel better when you say your life isn't picture perfect all of the time? i mean, don't get me wrong....i envy the time you get to spend with your boys in your little house, with your perfect meals, and wonderful outings, and the list just goes on and on. and i am in no way making fun.......i seriously envy you. it is what i aspire to do {and am making strides toward doing it}, but somehow, someway it makes me feel better when you say that there are days when you just want to pull your hair and freak out just a little. thank you for being so honest. i like that about you. :)

so here is my contribution to your chat.......

If a movie was made about your life, which actress would you choose to play your part?

right now i would pick meg ryan {although she really looks nothing like me....i just adore her} and when i am a little older i would pick diane keaton because she is simply divine.

Which actor would play your husband?

jack black....random. but, he is so funny and so is john.

If you gave birth to triplets today, what would you name them? (You get to choose the gender. Grin.)

gracie, lola, and harlow.....i have a million names i love......maybe i need sextuplets!

What are your top two (3, 4...) favorite chapter books from your childhood or for children ages 6-12?

"are you there god, it's me margaret?" - judy blume
"blubber" - judy blume
anything by beverly cleary

What is the best gift you have ever received?

house cleaning coupons from my mom two christmases in a row. hint, hint.

hope your day is going better today heidi!

{take time to be a dad}

finally got around to taking zachary school shopping. we went to valley river and hit the usuals and then ventured over to oakway to the new NIKE store. it was pretty darn amazing. you go personalize your own shoes and shirts and they have them ready for you while you wait. we got a shirt and then he found a pair of shocks too. it was nice to spend the day with my boy.

i found this public service announcement on another blog today. it made me laugh out loud. i found it so appropriate. now, you will never see john outside with pom poms.....i mean NEVER, but he is a pretty great dad!




how stinkin' cute is that??

{lovin' me some pottery barn halloween}

pottery barn. it's just delightful to me.

{what are your plans for the day}

Outside My Window...i see sunshine and tom picking taylor up from the house.

I am thinking...that i should really go grocery shopping, but i just don't have the energy.

I am thankful for...getting my trip to costco taken care of before i started feeling worse.

From the kitchen...i put out my new halloween pumpkin soap and cleaned all my counters with orange anti bacteria wipes.

I am wearing...jeans, a tank, and purple slippers.

I am creating...plans to ask megan to homecoming with zac tomorrow.

I am going...to go get a coffee from starbucks i think.

I am reading...nothing right now, but my mom brought over a book yesterday for me to read.

I am hoping...that i will feel better by monday.

I am hearing...the t.v., the hum of the computer, and an airplane flying over the house.

Around the house...i am doing laundry.

One of my favorite things...is sleeping.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: hopefully feeling better, going to the lebanon game on friday, finishing laundry, going grocery shopping, taking 2 more classes, madison's volleyball game on monday, and walking with missy on monday night.

{saturday}

just got home from costco, bath and body works, and lunch with the girls.

managed to find 2 great halloween magazines for me and cozy deerfoam slippers for both of them. oh.....and a pack of socks for miss madison.

zac got home at 4 a.m. this morning. i had to go and pick him up because he doesn't have a car right now. a little sleepy today.

the duck game is on right now. we are down.....but coming back!

here is the article from the democrat herald this morning.

Rebels rally to win at Klamath Union

Jesse Duke ran for three touchdowns, including a game-winning 3-yard run with 3:01 to go in the game, to lead South Albany to the victory at Klamath Union on Friday night.With the Rebels down 15-14 and the game winding down, Duke sealed the victory with his touchdown run, and he followed it up by running successfully for the two-point conversion.Klamath Union fumbled with 1:32 left in the game at the 32-yard line, and the Rebels ran out the clock to capture their second win of the season.South Albany’s winning drive went for 80 yards and took 5:26 off the clock.Duke rushed for 178 yards on 25 carries, and had 202 yards of total offense, while teammate Lane Stutzman rushed 19 times for 83 yards.Billy DeWolfe threw for 50 yards on four completions for the Rebels, and Matt Savage caught three passes for 26 yards.After South Albany opened the scoring in the first quarter, Klamath Union scored on a 28-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter from John Amos to Peter Bell, and kicked the extra point to go ahead. KU then scored on a safety just before halftime to take a 9-6 lead into the locker room.South Albany (2-1) hosts Lebanon on Friday.SOUTH ALBANY 22,KLAMATH UNION 15South Albany . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 0 8 8 — 22Klamath Union . . . . . . . . . . . 0 9 6 0 — 15First quarterSA: Duke 3 run (run failed), 5:14Second quarterKU: Bell 28 pass from Amos (Bell kick), 4:05KU: Safety (ball snapped out of end zone) 2:24Third quarterSA: Duke 6 run (Duke run), 5:13KU: Porter 3 run (pass failed), 1:16Fourth quarterSA: Duke 3 run (Duke run), 3:01INDIVIDUAL STATISTICSRUSHING: SA, Duke 25-178, Stutzman 19-83, Dewolfe 3-(-10), Delreal 1-0. KU, Porter 12-65, Amos 6-(-34), Gibson 1-0, Fonseca-Fisher 3-6.PASSING: SA, Dewolfe 4-12-50-0. KU, Amos 10-15-148-0.RECEIVING: SA, Duke 1-24, Savage 3-26. KU, Bell 6-91, Porter 1-24, Denson 3-33.

{today}

today we were supposed to be going to klamath falls to watch zac play in his game. after the accident last week {and since he wasn't going to be able to play} we ended up staying home and listening to the game on the radio.

i decided to keep my day off though and went to lunch at red robin with my mom, got a pedicure with my bff, and then went out to dinner with john tonight at the little neighborhood bar.

madison and taylor are at the west albany game and then staying the night at tay's house. zac is in k falls {we won by the way} and won't be home until 3 or 4 in the morning. ugh. at least there is no school tomorrow. just the duck game at 12:30.

i have been feeling sick all day with a headache and sort of puky. i kind of lost it when i went to get my pedicure. i just got really antsy and hot and it has been all down hill from there. my friend at work had the flu for two days, so i'm hoping that's not it, but it is looking like it is heading that direction. i feel like crap-ola.

anyway.....looking forward to the weekend.

{never forget}

on {september 11, 2001} i was laying in bed waiting for the kids to wake up to go to school. it was the second week of 4th grade for zac and the second day of kindergarten for madison.

i received a phone call from john telling me that i needed to wake up and turn on the t.v. that is very unlike him to get worked up about anything and i immediately knew something was very wrong.

i watched t.v. until it was time to wake up the kids. it was hard to take them that day. i wanted to just wrap them up in my arms and keep them safe.

that is where i was on september 11th.....what about you?

{happy birthday corndog}

{love, pork rind}

{welcome, alli}

{welcome miss allison trenary}

{for today.....September10th}

Outside My Window...i see escalades, yukons, bmws, sequoias, and oh yah....my chevy tracker. it must be a board meeting.

I am thinking...that i wish i was at home with a baby in my arms and a toddler in a stroller walking to the park for a picnic.

I am thankful for...zac not breaking his ankle on friday. and for a well needed lunch break to eat and blog for 15 minutes.

From the kitchen...i made acorn cookies this week and tacos for dinner 2 nights ago. i wasn't home last night to cook.

I am wearing...banana republic jeans, a green v-neck sweater with a black tank under it, and black flip flops.

I am creating...plans for fall and halloween

I am going...to pick madison up from school today and i am so excited about that.

I am reading...sadly, nothing right now.....no time. i do enjoy reading blogs every day though.

I am hoping...that john will come with me on thursday.

I am hearing...the board meeting get over.

Around the house...i need to do laundry on friday.

One of my favorite things...is spending time with my daugher, my mom, and my bff.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: taking the day off on friday {to do the laundry thing}, going to a class on thursday, decorating for fall.....and, drum roll.....getting paid and taking zac school clothes shopping on sunday.

{thank you}

many thanks to the beautiful, talented, and all around amazing miss jessie mctimmonds for making me a banner for my blog.

*sigh*

i really love her a lot.

{only missy will get it}

"50 in the hole"

{all american halloween}

i was just thinking about halloween a lot today. when zac was in the 7th grade he and megan planned a big halloween shin dig at our house. he was allowed to invite 10 boys and 10 girls. they came over, ate pizza and tons of candy, and went on a scavenger hunt. the kids all dressed up {zac was michael jackson and meg was a fairy} it was super fun. madison is in 7th grade this year and the same offer stands for her. we'll see if she take me up on it.

the picture above is from when we went to roloff farms {little people, big world}

{zac wrote this essay for a class this week.....i thought it was pretty good and thought i would pass it on}

Zac Hunter
Ms. Gisler
Advanced American Literature
September 7, 2008
American
The definition of American reads as follows, “of or pertaining to the United States of America or its inhabitants: an American citizen.” It is such a simple definition to such an important thing for people across the USA and even the world. Being an American can mean many things and can have vast varieties of definitions from different people perspectives, but to me it seems that this definition doesn’t quite fit the bill.
Technically, in this day and age of the USA if you live in the country you are considered a “Citizen”, but does everyone really embrace the privilege they have to call themselves an American? I believe that not even half the country really embraces the word, the meaning, and the privilege they have to call themselves an American. Being an American can mean many different things to people. For some it might mean they live in the country but they may not really know what it means to be an American. For some it may be the complete opposite, they may live here and know what it means but may not embrace it like they should. But are they to blame? With such a non complex definition it seems anyone can call themselves an American these days.
After reading the definition a few times I realized that all you really need to do to be an American is to be standing on the soil, but I do not believe that is enough. There are so many people who do wrong things, have no respect for this country, and even come here illegally, and then have the privilege to call themselves American. It’s unfair to the people who really embrace the meaning, culture and importance of the USA. I’m not saying you have to be in the military or even have to support some of the things we do, like the war in Iraq, oil, Ext… but you do need to find a way to represent this country appropriately, with class and respect at all the times. If you can even contribute in the smallest way you can, which is showing class and respect for the country at all times you are doing your job as an American citizen, if you do more you’re just going above and beyond.
If we really want people to know the true meaning of being an American we need to begin stressing it more than we do. I believe the value and privilege of the word American is losing value each and every day. And we need to stop it before it reaches the point where we are no longer the country people have known us of for years. But it starts with definition, reading it really shows you how low the standards are, if we want to be a country full of people who respect the soil we live on we need to make a change. And it starts with finding a way to tell people what being an American is really about.
The definition is telling us that if you are part of the USA in any way you are an American, but are you really? You may be a citizen, but I believe it takes a special person for you to have the privilege to call yourself an American. We need to strive as a country to create more Americans, not more citizens.

{acorn cookies}

it was kind of a weird fall day today....almost 90 degrees. craziness.

john and i went grocery shopping and i came home with the ingredients to make these cute little acorn cookies. i've been wanting to make them for a really long time now. i actually followed through. yah me!!

meg's over again tonight {3rd night in a row.....woo hoo}. i never get pictures of zachary, so i had madison run back downstairs and pretend like she was taking pictures of the cookies and snap one of the two of them. we are so sneaky.

meg was here to watch {the hills} with us and then to see what {brittney spears} comes up with tonight on the vma's.

dreading monday. and, i am wishing for rain.

{sign up}

sign up for martha stewart's halloween workshop.