Haleena says:

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

a night of FRIGHT

Pumpkins, costumes, cupcakes, dinner and games. If you're thinking we went to a Halloween party you would be ...... wrong. It was Michael's birthday party. mwah ha ha ha, he is another year older that is the most  frightening thing EVER! Trying hard to live up to our last costumes two years ago we came up with these beauties.

Angela was a jogging photographer or a phogger as we like to call them [from the movie Yes Man] and I was a flapper.

Carlos and Heidi came as little red riding hood and the big bad wolf.

Billy as Charlie Brown.

Here's the birthday boy, striking a pose in his new UCLA snuggie.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL!!

HOLLYwood

Saturday the long in the works Grace Group hike went down. WOOT! Though few in numbers we had a blast. In order to get the full experience of this post you may want to hop on over to Angela's blog and give a read/listen to this post, as she was singing that song for part of the journey to the sign.

The day began with rain, coffee and bagels, and ended with exploration of the Hollywood hills. Our first stop was the trail up to the Hollywood sign.

It was quite the HOT tourist spot. We did a fair amount of camera swapping with people throughout the day.

Jumping for JOY!

After a scenic tour of the local homes, we made a stop at the Hollywood reservoir and took a quick coffee break at Intelligentsia for late art. We headed back to Griffith Park for a tour of the Bronson Caves aka the Bate Cave. When we arrived at the caves they were setting up for a wedding. Which ended up being one of the highlights of our whole day. All the guests attending the wedding had to wear a costume, we were lucky enough to see most of them go up the hill as we came down.

Finally we strolled the grounds of Griffith Observatory, and headed off for feasting at Canters deli.

lightning and red lights

Last night as I was driving home from work I got caught in a small lightning storm. I was driving down a tree covered street so I could not see each strike, just the flashes of light illuminating the otherwise darkened sky. There was A LOT. I kept waiting for the thunder, but it never came. Strange I thought to myself. No rain, no thunder just lightning.

Then not a minute later I approached a red light. The lightning started up again. I quickly realized why there had been no thunder, it wasn't lightning I had been seeing, it was the red light camera. Broken. Flashing, taking pictures, every time a car went through the light, even on green.

Let me tell you, it's no wonder I mistook it for lightning, those camera flashes are BRIGHT and really distracting. Good thing it was not on the cameras facing me, otherwise I may have ended up like poor Kirk:

rainy day

I don't know about you but I have definite "rainy day" music. It mostly consists of Michael Buble, John Mayer and Ingrid Michaelson, and let's just say that this week they have been getting A LOT of play time in my car. With that said I would like to dedicate this little commercial to Angela.



Yesterday I had a little flashback to the Kibber, when we saw this the first time. How it was followed my much googling of "old navy sweater commercial" to figure out who was singing the lovely sweater song. Thus was born our like of Ingrid.

Signs of Fall

Now that November is nearing I finally feel like fall is upon us. Not so much in the color changing leaves seeing as palm trees always look the same, but it is here none the less. The clear sky's have been replaced with storm clouds and rain. The morning sun that used to blind us at the kitchen table is no more, instead lights must be turned on. The want for air conditioning has been exchanged for the want of a roaring fire. The bare feet are now covered with slippers, the bare legs with tights, and arms with sweaters. So lovely.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NATE!!!

Jake's CHUCK birthday

Since Jake was out of town on his backpacking trip on his actual birthday Hannah and I decided to go visit him at work last night with birthday mint brownies. We snuck in the back door of the Biola production center, and had a nice visit.

After eating he opened the lovely gift I got him [season two of Chuck] and thus the night took upon a life of it's own. Jake thanked me as said "guess who is in the studio right now? Big Mike." Yes that's right Mark Christopher Lawrence aka Big Mike from Chuck was at Biola........in the same building as me.

Not five minutes later Jake, Hannah, myself and the mint brownies were walking into the studio. We chatted with the crew working on the video, I gave everyone brownies, and in walks Big Mike. haha it was so great. He gave us each a hug, a hat and a dvd. And I know that based on my past April Fools post some of you may not be inclined to believe a word of this, which is completely understandable. So for that reason I give you this:

*a BIG thanks to Jake who took me in to meet him, I did my best not to embarrass you :)

FALL s'mores

A few weeks ago I decided it would be great fun to have a s'more party. I ran it by the housemates and we came up with the fall party. Even though we were in the midst of a heat wave it was still technically fall. Rachel made these fabulous invitations:

The house was decked out in all it's fall glory.

candy was bought

[these were not your basic smores - we were all about the creativity, giving people options]

the fires were lit.

[we may have had some technical difficulties with this portion of the night. Ang took control and made some kindling.......with only a small amount of blood]

the people gathered, roasted

built, ate

and were sent home with more

people slowly left. around eleven only six remained. sitting, chatting outside. the doorbell rang, who could be there i thought. an officer? the police? "i just came by for dessert he said." confused i asked if we were being to loud. "you don't really look like partiers" he said "but the people behind you called you in, you may want to come inside." clean-up, departures, and bed soon followed.

the one and only

Super AWESOME GRANDMA!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Jakeypoo

Yo Yo 

Happy Birthday Bro!