#109 - And then there were THREE.

In true serendipitous fashion, we are now the proud owner of yet another chihuahua mix! There were no plans to add to our pack (other than recent talks about possibly adopting a larger, outside dog). Then on Saturday night we got a call from my niece that this little dog needed a home or would be taken to the local shelter the next day. Sight unseen we said we'd take her and here she is:

The other two dogs are still getting use to her but it gets better every day. In this picutre, Lola is outside because she is more physically playful but is twice the size of the other two and I wanted to introduce one dog at a time. You can see Tobey couldn't really care less about her. Hopefully they'll all be good friends soon!

Her name is EMMA and she is a snuggler! She likes to be picked up, carried, held but most of all she loves to snuggle up on the couch.

#108 - Happy Belated Halloween!

This Halloween we hosted our 1st Annual Chili Cook-off. Participants included Lui who made a traditional chili and Tony who made a white chili (with chicken & white beans) - both were delish!


Lui & I carved pumpkins to put in front of the house, his was Mike Tyson (note the face tattoo).

Tobey was a glow-in-the-dark skeleton again this year (he wouldn't keep the hood w/ skull on) and Lola was a hula girl!

On the Saturday before Halloween we went to a co-worker's house party. Didn't know what we were going to dress up as but once Lui spotted the HUGE sunglasses and Elvis wig it was all over...we were a 50s couple. I never dressed in a poodle skirt costume growing up so there's always a first for everything! The hostess (on the right in this picture) was a dominatrix - fiesty!! There were two nuns at the party, both of them were pregnant. :)

Here is Lui in all his glory with his favorite costume store accessories!

#107 - No Pants!

Since I have been away from blogging for a while I felt the need to come back with a vengeance! No joke - today I came into the office to catch up on some long overdue work and treated myself to Chipotle for lunch. No sooner do I get back in my car (front row parking spot - I know, possibly the best parking luck ever today) do I look up and see...Miss Pantless and her pantless friend! They had volleyball sweatshirts on so I guess they just got done practicing/playing/tournament but don't volleyball players wear micro mini bootyshorts at the very least? It is a sunny 72 degrees out right now and was rainy, cool yesterday so maybe they feel they need to make the most of it?? I just am surprised they weren't asked to leave (maybe they were shortly there after). WOW.

#106 - VIVA Las Vegas!

Friends, Tony & Marissa, are going to a wedding in Vegas this weekend...and we're coming along for the ride! Staying at state line tonight (just 3 hrs away - a first for all four of us; affordable, too, at just $37/night!). Tomorrow morning we'll drive the extra 45 min. to get to Las Vegas and check in to thet the MGM Grand! It's been 2 1/2 years since Lui & I have been to Las Vegas (last time was Feb. '09 for my nephew's 21st birthday). Looking forward to walking the strip, lounging by the pool, strong bloody Mary's for breakfast, a little gambling and possibly the best people watching on the planet.

#105 - The Dog Days of Summer

Couldn't help taking a picture of Tobey & Lola passed out on the couch after a long day of laying out in the hot sun (3 digit temps), then (unwillingly) taking a dip in the pool to cool off followed by chasing birds and bugs all over the back yard - quite the day that I'm sure they would blog about if they could!

#104 - Welcome to Lui's House!

Here's the front of the house - single story, Spanish style w/ split 3 car garage:
Right when you open the gate, to the left (through french doors) is the casita. Troy was our first out-of-state guest (Tony & Marissa were our first out-of-town guests) and our next guests out-of-state guests will be Heather & Brock in October - can't wait!!

This is the bathroom in the casita:

Here is the courtyard view from foyer towards the casita (on the left) and spare bedroom (not photographed because it's getting flooring worked on):

Here is the foyer ("hi" Tobey!):

And the kitchen:

Family room (I recently dropped some wallpaper into these frames - they previously had seashells but I've had those on my walls forever so it was time for a change!):

Living room w/ double sided fireplace that goes to family room:

Family room (can you see two little doggie's on Lui's chair?):

Dining room (we love the slate floors - being stored in this room is more laminate flooring that will go in the spare bedroom and office which is not photographed either, looks pretty good in the family room, huh?):

Master bedroom (the previous owner was an interior designer - pieces of the brick wall have fallen down but securing them back onto the wall is on the fovever long "to do" list):

Here is the backyard with newly acquired badminton net and freshly sanded/stained table & chairs (nice work, Lui!):

The rest of the BIG backyard (the lot is .34 acres with a slope that backs up to a street so it's nice and private), there are 2 peach trees (yellow & white) and a plum tree at the back of the property which have the most delish fruit:

Please visit us soon!

#103 - Jim & April's - Pool Day!

Most people don't even dream this big (I don't think anyway...I sure don't!) but Jim & April created this incredible pool! They live at the end of a cul-de-sac so this is really their side yard (they have a full back yard w/ grass, too). The pool is shallow and very gradually gets deeper just like you're at the beach. There is a grotto w/ hot tub, slide, swim up bar (which you can walk down to from the outside if you don't want to get wet). Also, the center island has a waterfall. They thought of everything!
There were 3 Jims & 3 Saras at the pool party - the Jim's decided to do a "Jim Train" down the slide. :)

Casey, Sara & Richard under the palapa off to the side - nice sun cover!

Sara is an AMAZING photographer! Here's a couple shots she snapped of me that day -

Feels like I was on a photo shoot!