#110 - We LOVE fall houseguests!

The week before Halloween, Heather & Brock visited us from Albertville, MN! We stayed at our friend's condo in downtown San Diego and hit the town that night - Nicky Rotten's, Tipsy Crow, Double Deuce! The next day we had breakfast at Hash House A Go Go. BIG portions, the bloody marys came out with a slider as the garnish (the guys were really happy to see that).
After breakfast we went to Stone Brewery, we had been wanted to go for a long time! Was really beautiful there - felt like a nature preserve. (I wish my legs were still that tan!!)

A couple weeks later, our good friend Troy (our very own Kato Kaelin) came out to see us! We hit a couple Temecula wineries on our way back to downtown San Diego.

We had the most amazing brie bowl at this winery (Tony gets credit for this one - Tony & Marissa met with us for wine tasting, they were in Temecula for the night because they had a hot air balloon ride the next morning which one was of their wedding presents, happy 1 year anniversary!)!

Here we are at the condo in SD overlooking Petco Park - it was a chilly day but the free flowing libations kept us happy!

#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!

#102 - Weekend Visitors

This weekend my very first next door neighbor at my very first apartment, Heather, came over with her son. We met back in the fall of 2000 and have kept in touch ever since. We took a break from the pool so Lui could demonstrate his climbing gear on a palm in the courtyard.
K wanted to try on Lui's work gear, he gives it two thumbs up!

K really wanted to see Lui's bucket truck aka "cherry picker" (which he doesn't have any more with his new position, supervisor!). So Lui tried to get one of his co-workers to stop by but they were all busy working on the power lines this weekend. K was a good sport and the gear was enough for him, although he did get into the cab of Lui's work truck (F-150) and say, "I could take this for a spin!"

#101 - Surprise visit!

Mid-week last week I got an email from my high school pal, Troy! He originally had training scheduled in Chicago but got bumped to LA and adjusted his flight so he could spend the weekend with us. Saturday morning I picked him up and brought him to Corona - we relaxed outside then went to dinner at Taps (photo below from dinner, Lui was SO tired...barely got this pic out of him). :) Sunday was more R&R and catching up before I had to take him to Ontario airport. Thankful we got this chance visit but next time we're hoping for a planned visit so we can whoop it up! Vegas in September??

#100 - Lui's Pool, refreshing!

Here's a wide shot of the pool on July 4th. The high was 96 - it was a hot day, good day to be in the pool!
Here's Andrea and baby Vinny, his first time in the pool!

Here's two of Lui's nieces - SO cute with their missing teeth! :P

#99 - Cat Poop Cookies (not for the faint of heart)

Know a cat person and not sure what to get her/him for their birthday? Try homemade cat poop cookies. Found this recipe on the internet. Brought it in to work today. HUGE hit.
Here's the close up. Yuk!· ¼ cup honey
· ¼ cup molasses
· 2/3 cup butter
· 1 egg
· 2 1/3 cups whole wheat flour
· ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
· ½ teaspoon ground ginger
· ½ teaspoon ground cloves
· 1 (32 ounce) package wheat and barley nugget cereal (e.g. Grape-Nuts™)
· ½ cup crushed ramen noodles
1. In a medium bowl, Microwave the honey until it bubbles. This may take up to 1 minute. Stir in the molasses, butter and egg. Beat until smooth. Stir in the flour, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves until combined. Then add the dramatic additions of your choice such as coconut, ramen, chocolate chips, or peanuts. Chill dough until firm.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Roll dough into logs about ¾ inch in diameter. Cut into pieces the approximate length of cat poop. Roll pieces in the cereal, place on an unprepared cookie sheet, and bake for 10 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven.
3. Serve the cookies in a disposable cat litter box, on a bed of cereal, with a brand new litter box scoop. Add plastic flies, and dip the litter scoop in chocolate for added fun.

#98 - Quick Updates!

1. 
   
   Went to Hawaii for the first time, spent 6 glorious days in Maui at the Honua Kai (I highly recommend!) during late February / early March



2. 
   
   Lui proposed on the last day during our drive along the Road to Hana at sunset!



3. 
   
   Two weeks ago, Lui got the keys to his first house - photos to follow...



4. 
   
   Recently saw my Aunt Maxine weekend for dinner and a play, 2 of my cousin's plays are currently being produced: https://circlextheatre.secure.force.com/ticket#details_a0H80000008F2UDEA0 & http://www.ensemblestudiotheatrela.org/ (saw this one with friends a few weeks ago) - so good!


5. 
   
   Found out Suzanne Rogers is having a girl! She's due 07/22/11 - hope she comes a little early and we can share our b-days. ;)

Here's Lui walking towards the ocean from our hotel.

During the Road to Hana we enjoyed fresh fruit bought road-side.

Our second night was spent at a Luau - this time of year there are so many whales (down from Alaska for the winter) they call the area between island (right behind us) "whale soup"!

#97 - Baby Vincent Update

On Saturday I went to see Andrea and her baby and all he wanted to do was sleep...
...until it got late and everyone was tired - then he was WIDE awake and smiling!

#96 - Fresh California Citrus Fruit

Things have been slow (work is hectic busy but life is moving at a slower than normal pace) and I've decided to post one of life's simple pleasures that I don't often take for granted - fresh fruit! Growing up in North Dakota, I remember my mom telling me how delicious the fruit was in California (because it's picked when fresh!). There's no better example than the kitchen/break room table at work. Sometimes we see avocados or tomatoes but recently there has been an abundance of fresh citrus fruit picked straight from a co-worker's orchard -

There is really nothing better! I remember everyone driving around with trunk loads of zucchini in North Dakota so to each their own, but when in CA be sure to indulge in the fresh fruit.

#95 - Baby Hazel & Baby Alexander

Here is Lui's niece, Hazel! Check out all that hair she's smuggling under the cute hat! Hazel is just over a month old but already in 6 mo. clothes - her mom said the only time she wore newborn was coming home from the hospital.

Here's Lui's cousin's baby, Alexander, born December 21st:

Alexander joins big brother, Felipe IV - soon to turn 2!

If ever there was a shortage of babies in my life, it's certainly not now! :)