Bookshelves/TV

OK, and here's the latest...the bookshelves AND the TV!

bookshelf built-ins (more construction)

A lot of you couldn't get the email pictures I sent of the work being done in the living room so I figured it's just as easy to add them here for ALL to see (all who visit the site anyway). Here is the construction phase of the built-ins. The TV is being hung above the fireplace this morning around 9-10am and the shelves will be painted white tomorrow. Phil says we're going to get a sleeper sofa next week to match the one already in the living room and since Lyla and Robby were very happy to take the red furniture off our hands it will fit perfectly! Don't worry Lyla, we'll be bringing it to ya soon! Last night we went to Home Goods and bought knickknacks (is that how you spell it?) for the shelves and I got a few picture frames.

Speaking of bookshelves, Robby, I'm done Double Cross already..have you finished it? It's so sad when you finish a book! On to You've Been Warned! Can't wait and starting it today!

Christmas pictures

More Christmas

Robby, Lyla, and Cody headed to Lyla's parent's house on Monday morning. Dad and Phil had some last minute shopping to do so they ran out after the gang left. Mom, the boys, and I stayed home, cleaned up a bit, then ran out to Walmart and Lowes. Everyone but Phil went to Christmas mass that afternoon. The boys looked so nice in their Christmas outfits, like models! Hopefully there's a picture of them on my camera which I'll add below. If not I'll add it when mom sends me her pictures.

What a special Christmas

I can't remember a more special Christmas than the one that just passed. We were so lucky to have our family share our first Christmas in our new home. Mom, dad, Lyla, and Cody arrived on Friday afternoon. For dinner we had shrimp casserole then hung out and played with the little man. The next morning dad and Phil left at 5am for their fishing trip and didn't get back home until 6:30pm! Phew, what a day! And all that time they caught 1 striper and 1 large mouth bass. Hey, at least they got to fish at all! We were worried the lakes would be too low so I'm glad they got the chance. That night mom made gumbo and my my my it was delicious! Later that night Robby's flight arrived around 8:30 and Lyla and I drove down to the airport to pick him up. By the time we got back home everyone had already crashed for the night..we proceeded to stay up till 1Am hanging out and catching up. It's always so nice to just hang with my brother. We haven't had a chance in years to do that.

Sunday morning was "Christmas" morning. Dad played Santa with Cody on his lap until big Phil took over the job of handing out the presents. Mom bought Cody a great tickle me Elmo that all of us enjoyed watching, although Cody was a bit scared. After presents the guys hung out and kept the kids while the ladies (me, mom, and Lyla) went SHOPPING! WOOHOO

Christmas vs. XMas

Just a little thought during the season. Someone wise (mom) once told Elizabeth and I that it is wrong to write XMas as a short version of Christmas because you take the "Christ" out of Christmas. Isn't He what it's all about? I was just a child when she told us that in Dale City, VA, and I still remember it to this day. I hope you will too. Merry CHRISTmas!

Getting ready for the season!

I am so ready for Christmas to be here...well not literally because I still have a lot to do but I can't wait to have mom/dad and Robby, Lyla, and lil Cody here to celebrate it with. The trees are up, the presents, with the exception of just a few, have all been bought and wrapped, and I started the Christmas cards last night. We're having our first (can you believe our FIRST) family pictures taken this Saturday and I'll be working on our special gifts for each of them this weekend as well. Just a little welcome and happy holidays gift when they arrive on Friday the 21st. Mom and I have almost finalized the menu so I'll be doing the major food shopping next weekend. I can't wait for her famous gumbo! YUMMY! Love to everyone and happy holidays!

Happy Thanksgiving!

To everyone today. We miss you all and hope you have a safe and peaceful holiday.

We love you!

Thanks and Happy Birthday to Grandma

I was remiss in sending a huge thank you to Grandma who spent 4 days with the boys so I could take my trip to San Francisco. Without her the trip wouldn't have been possible so Grandma, thank you so very much. The boys had a really great time with you and I cannot stop talking about San Francisco!

ALSO! Today is Grandma's birthday so happy happy birthday Grandma! We hope you have a nice day and do something fun! We'll call you soon!

Love,
us

Additional pictures

Here are some pictures that we thought we'd share as well. Thanks for stopping by!

Day 3 - Sunday - SF

Well again we were up around 6:30 in the morning but this time we had to be! It was our Alcatraz day and we wanted to get a good meal in before all the walking. We ate downstairs in the hotel and they had a full breakfast this morning...fantastic! We drove down to Pier 39, parked the car, then hiked back to Pier 33 where you catch the boat (can't call this yacht a ferry) to THE ROCK. The ride took about 12 minutes (not that we were counting or anything) and it was cold..again! When we arrived we listened to one of the Park Rangers explain the "rules" then go through his list of "suggestions" and then we were off. Honestly, this is a must see at some point in your lifetime. The views are absolutely spectacular and the history is amazing...for instance, did you know that in the late 60's (1969) Indians occupied the rock for 19 months? See! I would have never known...and HP2 suggested we take the audio tour which I would recommend to anyone who has not yet been. After our tour we had lunch at the Crab House back at Pier 39...omg delicious! Their crab chowder is phenomenal! CHUNKS of crab, not just shreds..seriously, that is a must have if you ever get there! Now we're back in the hotel room, soaking our feet from all the walking we've done this weekend and taking it easy the rest of the day. Just as an aside - when I finished typing this entry the first time around Phil decided he wanted to take yet another walk to the marina near the hotel! The last picture (with me talking on the cell phone tp JG) is during our stroll. My flight departs at 6am tomorrow morning so I need to get to bed early early tonight...Pictures below!

Day 2 - Saturday - San Francisco

Well since I'm still on ET I was up and ready to go at 7am PT (which is really 10am MY time) on Saturday morning...needless to say, Phil wasn't too happy but he was a good sport. :-) Our 1st adventure began when we realized that in order to get to the Golden Gate Bridge you actually have to drive through the center of SF, there is no highway around the city. It took us, I would guess, a good 45 minutes to get through the city and to the bridge. Once we got that out of the way it was smooth sailing to our first destination, Muir Woods, where the redwood trees are. On our way we stopped for breakfast at the DipSea, a great restaurant on the north side of Sausolito that looks much smaller on the outside than it actually is inside. It was very cozy, had a nice atmosphere, and tasty food. We then proceeded on to the park, spent a few hours in the drizzling rain, and walked about 2 miles through the redwoods. It was an amazing sight and I'm sure the pictures I add on to the blog when I return will never do it justice. Around noon, after we decided we had had enough of the rain, we drove to Sonoma and visited Viansa Winery & Italian Market, Gloria Ferrer Champagne Caves, the Olive Oil Company, Buena Vista Winery, Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery, and Ravenswood Winery. I had tastings at Sebastiani and Ravenswood. Since Phil doesn't drink wine he seemed happy being my DD...thanks honey! Sonoma was nothing like I thought it would be. I guess I pictured something like Tuscany and to see the Vineyards surrounded by older homes in almost a neighborhood setting was off to me. Unfortunate for us also was the fact that the weather kept getting worse and worse as the day went on. Later that evening after we had gone back to the hotel to clean up we met Al and Jacqueline for dinner at the Elephant Bar in Burlingame. We always have such a great time with them. We all agreed that another Vegas trip is in the near future..JG, let's start planning! Oh yea, and we saw some guy who plays for the 49'ers but I couldn't begin to tell you who he was. That's all folks! Here are some pictures from Day 2: