Fall Sucks

I've always kinda wanted to live somewhere where the leaves change colors and there is an autumn. I've always wanted to visit back east in the fall to enjoy the brilliant colors of the trees. I have thought of this often and never once have I ever thought about where all those magnificent colored leaves went after they changed. . . now I know, and it is not good.

I will never again look at a vibrant orange/red tree the same way again; for now I know that soon all those damn leaves will be a nightmare of crisp dead leaves littering the ground. We have such a tree in our front yard and only a month or so ago, I was naive with glee when the leaves began to turn. I tried to ignore the leaves as one by one they fell to the ground, assuming that they would blow away and be someone else's problem, or maybe somehow they would disintegrate and disappear all together. No such luck. Now with Christmas season approaching, I want to get the Christmas lights put up, but there are 2 problems -- 1. the dead leaves are probably a fire hazard and 2. we really don't want to bring any additional attention to the mess in the yard! So yesterday, after ignoring the problem long enough we went out, bought a rake and got to work. . . .

Lily getting ready to help
The yard. Notice the clear diving line between us and the neighbors! They must love us!!

What a mess.

We filled 5 of those Lowes bags!! It was insane how many leaves there were!

Lily doing her part to help.

After!!

FYI -- we have winter grass here that does dormant in the winter, it is not dead. It is just different than the year round green lawns I am use to!

Not perfect, but good enough!

I wonder if the HOA will let me put up a good old California Palm Tree! :) That way we won't have to repeat this task ever again!

Bye AnDa and Cot

Yesterday was our last day with Linda and Scott. :( It went by WAY too fast!! But there were two major things we had to get done before they left, 1. Get frozen custard & 2. a meal at Abuelos Mexican Food Embassy! Last time they were here they thoroughly enjoyed both so much that it is now a prerequisite for their visit! And I have no problem with that!

I can't remember what they were watching, but whatever it was it must have been funny since they all have a big smile on their faces!
We went to get the frozen custard a little after noon (it was our lunch, since we were having an early dinner), but it was still only like 52 degrees outside and had been raining, so we ate it in the car to keep warm!

I wish I would have gotten a picture or video of what happened next -- but I will just have to write about it so as to never forget . . . We were listening to a mix CD of Disney songs that Lily recently got as a party favor. "Under the Sea" came on and, as if on cue, all 4 of us instantly shot up in our seats and sang that song as if we were performing it on stage in front of thousands -- instead of just for Lily. We we so excited and animated. Lily was scared stiff. She just sat there with the funniest look on her face as if to say, 'get me out of here these people are crazy!'. It was fun and Lily will probably never be able to watch The Little Mermaid without being traumatized!

After Lily napped and we played a quick game of 90s edition Trivial Pursuit, we went out to Abuelo's for dinner. I had never let Lily eat the tortilla chips before, but I figure she eats tacos now, so she can probably handle a chip. She was so happy and pretty much just ate chips for dinner!

After dinner Mom and Dad took Linda and Scott to the airport. We were very sad to see them go home. Lily had so much fun with both of them. The very first thing she said this morning was "AnDa NOW." But I told her than they had went home on the airplane to California. Then she looked at me and said, "AnDa home, ok". And that was the end of it. At least she took it ok for now.

Thanksgiving

We had a very nice Thanksgiving! It was kinda exciting for me since it was the first major holiday I have hosted, not only at this house, but ever! What made it really great was the fact that mom Mom brought over all the food, cooked it and then did most of the clean up!! Thanks Mom! You can do that again when ever you want -- hell, it doesn't even have to be on a holiday!! :) Of course, my parents came over along with Linda and Scott. Paula and Frank also joined us for dinner. Paula has worked with us for at least 15 years now, so I have known her over half my life and she is like family now. They moved to Texas with us to work at the course, so it was nice that they joined us for Thanksgiving!

Since there were 8 of us + Lily's highchair we couldn't fit at the table in the Dining Room. That is a small table we had in the apartment and with the leaf in it it fits 4, maybe 6 if you squeeze in! So we had to eat at the kitchen table which is quite long with the leaf included. I was kinda bummed, I'd like to use the dining room soon!

I was super excited to get to use my china for the first time! It is actually my grandma's china that I inherited -- so it was like have part of my grandma there with us!

Getting ready to eat!

Scott, my Dad, Paula, Frank, Mom is hiding behind Chip; Linda is also taking a picture and Lily is off to the side and out of the shot

Yum! I think the only thing she ate was the roll (as usual).

Wearing Lily's bib and pretending to look "stuffed"

Yum! Chip brought a chocolate cake and some desserts home from the Thanksgiving brunch they had earlier at the course -- again, I was excited to use serve ware that I hardly get to use! :)

But nothing is better than my Mom's pumpkin pie!

The girls (Lily was napping)

Playing with Aunt Linda's camera -- she was so excited every time she took a picture!

Eating Thanksgiving chicken nuggets!

She got her pillow book and laid on the floor -- it was cute, we were wearing her out with all the excitement!

Playing Mario Kart

Trying desperately to get a family picture -- Lily would not cooperate!

Playing Wii Fit

Bowling on the Wii with Uncle Scott

Pre-Turkey Day Feast

Along with a new house, my parents got a free catered meal for 8 people from their builders once they moved in! Since we were all here together last night we figured it would be the perfect time to take advantage! They brought in beef tenderloin, mixed veggies, salad, twice baked potatoes, ice tea, cheesecake and chocolate covered strawberries! Not to mention all the linens, plates and glasses! So absolutely no work required!! Wish it was that easy every night!! We also decided it would be a good night to celebrate my Dad's and sister's birthday which occurred in Mid November. It was a fun night hanging out at my parent's new house. The only downer was when we left to go get frozen custard (the mini cheesecake wasn't enough) and they had closed early for Thanksgiving Eve! What a bummer! One of the windows to the place was actually opened -- I was pretending to break in and it opened! So I was all prepared to sneak in and serve myself, but we decided to wait until Friday when they were actually open again. :(

Lily wore this dress my parents brought back from Mexico last spring! I though it looked adorable on her!
Apparently I was blocking the TV while trying to get a good picture

Before we headed to my parents house, Chip and Scott played a little Mario Kart -- Lily was a good driver too!

Hanging with AnDa and Cot

The meal all set up for us!

She didn't eat anything except for half the roll.

Helping Aunt Linda with her birthday presents.

We got my Dad a new pair of slippers!

We got Linda this green jacket and grey purse!

All ready to blow out the candle on his strawberry! :)

Happy Birthday!

Three peas in a pod

An Da

This morning my mom and sister came over to see Lily (and me, I suppose). Lily was a little shy at first around Aunt Linda, who she now calls "AnDa" -- she got the begging at the end, now we just need to work on the middle part of "Aunt Linda" and she'll have it! But it only took a minute or so for her to warm up completely to her and demand that AnDa be near her constantly! We went shopping for art and accessories for my Mom's house and AnDa had to push Lily in the cart and be within a foot of her at all times. It was cute and I know it made my sister happy that Lily had not forgotten her over the last few months!

After shopping we came back here and Linda and Lily played some before nap time:

Eating CaCa's (crackers)

Playing and talking on the phone

Girlz in the hood :)

"Again" with the hoods! Lily kept wanted to put Linda's hood on her head again and again.

Chasing Lily around the room!

Catching Lily!

Then Lily rolled back and forth across the room for awhile.

Talking to Elmo

................

I know Lily is excited to spend the next few days with Aunt Linda!! Tonight we are going to my Mom's for dinner and a belated birthday party for Linda and my Dad.