10.17.2013: Time for A New Canon

Well, it is time for a new everyday camera.  I have been wanting something new to carry around in my purse everyday that gives me a little better quality than my old smaller one, but not as big as my SLR, because that is just too big to carry everyday.  So, after much research, this is what arrived.  

 

It is bigger than I hoped...not as small and convenient as I like...but the functionality is amazing!  So, it will be with me daily now....

10.08.2013: Goodbye Carpet, Hello Beautiful!

So for the past 10 years (literally) I have been wanting to replace this carpet!  Finally, Vince talked me into it!  It has always been the battle of carpet vs tile vs wood...what do we want, what do we want.  We FINALLY decided, and just did it!  Vince sourced the wood and the labor...and in one day, it was done!  Wow...amazing it took this long to make a decision that took 24 hours to complete.  Crazy.  Anyways, we LOVE it. LOVE it, love it, love it.  It was amazing how much dust and other stuff had accumulated under the carpet, in the padding and even below that.  The cracks in the foundation were horrendous!!  Looks like the San Andreas fault is running under the house.  But there is absolutely nothing we can do about it....so, oh well...cover it up!

 

OLD...

 Old entry & closet

 Fault lines...

 All that black is separation in the foundation.  HUGE gap in the floor...

 Taaaa Daaaa...

10.05.2013: Drake's Football Game

Drake had a football game today and ALL the family came out to watch it!  Mom & Dad were in town, so they came over with Brent, Alisa and the kids.  Eric, Karissa and the girls also came out...and Greg made an appearance too!  We had the whole sideline as Drake's cheering section!

 

 

 Shay and Makenna made signs to cheer on Drake

 Avery giving Makenna the look...like I'm gonna bite you if you don't put that hand down

 What a group of girls....them boys better watch out!

09.30.2013: Christina & a Newport Visit

Vince and I drove down to Newport to meet Christina & Lex and Justice for dinner.  We started with Christina at happy hour at this WONDERFUL little place right on the boardwalk.  They have great seafood & appetizers and drink specials.  Christina left to get Justice, who was literally like a block away....then Lex met us later after he got off work.

Daddy & daughter doing oyster shooters!

So, after dinner, we headed back to their house to hang out.  Christina & Vince decided to practice their Daddy-Daughter dance for the upcoming wedding....it was generally hilarious!!!!  They had so much fun doing it though!!!

  Christina was trying to coax Lex out to practice their first dance....

 ....which resulted in this:

Christina dancing with a ghost and Lex hiding in the couch. 

More coaxing did not help....

09.30.2013: Doing a Drive-By....

I still cannot show up in Riverside without doing a driveby.....its the time I need and my way of remembering & paying my respects.  I don't go by the cemetery, because that isn't where they "lived".  I go by the house, because that is where I remember them.  It isn't the easiest drive over....and I cry most of the way there & home....but I must do it. 

 

Right now, the house still looks the same from the outside.  I guess the new owners have been renovating the inside, but it looks the same from the outside...so to me, it is still ours.  I still have my keys, so as I sit across the street, wonder if they still work.  Not that I would EVER go in, or try them....but most of me feels this house still belongs to Gramma & Papa...to our family...and those new people just shouldn't be there.



 

09.29.2013: San Diego Super-Chargers!!!

Well, we woke up in the morning and headed out to the San Diego Charger football game.  While we didn't get to sleep in, in the gorgeous hotel we were staying at....it was nice already being in SD for the game.  We were all still pretty hungover at the moment...but came out of it quickly!  The Chargers were playing the Cowgirls....and yes, they beat them!

 

 

  Vince saving some parking spots....or just trying to stay away from us?!

 Our setup...notice the privacy curtains!!

 Sneaking a snack before the drinking begins...again!

 Ahhhh...Qualcomm Stadium!!!

 The skydivers landing...not so smooth!