I wish

I had more time to play with my camera...at this rate, I don't know if I ever will! That said, I want to go look at Christmas lights, but it looks like no one's started with them yet. Everybody better get on it 'cause I'm feeling FESTIVE.

WOOOOHOOOOO!!!

MY BROTHER AND DANA ARE HAVING A BOY!!!!!!!
Mike just called to tell me. All along he said he didn't want to find out, but today they got their ultrasound. The technician wrote down the sex and put it in an envelope and I was trying to talk Mike into peeking, for their anniversary this month or for Christmas. And he was acting like he wasn't gonna look, but I guess Dana pulled out the tears and it worked!
I'm so excited, not just for a boy, but just to know.
WOOOOOHOOOOO!!!!

New camera

I got a Panasonic FZ7, not one with all the bells and whistles, but it's certainly better than what I had. So I'm figuring it out...
Amy and Josh picked up Mom and John last night, their flight was delayed an hour and it was almost unbearable. But we made it!

A must see

Every year at the Del Mar Fairgrounds they set up light displays and you can drive through and look at them from your car. I'd never gone before and I was really impressed! We drove around the track twice. I'm taking my parents, who arrive tomorrow and I'm so excited to see them!
I couldn't get many good pictures (I can't wait to get a new camera). But the bottom one was going through the Tunnel of Lights and I thought it turned out kinda cool.

Happy Birthday, Aunt Lane!

I don't know what I'd do without this woman! For starters, I'd never be able to get a pedicure , but it's much more than that. Her house is really home away from home for me. It is so great to have her nearby. It's so hard to live far from Marlo's grandparents, but Aunt Lane is here to take care of us and help me with her and I'm so grateful for that.
There are so many things I love about her, I'm starting a list. Feel free to add to it.

• she makes THE BEST caramels
• her enormous collection of Christmas decor
• her boundless energy
• the way she works: 10 projects at once
• she can whip up a meal out of thin air
• her positivity: I've seen her car break down, her wallet go missing, her client's furniture ruined, but I've never seen anything get her down
  

The teeth

There they are! I think they're the reason we're up right now (yes it's really 4 a.m.) .

At the Griswald's

this house was in Imperial Beach.

Hotel del Coronado

Marlo Thomas. Har har!
Watching the ice-skaters.
Marlo and Santa!
This was a tree in the lobby, much prettier in person.

We went down to the hotel to go ice-skating, but we chickened out. I haven't ice-skated in about 20 years and I wasn't about to pay twenty five bucks to repeatedly fall on my behind. We watched the sun set and then saw the hotel all decorated with lights. It was beautiful.

The Nutcracker

We went last night and it was so much fun. Marlo stayed home with Mark. It was the longest she and I have been apart (5 hours!) and I can't believe how much I missed her. I thinking watching those willowy ballerinas made me think of my little chunkster all the more.
But I'm so glad we went. I love to see the little kids all dressed up for the ballet and the Nutcracker just puts you in the Christmas spirit.

I don't know if I mentioned this, but she has another tooth coming in. She is a very Big Girl about, not much fussing at all.

Lane's house

it is decorated so beautifully (as always). And of course, I had to throw in a shot of the rolls that Mary made. They were deeelicious.

Thanksgiving

Marlo took a nap on Grandpa before we left for Lane's.
Cuddling with Baby Jesus...
Amy and Josh came by Lane's in the evening.

Happy Birthday, Amy Rose!

It's my sister's birthday today. She was also born on Thanksgiving. My granny brought dinner to my mom in the hospital. If my Pa were here, he'd be calling her a turkey. He called us all turkeys.
I can't believe Amy is 28 years old. I always think of her as my little sister, so it's hard to accept that she's all grown up. Maybe because I would have to be grown up too.
We have so many memories together. We always talk about times past and our childhood. It's so funny how we talk about the same things over and over again, we just can't get enough. It was so much fun having someone to share everything with. It still is.

I am so lucky to have her in my life (and here in San Diego!) She is a wonderful sister, friend and auntie! We love you Rosie!

Wound up

She has been going and going...she loves all the commotion. I just got her to bed. Before that she was a crazed woman, into everything, panting and flapping her arms. She crawled over to the fireplace and opened the glass door, by the handle no less, as if she did it every day.
I also just finished another botched attempt at making toffee. To read the recipe or see my mom make it, it seems no big deal to do. But I'm always afraid of burning it and I take it off too soon. I figure my success rate is only about 25 percent. Which is still better than my Divinity success rate, which is a big fat zero.
I can't make desserts, but I sure can appreciate them.

From yesterday

because today she's only been crying! Well, not all the time. Not if I'm holding her.

Comment Update

I switched to beta I don't know why I thought it was a good idea, I don't know what I'm doing, but apparently I can't comment on non-beta blogs. So....switch to beta! It's the new coke!

Christmas PJs

Boo on Blogger!!!

I can't post on anyone's blogs! I leave such lovely comments and then I get an error message! So Mary, Ann and Amy I just wanted to let you know I'm trying...

OKAY, THAT'S IT!

You probably don't know how much comments mean to me unless you have your own blog. But let me tell you, it makes my day to check my blog and see comments from people, no matter what they say. And if I get more than 4, it's like a record.
It's really easy to do, just click on "comments", type your sweet nothings, select "other" and put your name in the name field. Then click "publish". You don't have to have a blog or a webpage or anything.
So quit being a voyeur and say something. And a big THANK YOU to those of you who do!

Chub in the tub

ALERT THE PRESS!

I decided to take a look see in Marlo's mouth this morning and she has a TOOTH! Can't believe it! She knew her grandparents were coming so she grew a tooth. What a showoff.

Friday Night Lights

We went to El Cajon to watch my cousin Ken's son Brandon's game. These are Ken's daughters Brooke and Channing. They are such sweet girls, always so excited to see us. Channing did everything she could to entertain Marlo. Baby girl had a good time. All the yelling and cheering kept her on her toes, and she got pretty tired but she was a good sport.

We almost made it through the whole game, and Brandon's team was ahead 21-0 when we left 4th quarter. I'm sure they won. We had so much fun and I hope we get to go again.

Just waking up

Marlo went down at 6:30 last night. So at 12:30 she was stirring slightly and I got her out of bed. Probably not the smartest thing to do, but when she's asleep for a big chunk of time like that I get to really missing her.
Anyway, I love her sweet Wake Up Face...a little puffy with rosy cheeks and nose, and how she blinks and sighs as she looks around, it's the cutest thing in the whole world.

This may be pears

i don't know, she eats everything now. I let her play with her food and make a big mess today, she was really liking it.
I have some great videos, but Blogger reported an error saving my post, blah blah. So frustrating. I'll keep trying...

This may not thrill you normal people

but for the OCD freak such as myself there's nothing better. Lane cleaned and organized her office. It took her two days, but it's lovely. I really wanted to document it so Mary could see it, and also because I'm not sure how long it will last.

POLL

What's better, mashed potatoes (with gravy, of course) or stuffing?

It's baaack...

I thought she was done with this phase, but it's back in full force. She's either sticking her tongue out or chewing on it. I have to say it's not the smartest look.

Mark came home early from work today to study for his broker exam tomorrow. We had to leave so he could concentrate, he said Marlo was too cute. He also said she's as bald as Costanza and as fat as Newman. (If you don't know who they are, you should).

Auntie Amy

stayed over last night. These two sooo love each other. They even took a nap together...so cute.

Taylor brought some old toys of his out of storage to play with. He was so excited to entertain her with a train, a truck pulling a camper, a helicopter, and the Ghostbuster mobile. It was very sweet, and Marlo liked them very much. She showed her appreciation by putting all of them in her mouth.