The Holidays Have Begun

I do have a few photos, which I will post as soon as I am near them and a computer at the same time.

As our readers will note, we have been enjoying the company of Laur, Leeg, and Clara for a about ten days now. However, on Friday night, Booty arrived in Las Vegas, and we got to have the fun of picking him up at the airport. Bubby, Dan, and I drove down after work on Friday. Bubby and Dan had an In-n-Out on the way. (Can't bring myself to do it. Maybe someday!) We had enough time in Las Vegas to make a stop at Trader Joe's for a few necessities, you know, things like giant Belgian chocolate bars and dark chocolate, turbinado sugar, and sea salt covered almonds. You know, the basics.

We only pushed homeward as far as St. George where we all crashed in the condo. I don't know how the boys slept (Booty in the princess bed, Dan on the couch), but of course Bubby and I were at home for all intent and purposes, so we zonked.

Next morning, Dan had to get home to begin what was a pretty wild Saturday for his family. If you haven't read about it, check out Evestigation. Bubby, Booty and I went to the Golden Corral for our favorite breakfast buffet. Bubb and I shared a great omelet, and I shamelessly consumed three biscuits (we brought our own plum jam in anticipation of just that possibility). We were home a little after 9:00, and Leo was super happy to see his Dad. They're pretty good buddies as it turns out.

Bubb and I did make the dance recital (we got one or two pictures to prove it), and spent the rest of the day doing fall chores. We tried our hand at jalapeno jelly-making and while we got some delicious green syrup out of the deal, we will need to try again before we can say we know how. We did do a follow up batch yesterday, and it looks like it might be closer to jam. Long story, if you're curious, ask us about it.

Once it warmed enough, we moved outside. I finally got my sprinklers winterized and pulled the tomato plants out of the garden Once we get the BBQ put away and the hammock into its bag, we'll be ready for winter. Bubby decided to take on the forsythia and lilac bushes and she did herself proud. They are officially "hat racked". We had a truck load of detritus so we stopped by Big K's and picked up Leo and Booty for an outing to the dump. Leeg didn't get out of the truck, but he got to take the whole adventure in. Our dump trips with the Grands always end with a Frosty from Wendy's, which is the part they like best.

We all (Dan and Fam, Booty and Fam, and Bubb) went to Bruno's for dinner. Bubb and I shared a combo calzone, and we just enjoyed watching the kids.

Sunday was about what one would expect, except, we had everybody, including Big K over for dinner at 5:00 PM. Bubby made a big lasagne and we had our favorite antipasto salad. The kids liked the spumoni ice cream that was desert the best, but they ate pretty well. Leeg and Clara are really good eaters.

We retired to the living room and after some play with the toys, we launched a brief game of Bula Bula and even played a little Gossip. Watching Leo when it was his turn to be "it" was a real treat. He got pretty excited about the whole thing. We'll do it again.

Simple pleasures are the best, as far as we're concerned.

Buboppy