We’ve been keeping busy with life around here.  Serra’s Halloween costume is nearly complete and all the parts have been gathered.  Brian has been assigned a costume as well and I will start putting it together next week. 

Serra and Mo are best friends at home and SV treats him like a sibling.  She even tattles on him and tells me when he is naughty.  Mo torments her when she is on the floor tantruming by running around her head  and biting her hair.  It infuriates her. 

Brian is really enjoying his class this semester.  He really likes the professor.  He is doing really well so far too.  We are planning on going to China and Tibet with him  Dr. G and a group next spring.  Don’t ask how we are going to pull this one off financially because we don’t know yet.  All we know is that opportunities like this don’t come around very often and we are going to jump at it.  That is the plan anyway even though  there are a few things that could stand in the way this early on. 

I’ll post pictures of the finished costumes when the holiday gets closer. 

Now that Joseph gets it and I am assuming that the rest of you have had the time to get your caps on, here we go.

It’s time for who nose the family!

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Time for an update:  For a few months we planned on going to San Diego over Labor Day weekend to attend a Padres baseball game where Brian’s all time favorite player was having his number retired.  We were glad we were able to get a new car in time to go.  The Saturn would have made it, but it is not the best traveling machine anymore. 

We left Friday afternoon and battled traffic off and on.  We headed straight to Old Town where we love the restaurants.  We waited for about and hour to get in to one.  We had to park about 1/2 mile away as well.  It was worth it and we enjoyed a nice meal with Mariachies playing in the background.  It was a good thing I had some crayons handy as Serra~V~ was restless from all the sitting and waiting. 

Saturday morning we went in search of breakfast but ran out of time so caught some fast food.  We headed to the ballpark where we went on a tour of the new Petco Park.  It is a fantastic place.  I felt nostalgic and I am not even a huge baseball fan.  They have so many ways you can come and watch a game including a restaurant that overlooks the field, party rooms that do the same, as well as a “beach” with sand for the kids at center feild.  For $5 you can come to the game and there is a picnic area that you can watch the game from.   They have even incorporated 2 historical buildings that were on site into seating areas.  Brian’s highlight was giong down onto the field and sitting in the dugout and imagining it was durning a game.  It was a lot of fun and we got about 2 miles worth of walking in. We sat  in left field for the game but didn’t catch any balls.

Before the game we went to the Old Spaghetti Factory which is less than a block from the park.  It worked out perfectly timing wise and we beat the big rush, enjoyed dinner, and made it to the park in time to see Tony Gwynn’s jersey retired.  Except for being yelled at by a guy in a wheelchair to get out of his way, I think it was a real moment for Brian.  Serra took a short nap durning the 6th inning and was still tired enough when we got back to the hotel that she crashed hard after a bath.  Upon leaving the park, I thought it funny that local college students peddled bicycle rickshaws for peds.  I thought if Jared’s accouting thing doesn’t work out he could always move to SD and pedal baseball fans around.  We didn’t  get any offers for a ride.  One look at Brian and they went to the next people.  Oh yeah.  We stayed at the Raddison in Downtown SD.  From our room on the 20th floor we could see the ball park as well as the harbor where there were many amazing sailing vessles. 

Sunday morning we came home and again battled traffic most the way.  We picked up Mo from the kennel where he hoteled.  He seemed to enjoy the luxury accomodations;  grass to run and play and a wadeing pool.  We couldn’t believe it was 100 degrees in Santa Paula.  It is the hottest it’s been since we moved in last year.  This week has been warm.  As long as we don’t move to fast we stay not hot.  I’m not going to commit to all the way cool there. 

Monday was a real relaxer for us.  We went swimming and BBQed with just us.  Here are some pictures. 

Double snooze and hamin’ it up.

Tony Gwynn drive and SV on the dugout phone, calling in a new pitcher perhaps.

Looking out at the field from the dugout.

And in unrelated pictures we have Serra~V~ with her very first table setting.  This is exactly how she did it all by herself.  Pretty good.  And watching the Olympics, SV likes to do “flips” now.

And of course the new car.

                 Coming soon to a Xanga site near you!  

WHO NOSE THE FAMILY? 

             Get your thinking caps on.