Backyard Tour
Welcome to our backyard! I’m slowly getting around to showing pictures of our new place, so eventually you’ll see it all.This is one of the two banana trees in the yard. I cannot tell you how excited the girls were when they discovered little bananas growing on the tree. I have no idea when they become ripe, so we’ll just watch and wait.
This is the part of the yard I like to call Snow White’s wishing well. It just reminds me of the scene from the movie where she’s singing the wishing song. And of course the statues of the deer add to the whole feeling as well. Each of these deer have names that are different according to which of the girls you ask, but they all agree that the lady statue is named Genevieve. I told the girls one time how much I love this name, and they really remembered it.
Here is the grassy/weedy area. Maybe after the winter it will perk up a bit? The park lamp post is very pretty, but we haven’t been able to find any way to turn it on. Just one of several features of the backyard that seem to be just for looks. The others being the built-in BBQ that isn’t set up right, and the built-in sink that has no pipes leading out of it. Our theory is that this was a model home for the development and it was more about form than function.
There are half a dozen citrus trees, but this is the only one that is making fruit right now. We can’t wait to see what kind of citrus it will be.
This owl, which has been named Hedwig, also came with the yard and keeps guard over the gazebo. All of the animal statues crack me up and definitely add personality to the backyard.
Halloween ’09
Because today is Friday the 13th, I think I am justified in posting some Halloween pictures even though it is long since passed… We were able to celebrate the holiday in both Orange and San Diego counties. Hannah was able to squeeze in one last field trip to the pumpkin patch before the move, and also had a costume parade with her new class. We went to the church trunk or treat and did some trick or treating around our neighborhood, which turned out to be a great way to meet a lot of our new neighbors.
Emma had plans for being Hermione from Harry Potter since she fell in love with the series over the summer. She came up with the costume all on her own- even making herself a wand from a stick with some real wizardish personality. We never did end up getting her the Hogwarts robe because I was too distracted with the move to make one, and too cheap to shell out $30+ for a store bought one. Lucky for me Emma looked perfect with her semi-frizzy hair, time turner, plaid skirt, v-neck sweater and suede boots.
Hunter had wanted to be a man eating shark- literally. But we weren’t able to track down a shark for him to be eating, so he came up with this costume on the fly- a pirate king. (We’re all fans of the song from Pirates of Penzance.) The shirt he is wearing has little skulls and cross bones on it, and with the regal robe, he looked great!
Sabrina was set on being Belle from Beauty and the Beast until she got the adorable candy corn skirt from Aunt Korby a few days before Halloween. She loved the skirt and decided to be a Candy Corn Princess instead, and was adorable. Sabrina is destined to open a Bath & Body shop one day because she loves all scented things. Most specifically: candles, lotions, and chap sticks (aka lipsticks). She has a beloved candy corn candle and once she got the skirt, she wore the skirt and carried the candle everywhere!
Hannah is now a huge fan of fairies. She loves the Tinkerbell movie and books that we have and her favorite fairy, other than Tinker Bell, is Silvermist the water fairy. So Hannah was Silvermist for our trick or treating nights. At school she wore a more school friendly costume that she got from her Aunt Jeanette which was from another of her favorite movies, Barbie’s Princess and the Pauper. She was lovely in both costumes!
Read MoreHoliday Help
Go visit this blog for a great opportunity to help a family this holiday season… And you may even win a beautiful quilt for your generosity!
Read MoreOur Favorite Hotel
I’m still trying to get to my Halloween pictures, but in the mean time I thought I would do a quick review of our favorite place to stay when we travel – The Holiday Inn Express! We first discovered it through our AAA (another company I highly endorse) book when we drove across the country for our move to North Carolina. Back in those days (was it really only 7 years ago?) there wasn’t the availability of information like there is now with Blackberries and i phones. So we became members of AAA and loaded up on travel books and maps.
The first time we stayed in a Holiday Inn Express we were very impressed. It was kept very clean, had a nice large rain-down-on-you type shower head, cleansers and lotions that have a slight cinnamonish smell, beds and pillows that are comfortable, and a great little free breakfast bar with things from cereal with yogurt or fresh fruit to eggs with bacon. The best part is that the cost of staying there is the same as their inferior competition. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not magical, but we love how it is consistently predictable in cleanliness and comfort for a family wanting an affordable place to stay on the road.
On this move down to San Diego we had one night in between loading our stuff on the truck and unloading it at the new house. We stayed in the HIExpress in San Clemente and it was beautiful, having just been remodeled, and was just as impressive as the others we have stayed in through our travels. After another successful stay with them I thought I would give them my official thumbs up and seal of approval. Next time you’re looking for a great place to stay I suggest checking to see if there is a Holiday Inn Express nearby and if there is, go there!
PS. We are loving our new home and have just the office and garage left to unpack. We miss our friends and family, but have found everyone at church and at school to be super friendly. It has made the transition so much easier!
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