Landscaping Pictures

Here's what my super hubby got done in the front yard.





He took out three large holly bushes and then planted some laroppi and planted three more more manageable holly plants. The bare space is where my flowers will go and the last picture is the corner where we planted some ground cover and a Japanese maple tree. Which we got a super deal on at Betty's.
Since I took these pictures, Allison and Connie planted vinca in the flower garden and some mulch in the beds. Azaleas have been transplanted to the back and we moved another holly to the side of the garage. I'm tired just looking at it all........

Another 3 months? Screw it and then plant it!

Yikes. I'm a bad, really bad blogger! I thought it was before I was pregnant and had such bad carpal tunnel but know I think I'm just a bad blogger. I stink at updating baby books too, so this is really the only shot my kids are going to get. I should buck up!
I've been thinking of ways to update and there is no good way and frankly those who read this blog (insert crickets chirping here) are close family and friends and they know that Alex was born and that he's perfect and we won the baby lottery, and Allison is your typical perfect 4 year old girl who is having a period of HIGH drama but otherwise a well adjusted and well mannered little girl. So, screw it. I'm not updating we are going to go forward. I may revisit SOME things, but with how my life is going and how busy I am I don't think so.....

I will now provide an update. Not on the above mentioned children but on my husband. I love Brent :)((That's not the update!))

He has spent the ENTIRE weekend working on our landscaping. Some background: we have an ongoing list of things that we want to change or projects that we want to start in and around the house. There are definite He/She items on this list. The yard falls under HE. Last weekend, we had the pleasure of inviting Russ and Faye Davis over for dinner. Russ is the mastermind behind Montclair Landscaping, a company that Brent worked for pre-union days. Getting his hands dirty is something that Brent truly enjoys and is amazing at. The patience he demonstrates is limitless, I don't see it with our kiddos, maybe that because the plants don't talk back??
After dinner last week, Russ walked outside with Brent and passed along some ideas/tips for our landscaping. That was all the motivation my little green thumbed husband needed. We have spent the weekend (We meaning HE, I've stayed in the cool A/C!) digging, moving, analyzing, shopping, inspecting, shoveling, raking, composting, fertilizing and every other -ing verb that relates to the yard. He is doing an incredible job. He is tired, sore (not as young as he used to be!) and covered in blisters, but honestly he seems right at home in the yard with all of the gnats. Who by the way are another reason that I stay inside, they are awful! I just wanted him to know that I am proud of him for doing a great job and even more excited that we get to cross off something from our list. That is the best feeling! I will post pics once it's done.

Valentine's Day in LA

I knew I would be late in blogging about the end of our chilly trip to So Cal! Typical. Anyways, we headed off to LA for Valentine's Day. We were hoping traffic wouldn't be so bad on the weekend, we were wrong. It took FOREVER to get there. We ended up catching lunch at this restaurant called the "Backwoods Inn". It was. It was the type of dive that you could put the peanut shells on the floor. No questions asked. That's classy. And there were all sorts of dead, stuffed animals proudly displayed on the walls and overhangs at the bar. Whoo-hoo. Not to mention there were naked women on the walls--the curvacious Victorian ones with the nipple area whited (? sp) out as if not to offend anyone. Sweet.
It was an adventure. It was nice to just pull off the highway and see where it lead us. It's a real challenge to do that with Allison in the car.
We drove all around LA. Took some great pictures of the Hills, I will post those later. ((Brent is using my laptop to do taxes, I'm hiding out, I don't want to know the outcome!)) I got to go shopping on Rodeo Drive, gush. So fun to pretend I was "pretty woman"--Big mistake, big, huge!! To top off our day, we had dinner at In and Out Burger. I am not a big Valentine's Day person--I would much rather get flowers and candy on any other day than that one. It's just not as special if everyone else is getting some too! Brent kept saying he was soo happy to be able to get away with no flowers, no candy and fast food for dinner. I was happy, I was with him!
All in all we had a wonderful trip in LA. I miss Allison with every cell in my body, but it's nice to spend time alone with my hubby! ;)

Why does the weather hate us?

So full day #2 in So Cal, is just as cold and wet as the previous. We opted to stay close to Carlsbad and I pulled my romantic comedy movie card. ((Brent and I take turns picking movies)). I wanted to see Slumdog, but you can't find it anymore out here. I guess we are backwards and slow in the East! So, since Valentine's is close (gush), I thought it was time for a good chick flick.

Except it wasn't! We saw "He's just not that into you" and it was awful. I need at least three moments in a romantic comedy where I literally put my hand over my mouth and become teary-eyed. This movie only landed me one of those moments (Neil washing dishes) There was a close runner up when Neil but Beth's ring in his old nasty pants.
Although my husband was Neil and I was Gigi. That's the other thing I need to do in romantic comedies is assign who's who based on characteristics and familiar behaviors.
I also don't appreciate movies that portray marriage as a "possible" negative and adultery, um hello?? Where's my happy ending??

So skip the flick. Seriously. It's more for netflix or even on demand. The soundtrack however, not too bad. Might download some of those tunes.

We are off to LA for Valentine's Day........I want to see some paparazzi.

Greetings from sunny sometimes and cold always San Diego!

Brent and I are enjoying some time away from the usual hustle and bustle of life in Southern CA. The problem is it's cold, very cold! We arrived to find out that the rest of our time here the weather would be "unseasonably cool" and "wet". How perfect. The area of the country known for having a stable weather pattern has a blurp while we are here. Al Gore's right, global warming sucks.
We are making the most of it and have ventured out on some day trips. We are staying at the Four Seasons in Carlsbad, not too shabby but our room is hella cold. Enough whining about the weather. The picture above is the view outside of our patio. I have enjoyed doing some reading outside and listening to the fountain while drinking my morning tea. Not too shabby.
Yesterday we went down to San Diego. When we were here a couple of years ago I wanted to go to Seaport Village but we didn't make it so I wanted to be sure to go this trip. I was VERY disappointed. It was a tourist trap for sure. I was hoping to find some swanky shops to get some unique gifts and things and nothing. To make matters worse, you had to buy something to validate parking otherwise you had to pay to park. That doesn't seem right to me!


After Seaport Village, we ventured over to the USS Midway and took some pictures around the bay. The Military and Coast Guard were quite busy with their helicopters over us for what seemed to be every five minutes! (Am I whining again!?) Here's the picture of the most famous "kiss". It's a super big statue. We were also goofing off at the Bob Hope memorial. All in good fun!


After that we drove over to Coronado Island. On our previous trip, we had dinner at the famous Coronado Hotel but didn't really explore the island. So that's what we did this trip. The stores and shopping in Coronado make up for my disappointment in Seaport Village. After lunch we headed back to Carlsbad and took a detour to La Jolla. Brent's most favorite place in the world! We drove along the coast and took some pictures of Torrey Pines, sea lions sunning and the ocean. Those are mostly what you see here.




We are planning a trip to Laguna -- I gotta go!! And also to LA. I'm going shopping on Rodeo drive and I hope to see some famous people this time! :) I also want to go to Coto, but we'll see........gotta try and find some housewives!

Happy Birthday Brent!

Today is a special day in the Booker's family. It's Brent's 34th birthday. We are planning on a family dinner, presents, and of course cupcakes! It's going to be a blast.
I just wanted to give Brent a little shout out on his birthday. The following is just a bunch of thoughts and attributes about Brent. I love him so!
He is a wonderful man, husband and father. He is my best friend and take the good and the bad when it comes to living with two girls.
A lot of times he is my moral compass and reminds me of the bigger picture of life and tells me when it's time to step up or step down.
He sings a lot! Oh Sheri, by far the most sung. He will be mad at me for typing that, but he is a true entertainer, when he puts his guard down. He is one of the most sensitive people that I know. He puts on a tough act, but he's gotta soft squishy center.
He thinks of others before himself and when it comes to his career and staff, he considers what is best for all instead of individual agendas.
He is a lot of fun to be around and always makes me laugh. He is amazing when it comes to landscaping and I've never seen anyone work so hard and diligent when it comes to yardwork. Most might consider that small, but it's truly Brent's passion and he is excellent at it.
He vacuums much better than I ever could.
He rarely puts things away, instead prefers to have staging areas throughout the house.
He is fierce when it comes to packing.
His closet is meticulously organized. It's a little sick. He has numerous "systems" in the house that I don't dare disrupt. Don't get me started on the dishwasher!
He is a wonderful, wonderful father. Our little girl is soo lucky to have a Dad that works so hard and loves her so much.
He spoils me--a lot!! Just look at my handbag collection....
He reminds me all the time that I deserve and am entitled to the best things and events in life. He works so hard to make sure that Allison and I get those. Some tangible some not, but his intention is always clear.

I'm so lucky to have met and married Brent. I truly love him and enjoy our life together.

Happy Birthday B!