On to February!

Yes I agree with Mia, January just flew by, and here's the last day of the month already!


This month Marvin and I have been working changing his room around a little, I should say..he's been working. He's also been doing a little shopping for a new computer and printer and desk. He seems happy with the purchases, they're awesome :)


School is fine, the children seem to finally start settling down. They are really testing my patience this school year!!!


I have been reading a lot this month, some books I have really enjoyed and some were a disappointment. I will post the list here.


Sandy wrote and said she and Tristan will be coming in April for a few days, I think it'll be nice they are here when Mia is here and I know Lizzie will come up, or we'll go to San Diego during this time. We'll see how everything goes :)


I am posting a picture of me in one of my favorite restaurants in Long Beach, it's so nice to eat overlooking the bay and watching the boats go by. And of course, sipping Margaritas.


Here's my book list:

JANUARY 2011
Nancy Thayer – Moon Shell Beach I liked

Alissa Valdes-Rodriguez – The husband habit Not liked
Sophie Kinsella – Mini Shopaholic Was OK
Jennifer Crusie – Maybe this time Was OK
Sarah Addison Allen – Garden Spells Loved it
Karen Quinn – The Ivy Chronicles I liked
Terry McMillan – Getting to Happy Was OK
Ann Mah – kitchen Chinese Loved it

Long weekend

Yesterday was MLK's holiday, which gave us a much needed long weekend. The weather has been beautiful lately, very balmy and sunny. I went shopping on Saturday and bought another hummingbird feeder, a little porcelain frog that will measure rainfall, and a pretty glasss sun catcher/wind chime. Marvin and I sat outside and watched the hummingbirds drinking and the birds taking baths in the water fountain, it was nice and peaceful. I also decided to get in the Jacuzzi for a while. Later that day we went out to dinner to a new place for us, called Cha Cha in Brea http://www.chachasbrea.com/. We mainly had tapas/appetizers, fries with allioli, flautas, tortilla soup, and calamari. And of course a great Margarita!
On Sunday we just stayed around the house until Lizzie came over in the evening. I made croquetas and macaroni and cheese and we all watched The Golden Globes.
Monday we had a light lunch of tuna empanadas, and later the 3 of us went to Kaiser Hospital. Marvin had an appointment to learn about PD or peritoneal dialysis. The nurse explained everything very thoroughly and answered all the questions we had. We were glad that Lizzie was able to come to the meeting. I think this is the way we will choose, because most everything can be done at home. It will signify some changes in the house and in our life style, but all in all I am sure it will be manageable, Marvin is very good at following procedures.
After leaving the hospital, we decided to go eat to Acapulco, and surprise! Acapulco is no more, the place we used to go is closed. So we went to El Cholo. Lizzie had the Burrito Dorado, and said she won't have it anymore lol, my flautas were OK but not great, I like the tortilla soup and Marvin had it. Next time I will stick to tortilla soup and Margarita combo.
When we got back home, Lizzie drove back to San Diego . All in all it was a productive weekend.

And so it goes...

I started back to work on the 4th. It sure was hard to wake up at 6:30 again, I got spoiled sleeping late during my vacation :)
On the 5th, we got the tests results for Marvin, it showed his kidney function had dropped from 23% to 14%, not good news. In the plus side, he's feeling well. We went to the doctor on Monday (I took off work) and the consensus is he will start dialysis eventually, but he wants to have another test in about 6 weeks to see how the kidney is doing, hopefully it will stay steady :)
The 6th was the day of the 3 Wise Men. I felt like getting something, Marvin and I went to El Cholo, and then to Best Buy where I bought myself a wireless illuminated keyboard. It's really cool.
On Saturday, Norbert came over to help us take off the lights around the front of the house. We decided to leave the backyard lights on, I enjoy being in the Jacuzzi with the lights blinking, very festive. I know Mia will like them too. Afterwards the three of us went to El Torito for an early dinner. For some reason, Norbert brought us a bunch of green beans, potatoes, garlic and onions, so we invited him over for dinner the next day.
Sunday, Marvin cooked a roast and added all the vegetables, and also made a pineapple upside down cake. Norbert ate and ate making little noises of approval as he ate lol. The man enjoys a home cooked meal!
And so it goes...

2011

I thought it would be fun to post a picture of me and my daughters, and one of Nuri and her daughters, I couldn't find one of Mia and her 3 sons, so here's one of Mia and two of her sons.

I just changed my blog's look, not sure if I like it yet, we'll see.

Yesterday, the first day of 2011, was a very lazy day. We just rested. I went to the store and got a few things for dinner, I made breaded pork and mashed potatoes, also got some peach nectar and drank a few Bellinis, very good!

Today it has been raining most of the evening, at times quite heavily. Marvin went to get breakfast, Denver omelet, bacon, biscuits and gravy. In the afternoon, I put away the Christmas decorations, but I am leaving my pretty tree up until January 6th.

We went out to dinner to Johnny Rebs, I had a super yummy Cajun sausage with peppers and onions, and Brunswick stew. Marvin had some pulled pork with collard greens. When we went out it has really raining hard, we got pretty soaked! When I got home I had some hot chocolate to warm up .

I have enjoyed reading all the blogs, good job with them!

And here's the list of the books I read in December.

That makes a big total of 86 books that I read in 2010 :)

McLaughlin & Kraus – Nanny Returns
*Faye Kellerman – The Garden of Eden
Jennifer Weiner – Fly Away Home
Lauren Weisberger – Last night at Chateau Marmont
Nancy Thayer – Beachcombers
Nancy Thayer - Hot Flash Holidays