The Lopez Life

Fall is here!!

It feels like fall in the mornings and evenings.....you can feel it in the air.  So happy it's September.  This is my favorite time of year.  The house is decorated for fall.  I even put out my Halloween stuff.  I only put that out because I am having a Gold Canyon open house next weekend so I wanted it all out for October 1st.  Here's a little corner of my house.

 

We had a home football game this week.  We won 68-9!  We had a fun night watching the game and visiting with friends. After the game we all went out to dinner. Here are some photos from after the game.

 
 
 

 
That's the linemen coach behind them.  They had no idea he was there.

 
 
Today we are working on some fun things around the house.  Also taking Robert jean shopping. Be back tomorrow with more photos.  Have a great day!

 

{Back to Thanksgiving}

Thought I'd finally get around to posting about Thanksgiving.  I am so behind in blogging.  We are just b-u-s-y!!  Plus, I've been off the computer a lot lately.  That's a good thing.  Getting lots done around here.  This Thanksgiving was spent at my sister's new home.  I didn't take a lot of photos.  We had a great time with about 20 people.  The kids are so fun to watch.  The older ones are growing up so fast and the younger ones are so cute.  After our blessing, we said what we were thankful for.  Again, the kids were adorable.   It was a great Thanksgiving Day and great to all be together as a family. 

 
Carlton and Carlton. :)

 
Mom and Dad.

 
Trying to get a Christmas card photo.  I didn't end up using any of the ones I took on T-day.

 
Me and my sister.

 
My dad, George and Dave.

Well I need to run and pick up Robert from the mall.  He went to a birthday party for a girl and it was at the mall.  Can't wait to hear about it!

Hopefully I'll be back tomorrow to post about my father-in-law's visit. 

Happy Sunday!   

 

{Halloween is approaching really fast!}

This month is just flying by fast!  We were talking tonight about what haunted house we are going to go to this year.  Since Jamie will be here and she's never been, we'll go to the Fear Farm.  Dave, Robert and I had a  blast last year.  It was Robert's first time going.  Here's the link to our pictures from last year.  Robert has changed a lot.  He's as tall as Dave now. 

Also, we bought the sequel to "30 Days of Night", called "30 Days of Night - Dark Days"  It went straight to DVD.  It was ok.  Not the best, but just ok.  

 
That's all that's going on right now. This weekend is a busy one.  We have a party to attend for one of Robert's friends who is turning 15.  I like that they invited whole families.  It will be nice to visit with some friends we haven't seen in awhile.  We also have a baby baptism on Sunday.  Plus, getting ready for Jamie's visit.  She'll be here a week from this Sunday.  Can't wait!!

 

 

{Game Night!}

Pulled out our favorite Halloween Yahtzee games.  Tonight we are grilling steaks and playing games.  No school, no homework.  Thought we'd have some fun before it's back to school again tomorrow.  Robert did have football practice this afternoon and Dave and I both had to work.  It's so nice out in the evenings.  Spending as much time outside as we can.

 

{Some Favorites}

Thought I'd share a few favorites today.  I have a lot, but here's three.

Censtational Girl.  Love this site.  This girl can re-do stuff really good!  Plus, she lives in my favorite part of the US in Northern California (I miss living in the wine country).   Also, Censtational Girl designed these cute Halloween labels here and here that you can download and print for free.  I am for sure printing these for our Halloween party.

Next is The Funky Bag Lady.  My friend Ann-Marie aka The Funky Bag Lady is one awesome seamtress!  I love her new style bag called Fiona. 

 
 This is the perfect Fall bag!

Last is my favorite scrappy site called Scrapbook Doodle.  These girls are so fun and nice!  We check in almost daily and chat about all kinds of things.  What I love most about this board is there is NO drama!  Now I don't scrap as much as I used to, but that's ok.  I will someday again.  If you are looking for some new Halloween or Fall product check these out!

 
Echo Park

 
See all of Bella Blvd here. 

We had a nice little storm roll through here last night.  Lots of thunder and just enough rain.  Our temperature really dropped too.  It wa nice to have the windows open.  This week it's finally going to cool off. 

{Cola Burgers & More Halloween Decorating}

 

Wanted to share this recipe that has become one of our favorite ways to make burgers.  These burgers are packed with flavor!  Cola Burgers.  Found this recipe from the Taste of Home website.

Also, here's another corner of my kitchen.  I love Halloween!  I hope I don't run out of Halloween photos before the end of the month.  I guess I will just have to keep decorating! ;)

 

{Almost Party Time!}

**This is my 1000th post!!!  :)

A blog party that is!  I am doing "31 Days of Blogging" again this year and a bunch of other fellow bloggers are planning on joining in on the fun!

Starting October 1st, I'll blog every single day for 31 days.  Some of the things I will blog about are:

• Halloween decorating
• Recipe sharing
• Movies
• Haunted Houses
• Corn mazes
• Family
• Football/Tailgating
• Homecoming
• Scrapbooking
• Card making
• Jamie's visit
• Pumpkin Carving
• Halloween Party

Basically our day to day life for the month of October.  It's our favorite month of the year.  After the month is over I plan on doing something fun with my photos. 

I am excited to welcome 31 Days of October!

 

(photo from Martha Stewart)

I will list the links to the other blogs that are going "31 days of blogging" on October 1st.

 

 

Welcome Autumn!!

This is one of my favorite days!  The first day of fall and we've had some dips in our temperatures.  I just went outside and it's rather cool with a little breeze.  Not jacket weather, but way cooler than what it has been.  Here's some Fall like photos and inspiration to get you into the Fall spirit.  Start decorating with your pumpkins!

 
If only it would look like this here in the Phoenix area.

Here's a little front porch inspiration from Sunset.com and BHG.com

Start decorating!!!  Happy fall!

Tonight the Coyotes have a football game (away).  Our team is 3-0.  Go COYOTES!
 

  
   

{Happy Fall & Happy News!!}

I know fall doesn't officially start until September 22nd, but here at our house it starts September 1st!  Here's what I've done so far.  Not much, but it has been a busy this week and of course dealing with my whole eye issue has me a little stressed out. 

As soon as it cools down a little that wall is getting painted.  Tired of the Autumn Russet color.  It's not a big wall to paint so it shouldn't take that long. 

SO....on to some more HAPPY NEWS!  While I was driving home from work today my cell phone rang.  I've had my cell glued to me all day hoping to hear from my Optic Neurologist.  I pulled over and we talked for 25 minutes.  He told me that my MRI was normal.  No sign of tumors, bad matter or lesions.  My blood work was all fine.  I simply have Optic Neuritis.  Which again is, inflammation of the optic nerves behind eye (my right eye only).  Normally your vision will return after about a week and could take longer (like 6 months!).  Mine is a little difference since I have no vision right now.  He said people who lose total vision have a high chance of their vision not returning.  I could get it all back, a little back or none.  I'll take any back.  If I don't get it back, I CAN live with that.  I am SOOOO happy to be alive.  I'll be honest...I've had myself dead a buried about 10 times this week.  It's only natural for those thoughts to enter your mind (or maybe that's just me).  Either way, they did.  I'm not gonna lie, it's been hell!  Dave is worried & stressed.  I had my dad take me to all my appointments because I really wanted my dad to be with me and I wanted Dave to take care of Robert. Dave doesn't even know the results yet.  He's still up in the air somewhere.  He should be landing soon.  I CAN"T WAIT to tell him!  We did not let Robert know all the details.  I did not want him stressed out at all.  He needs to focus on school and football and just being 14 yrs. old.  So back to my phone call with my doctor.  He wants to see me next week and look at my eye again.  Also, to discuss some options I can take (like 3 days of steroid IV in the hospital) so that my vision returns quicker.  He'll tell me all the side effects of having that done. I'll most likely not go that route unless he really recommends I do.  So that's my happy news.  I know this is a very long paragraph that just went on and on, but I don't care.  I'm happy and I am going to have a very happy weekend and I hope anyone who reads this has a happy weekend too!

Thanks for the cards, thoughts, prayers and phone calls.  I love you all!

Welcome Fall!

Welcome fall!!  Today was a gorgeous day!  Breezy and beautiful.  It was a good day too.  My parents returned from their vacation.  They had a great time.  Can't wait to hear all about their trip.  Not much else is going on.  Just doing a little bit of this and a little bit of that.  Here's a couple of pictures from around the house of some fall-ness. :)

Aren't these little Halloween blocks cute?  I got them at Real Deals.  Love that store!