This weekend, Brandy called me for PaB's chili recipe. After reading it to her, I knew I had to make it too. It is really good and just the thing for our fall weather. I figured I would share the recipe with my blog readers just in case this made somebody hungry for it. It is a pretty big pot of chili so freezing some is an option too.

Dad's Chili
1 tablespoon margarine
5 lbs ground meat
1 chopped onion
3 cloves of garlic
1 ten oz Old El Paso Enchilada Hot Sauce
4 fourteen oz cans of Beef Broth
2 cans Ranch Style Beans
1 ten oz can Rotel tomatoes and green chilies
1 can tomato paste
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon pepper
3 teaspoons cumin
6 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon sugar
season with cajun seasoning to taste

Brown meat in margarine, add onion and garlic, cook down, then add everything else. Slow cook for about 3 hours.

Kyle is making lemonade out of lemons. Since he can't play football this year, he decided to become one of the "blue boys". They cheer for the football team and generally act like fools with the cheerleaders. We were all supposed to go watch him tonight but we had some bad storms. This picture is courtesy of one the parents. I can't believe our baby is a senior. Time is going by way to fast....

It's been 4 years. Sometimes it still seems like yesterday. I still miss her and think about her every single day. There is so much I need to ask her advice on while I am battling this journey called motherhood. I realize that I learned a lot from mom about being a mom, a wife and a woman from the way she lived her life and the way she owned up to her mistakes. It takes wisdom and courage to do that. Here are a few of those things mom passed on to me:

1. Love my family unconditionally
2. Live selflessly
3. It's ok to be selfish sometimes too.
4. Save your dimes for a rainy day
5. Live life with passion
6. Don't do anything halfway
7. Say my prayers....it helps
8. It's fun to be a little crazy.

I try to live by these lessons mom taught me though I don't always succeed. But I keep on trying just like mom said. I love you, mom!

Keith decided on our way home that we were only 60 miles from the Grand Canyon so we stopped for a looksee. It was incredible. I took lots of pics with my 35mm camera and hopefully I will have some really good ones with that. Keith and I wanted to go the the Grand Canyon last year but did not make it, however, we never stopped talking about going so this sidetrip was quite the gift to both of us.
Coming home is always the best part of going away. Last night we managed a real family dinner with everyone. Just being with the kids again made me very happy in a way that a vacation doesn't quite do it for me. Their beautiful faces are all I need to know that home is the best place to be! I missed ya'll while I was gone.

Last night we ate in Seal Beach at Walt's Wharf. The food was really fancy. This is Louisiana Blackened Catfish. It was pretty good but plain ole fried catfish would have been better!
Today, we went to Hollywood. It was so cool to see the sign.

We took a walk around Hollywood Blvd and saw a bunch of the stars. I kept wanting to take pictures but that would have been too many. It was so neat to walk around there and see all the different people's stars. We took a few wrong turns and ended up in Beverly Hills and even saw Rodeo Drive. We were trying to find a highway but it was a great detour.
Keith decided to make the drive home with me and as we drove through AZ the temperature really soared. It was really hot outside (even without the humidity!).

Last night we walked around an area called Belmont Shores. It has lots of places to eat and shop. We decided on Mexican and it was spicy. Keith is drinking a strawberry margarita that he says is the best ever. I had a sip and it was good. Dad, you would have loved this place.
After filling our bellies we went for a walk to the beach passing up a pretty neighborhood. They had lots of rose gardens which I admired and of course had to take a picture of.
This is a picture I took while hurtling down the highway towards Los Angeles to get to Long Beach. The people here drive like they do in New York! There is a mountain behind all that smog. I couldn't believe how polluted the air was over there. I had heard about it but never seen it.

So, I decided to take another road trip but this one was much longer. I surprised Keith on his conference in Long Beach, CA. This picture is when he walked into the hotel lobby to check in and I was there waiting for him. He was really surprised!

That night we ate at a restuarant called Gladstones. It had fresh seafood and was really delish. I had fresh Pacific Snapper blackened. From Gladstones, we could see the Queen Mary ship and this lighthouse.
The hotel we are staying in is really nice. While I was sitting in the lobby waiting for Keith, his friend from Boeing, Jim, saw me and I told him how I was surprising Keith. He knows our circumstances and loves Keith so right away went upgrade Keith's room so we have a really nice room with a balcony that looks out.
Keith did not have to show up today until 1:00 so this morning we went to the beach. The weather here is absolutely perfect. Keith went run a few miles while I laid out. We pretty much had that section of the beach to ourselves. Afterwards, we ate at the In-an-Out Burger and it was good. There are only three things on the menu: A hamburger, cheeseburger and a double cheeseburger. With fries. Yum!

Wow, I can't believe I am in California.

Yesterday, Amanda and I decided to take a road trip to Laurie, Missouri. It was about 3 hours away but we wanted to have lunch there. OK, I wanted to have lunch there and Amanda was nice enough to accompany me on such a long trip.
There is nothing like seeing your name on a water tower to make a person feel good about themself. I swear, I felt like I owned the town for just a little while.
Of course it was a small town. We ate a diner/bar for lunch that was pretty good. If I owned the town, it would have cajun food and it would have been delicious. But it was a fun day and I enjoyed the scenery and the company!

We had a great time in Charleston. Kyle did not take any pictures with his friends but I did. Scarlett, Hope, her baby, Brielle and I went to eat at the Noisy Oyster which was delicious.
Ceci's mom is in Charleston helping Ceci take care of her new baby. Moma Rosa cooked authentic Mexican food for us and it was delicious. I had three plates of food! The picture of us was taken by her 4 year old son, Evan, below. He is quite a pistol.

Here is a picture of the new bridge they were building before we left. It is one of the nicest bridges I have ever gone over. There is room on the side for walkers and bike riders.
My last day there, we took Brielle to her first trip to the beach. It was a beautiful day though hot. We ate at the Banana Cabana and had a great afternoon. It is always good to go back and see old friends.