Husbandry

Husbandry is the art of growing grapes and stuff.* What we didn't realize when we moved into this house is that there were grape vines in the back that actually produced (a green one and a red one!). Furthermore, the apple tree produced really really good apples, which we've been enjoying, but this post isn't about that. Yesterday I decided to pick some of the grapes. To my surprise, behind the broad leaves was a ton** of grapes. The kids ate a bunch (three bunches to be exact), but we still had lots left over, so we decided to make grape juice. We didn't know how, but how hard could it be, right?*** You have to boil and smash it a lot and visiting Royal did a smashing job.

I thought it would be tons of fun to make Stromboli, but no one else knew what it was (it's bread with good stuff in it) but it was fair, since I didn't know how to make bread so we taught each other. Elizabeth, Grace, and Sienna made the bread:
The cutest little helper:

I was in charge of toppings! Nicole helped with the bread and also directed the juicing

I also made "monster bread" (freshly baked bread topped with butter, fresh sliced garlic, cheeses and some spices). This time we served it with a balsamic dipping oil.The final product: Bon Appetite indeed!
(Stromboli insides: 1) Pepperoni, Mozerella, Tomato Sauce 2) Ham & Cheese, 3) Carmelized Onions, Fresh Garlic, Smoked Gouda 4) Everything.)

*I'm sure the "stuff" part of husbandry includes being nice to your wife.

**Not a literal ton, but a shopping bag completely full.

***A lot harder than you'd imagine, actually.

Zoom Zoom Zoom

Apparently Sis-in-law has never ridden a motorcycle. So I said she could use mine*. She was so excited: Here's the fateful moment captured:

They got on the right track:

*It's actually a scooter, but she said that didn't sound as cool and she thought it was really fun anyway.
**This is the same sister-in-law who went parasailing earlier this week, so scooters must be cool!

Sick House - OK GO!

While Nicole's Sister's Family was visiting, we agreed to watch her 4 kids while Mommy and Daddy went on an all too rare getaway (it's not their official anniversary, but you take 'em when you can!) Besides giving Elizabeth and Royal some needed away time, it was also an opportunity for Nicole and I to get a preview of what having four children might be like. We decided to really get into that experience and over the last 4 days all four of the kids (and both of us) got a stomach flu. Although the poor baby vomited on me (twice) I'm still not deterred from wanting to be a father, so I guess the experiment was a success. We also discovered a pretty good sick day activity: Watching "OK Go" videos. Here's the photographic evidence, with apologies for the early morning pj's and wild hair:
Above we are watching

In this shot (with Grandma!) they are watching the same song and band, but with a different video:

As promised in the music videos, when it came to the sicknesses "This too shall pass."

Now we're all better - although now that Elizabeth and Royal have been back a day, they're not feeling too well....

Round about the house

I've been trying to remember to take pictures of ordinary life, not just when we're traveling. Here's one from the front window of our first snowfall a little while ago: I don't normally wear long-sleaved sweaters, but it seemed like an excuse to try out a wool sweater we got in Ireland. I grabbed my "Paddy cap" to complete the outfit:

It was a bit too itchy, even with another sweater under it. Speaking of said other sweater, here's a shot of it and Nicole in a typical hang around the house sort of shot. We regularly sit around the house posing for pictures, so this is really representative:

Idaho

We recently (this weekend) drove up to Idaho. On the way back Nicole insisted we get off I-15 and take the "Scenic Route" to Logan, shown here: While I must admit there is a certain beauty here, after our recent trip to Connecticut, I also thought this particular shot could also qualify as a "lone and dreary wilderness." To be fair, Nicole thought this was going to be Route-89 from Bear Lake (and we were a little late for the foliage anyway, although Logan proper was still pretty).
As promised, we spent the trip with our nieces. Here's some updated shots of me 'n' Mae:

And she made the cutest cowardly lion (Hair by Nicole):

The Reason for all this family togetherness and traveling was, in fact, family. Specifically, Nicole's little brother got married! They're perfect for each other.

I can't think of a better reason to go to Idaho*

*Out of deference to my many good friends from Idaho, I'll refrain here from making any good-natured snide remarks about there being no other reasons to go to Idaho. (Come to think of it though, the last time we went was also for a wedding...)

Double Bubble Toil and Trouble

We went "Tricks or Treatsing"* with Nicole's sister (the witch) and her family. While my awesome costume of steampunk awesomeness deserves its own post, I wanted to get the Halloween shot up before too long.

From left to right: Glinda (or, as I keep calling her since the "Wicked" soundtrack, "Galinda"), A Man in Black (Agent "R?"), a flying monkey (see his cute little wings!), The Wicked Witch of one of the cardinal directions sans hat, Scarecrow, The cutest lil' cowardly lion ever (Nicole made the mane), Dorthy, and Captain Thaddeus Venture (with steampunk gun that has "quilt behind you" cameo coloring).

*We watched "Charlie Brown and the Great Pumkin" (twice) and they pluralized everything for some reason.