Monday, April 13, 2009

Overdue update

I am completely guilty of neglecting to update this blog since becoming a Facebook junkie. Now that the honeymoon is over with Facebook, I am adding some much overdue pics to the blog. We have Easter, Malena's birthday and some other lovely photos to share. I promise to be more diligent with my updates and I promise, a Facebook intervention is not needed, I swear.



Easter at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Malena and Sadie are playing the piano together and it sounds 'beautiful'.

After all the eggs were found the kids had fun playing some soccer

The Easter bunny brought Jacob some silly string, unfortunately for Grandpa


Is that the Easter bunny???


Jacob showing Ryanne where all the good eggs are


Anthony Notaro and Malena getting ready for some birthday cake!




Malena tearing into her birthday presents



The ladybug cake and flower cupcakes with ladybugs on them. Did I mention the theme was ladybugs???


Malena on her new tricycle that her mom and dad gave her. There's even a spot to hold mom's coffee!


Malena getting crazy with the paints


Malena wearing mom's nasty winery shoes


Sitting on Coco reading.....



Running with cousin Ryanne at the playground

Holding cousing Alexander.......for a brief, sweet moment.









































Sunday, February 22, 2009

Palm Springs 2009

My cousin Nick and I took our second annual trip to Palm Springs to visit our Aunt Lee and Uncle Joe. This year Juan was able to come down for a day and 3 of Nick's closest friends also made the trip. We had a blast visiting with everyone and enjoying the sunshine. Our days went pretty much like this: breakfast, pool, snack, nap, pool, dinner, pool. We did make it to the Joshua Tree national park this year and went on a beautiful hike. I hauled Malena in our backpack carrier and managed to not fall down and break my neck. I don't have many pics from the trip but will add more as I get them from everyone else who actually took photos.
Nick and Malena playing around


Aunt Lee working on dinner or more likely, slicing up some limes for our rum and cokes!


Cocktails in the pool at night.....doesn't get much better than that!







Stuff

Malena reading to Juan
Malena reading to her baby

Juan and Malena having a moment

Malena 'helping' in the kitchen

Pre-bath time craziness. If you look closely you can see that she is making the airplane noise with her mouth.






Malena gets a pony!

Grandpa Larry made Malena her very own rocking horse. It is absolutely beautiful! Malena fell in love with it and within hours had figured out how to pull herself up on horsey without any help - I think the poor horses tail may have been the 'help'.


Malena giving her new horse some hugs

Grandpa showing her how to make the horse 'go'


Showing off...........





Sunday, February 8, 2009

First barrel racking

It was time to rack the barrels of wine I made this year. I think we picked the coldest afternoon possible and spent the entire day outside. Even sampling the wine didn't keep us very warm! Lucky for us Dad and Sally stopped by with Malena and took some pictures for us.
Here the wine is being pushed out of the barrels into a large tank.
A shot of some wine pouring out of a carboy.

Malena and I supervising Juan.


The lees (solids) at the bottom of the barrel.


Grandma Sally and Malena watching me racking the barrels.


No matter what happens with this winemaking project in the future, we have a lot of wine for our friends and family to enjoy!!



Thursday, January 15, 2009

Argentina Trip - Viaje a Argentina

Here are a few pictures from our trip to Argentina. We will add more as we get them from all the friends and family that were taking pictures. I will attempt to translate into spanish and since Juan is in China right now there is no one to correct my horrible translation, entonces lo siento para mi espanol!!
Playing in the pool at Coralitos
Jugando en la pileta en Coralitos
Juan Cristobal, Fer, Juan Manuel, Martin, Michi, Jose

Juan Manuel, Michi, Fernando, Juan Cristobal


Olga



New Year's Eve - Ano Nuevo


Malena's new dress - La vestida nueva



Running under Abu's legs - Corriendo bajo des piernas de Abu



The Family - La Familia
Juan Manuel, Jess, Malena (with bink/con chupete!), Olga, Lalo




Martina and Lalo dancing - Martina y Lalito bailando



Tom taking a picture from the top of Catena Zapata - Tom tomando un foto encima de bodega Catena Zapata



Tom and Ray - Tom y Ray



Juan and Jess - Juan y Jess



100+ year old vineyard at Achaval Ferrer - Un vina muy viejo a lado de bodega Achaval Ferrer



Having lunch at La Garde winery. Martin, Ray, Tom and Juan
Almuerzo en la bodega La Garde









Veraison in Malbec





Juan and Caki at B de B winery - Juan y Caki en bodega B de B




Jose, Tom, Jess, Juan, Ray





Caki, Juan, Tom, Ray




Dinner at Martin and Jesica's house - Cena en la casa de Martin y Jess
Michi y Christina



Malena y Mariela









Julia y Malena - las primas



Juan Manuel, Juan Cristobal, Martin y Michi - que facheros!