Christmas 2006 - Part 1

Just a quick little Merry Christmas from our house... More to come later!

And finally... A Special Thank You

Maggie, Sara and Caroline spent MANY hours getting ready for Thanksgiving at our house. The girls even stayed home from school on Wednesday to help Maggie with the food preparation. It was really a team effort, except for Bruce who went golfing on Wednesday.

THANK YOU GIRLS!!!

 

Jessica's Sweet 16 Birthday

Jessica and Father try to decide who should get to keep her ski clothes.

I just liked this picture because Jessica seems to actually be happy while looking at me.

And here is a VERY excited Jessica. She finally believes that she just got a new car (SUV, sorry) for a birthday. She was pretty funny. She thought we were just playing a REALLY MEAN joke on her, even after she walked outside and the keys fit the car in the driveway.

 

Thanksgiving 2006 - The "adults"

Mom: glad you can't really see your picture
Pat: Thanks for blessing us with your presence! (and presents)
Andrea: You can hide behind heads, but eventually we will get a picture of you.

 

Not the greatest pictures in the world, but it's the best we have. We had a lot of fun, and we am really hopeful that we can lure everyone (and more!) back next year.

We also celebrated Jessica's birthday while we were at it...

 

Sara Gets Her Ears Pierced!

For Sara's 10th birthday, her mother took her to get her ears pierced. I, the photographer, was there to witness it.

BEFORE

Sara was stoic. Her focus was incredible. Nothing was going to stop her from getting her ears pierced today!!! Actually, I see this look a lot from her.

HALF-WAY THEREYou can SORTA detect a little concern. But she said that it didn't hurt, so I guess this isn't so much concern as it is anticipation.

FINISHED!!!And just like that, we have a new little miss in the house! Isn't she BEAUTIFUL?

Sara was brave. Though her palms were sweaty, and her face glistened with perspiration, she never let on how nervous she was! After all was said and done, she let us know that she was VERY nervous all day!

We would like to do a little survey:

All you girly-girls out there - How old were you when you first got your EARS pierced?

Thanksgiving........

Hey everyone.

I was just mulling this thought around and wanted to get everyone's opinion. Since everyone is traveling on Thanksgiving Day, would it make sense to do a festive spread of heavy hors d' oeurves/cocktails/non-alcoholic cocktails and a birthday cake for Jessie's 16th b-day. And then sit down to a "Thanksgiving Dinner" around mid-afternoon on Friday?

Or does everyone like the idea of having Thanksgiving Dinner on Thanksgiving Day and do what we've done in years past?

What time is everyone getting here on Turkey Day?

I found out last night and this morning why Karl Rove has been smiling.

Nancy Pelosi is going to be thrust into the national spotlight.

This is the final phase in his plan to get all of America to become conservatives. You see, people think Karl is a Republican. He isn't. Karl knows that "republican" is just a name. In fact, Republican used to be Democrat! That's right! Just 40 years ago (and beyond), the Democrats were the conservatives! So - Now the world will have Nancy Pelosi representing the liberals. She has the national stage, and I am sure (as is Karl) that Nancy will have plenty to say.

By the time 2008 rolls around she will have ruined the political arena for every liberal in the nation. You see, she is from San Francisco, and up there she is loved and adored. But in the real world she will be "outed" as a left-wing hater. The general populace doesn't want Nancy Pelosi. They want the moderate democrats that got the nod in those House and Senate races.

Karl wins. The left is center. It's how they get their seats back. And in the end, the House and the Senate are conservative again. Just like the good old days.

Maybe President Bush will even start acting like a conservative!

Yes, that is baby-puke on her left shoulder.

Cate went to her second wedding (her first where she was actually AT the ceremony). She was great except for a short period where I walked around with her in the back cuz she was being boisterous. Typical hooligan stuff.

We don't have any pics of Hope and Mike's wedding, but it was very nice, and they both looked great. We got to see Scott and his date Liz, Terry and Charlene, Dixie, Kathleen and Lynn. Good times.

These pics are from the morning BEFORE the wedding. I just wanted to talk about the wedding a little bit.

THANKSGIVING!!!

• Bruce, Maggie, Josh & Jess
• Mom & Pat (mom's friend from back east)
• David, Donna, Alyssa & Rachel
• Andrea & Erin
• Anyone else??? We have room for a few more.

Maggie and I did our first road cycling ride this morning. We did a whopping 12+ miles! In under an hour!!! WOO HOO!!! It was fun. We learned that Maggie needs to push herself a little harder (she can go faster than she has been while riding by herself). We also learned that Bruce is a big fat slob that has really let himself go for the last 9 months or so.

Maggie just had a baby; I look like I am going to have one soon.

Jennifer - Are you HAPPY now?

 

Better late than never! These are from the lunch at Pita Jungle when Jennifer, Jessica, Andrea and Erin came for a visit!!!

It was a great time, really. The girls (Caroline & Sara) LOVED having the family here. They get a HUGE kick out of everyone. I hope it happens more often!!!




The weird thing? BOTH Andrea and Jennifer were later found making out with the guy in the background of their respective photo! Coincidence? I think not.

We are starting something new on our blog. It's call "Someone on... Somebody"

Episode one is Jessica On... Erin

Enjoy the inaugural episode!

My Cyclist Wife (not Psycho Wife)

We got Maggie a road bike to ride because she doesn't like riding on the mountain alone. Understandable. I am betting she'll like the road riding more than she thinks she will. It's a different feeling, but just as fun, though perhaps a little less exciting. She needs to hook up with one of the 50 groups of riders that ride past our neighborhood every weekend morning.

Here she is - just moments after bringing the bike home!

Here is a short video of what happened on her first ride... The Ride

WOW!!!

I bought a Bodum french press (makes up to 16 oz at a time). A great way to make a couple smallish cups of coffee. I just made some coffee (Peru Organic RFA)... City Roast, using the press. AWESOME.

I let the coffee sit for too long before pressing it, but it was still really smooth.

I just bought 30 lbs of Costa Rica San Bosco. I should have bought another 15 lbs of the Peru Org RAF. I don't know... I might have to roast more San Bosco when it arrives. That was really good, and it was one of my first roasts, so who knows... it might even get better!

Jen, if you don't have one, get a french press. Bodum makes a really good one, and it's pretty cheap. http://www.ekitchengadgets.com/boch8cupcopr1.html

This is a coffee I will probably send to Donna and Andrea soon. And some Daterra Yellow Bourbon, I think. Or maybe some Yirgacheffe. Gosh, this is too much fun.

Okay, so I have some more beans.

Here's what I have in my green stash:

Daterra Farms Yellow Bourbon
Costa Rica Terrazu Hacienda la Minita
Costa Rica San Bosco
Ethiopia Yirgacheffe RF
Peru Organic - Rainforest Alliance
Kona Lion's Gate (100%)

I have several others of less than one pound each.

My favorite so far is the Costa Rica San Bosco, but a coffe that I can't get right now is my REAL favorite (India Dewan Estate Kohinoor AA). I am buying 15 lbs. of a coffee from the same estate that is a smaller screen... I am hoping it will roast up the same!

Roasting P. II

Okay, I have to say that I am a fast learner. Even Maggie's gourmet taste buds are finding my new coffee roasts to be delicioso. I have roasted coffees from Hawaii, Costa Rica, India, Kenya and Zimbabwe. I might even be leaving some out.

I will be shipping some coffee soon, so get ready, taste-testers (although the testing is well in-hand). Please let me know if any of you want some coffee. My favorites are:

• India Dewan Estate Kohinoor AA
• Costa Rica Tarrazu Hacienda La Minita
• Costa Rica Reserva San Bosco

I just roasted a TRUE Kona bean this evening, and it has a VERY promising aroma so far! We'll be drinking that one in the morning.

This is SOOO much fun for me. AND - Aside from the initial investment in the roaster (ouch), this is a very economical way to go! I pay no more than about $5.00 per lb. for green coffee beans (except for the Kona, which is about three times the cost - but it is an estate grown, single origin bean).

Let me know if you want some, and I will get you some! I think I'll send out the Costa Rica Tarrazu beans in a full city roast (fairly dark, but not like Starbucks burnt beans are dark, er black).

First Roasts!


The one on the left was just done this morning, the other was done last night.

The left is a Columbian bean (generic, came with the roaster). The one on the right is Kenya AA Peaberry 216. They were both roasted exactly the same temp and duration.

The house burnt down during the second roast (left). I was able to save only three beans before we had to leave the house (fire marshall's orders). I'll be posting my roasting from the Barnes & Noble on Ray Road and I-10 until our house is rebuilt. On the bright side, they said they would let me grind my own beans at the Starbucks in Barnes & Noble (should help us save some dough while we wait for construction to complete).

 

Hanley/Cole Reunion
2006

Okay, starting on the left...

Nevermind. 

Someone has learned a new trick!

Yup - She can hold her head up!!!

With a noggin' like hers, it's no small feat! This girl's a sure-fire genius!!!

 

Every once in a while the dogs are so cute that it almost makes up for the fact that they are:

1. Destroying the carpet
2. Destroying the yard
3. Destroying the pool vacuum
4. Tearing up the TV controllers
5. Chewing up clothes, shoes, belts, socks, etc.


 

BATH TIME!!!

 

Here we are, at the inaugural Arizona Cardinal's home game!

The stadium is great, but BOY they need to get the concession stands straightened out! Clearly, they didn't have much pre-game training. People missed whole quarters trying to get a beer, and many of the stands ran out of food and beer. Not good. We had NO problems though. We got to park right next to the stadium, and since we are in the club level, we can enter the stadium a couple hours before the crowds hit. Traffic will be a BIG problem. We'll be looking at leaving no later than the middle of the fourth quarter whenever possible.

The girls really liked the atmosphere. They really do appreciate stuff like this. It's fun taking them places!