Trips and Holidays

This last week we took a trip down to L.A.. During our stay there we visited with some good friends and family.

Here is Eve with one of her best friends (outside of family, of course). Eve and Erin were born a month apart, and have remained good friends ever since.

The kids decided to make a movie on Wednesday night. I think John is contemplating playing an amputee for part of the film.

On Thursday we all piled into the van, but this time we had a few stow aways; Grandma Carolyn and Erin decided to brave the tortuous 5 hour journey home with us. Then on Friday, Mrs. P and Maggie flew up to join us for a weekend of fun.

Friday night the nine of us went to go see a Modesto Nuts minor league baseball game. Due to circumstances beyond our control we were not actually able to stay for the game, but that didn't stop Erin from taking a picture with our team mascot, Al the almond (and for those of you who were wondering, we heard from a very reliable source that they did indeed burn more flags this year!).

The first half of Saturday was spent preparing food. Note the presence of the killer tomatoes at the bottom of the screen....they grow um' big in the Central Valley!

Even the buns are big here! Growth hormones really DO work!

During the afternoon we played games. Erin must not have a very good hand.

We also made onion jam (recipe to follow) to go on top of our burgers. We've learned that when dealing with onions, one must come prepared with the right equipment. Maggie is caramelizing the little beauties.

There was also corn to shuck for dinner. Hand shucked corn always tastes better...

After dinner we walked to the park to play some bocce ball. When we got there, the sprinklers were running... and these weren't just any sprinklers, they were the big ones that spray for 15 feet in all directions! We got very wet, but it felt nice in 90 degree weather.

Here is the bocce crowd. I'm not quite sure what Maggie is doing... she threw really well though, so who are we to question her methods?

Dr. Beech, should he come in this week, or next week?

The following photos are of the light show in our back yard. We really did have a fun time, and we didn't set anything on fire!

It began with a few candles....

...and a little bit of pixie dust...

Let the games begin!

Well that was our fun week... stay tuned.



Aunt Julie and Uncle William-Sonoma's Onion Jam

2 T. butter

2 T. olive oil

2 sweet onions

1/4 c. apple cider vinegar

1/4 c. balsalmic vinegar

1/2 c. sugar

salt and pepper

Heat saucepan to medium heat. Add olive oil and butter and melt. Add onion and cook stiring occasionally until brown, 10-15 mins. Add other ingredients and 1/4 c. water. Reduce heat to low and simmer until jam-like, 15-20 mins. (it took mine longer than that). Enjoy