Paso Robles..Day One

This past weekend I had a job to do for work and I thought since I was driving out north why not take a Whim trip to Paso Robles and that is just what we did. I called up Kirsten and John to see if they wanted to do a whim trip and they were in as well.

The first place we stopped at was Eberle. It was really beautiful out there. We decided to do the Cave tour so we got to take our glass of wine outside and we listen to the tour guide explain their process of wine making.

We went down into the caves where they store their wine barrels to keep them cool. Parker had fun going down in the caves.

In the caves they had these private rooms. They had one smaller room with a large table in it and you can have a small group go and do a tasting for 25.00 a piece. This other room they had had a few different tables in it so you can have a reception or luncheon. You must have at least 20 people to book this room. They do wine dinners also which the tour guide was saying they will fly in a famous chef to cook a 5 course dinner and you can have all the wine you can drink. This room was awesome!

In the walls were little deep set areas with their wine displayed like pictured below.

Every year at Eberle during harvest they have a themed party. This past year was a PUNK ROCK theme and out on their grounds they had this Punk Rock truck displayed.

Gabe and I in front of Eberle

After we left Eberle we stopped at our hotel room room to check in then drove out to Halter Ranch. There are 200 vineyards in Paso Robles and it is very woodsy out there. We had to drive this winding road through trees and wildlife. I loved it.

We did some wine tasting at Halter Ranch and also had a picnic on their premises. It was very beautiful. It was a nice place for the kids to roam around as well. Kelsey was walking around exploring with Ava.

Ava had so much fun playing with all the leaves.She really liked stomping on them all.
What are you getting into Ava??

She really enjoyed walking in the gravel too.

They had a really nice wooden bridge. Kirsten was racing the kids back to the car. She was the rotten egg.

After Halter Ranch we went to Justin for some tasting and they were really crowded and so afterwards we went back to the hotel room but first we had to stop at Martin & Weyrich where they make this really great Moscato Allegro. Kirsten and I posing in front of all the ribbons.

Family Photo.

After Martin & Weyrich we went to change clothes at our hotel and then we all went out for a fancy steak dinner at the Paso Robles Inn. The kids were really getting fussy so we finished dinner as quickly as possible then it was back to the room for a good nights rest and a new day on Sunday.

Juicing it up at Work

Last week it was on of our co workers birthday and for his Birthday his Girlfriend sent him one of those Edible Arrangements. For those of you that don't know what they are..they are like a big flower arrangement basket but instead of real flowers it is cut up pieces of Fruit made to look like a flower arrangement. Anyway, It was really good we all had some but there was just so much to Eat so Josh the next day brought in his Jack LaLanne Juicer and juiced it up.

all we really had left over was Melons and a couple of apples to juice up ..it was very melon-y

During the lunch hour Josh went to Growers Direct out here in Costa Mesa and bought some more fruit. He bought some more apples,some carrots and ginger. Sean was playing with the carrots wayyy to much.

We were all cracking jokes about Sean playing with the carrots and I got Josh in mid laugh

The juice was soo good. I had a big cup of it and after awhile I felt Great. I just felt healthy and more energized.

Josh said he has used some of the pulp from apples and made muffins with it.

I am so sold on getting one of these juicers...something to add to my xmas list!!

Ava and Her Buddy Elmo

So for Ava's birthday she got a Elmo Live and from time to time all she wants to do is play with it and at other times she could care less about it. I been hiding him away for the past few weeks and brought him out the other night. Ava can't seem to keep her fingers out of his mouth.
Finally someone Smaller then Ava standing next to her

Fingers in the mouth again

I think at this point she was getting tired of Elmo

Or maybe it was from just standing...Ava loves her buddy Elmo..

Happy Halloween..let the party begin

So for Halloween we had the family over. Gabe has a pretty good size family and we invitedsome of his brothers that also have children over to bring the kids trick o treating with us. The past few years they have all trick o treated with us before. Parker wanted to have a Halloween party for his cousins so i went ahead and made it into a party for the family and neighborhood friends. My family was also there to celebrate. Ofcourse being that it was Halloween everyone had to dress up.

Here is my brother, his girlfriend and my brothers friend Scott. I think the kids were pretty scared of these clowns.
Sean was Groucho Marx..pretty funny

James and Parker the two cowboys

Ally,Andy and my mom

after drinks and food nightfall came and all the parents got together to take the kids trick o treating. We had a group of 17!! The kids had fun but tired up quickly.

My brother was only able to get the twins to trick o treat for a block and they were done..they did not want to ride in the wagon or walk.

AVA had a BLAST! I couln't get any pictures of her looking at the camera but my dad got some good ones. I will get copies from him in her costume for my scrapbook. Eveyone just loved the little lady bug and calling all their friends to the door to see her. She mainly wanted to just go into everyones houses. We let her walk with the kids down the street and she was just laughing so hard and running and dancing.

It was time to go back home the kids were tired and so they all went to play in the house and the adults carried on with the party. Here is Gabe,Scott, John and Alex.

After awhile Alex could not stand the itchiness of his mask anymore and began to peel it off.

Time for bobbing apples..the kids loved this. Gavin tried for a looong time to get one. He finally did with a little help from dad.

Ofcourse Dad demonstrated how to get one.

Julian got one pretty fast too.

Kelsey did it the easy way she just scooped one up with her hand and put it in her mouth...All the kids got special prizes for apple bobbing.

We stayed up pretty late drinking and playing games around the table ..it was fun..he are some random shots .

Jessica and I were doing our captain Morgan Poses. ( I was wearing my old faithful Musketeer outfit I wore two years ago..my Viking costume I was gonna wear this year got lost!)

Gabe bought dried ice and the kids were having fun playing around it..They started adding stuff to the water and dry ice and stirring it around like a witches brew. When I looked into what they were putting in the cauldron there was a bunch of Parker's trick o treat candy, a old battery, some dirt, and god knows what else.

I think at this point everyone was talking about all the stars that were out that night.

Just hanging around ..I think it was about 2am at this point.

All in all it was a pretty good night. I made Two big pots of Handmade chili One meat one veggie and nothing was left over, The mummy dogs were a big hit, Toni's deviled egg eyeballs were a big hit everything was eaten up. No one got hurt, no big tantrum, just the right amount of trick o treaters showed up. I had barely any candy left over. It was a really fun Halloween. One thing though is ..I will probably not have a party anytime soon....so much to do and buy and prepare for then clean up afterwards..forgetaboutit!

Pumpkin Carving!!

On Friday (Halloween Eve) We went over to John and Kirstens for some Steak and Wine dinner and then some good ol Fashion Pumpkin Carving!
John grilled up some steaks on the BBQ and we hung around out in the patio with wine while the kids all played. After we had dinner it was on with the carving.

Fast away working on his jackolantern face..he was so happy.

Ava was playing some spooky piano music for us

Gabe working away on his pumpkin

EWWWW...Pumpkin GUTS!!!!

We found Ava eating some raw pumpkin under the table

John and Kirsten with their pumpkins (the kids had fallen asleep already so I couldn't get the whole family picture)

Ava with ALL the pumpkins

Ava checking out my traditional cat jack o lantern..I make one every year.

It was a great night...still never got to cook up any of the left over pumpkin seeds though...