Julie at the Park

While Gina visted her dad at the hospital, I took the kids on a trip to do errands and play in our neighborhood park. Here's a few pictures of Julie, who now looks like she owns the playground.

The answer is 35.5.

I want to think she's doing early math, but in all liklihood she's debating how to wrap her mouth around those strawberry colored wheels. 

Future dental patient

Julie now has three (and a half) teeth! More updates: she loves saying "hii!" and "Moma!" and likes to throw her pants over her face while being changed. She flails her arms and legs, then uncovers her head, laughing hysterically. Julie can also walk with the aid of any object (walker, high chair, Nate's potty). Least favorite thing: being tackled by her big brother. 

Scary spooky guy.

Can't forget the second of our pumpkin train excursions, this one down the road from Grandmom and Grandpapa Martin's house complete with petting zoo and fresh corn for sale.

This train is equipped with a scarecrow catcher as the track runs right through scarecrowville.

With Conductor Dave

Uesugi Farms was an inspired decision - a formerly gray morning turned into a glorious sunny fall day. Went here to get on the pumpkin train of course but the queen and king got to make a formal appearance amongst their pumpkin peasants.

Nate on the Dr. Seuss train in the special Seuss exhibit. All Aboard! This adventure undertaken on Friday, Oct. 21.

Nate waiting to pop "a BIG one!" at the San Jose Discovery Museum. Quite an adventure for Nate, Julie, and just mom this time. Nate and Julie had a blast running and crawling around the toddler's Wonder Cabinet and mom got quite a workout.

2005 Pressing

Thanks again to David Martin, we had a successful pressing this year. The Cabernet and Petite Verdot were both sluggish during primary fermentation this past week, the Cabernet especially so. A quick sampling showed it was thick and sweet. Both varieties are in secondary fermentation, and once we near completion in the next couple of weeks we'll dump in the Malolactic bacteria. 

The Crush 2005

We did the wine crush again this year at Uvas Creek near Morgan Hill. The cooler summer pushed the harvest back a full month from 2004, and a short but intense rainstorm hit the night before. This year's bounty was 900 lbs of Cabernet Sauvignon and 300 lbs of Petite Verdot, which Ted the grape grower said was particularly tasty this year. A big thanks to brother-in-law David who again got up early to join in the fun.

The Cabernet picked and waiting for processing. This is about 600 lbs worth (we brought home twice this amount).

David pouring the last bucket of Petite Verdot into the crusher/destemmer. The machine was tuned so there was very little juice this year and many of the berries dropped into the bucket whole. The amateur wine maker in me hopes this will help keep the wine "fruit forward". Only two more years before we'll know...

Julie's First Message

Luckily my laptop can take vigorous typing by a 10-month old:
Julie's first message:
" skdsssssssdvc vhg qwxsdeg ex "

Surprise!

Julie and Nate: such hams for the camera. Note the duck MingMing in the background, and Nate's favorite rubber lizard.

Bubbles

Nate playing in the front yard with his battery-powered bubble blower. The bubbles didn't stick around with windy fall weather.

Saturday morning we beat the crowds by leaving early for a pumpkin patch in Half Moon Bay. We did it right this year: train ride, petting farm, and a wagon full of perfect pumpkins.