Pancakes & Martinis

We were lazy on Saturday.  I think I took a 2 hour nap (which is rare) and my mom who normally has dinner on the table by 6:30 had nothing cooking. It's become a family tradition to go to church on Saturday instead of Sunday.  Apparently Mass is faster and there is a smaller crowd (after all it is Saturday night). Imagine our surprise when the Easter Vigil Mass was 90 minutes instead of the normal speedy 50 minutes! Arriving home at 10:15 at night, the Spiteri Family unanimously voted breakfast for dinner!  

Cooking an egg on the griddle 

Pumpkin Pancakes on the grill 

(not only are we having breakfast for dinner but we are also celebrating Halloween instead of Easter!)

Stephanie and Stella thinking about pancakes.

Stephanie with her Bailey Coffee and Bill with his Dirty Martini.  I think martinis go with anything. Don't you agree? 

Year 3: Leather

What do you do when your wife lives in San Francisco and you live in Orange County?

Solution: Meet halfway in Pismo Beach.

Pet Friendly Hotel: Seacrest Inn

 

Pismo Beach 

 The Seacrest Pool: Pismo Beach, California 

  Leather is the traditional gift to exchange on your third anniversary.  We both bought each other leather shoes.  

Husband scored extra points with this fabulous ETSY find. It's a wooden jewelry box with LEATHER trim.  I also heart the cupcake lip gloss {He knows me so well}!

  Miss Stella having a grand time at the beach

A Day at the Park

A few weeks ago I had a chance to hangout at the park with Tyler and Drew.  I'm not sure who had a better time, me or Tyler (it had been forever, since I had gone down a slide!)   Although Drew is too little to play on the monkey bars, it was precious to see Beth holding him with his sun hat!

The kids were in a heavy discussion, deciding which parent should push them.  Tyler told them Auntie Jenn could push them, no problem!

Holding on for dear life!

Mr. Sandman - the results of a faceplant in the sand.

This cute girl saw me take Tylers SANDY picture and insisted I take her picture.  After I took her picture, she ran back to me and wanted me to re-play the picture, so she could see if it was a good picture or not! 

Mr. Drew, looking so cute in his overalls and sun hat.

Momma Beth with Drew

We Be Jammin'

Fall is here and it's almost time for the Napa Valley to harvest grapes. Today I helped pick a few grapes so my mom and I could learn how to make Merlot jam.  Check out the step by step pictures below, as I learn from my Aunt Jayna how to turn seven gallons of Merlot grapes into 56 jars of jam!  



The Merlot vineyard with barn.

Don't these grapes look delicious?

My mom and I picking the grapes (and eating them too!)

Alyssa aka " The Crusher"

It may look like blood, but this is the juice from our beautiful Merlot grapes!

The left over skin and seeds from the grapes after the crush.

Once the juice starts to boil add sugar and pectin .

Me trying to stir the jam.  Wish I would have lifted weights before volunteering for this job! j/k

After jars are filled with jam, they 're submerged in a boiling water bath so the container will be sealed.

Our finished product.  Yum yum!

A group effort!  Here I am with Aunt Jayna, Uncle Ron, Mom, Dad and Alyssa. I think the display is awarding winning  Don't you?

Me relaxing in the pool after working so hard!

Breakfast for Dinner

Emily and AJ's BIG day!

"Once upon a time there was a boy who loved a girl, and her laughter was a question he wanted to spend his life answering" 

Nicole Krauss

The History of Love 

The above quote was printed on the back of the ceremony program and I thought the wording was a perfect way to start this blog entry.   The evening was a perfect summer night, elegant, cool with a touch of the unexpected. I think the pictures speak for themselves. 

 1. Oh Martha - Love the Just Married sign at the entrance of the Croal's backyard

 2. Simple and Chic decorated the family style dinner tables 

 3. Photo station allowed guest to get dressed up and have their picture taken.  Super cute idea!

4. Breakfast for dinner! I was so excited to take this picture, I didn't realize it was out of focus. :(

 5. The Wedding Cake with the bride and groom topper 

 6. Desert with poolside view. Yum Yum!

 7. The Bride and Groom's first dance.  I love Emily's blue shoes!

 8. Cousin Ian and Ryan dancing

 9. Elvis our entertainment for the evening

 10. Beth and Nat on the dance floor

 11. The Wedding Train

Dogs and Babies

Can you find the baby among all the plaid and hair?

If you found the baby and are wondering who it is; if the facial expression doesn't give it away, you probably know it's me.  My mom recently sent this to me after I was telling her how nervous I was about introducing  Stella to her new cousin Drew.  My mom suggested I keep Stella on a short leash and no matter what,  DO NOT  allow her to jump on Beth and the baby.

So glad to see my parents followed their own advise.  As the story goes, this picture was taken during my first meet and greet with my mom's beloved German Wire Hair, Saddle.  A kodak moment if I ever saw one.  I think this one in frame worthy...........

Meet Drew

I got the best treat this morning. I was able to meet my nephew Drew before going to NYC! Check out the beautiful baby and his mom and dad.  I love the picture of Tyler meeting his new brother for the first time.  I guess the introduction was a little tricky at first, but Tyler eventually warmed up and quickly asked why his belly button doesn't look like Drew's.  

 

 

 

Mamma Mexicana with a side of Miguelito

The first week of May was jam-packed with events.  With Cinco de Mayo,  Mother's Day and Michael's Birthday happening within a week of each other, Nick and I thought it would be a grand idea to combine these events together and host a "Mamma Mexicana with a side of Miguelito" event.   

Our dinner menu was simple. We drank Ruby sangria with fresh fruit and ate homemade carnitas.  To alleviate a huge kitchen mess, we bought already made rice and beans from our favorite neighborhood restaurant El Pico De Gallo Grill‎.  Their handmade tortillas and salsa were the perfect compliment to our meal. To top off the night, we brought out a pinata filed with scratcher tickets, chocolate and tchotchkes.   At the end of the night, Nick and I couldn't help but wonder... what took us so long to bring a pinata to an adult party?  I think this is something we should bring to the next Gunderman Christmas party. What do you think?

Our chic Mexican theme table

The Mamma's and Miguelito (aka Uncle Mike)

Paul setting up the pinata.  Notice how we wrappedd the outside post, so we wouldn't do any structural damage.  You have to admit we are hitting the pinata really close to the house!

Tyler taking a swing

Watch out GG is up to bat!

Off with his head!

Hopefully our children won't have my athletic ability (or lack there of!)

Mamma Beth  up to bat

Sugar RUSH