More Wine!

At the last wine festival we attended in Virginia, I bought Tre Sorelle, Fabbioli Wines, a red the wine maker recommended we wait 5 years before trying it. It was dated 2005, so last year, I started looking for the right time to open it. After all, when you wait 5 years for a wine, you don't just open it for no reason!

Then, a friend from church, Diane decided to have a little party for her birthday and as I know Diane enjoys a nice wine I thought this would be a great opportunity. I did bring a 2nd bottle (Menage a Trois), just in case.

When I got there we opened it to let it breathe. After a glass of another red, I tried a glass. It was very very nice. Smooth. And now I'm a little disappointed that the wine is from a small winery in Virginia so I probably won't be able to get another bottle.

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A star is born (9 months ago)!

Jesse is about to make her television commercial debut this week. We don't know when the commercial will be on, but we have a copy of it below. She's the happy, clapping kid.

The Value of a Dollar, revisited

Like every other 5 year old, Maggie loves toys and loves to look at toys in the store and tell us what toys she “needs.”  About a year ago, we started giving her an allowance intermittently.  And we’ve also been taking the Dave Ramsey course and he talks about teaching your children the value of a dollar, making them earn their money, and teaching them about spending, saving and giving.  So I got her 3 coin purses and marked them  “Spend”  “Save” “Give”.  Whenever we gave her money or if she got money, we prompted her to divide it up and put some in each purse.  Sometimes she is very generous and wants to put it all in the give purse (though she hasn’t had an opportunity to even put it in the collection plate at church).  Lately, though, she has been talking about needing a new toy.  So, today, before our trip to Wal-Mart, we got her purse and her bank and counted her coins to see how much she could spend.  Quite surprisingly, she had over $15.  We loaded up her coin purse and headed out.

At Wal-Mart, Rocky took Maggie to the toy section and I did the grocery shopping.  They were back before I was done.  She found a Zoobles habitat for exactly $15.  She carried that toy through the store and up to the counter.  Rocky & I helped count out her coins (and the cashier said she was happy to get so many quarters and dimes)!

We decided the habitat should be a kitchen counter toy where Jessie can’t get it.  Maggie is very pleased with her purchase!

Shoofly Wine, Wine of Australia

The name of this wine takes me back to my elementary school days when potty humor was the best kind and we loved to sing the "Shoo Fly" song. We'd get to the last line and sing "I'm very busy now." Tacking on "VERY busy now" with that knowing look on our faces.

I purchased this wine from Simply Wine, deciding I needed to after their Facebook post (Hi my name is Wendy and I'm addicted to Facebook). I got the Merlot based on the sellers recommendation and the Freckle, well, because I have freckles and think freckles are adorable. And yes that IS a good enough reason to pick a wine.

Tonight I'm enjoying the Freckle. I do like it which is kind of surprising. It'a fairly oaky and I'm not typically a fan of oaky whites. It's made from the "freckly" Roussanne grape, "and a few friends". The label boasts honeysuckle and peach flavors. It's a fun white and I think it will be a nice deck wine this summer.

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New Tricks

Jessie shows off some new "tricks."

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Wagon Rides!

Yesterday, it was so nice out when we got home from work, that we decided to take a family walk.  We got out the wagon and the dogs’ harnesses – which they absolutely freaked out over!  Otis was a bit cautious as the last time we got them out, he went to the vet and got a shot.  Wiconi was jumping and barking and wagging all over she was so excited over the walk.  I wore the Moby wrap, just in case Jessie didn’t like the wagon, but I needn’t have bothered.  She loved riding with her big sister!!

The girls had a little time to play on the playground equipment.  It got chilly rather quickly, so we didn’t stay long, but I think we’ll be taking many many walks to the park this spring, summer and fall.  Maggie kept telling us that she is “over” winter.  I guess I am too.  It will be so nice to be able to get out and enjoy Montana life!

Playing on the playground equipment:

Walking home. Maggie wanted to “help” walk the dogs.