First meal from our cows!!

We got a delivery this weekend of some of our meat waiting for us at Mudlick Farm. Rib eye steaks! Last night I watched some old Julia and Jacques shows to prime myself in proper steak cooking. I fried the steaks for just two minutes on each side for nice medium rare steaks. I then used the drippings to fry up a nice steak sauce with onions, garlic, and basil. Served it with leftover mashed potatoes and a Salad. Delish. Ale enjoyed it. Of course, Samuel did not. He ate it because he wanted dessert- plum sherbert I'd made a while ago on top of a melted snickers mini bar and crushed cookie and topped with whip cream. No pics of dessert we ate it too quick.

Veronica can hold up her head

Just noticed today that Veronica easily holds up her head when placed in her belly. Not sure when she achieved this milestone as this poor kid is too ignored! She also can sit with support. She's four months old and so clearly not a newborn anymore. Where does time go?

Gingerbread House Party

Ingredients for a gingerbread house party:

Graham crackers
Icing
Sprinkles
Gummy bears
Gum drops
Whatever candy strikes your fancy
Cardboard covered with aluminum foil for a base
Amigos

 

Holiday Helpers

Samuel and Alejandra helped with the Christmas cards this year. Samuel affixed all of the return labels and the stamps. Alejandra helped keep the cards organized in a box.

 

All I want for Christmas are my earrings please

Family concert

Went to a family holiday concert at Washington Irving high school in Manhattan on Sunday. 40% of the family slept through the second half of the concert.

 

Getting the tree

Got our tree on Sunday from Gabriel, the same fellow we've got our tree from the past several years.

Samuel helped to make a fresh cut on the bottom of the tree:

 

Sea turtle

Alejandra makes a sea turtle from wooden blocks:

 

Traveling with baby

So there is a bit of a challenge when traveling with a baby. How much diapers to pack, how to clean and dry them? I could have switched to disposable but it seemed really wrong to switch for travel to the Galapagos.

Veronica

Loving our Keens

I know these shoes scream out tourists but they are comfy.

Galapagos San Cristobal pool

On Thanksgiving day Will napped in the afternoon (don't drink a beer at lunch after a morning of snorkeling) and the kids frolicked at the hotel pool with abuelito. Veronica chilled in her infant seat, watching and laughing the whole time. The kids snacked on left over lunch from their first school day at the local navy school. Ale liked the school. Samuel did not as it is very different from his school in NYC. Later we ate dinner at the beach admiring the beachside view and the sea lions hanging around on the boardwalk. We found no turkey and ate ceviche, fried fish and grilled chicken (only poultry we could find).

Thanksgiving day cheers from Veronica at Galapagos

My three year old masters chopsticks

Ale has been asking for her favorite Taiwanese soup and we are at Flushing Mall where she is mastering eating with chopsticks. I'm feeling pretty proud of her! We definitely have a mini foodie here.

Spring, by Samuel Bachman

Completely unprompted, Samuel, while sitting in the car as we were driving, said he had a poem to share with us. Once we were on the subway he wrote it out:

 

Veronica

Veronica had a brief photo session yesterday. She is beginning to smile.

Click on her head to see the whole album:

Veronica

Halloween costumes

Handmade, as always:

Halloween 2011

Samuel with Norman Juster

Samuel saw Norman Juster speak on Sunday at Symphony Space, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of The Phantom Tollbooth. Afterwards he got a copy signed by the author.

 

Feliz Cumpleanyos Abuelito!

Feliz cumpleanyos Abuelito from Will Bachman on Vimeo.

Get in bed for a movie

Amazing how quickly 4 kids will bathe, change into pj's, and brush their teeth if you tell them they can watch a movie in bed.

Jacuzzi

Pool

Acting like grown ups?

We told the kids to act like grown ups in the hallways so we wouldn't get busted for having 5 kids in the room with us. Not sure if this is how grown ups act at hotel room parties.

Sleepover at the Marriott

The Primos had a sleepover at the Marriott where they had a picnic dinner on the hotel room floor. Sorry no pics-- ?"it was hard to manage dinner and five hungry kids. After dinner they took a luggage cart ride over to the pool.

Pumpkin picking

At the same farm we also went pumpkin picking.

Applepicking

We are visiting the Primos in Ithaca and went apple picking nearby.