Charlie's first family vacation to Ruidoso, NM

Andrew, Debbie and Charlie went on their first family vacation to Ruidoso, NM. They travelled with friends Augustina and Frank and their 3 month old twin boys Rocco and Cooper. Charlie is in the blue intertube. Isn't he cute?? Debbie said she bundled him up for the picture but it was actually in the high 60s.

Our visit to Austin for Valentine's Day Weekend

This weekend Joe and I went to Austin to visit Andrew, Debbie and Charlie. I went to the hospital the day after Charlie was born but this was Joe's first time to see him. Andrew grilled two delicious meals (steak on Saturday night and Bratwurst for lunch on Sunday) and we ate lunch at the Iron Cactus on Saturday. We went to the movies and saw Confessions of a Shopaholic. Charlie was so great that he slept through pretty much all of the movie. We had a lovely trip and really enjoyed sweet, baby Charlie!

Mom's Birthday Dinner at Melting Pot

Last night Mom, Doug, Alex, Joe and I had dinner at The Melting Pot to celebrate Mom's birthday. It was great fun! The Melting Pot is a fondue place and we had lots of yummy food! We ordered the Big Night Out which features cheese fondue, a salad, the main course and then a dessert fondue.

We started with two kinds of cheese fondue: Alex ordered the Wisconsin Trio Cheese Fondue (Fontina, Butterkäse and Buttermilk Bleu cheeses with white wine, scallions and a hint of sherry) and the rest of us ordered Cheddar Cheese Fondue (aged, medium-sharp Cheddar and Emmenthaler Swiss cheeses, lager beer, garlic and seasonings).

For the salads, Joe and I had the California Salad (mixed baby salad greens, Roma tomatoes, walnuts and Gorgonzola cheese, with Raspberry Black Walnut Vinaigrette Dressing) and Mom, Doug and Alex had the Southwestern Cobb Salad (crisp romaine and iceberg, aged cheddar cheese, fresh tomatoes, bacon and sliced egg with Peppercorn Ranch Dressing topped with chives and croutons). Of course, Alex had Blue Cheese dressing instead of Ranch and he doctored it up with some extra crumbled blue cheese. His was definitely the winner!

For our main meal, we ordered the Fondue Feast (Filet Mignon, Cedar Plank Salmon, Memphis BBQ Pork Tenderloin, Key West Shrimp, Honey Dijon Chicken, Spinach Artichoke Ravioli and Fresh Vegetables). For the entrées, you choose the cooking style that you want for the fondue. Joe and I chose our usual Coq au Vin (flavors of fresh herbs, mushrooms, garlic, spices and burgundy wine) and everyone else chose the Bourguignonne (European-style fondue in cholesterol-free canola oil). We have never had the bourguignonne before but I think I’d like to try that when we go back. It was really great!

For dessert, Mom, Doug and Alex ordered Pure Chocolate (milk chocolate melted for the most pure of all chocolate fondues) and Joe and I ordered the Cookies ‘n Cream Marshmallow Dream (dark chocolate topped with marshmallow cream, flambéed, swirled together and garnished with crushed Oreo cookies.) The dippers are fresh strawberries, banana, cheesecake, tasty marshmallows, pound cake and brownies.

Besides stuffing ourselves, we had fantastically lively and intellectually stimulating conversations which is always a treat!

Joe in Chorus! (2009)

Joe is currently singing in the Houston Grand Opera's production of Chorus! While I didn't love the production, my understanding is that the Houston Chronicle gave it a good review. Here is the only review I was able to locate: http://www.houstongrandopera.org/chorus.

Some pictures of Joe in Chorus! If you click on the picture, it will enlarge it so that you can see the picture better. Can you find Joe?

Charlie - 2 and 3 weeks old

Doug has become quite the photographer. Here are some pictures from my mom and Doug's recent trip to Austin to see the baby. Charlie is 2 and 3 weeks old in these pictures.

Charlie

Andrew, Debbie, Doug, Mom and Charlie

Doug, Mom and Charlie

Charlie holding my mom's finger