Garden 2013

Bobbins wanted to try a box this year, more focused on seeds (carrots), except for the kale and our stalwart basil. We also tried yellow peppers and pineapple sage.  The melon plant already died.  I put in more drips and plan to build a little shade to help the plants get through the summer.

St. Patty's Day 2013

This year I got to go to the St. Patty's CR neighborhood block party with Bobbins and the girls.  Boy was it a blast, probably one of the best parties we've been to in a long time.  The custom bar was the coolest, with an authentic feel and smell of cigar smoke.  Bobbins loved taking our family photo in the picture wall.  The girls loved running around the yards to the Bounce Houses and to one garage showing a movie.  There was some good free food and plenty of Guinness & green beer.  We had some good conversations with our friends.

As soon as the band (Vinyl Station) came on, MM shouted "Dad let's dance!"  How could I turn that down.

For some reason I can't get the youtube video to embed, so here's the link of the girls in the Bounce House, dancing, and Mr. Taber singing:
video  (http://youtu.be/MMJ2U0z6n4U)



The bike ride home was a bit of a challenge after some tasty drinks, but it went a lot faster than the ride there.

Buddy on Patrol

At "Mormon Parky"

Problem and Solution

Problem:  Daughter falling asleep in bike seat uncomfortable for her and for Mom.

Solution:  Strap daughter's head to bottom of bike seat with a bungee cord on her helmet.

 Everyone's happy!

Booze

Must be time for a party.  We recently came into a nice stash of alcohol, must of it "vintage."  The mezcal looks kind of cool but who knows what it tastes like now.  The Smitty's price tag was kind of neat for you native Arizonans.

Home for a Choco Shake

We were all starving when we got home Sunday night from the Cabin and didn't feel like cooking, so we tried a new burger joint we'd heard several good things about, The Stand.  It meets Bobbins' requirements and was reasonably priced, and had a drive-thru.  And it was delicious.  The four of us sucked down a chocolate shake while waiting for our food, which was made fresh while we waited.  The girls weren't hungry, for some reason, so I got 2 burgers.  I wasn't real keen on the fries but they worked.  Recommend if you're near 40th St. and Indian School.

Family Photos

Shooting

Sunday morning, after breakfast, the men (including Mikey & Abby) went shooting.  Paul brought his Colt .45 and I had my Glock 27.  Mr. M brought the best guns, his .30-30 Winchester rifle and his father's old .270 rile.  The .270 with the scope was fun; Mike and Mark really enjoyed it.  But all of us loved the .30-30, especially me.  The lever action was cool and the piece (made about 1915 Mr. M thinks) fired smoothly and perfectly.  It is a magnificent machine, a good boomstick.

 

Can't Avoid Tech Totally

Hanging Out in the Cabin

 

 

 

Nun Run 2013

Even without the girls cheering me on, the Nun Run was a great time.  It was chilly and still kind of wet from the rain the day before, but I quickly warmed up.  This was the third year they've run it at Kiwanis Park so I was accustomed to the route and knew when to turn on the gas at the end.  I finished in 47:15 in the top 10 (out of 44 males in the 10K).  The second place guy was a 41-year-old, while 3 women finished ahead of me, including two 18-year-olds.

Fun in the Snow

Bobbins organized a mini-reunion of her family at the Cabin in Williams last weekend.  I had already signed up for the Nun Run on Saturday, so she and the girls drove north with her dad Friday afternoon.  They hit a good snowstorm south of Flag, slowing the drive to 30mph.  When they finally made it to the Cabin, there was plenty of "play material" for fun, and a willing aunt in Nadia and uncle in Mark.

 

Little Will and Jessica looked on.

 

 

 

Pope Francis

Big news out of Rome, of course.  We had Fox News on at work, with the constant shot of the chimney.  The news broke when I was out at lunch.  Like Bobbins, my first thought was to our third child in heaven, named Francis Xavier.  I have a feeling the new Pontiff chose "Francis" more for the Jesuit saint than for the original Franciscan.

Folks at work were joking me and asking questions all day and yesterday.  One guy gave me a high-five after the white smoke.  I guess that's a good sign:  everyone knows my Faith, and that it's strong.

My other quick thoughts:

- Kind of an old guy at 76.
- The Italians struck back even though Francis wasn't born in Italy (his father was).
- Important that a Jesuit made it.  How long before Dan Brown spins this into some stupid, ill-informed fictional story?
- Appreciate the humility and fidelity to the big issues.

Thoughts by two Catholic commentators I trust:  George Weigel and Ross Douthat.  This is a well-written doubtful piece about the selection, while this is on more the positive side.  This article is a pretty good overview from both sides.  The new Holy Father's remarks from the balcony after his election.  The reaction in his native Argentina is instructive.

God bless Pope Francis, the servant of the servants of God!

Church Carnival

Two Saturdays ago we went to the Carnival at our church and had a blast.  They had a lot of fun games and bounce houses for the girls, and Bobbins made a nice lunch to eat in the shade.  We also saw a lot of people we knew and met some new folks.

Zoo Day

Last week Bobbins and the girls joined some friends for a day of fun at the Phoenix Zoo.

 

 

 

The girls were really excited to find Aslan, hence their smiles.





Bobbins sent this one to me at work which was a major day brightener.