Gingerbread Houses

It was something of a Santa's Workshop Day.

All the photos.

Cookies and Carols

Tracy and Lynn decided it was time for a Christmas Party. This one would be simple, invite everyone, have holiday cookies and libations, and encourage folks to sing and play Christmas Carols at their heart's content. So we did, and it was the best time. The sounds of the singing and accompaniment was the best! Thanks to Lacey, her Dad, Danielle, Jackie, Natalia, John, and those I've forgotten who tickled the ivories, brass, or strings as the case may be, and thanks to everyone for pitching in their voices and sense of fun. We're thinking again next year...

Cinderella at PCPA

One of Lynn's favorite Christmas gifts is to take the whole fam damily to the theater. We managed to do that three times this season: The Holiday Extravaganza at the Melodrama (actually, this was Jamie's birthday), A Christmas Story at SLO Little Theatre, and Cinderella at PCPA. Pictured are all the adults trying to get a picture of the kids at PCPA. All great shows, by the way. Just go.

Lynn's Birthday at Foremost Wine Co

We lucked into it again! Lynn and I celebrated her birthday this evening with an evening out just the two of us. On the rainy drive into San Luis Obispo, we were still totally undecided about where to go for dinner. There's like 2 million places we love in SLO, and on our list tonight were two new ones. At least I thought both were new. Turns out upon drive-by that one we had been to before and wasn't even open tonight. Granada Bistro was full (most of their seating is outdoors which was rained out). We decided that ambiance was the most important thing tonight. That's not entirely like us normally; we're usually more about the flavors.

I had just heard about Foremost Wine Company. Follow that link, but understand that the website was not nearly as intriguing as the place itself. I guess looking back all the pieces were there (on the website), but I still didn't get it. While I idled on the curb, Lynn dashed in to check it out - remember, ambiance was big tonight. She came back and said, "park the car, this is it."

I could go on and on describing the ambiance inside this old Creamery building. I could also go on and on trying to describe how unique and wonderful the food was. Truth is, you just have to go and check it out for yourself. As much as we liked the look and feel of the place, and the service, and all the other pluses, we were blown away by the flavors. OMG. You should read all about the French chef. No wonder, it was all about the sauces. And, we love the way all the food is designed and served to be shared.

We figure it'll take us six visits to sample all the food offerings and sit in the unique niches around the place. And then they'll change the menu on us, which they say is done with some frequency. And there's no way you'll ever try all the wines. We didn't recognize too many of the wines; a new world begging to be explored.

They offer a wine club membership, which may well be great. But I KNOW I'd have died and gone to heaven with a food club membership!

Give us a shout if you wanna go - we'll go with you! If you hate it, we'll buy. If it's the best ever, you buy. Anything in between is dutch treat.

Since the website doesn't fully tell the tale, here are a couple links to help us describe this place to you:

SLO's Foremost Wine Co. embraces farm-to-table philosophy
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/entertainment/restaurants/article39538005.html

Foremost Wine Co. a Great New Eatery
http://www.centralcoastcritic.com/destination-restaurant-2/foremost-wine-co-exciting/

On our table this evening (except we missed a photo of the truffle risotto with poached egg), along with a very nice brut French champagne:

Romanesco Cauliflower

Butternut Squash in Mole

Seared Diver Scallops, creme fraiche, Opal basil, etc.

Passion Fruit Tart with a fabulous dark chocolate layer you can't see

Matteo's Birthday Party: Rocks and Minerals

It was a "Rocks and Minerals" kinda party. We hunted geodes in the yard and cracked them open (as best we could). Then a bingo-like game called Rock On. Some hardness testing. Of course, there was rock candy in each person's mine bucket to which they added specimens as we went. Lava Keep Away was a balloon game. The soil stratification snack was well received! We had lots of rock and mineral specimens out and about for decoration.

All the pics are here.

Halloween

We covered much ground this Halloween Day. First stop, the San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum. Anyone in costume gets in free! Then it was on to Trick or Treating in the Village of Arroyo Grande, a very popular tradition. We did our best to keep the Fosters, Reguscis, and Gibsons together. The Village was jam packed today, and hot! And last but not least, Lynn and Jamie went to Trevor's and Jen's for bedtime with their kids, dinner, and some Halloween candy wine pairing.

All the pics: http://JF2.com/151031/

Arsonists

The Arsonists
by Max Frisch
October 16-17, 2015
A staged reading by SLO Repertory Theater
Directed by Gregg Wolff
Jamie and Lynn: Chorus

Thanks to Danielle Dutro McNamara Photography for the photos.

 

Nipomo Pumpkin Patch

Ben and Erica joined the whole Foster/Regusci clan for an outing to the Nipomo Pumpkin Patch. Was fantastic, as usual. Then "Me 'n' Ed's" for pizza! Photos: http://JF2.com/151010/

Homeschooling

‪#‎homeschooling‬ Apparently even Lexi needed a pillow and blanket while we read Don Quixote. (Tracy)

AJ to the Rescue

What?!

"I'll save you!"

That was close.

Sierra Vista NICU reunion!

The boys were having a tough day with the crowds so we hugged our doctors and nurses we saw and left. Maybe next year we can stay longer!‪#‎preemiesgrowingstrong‬ ‪#‎nicureunion‬‪#‎preemieproblems‬ ‪#‎ex25weeker‬ (Tracy)

Papa Bill

My Popop was known for his bright red shoes. So we all wore bright colored shoes in honor of him! Was a beautiful day celebrating my most incredible Popop!! (Tracy)

Papa Bill passed away 9/14/15.

First Fish

Matteo caught his first fish. Off the pier. The pier was super busy with fisherman and other people getting ready for some event tonight. My boy was so excited (loud) that by the time he pulled the fish onto the pier everyone had stopped to watch the 7-year-old pull his first fish up. To which everyone then applauded for him!! This is exactly what my Matteo needed today!!! (Tracy)

Papa Jamie's first fish, 1961.

40th Anniversary

40th Anniversary. We peaked: Mt. Pinos. Got high, too: 8,848 feet. Great little getaway to Pine Mountain. Pics: http://jf2.com/150905/ (bonus points for looking through to the geology notes).

Labor Day Fun!

Labor Day fun! 4 families 18 kids. No big deal.

Lexi

3 months. ‪#‎stopgrowing‬ ‪#‎babynumber7‬ (Tracy)

David

He is killing me today. Why are all my kids growing up!?!? (Tracy)

Glasses

Glasses. We new it was inevitable with the amount of laser surgery he had but managed to get by until today! I think he is seeing the world in a while new way. He hasn't taken them off yet! ‪#‎preemiepower‬ ‪#‎ex25weeker‬‪#‎preemiesgrowingstrong‬ (Tracy)

LA Trip

Great trip to LA, little David will be in glasses super soon; but both boys have healthy retinas - yeah! A great time was had by all, including the shared lollipop and movie on the way home. (Lynn)

Back to School

First day of homeschooling and we are in LA at doctors appointments for the twins! These 4 are being super troupers. (Tracy)

Back to School

First day of school pick. 8th, 5th, 2nd, kinder, and preschool.

And this one. When did he get so old? (Tracy)

SLOCA Work Day

Lexi - hanging out at SLOCA workday (this is what happens when mom forgets the stroller) ‪#‎sloca‬ (Tracy)

Hairy Sitter

Our babysitter is a little hairy. (Lynn)

Amazing Friends

Thank God for amazing friends who can laugh about this crazy life of ours! And not freak out when our family shows up on their front porch. (Tracy)

At the Beach

So much fun taking the kids to Avila with Tracy Regusci and catching crabs in the creek and teaching Fina how to Body Surf (Matt)

Aerial What?

How did she convince is of this one? ‪#‎aerialsilk‬ (Tracy)

Lexi Welcoming

Those moments they think no one is looking. ‪#‎lovethem‬ ‪#‎bestlovedbaby‬‪#‎holdinghands‬ (Tracy)

Vacation Bible School

You need safety glasses for VBS?! Well, you did this year at the Methodist Church's VBS in Arroyo Grande. They used a curriculum call SonSpark Labs. Papa Jamie took Serafina, Matteo, and AJ. It was pretty cool. All the pics start here: http://worshipweekly.com/150724.html

Book Nook

Jonathan felt like Lexi needed some books to read. ‪#‎babynumber7‬ (Tracy)

Business Rail Excursion to Portland

Lynn and Jamie returned today from a Santa Maria Valley Railroad business excursion to Portland, Oregon. Great way to travel, and a good way to get people out of the office to do a little bigger picture thinking. All the photos: http://JF2.com/150709/