3rd Annual Chili Cook-Off

The Memorial Day weekend is always started on Saturday night with our now traditional chili cook-off! The backyard was filled with faces ready for some togetherness and delicious treats. I just love having everyone over (and Jason only somewhat grudgingly lets me do it!), so it is now an annual event.We start by all sampling each of the six different chili's in little cups and then rank them - our most favorite down to the least favorite. It is a process...but one that is loads of yummy fun! Then when all the taste testing is done we head back in line to fill a bowl with our favorite (or two!) along with all the fixin's - cornbread, Frito's, cheese, extra onions, rice.And the winner, for the second year in a row...my dad, Jerry!!! (This is despite him not even voting for his own chili as the number one choice - that's my dad!) He says he might just wear a "Three-Peat" shirt next year...much to the chagrin of my brother!!We topped off the night with ice cream floats of your choice and played games until after it got dark. So nice to have so much "family" to spend time and play with!
Full tummies...full hearts...full of laughter!!

Take Us Out to the Ballgame

We finally got to an Angels game this season. (Good idea Jeremy!) We ate hot dogs, nachos, cotton candy, ant tons of other sweets. We watched the Angels win and a great fireworks show afterward. Fun.

Firehouse Tour

A few Saturdays ago the local fire house hosted an Open House. We thought is a great time to check out that fire engine that goes past our house at least once a day. The kids had a great time exploring, listening and answering questions, and even getting to sit in the truck. Way fun, way nice, and way cool.

Shooters

So we are new to the world of marshmallow shooters - oh, but how we have discovered how much we love them! We bought some for the kids a few weeks ago (went back the next day for two for the big guys) and have been thoroughly entertained on Saturday evenings ever since. I think the big kids have more fun than the little ones - they just like to run around picking up the marshmallows to eat. We all have so much fun trying to pelt each other! Check us out...Okay, so this has nothing to do with marshmallow shooters, but it was such a fun picture of Jason with the twins and Jules, I just had to include it!

Anchors Aweigh!!

Kassidy and Konner's third birthday party was a sailing theme. We have amazing friends with connections, so it was complete with our very own small sailboat to take pictures in as well as real naval signal flags to decorate the yard with. We even had a friend of a friend make the cutest sailor outfits for Kassidy and Konner.Upon arriving to the "USS Fox," guest could snack on lots of fishy snacks in sailboats of their own and try to guess what the signal flags hung on the fence spelled out (it was "Happy 3rd Birthday Kassidy and Konner").The kids got to make and wear a sailor knot bracelet and then make their very own sponge sailboat. No sailboat party would be complete without our very own regatta, so we raced the sponge boats in a bin of water by blowing wind into their sails with straws. It was expecailly entertaining to watch the littlest ones try to do this!Konner and Kassiyd each had teir own sailboat cake. I made them and decorated them myself with all types of candy. They each always get their own "Happy Birthday" song, and blowing out candles at 3 is still a challenge - entertaining, but difficult!Present time was crazy! Man, no love was lost on these two. They are enjoying each and every gift!!It was a warm afternoon, but super heartwarming too. I love to have all our friends and family together and if it is to celebrate my favorite set of twins, hey, even better! All the kids got to leave with their own sailor hat and a nautical goody bag that included life savors (of course!).
A happy birthday indeed for Kassidy and Konner!