Photographing my kids and whatever else strikes me

This is a space for me to display my budding photography skills and also brag a little (maybe a lot) about my kiddos!

Hico Steak Cookoff!

May 20, 2013 by Theresa Larson

Josh and I have had a pretty busy schedule lately. This weekend was the Texas Steak Cookoff in Hico! Hico is a beautiful town, and the people were so nice.

We had a pretty big group turn out to help with all of the cooking!  This isn't even everyone! — We had a pretty big group turn out to help with all of the cooking! This isn't even everyone!

By the time I got the kids going in the same direction and made it up there, everything was in full swing!  I think the best thing about Hico was the fact that our BBQ trailer appeared to be the biggest one there!  This was way more excit… — By the time I got the kids going in the same direction and made it up there, everything was in full swing! I think the best thing about Hico was the fact that our BBQ trailer appeared to be the biggest one there! This was way more exciting than I thought it could be.

It was comical how many people came by just to stare at it and even take pictures of it!

This particular cookoff has you turn in steaks and appetizers.  So, we turned in these salmon-bruchetta-ish things that served us well in Lampasas last year! — This particular cookoff has you turn in steaks and appetizers. So, we turned in these salmon-bruchetta-ish things that served us well in Lampasas last year!

And fancy pulled pork sliders.  Yummo! — And fancy pulled pork sliders. Yummo!

So, the food looks so awesome because it's like Gordon Ramsey's kitchen behind the scenes!  Constant rearrangement of the lemon wedges, people yelling out the time.... — So, the food looks so awesome because it's like Gordon Ramsey's kitchen behind the scenes! Constant rearrangement of the lemon wedges, people yelling out the time....

It's organized chaos, and it can get a little stressful...

...unless your name is Josh.  ;) — ...unless your name is Josh. ;)

Once the appetizers were turned in we got to serve them to the public.  We were pretty pumped we had such a long line, and we even managed to run completely out! — Once the appetizers were turned in we got to serve them to the public. We were pretty pumped we had such a long line, and we even managed to run completely out!

I'm sure chaos ensued once again when the steaks were due, but I must have been off at the wine tasting or something because I manged to completly miss it... "/

In the end our steaks and appetizers didn't win...but we managed to get an even better prize...Best in Show!  Hico apparently loved our atmosphere.  At one point I walked off to shop and could hear the music coming from our trailer 3 bloc… — In the end our steaks and appetizers didn't win...but we managed to get an even better prize...Best in Show! Hico apparently loved our atmosphere. At one point I walked off to shop and could hear the music coming from our trailer 3 blocks away!

And here are a bunch of random fun pics from the weekend!

My bestie (Jen) and her Mom and son (Thomas) got to come along for this one!  Yay! — My bestie (Jen) and her Mom and son (Thomas) got to come along for this one! Yay!

Homegirl loves some bubbles!

It was awesome having so many people to help out at this cookoff...and as Josh would say...to tell lies and drink beer with.  :) — It was awesome having so many people to help out at this cookoff...and as Josh would say...to tell lies and drink beer with. :)

I think I owe Miss Lily a hefty baby-sitting fee.  Anna tends to run off when I'm not constantly watching her, and she helped me keep track of her and keep her entertained for hours! — I think I owe Miss Lily a hefty baby-sitting fee. Anna tends to run off when I'm not constantly watching her, and she helped me keep track of her and keep her entertained for hours!

So, this was the only other Mom in our group who had more kids than me (3)...but her kids follow her around like little ducks rather than run off, I'm so jealous!  So I've decided she must have some sort of fairy dust she sprinkles on them to … — So, this was the only other Mom in our group who had more kids than me (3)...but her kids follow her around like little ducks rather than run off, I'm so jealous! So I've decided she must have some sort of fairy dust she sprinkles on them to keep them from running off. ;)

Her kids are pretty cute too!

I should have kept this one in color.  This girl has some crazy red hair! — I should have kept this one in color. This girl has some crazy red hair!

Josh, Kipper, and Clint....telling lies and drinking beer.  :) — Josh, Kipper, and Clint....telling lies and drinking beer. :)

Kevin...Josh decided he's the Temperature Master!

He's honestly a really hard worker!

And he has the sweetest wife, Helena, who loves my baby...which makes her even more awesome!  :) — And he has the sweetest wife, Helena, who loves my baby...which makes her even more awesome! :)

Tiffany likes my baby too!  :) — Tiffany likes my baby too! :)

Trisha and Clint!  They're kind of a ridiculously good-looking couple. — Trisha and Clint! They're kind of a ridiculously good-looking couple.

Josh and James...also ridiculously good-looking!

So, Jen and I got the same camera this past winter...and we both love it!!!

Anna got a hold of my camera and took this one.  :) — Anna got a hold of my camera and took this one. :)

And this one.  She's a natural! — And this one. She's a natural!

Lily keeping up with all the kids.

Anna got a hold of one of the knives during the appetizer prep chaos....  "/  This was the first time one of my kids has had a bleeder, it's a real shocker to see your kid bleeding!  So glad Josh's sister Sarah was around to patch her… — Anna got a hold of one of the knives during the appetizer prep chaos.... "/ This was the first time one of my kids has had a bleeder, it's a real shocker to see your kid bleeding! So glad Josh's sister Sarah was around to patch her up!

Anna was pretty good at showing off her bo-bo.

It got pretty hot out there!

Anna's grown very fond of Kipper, and she's actually gotten really good at pronouncing his name.  Today when I picked her up from my Mom's one of the first things she said to me was "Where's Kipper?  Call Kipper!"  So we did!  :) — Anna's grown very fond of Kipper, and she's actually gotten really good at pronouncing his name. Today when I picked her up from my Mom's one of the first things she said to me was "Where's Kipper? Call Kipper!" So we did! :)

So...you're dating my sister?....  ;)  Just kidding!  We love Rick! — So...you're dating my sister?.... ;) Just kidding! We love Rick!

Josh and the kids...

We had some trouble getting cooperation from the kiddos.  "/ — We had some trouble getting cooperation from the kiddos. "/

Haha!  Wallace was done! — Haha! Wallace was done!

Super Thomas!

Tired kids can sleep anywhere!  Even with music blasting! — Tired kids can sleep anywhere! Even with music blasting!

Wallace found some admirers!

James and Tiffany relaxing toward the end of the day.

Alex and his baby girl.  awwwww... — Alex and his baby girl. awwwww...

I think he's starting to look like Josh!

Can you see it too?  ;) — Can you see it too? ;)

The Hico Cookoff was a lot of fun!  We will definitely be back next year! — The Hico Cookoff was a lot of fun! We will definitely be back next year!