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!

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. ;)

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!

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!

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.

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!

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!

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

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!

Bath Time!

May 15, 2013 by Theresa Larson

Every since Anna was born she has LOVED bath time. She would splash and laugh and pretty much want to stay in there all night until I finally would bribe her out with chocolate milk and a Disney movie (usually Tangled). So, imagine how stunned I was when she suddenly started to hate her baths. She'd scream the whole time I washed her hair...and just basically cry throughout her entire bath every night...this, quite frankly, made bath time pretty horrible. After dealing with this for months my boss one day showed me a picture of his kids' bath. He's got two about the same ages as mine. There was hardly any room for kids in the bath with all of the awesome toys! I realized that Anna's problem might just be that her bath had gotten just a bit too boring for her taste. So, 4 boats, 3 water guns, and 127 spongy letters later... bath time is fun again! Yay!

Even Wallace gets in on the spongy letter action!

Erin's Wedding Weekend

May 08, 2013 by Theresa Larson

So, this past weekend Josh and the kids and I went to his cousin Erin's wedding. It was beautiful, and they held it in a super duper small town in what I assume is considered north Texas...maybe west Texas. It's a tough call. Pretty much the middle of nowhere.

Josh drove up ahead of me with his ridiculously large BBQ trailer to make the brisket and beans for the wedding, so I was really excited when his Uncle Mark called and said I could ride along in his friend's RV! It's about a 6 hour drive from here, and that really didn't sound appealing by myself with the kids.

This is just some of what makes riding in an RV with kids awesome...Uncle Mark could help out if I wanted to eat or pee or do just about anything that would typically require quite a bit of strategy when you're alone with two kids...  :) — This is just some of what makes riding in an RV with kids awesome...Uncle Mark could help out if I wanted to eat or pee or do just about anything that would typically require quite a bit of strategy when you're alone with two kids... :)

Jeanette (it's her RV) was amazing at keeping Anna entertained and had a huge collection of apps that I need to download on my (I mean Anna's) iPad!

Best of all....Grandma could relax.  :) — Best of all....Grandma could relax. :)

Anna even provided a little entertainment along the way.  Just making sure David didn't get sleepy.  ;) — Anna even provided a little entertainment along the way. Just making sure David didn't get sleepy. ;)

Once we finally got there, Anna discovered that this place really was a kid's dream come true.  Toys everywhere, and nothing breakable! — Once we finally got there, Anna discovered that this place really was a kid's dream come true. Toys everywhere, and nothing breakable!

Check out this awesome little play house!

Not really sure what's going on with Tanner in this shot, but it was pretty funny how obsessed all of the kids were with making everything in their hands a phone.  :) — Not really sure what's going on with Tanner in this shot, but it was pretty funny how obsessed all of the kids were with making everything in their hands a phone. :)

She seriously walked around with this to her ear for an hour!  Must have been a pretty serious conversation... — She seriously walked around with this to her ear for an hour! Must have been a pretty serious conversation...

This was also a town full of little dogs....

who found themselves chased relentlessly by little kids (especially mine)...

So many golf carts!  :) — So many golf carts! :)

Josh and his friends have a great time BBQ'ing, but they really take it seriously.  This was actually the most relaxed I've ever seen them around this BBQ pit. — Josh and his friends have a great time BBQ'ing, but they really take it seriously. This was actually the most relaxed I've ever seen them around this BBQ pit.

I hope this isn't a trade secret, but they'll inject their meat.

Apparently to the point of refusal!  Haha!  :)  It takes a lot of effort to make a brisket taste good. — Apparently to the point of refusal! Haha! :) It takes a lot of effort to make a brisket taste good.

And Josh is always looking for new recruits for the BBQ team!

Anna had more fun with all the kids than she could stand!

And Wallace, as usual, spent a fair amount of time in the carrier...  "/   What can I say...it's hands-free! — And Wallace, as usual, spent a fair amount of time in the carrier... "/ What can I say...it's hands-free!

And before we knew it, it was time to load back up and head home (yep...that's another golf cart!).

Believe it or not, I managed to go all the way there for this wedding...and didn't get a single picture of the bride! What the spank! But not to worry...I counted no less than 4 photographers at the wedding...I'm pretty sure they had it under control! ;)

Here are some other random pics from the weekend I thought I'd share.

Lily...maybe Sadie...ugh...can't see how long her hair is!

It's not super obvious in this picture, but Wallace got a sunburn...I'm a terrible parent...  :( — It's not super obvious in this picture, but Wallace got a sunburn...I'm a terrible parent... :(

You're right, Leah...this kid does not like his picture taken!  But I managed to get one!  :) — You're right, Leah...this kid does not like his picture taken! But I managed to get one! :)

I don't think I can express how much fun these kids had!

Even Wallace got to play in the playhouse...a little...until the girls kicked him out..  "/ — Even Wallace got to play in the playhouse...a little...until the girls kicked him out.. "/

Anna decimated Mindy's flowers...  so sorry about that...  "/ — Anna decimated Mindy's flowers... so sorry about that... "/

Cousin time at the B&B.  Anna likes to refer to her cousins on Josh's side collectively as "The KIDS!!!" — Cousin time at the B&B. Anna likes to refer to her cousins on Josh's side collectively as "The KIDS!!!"

Wallace made it out of the carrier for a little while!

And I'll finish this off with yet another shot of my ridiculously photogenic daughter! — And I'll finish this off with yet another shot of my ridiculously photogenic daughter!

Sneak Peek - Erin's Wedding Weekend

May 05, 2013 by Theresa Larson

I hope to process all of the pics I took this weekend sometime this week... but until then these were some of my favorites! :)

Hayden playing on the school bus.  I'm telling you...this place was a kid paradise! — Hayden playing on the school bus. I'm telling you...this place was a kid paradise!

Grandma and Wallace getting some quality time.

Wallace and Justin.And that's about it for now.  Anna's about to lose it!  "/ — Wallace and Justin.

And that's about it for now. Anna's about to lose it! "/

Wallace's 1st Birthday

April 28, 2013 by Theresa Larson

Wallace turned 1 this weekend. I know this is something everyone says, but I can't believe how fast this year went by. It seems like just yesterday we brought him home from the hospital.

Friday night Anna helped me make his cake, and it was a major struggle for her not to give it a taste test...

It is also becoming a major struggle for Anna to let me take pictures of her.  If she's not running away, she's doing this... — It is also becoming a major struggle for Anna to let me take pictures of her. If she's not running away, she's doing this...

Wallace's big day!

He finally woke up around 8:30!  For some reason Wallace and I both wake up with these huge circles under our eyes...at least his are cute! — He finally woke up around 8:30! For some reason Wallace and I both wake up with these huge circles under our eyes...at least his are cute!

We made a trip to Academy...so thankful that one of my kids will ride in the cart without complaint!

See!  Happy as a clam... — See! Happy as a clam...

Granny came over and made him a blanket....

Anna did the honors.  :) — Anna did the honors. :)

So, Wallace didn't really go into attack mode on the cake, but he seemed to enjoy it!

And he got more birthday love from Anna!

Time to open presents!

Since my sisters and I aren't really close in age I didn't know how this might go with Anna...Let's just say Wallace is finally getting to play with his new toys today. ;)

I don't know if you can tell, but Anna was letting someone have it on that phone!

Yeah right dude!  You just thought it was your birthday! — Yeah right dude! You just thought it was your birthday!