Saint James Place Cook-Off

Yesterday was the first of many cook-offs between our neighborhood friends.

Cook-offs will continue after this one with a different GRILLED item each time.
I believe brisket is next.  Yum.

Here are all 7 cooks.  Each had to prepare 3 racks of ribs.
They started cooking at noon. We had so many ribs!!

We judged on appearance, texture, and taste. This was my first plate.


My judging party was Madison, me & Chelsie.
Don't let her snarly-look fool you...
she loves ribs & was a great sport! Winner of the cook-off got the black apron & the loser gets the "Traveling-Trophy-Pink-Apron" that says 'I suck at Grilling'.  Nice. Poor Pat. :(

Our ribs came in 3rd place!  I'm pretty happy with that since it was our first cook-off!! 

Easter Dinner a little early

On Good Friday we went to Marble Falls to have a

Good meal with my family from Wimberley & my

family from Copperas Cove.

After supper we found an awesome little park that had a

sand volleyball area. Here is Margaux playing her

position on the team.  Isn't she cute!

For some ingenius reason the volleyball court is right next to

the wide creek.  Yes... you guessed it... twice.

Here is Madison & Benji speculating on how they're going

to get the ball back.

Andrew joins the observation.

Thank goodness a random kid was net-fishing & caught the

volleyball for them.  Whoot!

Monkeys never grow up. Right Benji & Madison?

You're jealous... aren't ya?

Bet you wish you had an Alumni shirt too, right?

A looooooong day on the road to Wichita, KS

We left the house at 8:19 but realized we only had a half tank of gas.

So we stopped for gas... which rolled into a stop for breakfast... which rolled into

a restroom break... so we didn't really get on the

road until almost 9:00.

You know how you pass a car on the interstate & pretty soon

that same car passes you... then if you drive long enough

you pass him again, then he passes you again? 

It becomes like a game, right?

Anyways, this car was playing 'leap-frog' with us for so much

that I started keeping track. We got up to

9 times we passed each other.

Then he disappeared into the abyss of cars on Interstate 35.

Potty break in Fort Worth.

We look very tourist-y, I mean how many people take their pictures

at the public restrooms?

Passing the Red River between Texas & Oklahoma @ 12:38.

Everyone's happy here. Godfathers Pizza!!  And Subway!!

Here's what happens when Shelly takes over as driver.  Scott & Madison get silly!

Something is definately messed up with that Edward pillow. Or Scott.

The guys were watching a movie on the laptop. In between texts, right Dillon?

Finally Oklahoma City @ 3:05.

There's that creepy Edward pillow.  I mean, there's that

awesome pillow that Madison brought.  

Finally to Kansas!

Yes!  The hotel!!  Nine hours!!

Take me to the hot tub.  Or not. ;)

self portrait

Looks like I have an orange mustache!  heehee

Still in the Academy!

We're very proud of Jared!

He has about 6 weeks left until he finishes the

Fire Academy.

Thumbs Up

As of yesterday I have been given the "Thumbs Up" to blog about how the Cole Family lives again.  Full Pedal-to-the-Medal type of blogging.  Like I used to.

So, my fellow blog-readers... get ready! I'm back!!

Spring Break 2010

We started Spring Break today with a Rugby game win & sunburns for everyone!  It was a bright sunny day & we got up to 80 degrees. 
Jared went to a controlled-burn today, in other words... he BURNED down a house today!  It was a practice burn for the Fire Department.  He's not home yet but he has texted us so I know he's okay (whew!  I don't know how moms of fire fighters do it).
Scott & Dillon went to San Antonio tonight to pick up Dillon's good friend, Nathan, from the airport.  He lives in Waterloo, Iowa & I don't think he's ever been to Texas.  He'll have a fun week since the weather will be in the 70's& sunny.  I think we might go to Houston for a day & I'm sure we'll think of plenty of things to do this week... wish all our friends & family could come down... (sad face).
Madison has decided we're going to do LOTS of practice driving this week.  And after our 2 mile driving experience this afternoon... ummm...  she definitely needs practice. 
Look for pictures this week!  Happy Spring Break!

Regulars

We enjoyed our 'regular' Tuesday night at the Rattlesnake Inn.

However, last night we were minus Scott. Bummer.

BUT... we were plus Jared!  Yay!

Can any of you see the similarities in Scott & Jared's singing?  Listen below... 

Recipes

Last May my parents brought me a small box with my grandma's recipes.

There were 5 books, a ziploc bag FULL of handwritten recipes &

a yellow recipe box. 

It has taken me forever to get to sorting through the box but

I finally got it done! 

Look at this OLD cookbook!  It belonged to my Great-Grandma.  It is a collection of recipes from the
residents at the retirement 'tower' where she lived.  1976 doesn't sound so old until you count it out.... 36 years old!  WOW.

We've got a singer in the family!

Madison auditioned for State competition on Friday & found out yesterday that she has made it to the State level!  She sang an Italian song & got very high rankings. 

She will compete against other alto 2 soloists coming from all over the state... in May.

We're very proud of her since not many sophmores make it this far.  WAY TO GO!!

freak snowstorm

A week ago we had a freak snowstorm here.  Yes, I said snow!

It snowed most of the day & stayed cold enough

that the snow stuck around all night.

Now, I'm from Iowa so I've experienced snow in

my lifetime, but these are the biggest 'flakes' of snow

I've ever seen. They were more like snow-clumps

falling from the sky.

Look how BIG they are!!

Luckily it melted the next day & we're back up in the 50's-60's.

I love Texas.