Isabelle's first time sleeping on the tramp

Last Friday night (August 22) I decided to let Isabelle sleep outside on the tramp with her Dad. It probably wasn't the smartest decision since it got down to 59 degrees but I kept her well covered and she slept really good . I had to start smoking some Pork Shoulder at 4:00 in the morning for Aly's Dad's 60th Birthay Party Saturday night so it worked really well to just hop off the tramp and be right at the smoker. It was a pretty miserable night for me, I woke up at least every hour and the tramp wasn't as soft as I remember it when I was Isabelle's age! She had a big smile on her face in the morning so it was all worth it.

About 5:30 sound asleep
Sleeping outside is the only time that we can keep covers on her (She is just like her Dad)

Here is the wonderful sleeping quarters

Sun just starting to come up a little after 6:00

Isabelle just waking up, now that is a Kid who looks like she had a good time!

The summer is ending and Isabelle is getting ready to go back to school next week so I'm glad she was able to experience sleeping outside on the tramp. Good thing I remembered to turn off the sprinklers!

Warning: Red Popsicle Looks Like Blood On A 10 Month Old!

In the past few weeks Gracie gets very upset if you don't involve her when you are eating. If she sees anyone eating in front of her she will let you know that she wants some too. Well two weeks ago we were eating Popsicles before Isabelle went to bed and Gracie just had to have her own. Despite being ready for bed we removed her clothing and gave her her own, as you can see below, she enjoyed it immensely!

I am thinking that this is a bad idea!

Look at that concentration, for a first time Popsicle eater she is doing very well.

Now this one looks like Gracie has been in a bad horror movie and spent a little time with a knife. No worries, its just Popsicle!

This is what happens when you take the Popsicle from her, she wrestles it back!


No more Popsicle left but she is still trying to get whatever she can off the stick!

Even though Gracie had to have an unplanned bath right after, it was fun to see her conquer her first Popsicle.

Smoke this

Well after sitting out of competition barbecue for two years, some friends and I decided to try our hand once again against the big boys. The competition was at the Kearns Olympic Oval and consisted of cooking through the night on Friday August 8 and turn ins on Saturday afternoon. Despite the hard work, food that we thought tasted the best we had ever done, it wasn't meant to be. We didn't get last place but we came awfully close!! We had a good time but I think that our competition barbecue days are over. Here are some pictures.

We took the kids swimming right next door at the public water park and Isabelle and Jake had a great time. The whole time Isabelle stayed by Jakes side and held his hand to make sure that he didn't get lost. Look at those big smiles!

Friday night dinner eating some practice Q with my two girls

Right in the thick of the competition, every 30 minutes a new category had to be turned in, only at a barbecue competition will you see grown men fussing over which cut of meat to turn in and how the lettuce looks!

Our ribs, I think the presentation is definitely a 10!


Here is our Brisket, again another winner of a box to me. Despite 14 + hours cooking, lots of money spent we didn't place. The good thing is that they put the losers names in a hat and we got some concert tickets and a cell phone to sell so we can recoup some of the money.

It was a great time but definitely something you don't want to do every weekend. I can't believe the guys who go from competition to competition all throughout the summer. I don't think we embarrassed ourselves because we placed higher than a team that had a $4,000.00 smoker!! If I had spent that much on a smoker, I would be crying not placing in the top three!

I think we're in trouble!

So little Miss Gracie having been on this earth for 10 months, has figured out what a purse is. I guess having a Mom and Sister who just love purses, I can see why Gracie now has caught the bug. But C'mon, 10 months! She even did a good job at color matching the purse with the outfit, so she is well on her way to costing her Dad way to much money in the future. I thought that you would enjoy some pictures of Gracie's new found desire to be like her Mom and Sister.

Look at that form, carefully balancing the purse with one hand and the other on the couch!

Even when she falls she makes sure the purse is still firmly in the hold position!

Something about this face makes me think she is saying: "You might as well give up now Dad, this is what you have to look forward to from now on!"