first day of pre-k

August 31, 2010- Today was the first day of pre-k for Pecos.  Although it was a tearful milestone for me as a mom, Pecos was somewhat unfazed.  He was mildly excited and not too sad.  He is returning this year to Harper Head Start where he attended their 3-year old program last year.  Perhaps the familiarity of the place made it not so traumatic for him.  Or maybe he is just growing up and that is something I am reluctantly admitting to.  Not sure how I'll manage to handle sending him off to kindergarten next year.

He of course wanted to wear his boots, jeans and cowboy hat to school.  I told him they wouldn't let him wear boots because he may accidentally step on someones fingers to which he replied he would be really careful.  So I insisted it was much too hot and he said he was tough.  Then I told him if he wore his cowboy hat all the kids would want to touch it and wear it so he quickly agreed that wasn't such a great idea.  He ended up in his "city clothes" but still looked mighty handsome.

fair-ly well

August 27, 2010- It's Gillespie County Fair time!  One of my favorite times of year...such nostalgia and memories of the Jeff Davis Parish Fair back at home.  The fair is a BIG deal here in Gillespie County.  This year the parade was on my birthday!  Who gets a parade on their birthday? Me, that's who!  Main Street in Fredericksburg begins to fill up the night before with pick-up trucks parked overnight so everyone can get a great view of the parade.  I have become overly obsessed and possibly neurotic when it comes to getting a good spot to view the parade.  This year I parked the truck on Wednesday afternoon.  Yes, I know it is obsessive but I can't help it.  So if you ever want to view a parade in Fredericksburg you can save yourself the hassle of finding a parking spot and come view the parade with us!

Pecos kept the parade moving right along and instructed the entrants to keep moving down the parade route.

This clown thought Pecos was flagging him down for a photo so we indulged him.

It was Brazos' first fair parade and he enjoyed it for the first 15 minutes or so before snoozing for the remainder and it was time to eat again.

As for entries in the fair this year, let's just say they were slightly less abundant than last year.  But with both boys keeping me busy it is a wonder I had time to bake anything at all.  And we didn't have a garden this year- that is a whole other story in itself.  And my chickens have had to vacate the property because of the conflict they were causing with all their hanging out on the porch and creating unsanitary conditions; so no eggs to enter either.

I have never in my life made cinnamon rolls from scratch.  So why in the world would I attempt them for the fair?  Slight lapse of judgement I suppose.  Or just the thrill of doing something different to try and win a trophy since the last few years of cookies and cakes weren't producing one.

Pecos helped in the endeavor that created such chaos in my kitchen.

He was so helpful to point out what part of the recipe I needed to do next.

Here's the result; not too bad for a first attempt.  We both entered them; mine got first place- big surprise because I thought they tasted good but were a bit on the doughy side.

Pecos got third with his, but I let him have my ribbon.

And since I was on a roll (no pun intended), I thought I'd make a loaf of cinnamon swirl bread.  It was a huge flop.  Done on the outside but not cooked on the inside.  Here is the proof just in case you don't believe me.  This loaf went straight in the trash so as not to embarrass the Worrell family name.  

Over the summer (with help from my mom) I managed to do some canning.  And although I don't like jam, jelly or preserves, I do love to make them.  And I love entering them in the fair even more!  But I don't like it when they don't win a trophy.  Here's the deal: I know my food is good.  And even though I don't need a trophy to prove it I still want one.  So I am on a quest to get these taste-bud challenged judges that control the fair into awarding one to me.  I am also on a quest to get them to accept half-pint jars but don't get me started on that rant.

So no trophy this year.  Just first with my pepper jelly and second with blackberry jam.  Pecos got second place with his pickled okra while mine was once again mis-understood.

This was the first year Pecos discovered the carnival rides.  During the fair I made a rapid trip to Louisiana to attend my brother, Eric, and his fiancée, Shellie's, engagement party.  While I was away for less than 36 hours Casey and Pecos hit up the horse races.  Pecos got bored waiting in between the races and told Casey "let's go check out that carnival thing."  Needless to say they didn't make it back to the races.

The motorcycles were a favorite.  Another reason to love the fair: no matter where you go for a county fair the carnival rides remain the same.  It is quite possible I rode this exact same ride 25 years ago.

But this is a new one.  Future big rig driver:

So while the trophy for baked and canned goods eluded me again this year, Pecos had fun and Brazos saw his first fair parade.  Fairly well, indeed.

3 months old

August 25, 2010- Our little man is 3 months old now.  Where has the time gone?  After dealing with colic we realized there was something else bothering our little man in a very big way.  The suspect was a urinary tract infection, blockage or malformity.  After a couple of visits and tests with our pediatrician we saw a specialist at Dell Children's in Austin.  Thankfully everything checked out normal although we still wonder what was causing it.  Still not sure but that issue getting better for him while a new one has emerged- reflux.  He really didn't start spitting up until earlier this month and it very quickly went from somewhat normal baby spit-up to excessive and continuous.  So for now we are adding a little cereal to his liquid diet to try and weigh it down some, treating the acid with Zantac and changing his clothes repeatedly throughout the day.  Meanwhile, I am discovering the many ways to disguise spit-up on my clothes.  Not really- I just wear it with pride!

Around the time the reflux was cranking up we noticed Brazos was having flare ups of red patchy areas on his cheeks.  It could be heat rash but because he was having obvious problems with his digestive system an intolerance or allergy to milk protein is suspected.  For now we have him on a hypoallergenic formula.  Once the reflux is under control we will try to switch back to a regular formula to see if it really is an issue.

Despite the reflux he is as happy as can be and sleeps all night which is a relief!  He is smiling often and makes those wonderful baby cooing sounds.  Just recently we started eating fruit.  First up was peaches in honor of the bumper crop produced in the Hill Country this year.  Brazos could care less about the significance of peaches in this area- he wasn't much of a fan of the spoon feeding so we'll keep trying. 

Here's his stats from a visit to the doctor in early August:

Weight: 13.4 pounds (73%tile)
Length: 24 1/2" (85%tile)
Head circumference: 40cm (37%tile)

 

stick horse rodeo

August 18, 2010- It was another birthday blowout for Pecos.  Earlier in the summer Pecos started talking about his birthday party and said he wanted a cowboy party at our "ranch".  And he wanted to rope.  And ride Brownie.  And have a rodeo.

I was less than excited about the possibility of an outdoor party in August.  We did one for him when he turned 2 and it was extremely hot so I tried to talk him into something indoors.  Like a party at the bounce house place like he had last year.  Nope- been there, done that- he wasn't interested.  I figured he only turns 4 once and if this is what he wants we'll make it work.  So the makings of Pecos Round Up began.  A stick horse rodeo at the Worrell arena it would be.

We borrowed banners from the local western store to give the arena some authenticity.  All the contestants had mop ponies but Pecos kept with his usual mount- Brownie.  Casey even built a bucking barrel contraption so we could have bull riding.

And every good rodeo provides contestant numbers for the riders.  Here's our champion getting his number pinned onto the back of his shirt.  We suggested he wear the number 4 in honor of his birthday but he insisted world champions wear number one.  

Here's a close up of the contestant numbers (with an obvious similarity to those of Pendelton Round-Up).  These have 2006-2010 and 'Four Years of Western Tradition' on them.

First up was the grand entry, led by Pecos, to the tune of the national anthem sung by Lee Greenwood blaring from the speakers of the iPod-compatible portable player.

(photo by tori)

Then it was barrel races, flag race and calf roping.  

(photo by tori)

In the days leading up to the party Casey was running out of time getting a few things done and considered scrapping the bucking barrel bull idea.  Good thing he didn't...it was a huge hit with the buckaroos.

 (photo by tori)

Here's Pecos getting instruction from Casey on the proper form.  

And here he is riding it like a world champion.

Following the rodeo events we had an awards ceremony and distributed trophies and prize money to everyone.  The prize money was a last minute addition...it was a paper tablet of enlarged $100 bills direct from the U.S. Mint in Washington D.C. from Pecos' godmother.

This was how Brazos spent the majority of his time at the party.  As if to say "are you kidding?  isn't this a bit much?"

Gold buckle birthday cake.  It looks like a belt buckle, right?  Please tell me it looks like a belt buckle.  The lady at the HEB bakery wasn't quite sure what I was explaining and my description may have been lost in translation.

More party fun.

Even though Pecos had a blast at his rodeo party and playing with his friends, this is what REALLY made him happy.  This area toy set has been on his wish list for quite a while.  When he opened it he declared "I've been needing this!"

We take an annual photo with the birthday boy.  Maybe this year we should have done it at the beginning of the day.  Oh well, it is a sign of a good birthday I guess.

This one is much better because of the smile and because Brazos joined us for it.  Uncle Duke was taking the picture and said something that Pecos thought was funny so he decided to give us one last smile.  

Here's a few other birthday highlights.  Pecos requested whoopie pies on his birthday since we wouldn't have the cake until his party two days later.  He generally isn't much of a sports fan but nonetheless requested a tee ball set.  Not sure why he has decided to bat as a lefty.  

Overall Pecos has really grown up in the past year.  It has been a year of maturity for him especially when Brazos was born.  He's becoming a little more independent, growing taller and looking forward to pre-k this year.  He's been wearing 4 slim pants for most of the last year but those are beginning to be too short.  He's still wearing a size 9 or 10 shoe and believe it or not has made his boots last all year, but it is time for a new pair.  He tops the scale at 37 pounds and is 3'7" tall.

lobsterfest 2010

August 12, 2010- Although it has been two years since our last visit to Maine we are always glad to re-live the memories.  Thanks to Casey's parents who sent us lobsters on their recent visit we were able to have our own lobster dinner here in Harper. 

The special delivery contained these lobsters- or as it is pronounced in Maine- lobstahs:

 

I promptly put them in the fridge to rest and await their fate into my boiling pot of water.  Sad, I know, and I felt slightly bad about it. 

This was also in the box:  instructions- are you kidding me?  I don't need instructions, I have Louisiana roots and this is just an oversized crawfish!

Here are the first 2 victims after a dip in the stove top sauna.

Oh, the carnage that was left.  You see shells, this Lousisiana gal sees the makings of lobster stock.  Back into the pot they went to create stock which will be part of my next seafood gumbo.  The entire endeavor of preparing the feast and making stock took no less than a dozen pots, pans, bowls and various other kitchen vessels.  But it was sooooooooooo worth it!

Brazos was a non-participant in this year's lobsterfest other than to wear this bib and just look cute.

And no Maine feast would be complete without a whoopie pie for dessert.  Well perhaps blueberries would be appropriate but the whoopie pies are a regional delicacy.  Pecos took the first bite and said "I think I love these whoopie pies." 

This delectable dessert is the traditional whoopie pie- chocolate on top and bottom with white icing in the center.  It may look like a mouse worked on this one but it was Pecos.

And this here may look like mush (Casey says it looks like a pile of cow poop), but to me it is the only way to make a whoopie pie even better- put chocolate in the center.  And yes, it was delicious.  I devoured it as if calories were a non-issue!