2011 Hico Steak Cook-Off

This weekend was the 8th annual steak cook-off in Hico, Texas. My family has been entering this steak cook-off for 3 years now and we have the best time participating! We won 10th place in 2009 when we entered and have been trying to emulate that skill (and luck) ever since! My parents, Seth, and some of our other friends went down on Friday and then Gregg, Cade, and I went on Saturday afternoon.

There were over 100 teams entered in the cook-off this year. The entire town of Hico basically shows up to help out for this event. The downtown area shuts down for all the teams to set up their cooking camps.

The teams all lined up
our set-up

We changed our team name this year to "Steak Medics" and we went for a medical theme at our camp. We all wore blue scrubs and had different medical equipment around the area. We already have more ideas for next year on how we want to decorate and really make our theme stand out!

our team sign

The Hico Volunteer Fire Department was out raffling off tickets for a chance to win $200 of gas. Since all the guys on our team are firemen and most serve on a volunteer department we had to support their cause and made a donation. In return, Cade got a cute plastic helmet to wear!

our little Fire Chief

We had 2 grills that we used to cook on plus a propane stove. In addition to the steak that we cooked and entered in the contest, we also entered an appetizer into a contest and then cooked several things for the public to sample.

one of the grills that we cooked on this weekend

For our appetizer we made a spicy shrimp cocktail and served it in grilled avocados. We also made extra of this to serve to the public with chips instead of the avocado. It was a hit with the masses but not with the judges because we didn't make it into the appetizer finals :(

our appetizer headed to the judges

We also made green chili stew, jalapeno cheese sausage, and bison sliders that we served to the public! All the food was excellent and serving the public was a lot of fun!

We turned our steak in during the 2nd heat. All the meat is provided by the organization and then you get to season it and cook it to your liking. You are given 2 steaks to cook and you get to choose which to turn in. We were really pleased with the way that our steak turned out and thought that it tasted just perfect. Once again fate wasn't on our side though because we didn't make it into the Top 30 this year :(

our steak

All the teams that participated are given 4 additional steaks to cook after the competition is over. We immediately started practicing for next year and cooked all 4 of our steaks different ways and voted to see what we like the best. Of course, we all still choose our original seasoning as our favorite so we are going to have to keep practicing! We brought a bunch of vegetables and some bread with us so we made a vegetable melody to go along with our steaks.

cooking some veggies to go with our steaks for supper

After we got everything cleaned and packed up we headed to Stephenville where we had hotel rooms for the night. We spent the rest of the evening just hanging out and letting my parents and Seth love on Cade for a while.

Gregg reading Cade's new book to my Dad

This morning we got up and re-packed all of our stuff so that we could all head home. We spent some time in the hotel lobby with my Dad before heading out to eat breakfast with everyone. My Dad is a complete softy when it comes to Cade! He has really surprised me in just how much he has taken to a baby. It melts my heart to see them together and I just treasure every moment!

My Dad feeding Cade his cereal and bananas for breakfast

Saying goodbye is always the hardest part. Luckily, we are going to Lubbock for Memorial Day weekend so we will get to see everyone again very soon. And the best part is that my Mom came home with us for the week! (Gregg is flying to Lubbock Tuesday to help his Dad plant Cotton so my Mom will be staying with Cade and I to help with Cade while I am at work. Mom, Cade and I will all drive to Lubbock Friday.)

We had such a fun time this weekend in Hico and are already looking forward to next years cook-off and hopefully making a steak that will be a hit with the judges!

Ranger's Game!

We took Cade to his first Rangers game last Sunday! There were 13 of us (6 fireman and their families) who all went together. We were a little late in buying tickets and so the only place that we could all sit together was way at the top in the cheap seats! The crowd was great at the top and we were in the shade which was a BIG plus with Cade so we were actually pleased with our seats.

ready to go

view from the top!

intently watching the game

family time at the game

Our little Ranger fan!

We had a GREAT time at the game and I really think that Cade enjoyed his first baseball experience. My family went to quite a few games when we were in high school and lived in Burleson. I hope that we can take Cade to lots of games as he grows up and that he will have a love for the game of baseball!

Sweet Potatos vs. Peas

We are slowly introducing new stage 1 foods to Cade. So far he LOVES sweet potatoes, carrots, bananas, and applesauce. We have tried green beans and also peas with a similar response from both foods. Here are a few pictures of him eating sweet potatoes and peas last night. You can see in the pictures his feelings towards both foods below.

Sweet Potato Faces

Pea Faces

I think it is safe to say that Cade isn't a fan of the peas... or any of the green vegetables!

6 month doctors appointment

We took Cade in for his 6 month well baby appointment and shots on Monday. He is growing boy and still developmentally right on track!

He weighs 15 pounds 14 ounces (20%)
He is 25 3/4 inches long (25%)
His head is 17 3/4 inches around (85%!!!)



Once again Cade got 3 shots and 1 oral vaccine and was such a sad boy after his shots. I again had to go into work after the appointment so Gregg and Cade got to spend the day together. Overall, he did great with shots and I feel that we are lucky in the sense that he never has too many problems with his shots.

When I got home from work that day Gregg and Cade had a surprise for me that they had been working on!




Cade has been inch worm scooting (putting head on ground and then scooting with his feet) for a few weeks but it now looks like he is getting closer and closer to crawling! (Today he actually got up on his hands and knees for a few seconds!)

The Love of a Mother

I celebrated my first Mother's Day this Sunday. It was a day spent relaxing and cuddling at home with the sweet boy that gave me the title of Mother (mixed in with a little time spent at the fire station seeing Daddy). A day spent reflecting on the woman that I call Mom and thinking about what being a Mother now means for me.

I love my Mom more than I could ever put into words. She is an incredible and Godly woman who has taught me so many things. Most importantly she showed me what it means to be a Mom. She is my very best friend and the one person that I know will always be on my side. My Mom has always sacrificed herself for our family. She is a hard worker and a real fighter. Overall, she is an amazing woman and I pray that I can be the kind of Mother to Cade that my Mom has continues to be to me.

As I sit here now in reflection of my first Mother's Day, I am most thankful for my Mom and her love. An unending love that I now understand since I have a child of my own. Becoming a Mother has brought more joy into my life than I ever imagined. It is my most favorite title and the best job that I will ever have.

The love of a Mother is a powerful thing. It is a love that isn't fully understood until one becomes a Mother. It is an overwhelming feeling and love that takes over you the moment you first see your child. A most special kind of love that I am proud to now understand.

Hope all you Mom's and soon to be Mom's out there had a GREAT weekend celebrating yourself and your role as a Mother!

DOC Band Graduation

Cade graduated from his DOC band last Friday!!! When we went for our first consultation they told us he would probably wear the band 6-8 weeks and after 6 weeks and 1 day they felt his progress was complete and set him free! We are most excited about this timing since it is starting to get hot outside and Cade is already a sweater.

We have loved our time at Cranial Technologies and are most pleased with the process that Cade has made. We can tell a HUGE difference in the back of his head and feel the decision to go with a band was the best for Cade. The therapist that we worked with still says that he has some stiffness in his neck on the left side and recommends that we continue to do the neck strengthening exercises that we have been doing.

During our appointment they took pictures and measurements for us to compare to the originals and then re-did the 3D Digital Surfacing Imaging and showed us his changes in 3D. It was amazing to see exactly how much change has occurred!

Headed to take his pictures

Before and after pictures

(you can see how much rounder the top and back of his head is)

you can see here that his forehead is more even and that the slope at the back of his head is more gentle

Well, do I get to loose the helmet?

Officially graduated!!!

Happy Daddy!

and a Happy Mommy too!!!

Thanks to everyone at Cranial Technologies for helping to re-shape our little man's head!!!

6 Months Old

Holy smokes we have a 6 month old!!! I honestly feel like it was just yesterday that I was still pregnant and cannot believe that we are halfway to celebrating a first birthday. Cade is still growing quickly and changing everyday before our eyes! He has brought more joy to our lives than either of us ever thought possible and we just love this precious boy to pieces!

Here are a few things about Cade from this month:

- He is now reaching out for us to pick him up and has gotten to where he will grab my face and pull it towards his face and then slobber all over me (Sweetest thing EVER!!!)

- He can roll just about anywhere he wants to go and is now trying to inchworm crawl by putting his head on the ground and then pushing off with his feet.

- He loves to be held and then wants to stand in our laps and try to climb/ crawl all over us.

- He loves to feel different textures and is always running his fingers over things and anything that he can pick up immediately goes into his mouth.

- He has developed a little bit of stranger anxiety recently and has gotten to where he doesn't like to be left in the room alone.

- He is getting better about not being rocked to sleep at night and instead being put down in the crib while still slightly awake.

- He is sleeping unswaddled most nights now but still prefers to be swaddled during his naps.

- He is eating every 4 hours during the day and every 7-9 hours at night. I am still breastfeeding but we have started feeding rice cereal, sweet potatoes, and for the first time last night- carrots! (All of which this growing boy LOVES!!!)

- He is still wearing size 1-2 diapers but has just about outgrown those and is primarily in size 6 month clothes (although he does still fit into several 3-6 month outfits)

- He loves going out in the stroller on runs or walks with Gregg and I and usually falls asleep as soon as we pick up the pace.

We love you so much sweet boy and look forward to watching you grow and change even more over this next month!

Constantly on the move making these picture sessions more and more difficult!

I just love this sweet boy!

Pictures coming to an end as this little one is getting tired!

And as an added half birthday present this boy will be getting his DOC band off tomorrow morning!!!