Showing posts with label BBQ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BBQ. Show all posts

Monday, May 30, 2011

Memorial Day: Hidden Falls, Sticky Ribs, & Many Thanks


One of our favorite things to do on a holiday is to

 G E T  O U T S I D E !


And at the recommendation of our neighbors,
we visited Hidden Falls Regional Park in Auburn, California.



It's a super-easy hike
-absolutely perfect for beginners or
those interested in something leisurely.

We noticed some families on bikes,
and made a mental note to come back with our wheels! 




Eureka!

The Hidden Falls are not so hidden anymore!




All the girls-
including my little sister, Julia!

She's so BIG now!



The girls secret spot!



My boys!

It's a miracle they didn't fall in.
Gabriel could see the rock continuing on under the water
and couldn't understand why he couldn't keep going!



My boy being a boy...


...and my girls being BEAUTIFUL!



As usual!


Can you see what their looking at?


B U T T E R F L I E S !


Later my parents and Grandma came over for a feast!

{ Note:  The Deviled Eggs }

If Samuel didn't have any manners,
he'd eat them all!

Luckily,
he does,
so he ate only two!

Ava, apparently has no manners!
She triumphatly grabbed the last one and
stuffed it in her mouth
while confessing that she had eaten a total of five!

F I V E!

Samuel was beside himself!


A favorite with the kids
(and dental floss companies):

Sticky Ribs!


My personal favorite:

Samuel!

But only if he's holding a
Blackberry & Nectarine
Chocolate Shortcake!

...

In short,
this was a day filled with fun and family.

Two things that are very easy to take for granted.

Thank you to the many men and women who have died serving in
the United States Armed Forces.

We are so very grateful for your sacrifice in our behalf.

Love,
The Samuel Elmers


Saturday, July 31, 2010

Ward BBQ


Our Ward Activities Committee did a great job
putting together this fun event for our ward family.


As you can tell,
July is hot, hot, hot!


But crayons...


and a great burger or dog-
make it all worth it!





After some water fun,
chit-chat,
and just plain lounging around,
we dragged Owen away from his Sunday School mate
and headed home for some good ol' fashioned A/C!



Monday, May 31, 2010

2010 Memorial Day: Traditions Old & New


What's not to love about Memorial Day?

We are FREE to live and celebrate with family, friends, and great food!

What a blessing!



Every year we hit the donut shop early in the AM and the kids and Samuel positively devour their sweet pastries. 

I pick...
at the frosting that is. 

Which, in my opinion, is the only thing good about a donut!

Unless, of couse, it's creme-filled.

In which case you would eat the filling...get it?

{Okay, I'm back from my donut-frosting tangent.}


After our suger-induced hysteria we meet up with my family
for the local Memorial Day Parade.

Watching the parade is something I've been doing
for as long as I can remember, and it's so much fun to pass this tradition onto our kids. 

And as we stand for the flag,
hand over heart,
it brings back so many memories of my Grandpa Lopez. 

I know he's there with us.


Later we met up with Samuel's family where the Wylies host an annual Memorial Day BBQ in a truly spectacular country setting.  It is a great place to relax and visit and the kids have an great time exploring.




There are tire swings...


Little toys...



Big toys...



{Note the lack of helmet.  That didn't go over so well...}



Uncooperative toys...



Tears...



Chickens...?


Wild play areas...


...and of course, smiles!

We hope you had fun celebrating too!