1st Annual McAdams Pie Making Contest

It was an off-year for the McAdams Thanksgiving this year, but we still wanted to get together over the holiday weekend. We were together a few weeks back and heard about how Uncle Jeff had been perfecting his apple pie over the past several weeks. It sounded like a challenge to the other chefs in the family and the plan to have a pie making contest began. We gathered this afternoon for the contest. Jeff had two entries, Andy three, Jeremy two and Ben one.
The pie making contest scorecard called for judging on looks, texture, crust, and taste.
Ben and Kate made this one: banana's foster pie. Yum! Kate was extremely please with the process and the final product.
In the midst of the tasting/judging . . .
8 pies. 21 judges. Not a whole lot of pie left over.
The chefs: Andy, Jeff, Jeremy, and Ben - with the winner's trophy - which we will hold until next year's contest.
Kudos to Andy for procuring and modifying the trophy!

Thanksgiving, then Deck the Halls

Thanksgiving morning consisted of making sweet potatoes and a pie, and getting the Christmas decorations out from the garage. Then on to enjoy a wonderful turkey dinner with my Grandpa and Grandma Judd, their kids, my cousins, and dozens of beautiful children making instant friends and running around the church. We came home with three kids ready to decorate their Christmas tree. The anticipation of this could hardly wait for Thanksgiving, but did make it just that far. After Ben put the lights on, we wrapped James and Kate's paper chain around the tree. They were so happy to have their weeks' long project help decorate our Christmas tree this year. All three kids had great time rediscovering each "very, very, special ornament" and finding the perfect place to hang each one on the tree. Ben and I enjoyed watching them.

The Parker's Gingerbread Workshop

Yesterday was the eighth annual Parker family gingerbread workshop. It was our family's fourth time in a row to attend. (See: 2009 & 2008) James and Kate remembered it this year. Kate made each of us Post-it Note name tags to take with us (but we forgot them). James drew up some "instruction" for his masterpiece. Robert had no idea what all the fuss was about, but excited to go to a party.

He quickly caught on . . . but did much more eating that decorating (as did we all!).

In the past years, Ben and I have helped out a lot. Ben helped James and Kate some this year, but they did most of the decorating themselves. I tried to help Robert, but all he really wanted to do was eat candy canes and licorice. Ben added a handful of candy to Robert's house on the way out so he'd have something to eat at home while James and Kate were munching on their candy-coated houses.

Coming soon to a mailbox near you . . . I hope.

Ben's sister took this pictures a few months ago. I created the Christmas card to go along with it last week. Today, I got an email confirmation that my proof is on it's way. If all looks good (fingers double crossed!!!) when it arrives on Tuesday, I'll place the order and get this annual tradition on its way.

I love sending and receiving holiday cards, especially when they include photos and updates from the year. I have met some pretty amazing people in my 35 years and it's always a treat to be in touch, even if it's just one time a year. Welcome to the holiday season!

Interim Day

Apparently a number of the spouses of state senators hang out together on interim days at the legislature. This month one of the spouses asked her nephew (a police officer in the K-9 unit) to organize a day for the women. It began in Magna at the Unified Fire Authority's training site. We watched some firefighters dismantle a car really, really fast. We saw a simulated rock climbing rescue from the repelling wall. We toured the Salt Lake County jail. Lunched. Listened to a presentation from a member of the SWAT team and watched a couple of K-9s follow some commands.

Texting word of success on the potty.

Glad I didn't excuse myself from a meeting to answer this phone call.
(This was far from a first toilet success for him.)

buried

Doesn't get much cuter than this: