Chilly Chili Fest

Each year at the kid's school we have Chili Fest. Each classroom has big BBQ and chili meal with all the fixin's. Everyone comes to school in their best Western wear - this is the Lone Star state after all - and ready to kick up the dust. The parents set up tables and picnic blankets for everyone and all the classes eat outside. The students even pick the best chili from their grade then one is selected from the whole school to be crowned that year's Chili Fest Winner! After the great meal the kids spend the rest of the time running around the playground like wild horses.

This is the essence of Chili Fest and my kids look forward to it each year. Sadly, this year threatened rain and the temperature had dropped to a chilly 55 degrees (again - we live where that IS actually considered cold weather!) The events moved inside and we all still had a great time, although the running around like wild horses was frowned upon. The kids were allowed to visit classes all through the school, play in the hallways, bring their Nintendo DS (WHAT?!?) or play computer games.

Parker chose computer games. He is sporting a great hat line from his cool cowboy hat that he just had to wear then take of within minutes of coming to school. He looked great in his getup but I missed getting a shot of it!

Here is Parker's best friend Brady Henderson with his little sister Kara, one of Whitney's best friends, and our neighbors across the street. Basically, permanent fixtures in our lives!

Spencer did not move from this position for about an hour (his class members were teasing him about this later!) The very idea of playing video games in school just blew his mind.

On Parker's request, I made chili for the cook-off. Since I was making on batch I figured I would make it for all three classes. Great idea! Have you ever transported 20lbs. of chili? Fortunately, all chili made it safely to each class but it had it's close moments!

These are the scrapings left at the bottom of the pot after 21 fourth graders ate their fill. I was reassured that they liked mine the best!

Shy little Spencer has turned into quite a class clown! The girl sitting next to him had this great pink cowgirl hat. He stole it off her desk and pretended to wear it. His teacher thought it was a great idea and wanted to see how he would look in pink. By this time the entire class was hootin' and hollerin' for him to do it. Do you love the cringe on his face?

It lasted less than 2 seconds. Oh the shame of wearing pink!

Cowgirl Whitney had an especially great day because Chili Fest was on her birthday! It was like the whole school was celebrating. In the morning she got to go on the closed circuit TV announcements and share that it was her birthday. She was a little nervous to be up in front of so many other students so when the principal asked how old she was she said "Five." According to sources at school the principal looked at how tall our Whitney is and with a questioning look said, "Are you sure?" Realizing her mistake Whitney blushed 5 shades of red then quickly said "Six!" It does take a while to adjust to that new age!

This is Whitney's kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Doan. Whitney adores her beyond words. On one Sunday afternoon walk we discovered that Mrs. Doan lives very close to us. After Mom making sure that it was alright, we have occasionally visited for a few minutes on her doorstep and we trick-or-treated her. She truly is a delight.

So, in spite of the blustery weather Chili Fest was a hit again this year. We will miss you Chili Fest!