You know it is a holiday when you do lots of cooking and spend all day with friends and family.
That is what Saturday was.
It started with Leti and I taking a trip to Walmart. She was able to find all but a couple things she needed for the Mexican feast.
This is what the boys did while the girls were in the kitchen. 
This is what the boys did while the girls were in the kitchen. 
After soaking the beans, she started with the guacamole.
I learned a great trick with avocados . . . if they are a little harder than you would like them, run a sharp knife through them to soften them up. 
Here is the beginning of chile, or salsa, as we Iowans call it.
The three of us had so much fun in the kitchen all morning.
Leti even made homemade tortilla chips with her special seasoning. YUM.
I think it was near this point that Leti said, "There aren't enough Mexicans in Iowa!!" She wasn't able to find the right flour for tortillas to make them the way she likes to. She said she is bringing her own mesa (flour) next time!
Here was the first course (sorry for the blurry picture). Lucky for us, we're still enjoying the salsa this week (she made at least a gallon!).
The guac, however, didn't last. This was hands-down the best guacamole I've EVER had. My brother, who has never tried/liked guacamole, became a big fan.
Here is the rest of the spread . . . homemade beef gravy (I'm sure it has an official Mexican name), rice, beans and all the toppings. Oh, and homemade tortillas! It was all SO GOOD!
She fed probably 25 people or so! She finally got to sit down with the fam to eat herself.
Of course Abram had to introduce his Tia Leti to his best friends, Reece and Jaida.
I couldn't resist this picture!
Oh those two!
And in his Tia Leti's presence, Abram gave his girlfriend his very first kiss. It was too stinkin' cute!
That was the first half of Day Two. More to come!
I learned a great trick with avocados . . . if they are a little harder than you would like them, run a sharp knife through them to soften them up. Here is the beginning of chile, or salsa, as we Iowans call it.The three of us had so much fun in the kitchen all morning.Leti even made homemade tortilla chips with her special seasoning. YUM.I think it was near this point that Leti said, "There aren't enough Mexicans in Iowa!!" She wasn't able to find the right flour for tortillas to make them the way she likes to. She said she is bringing her own mesa (flour) next time!Here was the first course (sorry for the blurry picture). Lucky for us, we're still enjoying the salsa this week (she made at least a gallon!).The guac, however, didn't last. This was hands-down the best guacamole I've EVER had. My brother, who has never tried/liked guacamole, became a big fan.Here is the rest of the spread . . . homemade beef gravy (I'm sure it has an official Mexican name), rice, beans and all the toppings. Oh, and homemade tortillas! It was all SO GOOD!She fed probably 25 people or so! She finally got to sit down with the fam to eat herself.Of course Abram had to introduce his Tia Leti to his best friends, Reece and Jaida. I couldn't resist this picture!
Oh those two!
And in his Tia Leti's presence, Abram gave his girlfriend his very first kiss. It was too stinkin' cute!
That was the first half of Day Two. More to come!
It didn't take him long at all to warm up to her.
Not long after we got in the car, Abram was cuddling with Leti in the back seat.
Abram having a serious talk with his monkey! (We gave Jessie Wheeler, in the background, a ride home from college in Kansas City.)
Kate's kids had the entry decorated with welcome signs and a Happy Birthday sign when we arrived. It was Leti's birthday on September 1st. Kate said Sydney kept asking when "Aunt Leti" was going to get there. 
After dinner, my dad and brother took some of the kids for a paddle boat ride.
We hung out in the yard. I couldn't believe we were wearing jackets! It was very cool.
I put Abram down to bed with the sound of his music box like we do everynight. But, tonight when I laid him in his crib, I was overcome with the same feelings I had right after we brought him home at birth.