Happy Birthday, Will and David!

We have a tradition where the birthday honoree gets to select the type of food he or she wants for the birthday dinner, and that person has to help prepare it. Will chose Mexican food, so we had a build-your-own enchilada bar, along with empanadas, refried beans, Spanish rice, chips, cheese dip, salsa, and guacamole. The cake isn't Mexican in the least, but that's ok--I baked a gluten-free brownie recipe and chilled the night before the party. The day of the party the hubster added a layer of mint chocolate chip ice cream and regular chocolate chip ice cream, and iced them together with fudge frosting.

Emma making empanadas

Chili, pork, chicken and cheese dip

Empanadas ready for the oven

Will and David working hard; Jack looking on
(and yes, the kitchen is not up to speed)

David, Hubster and Will

More food

Will is pleased!

David's birthday was this past Sunday. Because his birthday is so close to Christmas, he prefers there not be too many Christmas decorations out when we celebrate, and we try our best to accommodate that request. Unfortunately, we were so busy putting together the huge Southern-fried meal that I only got a photo of the first table that my sister decorated:

It looked great--it's various sizes of Mason jars filled with wood chips and a tealight. They are surrounded by moss.

We had fried chicken, fried pork chops, fried tofu, fried green tomatoes, fried okra, fresh green beans, black-eyed peas, turnip greens, macaroni and cheese, biscuits, red-eye gravy, strawberry shortcake and yellow cake with chocolate icing. And sweet tea. And I wonder why I was sick the next day. David was so happy and busted his butt along with his father to get everything on the table. They're already talking about next year's meal!

I hope to get in the Bottoms Up! Studio tomorrow and finish quilting Swiss Mocha. The next time you hear from me will be my year-end roundup.

Happy quilting,