another fourth of july, 

another Robbins

meet Cade Timothy at nine days old

and

another Robbins' burger competition

(i think this makes the 4th annual)

 There was a lot of grilling to get the burgers ready "on time".

careful preparation

and the finished products.

 all plated,

and 

ready 

to serve.

The five competitors

our tasting and scoring sheet

(if you look closely you can read each burger's name)

thoughtful consideration went in to rating 

and commenting on each masterpiece.

and the winner is...

 (mama Robbins always reads the results)

Elizabeth and Debbie's 

"Kick Tim in the Patty Melt"

It was delicious!

The mess afterwards....

letting it all digest...

before the Dessert competition

(fyi these are the winners of the burger competition)

tallying up some more scores.

(patriotic style)

and this time the winner is... the cousins' (Cassidy & Reagan) 

chocolaty, ice cream, fudge cake with oreo crumbs.

Now for the pyrotechnics.

watching eyes,

 fire-loving uncles,

sparklers,

abby's first time

and a good night!

six

Today marks six years of mommyhood for me

and

6 years of Hannah Joy in our family!

She celebrated at school with a rowdy round of "Feliz Cumpleaños" and handed out Confetti Squares (Rice Krispy treats with Cap'n Crunch & Fruit Loops) to all her classmates.

At home, she designed her own birthday crown 

(in Kindergarten, or at least her class, the teachers no longer make sparkly crowns for you).  

And we used the leftover Fruit Loops to design some fun necklaces.

Fancy accessories are a must for this birthday girl.

She still loves pink and purple but has now expanded her wardrobe to anything that has a good spin to it.

The best quote was 

"Mommy, we need to make a list of all the numbers I've been."

6 candles were actually rather hard to squeeze onto her Rice Krispy Treat.

 

Matt's singing "Happy Birthday", thus the contorted face.

 She loves being the big sister and picking up Abigail, who is definitely not as light as she used to be.

And don't worry, being six hasn't changed her love of crazy face making.

She finished off her day with our birthday tradition of a treat out with Daddy.

Tomorrow we celebrate this little guy.

My two birthday kids,

seriously so sweet!

a tradition

Growing up near Pasadena it was a tradition to watch the Rose Parade every year.  In fact, it was a rite of passage when my sister and I were finally old enough to work on decorating the parade floats.

So now sharing it with my kids is awesome!!



Hannah keeps screaming "look at that one mommy".

I can't wait for the day to come when they are old enough to go see it in person.

p.s. I just shared with Hannah my idea to go see the parade when she is older - to stand on the sidewalk and watch the floats, bands & horses go by.  She said "I think I might want to sit down mommy.  My legs will get tired." :)