Our church had decided to hold a "Turning Leaf Festival" with chili and chocolate cook-offs and a nice amount of festival activity as an outreach, and in the spirit of the event, I signed up to make chili for the contest.
I had never made my own chili, really. I added the little spice packet to whatever sounded good- but I didn't feel like I could do that for the contest.
I stuck Jack in his little seat- he was satisfied in there, but when I look or talk to him, he is all smiles.
I made some chili- using a basic recipe and adding some secret ingredients...okay, A-1 sauce. I called it, "Super-Meaty Sirloin and Mushroom Chili." I added a little too much A-1, I think.
Lucy and Bowden ran around like crazy.

Face painting was fun.
Or arm painting, if that floats your boat.


And I won second place! I got a nice big ribbon and a gift certificate for a free large gourmet pizza.