Community Barbecue

This picture is to let you know that it was the Community BBQ at Dave's school on Monday night. I and the children showed up 45 minutes in advance to watch Dave barbecue and to play in the abundant sand available in this part of the world. I mean Abundant Sand. The bathwater was brown after our night out. I always go to these affairs expecting to really enjoy myself. I don't know why I consistently forget about the logistics of feeding four kids in blazing sun, milling crowds and Abundant Sand. I grabbed our food and brought three of our kids inside to the shelter of Dave's classroom where we successfully wrote on the chalkboard, sent our uncooked burgers back to the grill, and spilled Sprite on the floor near the computer desk. Jacob was the one child missing. He was scarfing down hamburgers and starting a soccer game with the gr. 7/8 students. Prior to Monday night, all of the food in the above picture was under Joe's never-tried-before heading. If I had my way, they would shift to the never-try-again list.

One of the perks of having a daddy who 'owns' a classroom.

This is my, "What are my children doing?" look. (Alternate title: I love Community Barbecues.) I thought that I would throw in a few self-portraits as I sometimes search other blogs trying to figure out what the writer looks like.

And here's my, "Oh, they're just writing on the chalkboard and spilling Sprite" look. Alternate title: I really love Community Barbecues.

This is Dave who was pretty much in motion for the whole evening until he was allowed to find a hamburger, sit down and be handed the kids by his wife.

Dave's present principal is retiring so the Community BBQ doubled as a farewell to Mr. B. Dave's class sang "Sweet Home St. Casimir's" composed by me on the back of a sticker while driving on the Simpson's Pit Road on the way to dropping off Dave that morning. No worries, I was in the passenger seat. It went over well.

So well that all three of our boys somehow felt that they needed to stand next to Mr. B while he was feted. Joe was the first up and the other two quickly followed. Hannah's bottom stayed firmly rooted to the gym floor.

And here is the first test of the previously banned food. It was quickly abandoned to melt on the ground; but not so abandoned that he forgot to come back and pour it down his legs.

This is Ben who is completely confused by the fact that all of his cake is not in his stomach. We left soon after this photo and sped home to the bathtub. I was the first one in as I was desperate to wash my feet. Sand between my toes gives me the same sensation as nails on a chalkboard. Have I mentioned the abundance of sand yet...

Stay tuned for our next post: boy at beach with cast.

p.s. The BBQ ended with a boy named Jacob breaking his arm ... a different Jacob, whew.