Another BBQ Trip to Lockhart

I went on another BBQ trip this last Saturday. My friends, Matt and Russell, were unable to make it on the previous weekends trip so we decided to try again. Despite my kids being sick, my wonderful wife still let me go while she stayed home with the twins! I think it was very sweet of her and might even have made up for the fact that she threw away my leftovers from the previous weekend. :)

Once again, we made our way to to the Lockhart, the BBQ Mecca of Texas. This time, our main target was Black's.

It took us longer than it should have to get to Lockhart. We were in stand still traffic for about 45 minutes right by the airport. But we finally made it to Black's. (Note: Once again, I forgot my camera. I stole all of the pictures here from Russell.)
This was my first time to go to Black's. In the past, I had heard Black's was good but both Smitty's and Kreuz Market were the real places you should go in Lockhart. Even Matt said this after he went to Black's awhile back. Needless to say, my expectations were not very high. But even if I had the highest of expectations, Black's would have surpassed them! The BBQ was amazing!

First, they were very friendly when we walked in the door (which is not really the case at Smitty's or Kreuz). Here is the guy that served us showing off a two pound beef rib. I really wanted to purchase this but it would have been pretty expensive and I wanted to try multiple things. If Caroline was with me, I might have gotten it for the two of us to share. :)
I ordered brisket (the fatty version), jalapeno/cheese sausage, and spare ribs. The spare ribs were good but nothing special. They were a little too tough. The sausage was really good and rivaled the stuff served at Smitty's/Kreuz. Now, the brisket is what made the experience. Not to oversell, but this was easily the best brisket I have ever had in my life! It was amazing and I am drooling on the keyboard as I think about it now.

Matt said the food was way better this time than it was during his previous experience. I hope Matt's first experience was the aberration and not this awesome brisket. I hope they can reproduce this the next time I go.

Before I thought about it, all our food was gone. Otherwise, I would have taken a picture of it. So, this is all I got of the table at Black's.
After eating a ton of meat at Black's, I thought the appropriate thing to do was go eat a ton more meat at another BBQ place in Lockhart. Since I hit Smitty's the previous week, we went to Kreuz. Sadly, Kreuz did not have a good showing. Not only was it in the bad position of following the awesomeness we ate at Black's, but it just wasn't very good this time. They definitely had an off day.

Despite the disappointing Kreuz and the bad traffic, I declare the trip to be a huge success. Black's was amazing and I'll be dreaming about there brisket for weeks to come!

P.S. -- Russell also wrote about this trip here. Here are my two favorite lines from his post. (I figure, I stole his pictures, I might as well steel some of his words.)

Don't worry, no vegetables were harmed in the process of this trip.

Overall we had a good trip and needless to say we are full tonight (Well maybe Jason isn't).

P.S.S. -- In case anyone is wondering, this here is a really cool site Matt sent me that helps you find good BBQ places all over the country (but mostly in Texas)--Full Custom Gospel BBQ. I think I'm going to set a goal to try all of his 5 star locations.

BBQ in Lockhart, Candy, and Food Trailers

This weekend, Amy and I went back to Lockhart for some BBQ. We went to Smitty's market--one of the same places from the last time. The couple we went with last time were unable to make it but our friends, the Followays, came along.

Just like before, the food was awesome! I even ordered some extra so I could have some leftovers at home. But sadly, Amy committed an unforgivable offense. When I was throwing away the trash, Amy was throwing away my bag of leftover sausage and brisket! I watched her leave the table with the BBQ and then noticed it was gone when she came out of the bathroom. Amy didn't remember throwing it away but I know she did! Amy blames me...not that she thinks I threw it away or doesn't believe she did, but instead, she blames me for entrusting her with the BBQ. I guess I can trust her with our twins but not some Lockhart BBQ.

On the way home from Lockhart, we got to talking and decided to drive through South Congress and go to Big Top Candy. We had seen it on the Food Network and thought it would be fun to check out. Big Top Candy is an old fashioned soda parlor and candy store. They had soooo many random types of candy.

Across the street from Big Top, was a collection of food trailers. We decided to go check those out as well. A couple of the trailers were places Amy and I had already tried at the Gypsy Picnic. One place I didn't get to go to at the picnic but wanted to was Cutie Pie Wagon. They sell miniature pies. Everyone at the Gypsy Picnic said their buttermilk pie was amazing and I have recently come to realize how good buttermilk pies are. Of course, I had to get one of these and it was a pretty darn good pie. I ate my mini pie while waiting in line at the trailer next door--Hey Cupcake. :)

At Hey Cupcake, I asked the girl working which was her favorite cupcake. She looked at me, started to say something, and then said, "I'm sorry. I was about to lie but I just couldn't do that to you. I hate cupcakes and don't like any of the ones we sell." How about that for honesty! Despite her glowing recommendation, I went ahead and bought a double chocolate cupcake. It was good, but Amy makes better cupcakes.

That was our Saturday food adventure. I look forward to doing it again some time and next time, Amy isn't coming near any bag of leftovers. :)

Fun at the Spragues

Our friends, Mike and Courtney, invited us over to their house for dinner. I brought Lightning so we could roll all around on the hard wood floors that Mike recently installed. (Mike has become pretty handy since buying a house.) After dinner, I put both kids on Lightning and quickly pushed them all around the house. They loved it! We had tons of fun...well, at least until we wrecked and everyone went tumbling. :) Oh well. Stuff like that happens. After some crying, everyone was as good as new.

Courtney snapped these fun pictures for us. Check out the awesome crown molding in the first two pictures. (Helping with the crown molding was my end of the bartering between our wives.)
I love that Caden is holding on to Caroline's ears. We were going fast and he was looking for something sturdy to grab.Too bad you can never tell when Caroline is having fun.We can't wait to hand out with the Spragues again!

Sneak Preview of Courtney's Pictures

Amy and our friend Courtney (aka, the amazing photographer) did some bartering a few months ago. Amy loaned me out to help Mike install some crown molding. In exchange, Courtney and Mike, who is also becoming quite the good photographer in his own right, gave the twins their one year photo shoot.

Here are just a few pictures from the photo shoot. We don't want to share too much just yet since since you can bet some of the pictures will be made it into presents for the grandparents.
Courtney and Mike did a great job with the pictures. It was well worth the time I spent helping Mike with the crown molding...which I would have done for free so these pics are just a nice bonus. :)

PS: In case you are interested, here are some of the pictures Courtney took of the twins a year ago--Caden, Caroline, Together.

Train Ride in Cedar Park

A couple weeks ago, we took the kids on their first train ride. There is a park close to our house with a train and a mile or so of tracks. It winds around the park and even goes through a tunnel. Amy and I have been on this train with the niece and nephews and were looking forward to taking our kids on it.
Caden enjoyed the ride. He had a lot of fun looking at everything and letting the wind blow in his face.
Mommy having fun with her little boy.
Caroline had fun as well, but she didn't want to cooperate for a picture. Also, you can see our friends, the Followays, who came with us.
Jon had a ton of fun on the ride. I think he felt like a big boy being able to sit next to his dad. Also, I loved his A&M jump suit.
Here we are after the ride was over.

Halloween Party

Our small group had a Halloween party last night. We ordered pizza, had desserts, and dressed the kids up in Halloween costumes. All of the kids looked great.

Here is Caden in his bee costume. I thought it was appropriate since he was baby 'B'. The costume should have wings and a hat, but Caden was not a fan of either of those accessories. Caden actually has a couple other costumes as well. I'll get some pictures of those up on the blog later.
Mommy and baby bee...this time with a hat (but still no wings).Caroline was dressed as a little lady bug. Or as some of the mommy's said at the party, Caroline was a sexy lady bug. :)
Caroline and her friend Hanna. Hanna is showing off her new sitting ability.Hannah sporting her Halloween gear.Caris had the cutest flower costume. The massive head piece did not phase her in the slightest. Caris was still running all around having a ton of fun. She just didn't have much in the peripheral vision. :)Lynnae and her doggy, Caleb.Braden was a giraffe.
Jon was a turtle. The funny thing about that is Jon doesn't do anything slow. He is a little speed demon when it comes to getting around.
Of course, we wanted to get a group shot of the kids. Well, that is easier said than done. Here is the right half of the couch...
...and the left half of the couch. Caden had already had enough and wanted to go do something else. :)This is the closest I got to a full group picture. I'm not sure what happened to the flower girl and five seconds from now, we were also missing a bee.Caden might not like his hat, but Caroline sure liked playing with it.I think this might be my favorite picture from the night.

First Birthday Party

Last Saturday, we celebrated Caden and Caroline's first birthday. Amy picked a barnyard theme for the party. She did a great job planning the party and decorating. She even made most of the decorations herself.
Here is Caroline sporting her party outfit. She has her checkerboard shirt, jeans, bandanna bib, and cowboy hat. She is sitting in her birthday gift from Grammie and Poppa. Caden doing the same.Amy's mom made a bunch of food for all the babies. It was quite the spread.
Here is a Caden enjoying some of the food Grammie brought. It's his favorite--Cheerios.
Amy put all of these napkins together including printing out the animal stickers.
Moooooooo
This popcorn went fast...though I'm not sure why anyone would eat pickle popcorn. Yuck!
This was my favorite piece of decoration Amy came up with. It is a bunch of pictures of family members when they were one. It was really neat seeing who looks like who. Caden is a dead ringer for me as a baby. Caroline looks very much like Poppa (Amy's dad) and Ella.
Amy made all the cupcakes for the party from scratch and I mean, from scratch. The cake was made from ingredients, not a box. The same is true for the frosting. It did not come from a plastic cup. Everything Amy made was delicious. She even made the little animal decorative toppers.
Amy also made the kids individual smash cakes. Caden's cake is the one on the left with the blue "1".
Neither of our kids were super excited about the cakes (which came as no surprise to Amy and I). Caroline ate some but not a ton.
Caroline did enjoy playing with the cake (once Amy and I stuffed her hands into it).
Caden mainly cried during cake time. In general, he is a bad eater and at the party, I think he was tired and there were just too many people watching him. These pictures of Caden are actually from the next day when Amy and I tried the cake thing again. He did better when it was just the four of us.
Here are most of the kids that made it to the party. It was a good group. Grandma (my mom) made reversible bandanna bibs for all the babies at the party as party favors. From left to right in the top row, it is Grammie's leg, Caden, and Caris. In the bottom row, it is Weston, Joshua, Hannah, Caroline, and Braden.
Here is a picture of Braden. Braden had his first birthday about a month before.
Caris
Weston
Asher sporting both the bandanna bib and a cowboy hat.
Braden and Caden playing in the motorized John Deer tractor. Grammie and Poppa bought this for the Baker kids awhile ago. Now, Grammie and Poppa decided they would rather keep it at our house. Good thing we have a three car garage.
Mommy and the birthday boy.
Caden hanging out with Grammie. Caroline and Grandma
Russell and Becky sporting pink and blue. I bet they did this intentionally in honor of Caroline and Caden.
Aunt Angela and Caden making silly faces.
Jenny and Alicia. I think Alicia is holding some of that addictive popcorn I mentioned earlier. Jenny's little guy, Jon, was sick so he was at home with his dad, Jack. Jon turned one and had a party the Saturday after our kids party. Sadly, our kids were sick and missed Jon's party.
Braden and Heidii
Chris and Braden
Caroline playing with one of her new birthday presents--Tickle Me Elmo. Grandpa and Peggy gave the twins Elmo and they love it. Caroline gives a big fake sounding laugh when Elmo starts going. It reminds us very much of how cousin Ella laughs sometimes. When Elmo starts rolling around laughing, silly Caroline likes picking him up, hugging him tightly, and licking his eye balls. :)
We had a lot of fun at Caden and Caroline's first birthday. I bet mommy is already starting to plan their second birthday party.
PS: My birthday present to the twins was a swing set but I didn't put any pictures of that up here. Amy wants to devote a blog post to the swing set later. Expect that to come later.