Iron Chef

Some days you just feel like grilling out - and today was one of 'em. Daddy got home in time to cook up some burgers and hot dogs (and Mommy made the perfect burger mix). Madison is Daddy's little helper outside, although we're very careful to keep her away from the hot grill. She just likes to help cook, so she and Daddy spent some time outside watching the hot dogs and hamburgers sizzle. A flame would shoot up here or there and she'd say, "Ouch!" We've been using our new grill for a few weeks now, and it's been great. It's a lot bigger than we need for our little family, but in case we ever have a lot of others over, we're more than ready: this thing is really big! Note the hat that Daddy is wearing - it's from Iron Chef. Daddy is a huge fan of the original Iron Chef television show, where contestants have to make large meals based on one surprise ingredient. Sometimes that ingredient is something obscure like squid - we'll never forget the Squid Ink Sorbet that was made on one episode. Daddy didn't make any squid ink sorbet today, or anything involving squid. I'm not entirely sure Mommy would have eaten that, although Squid-on-the-Barbie might be interesting. Just imagine with me now, the smell of grilled squid floating through the neighborhood... or maybe not.

Madison enjoyed her hot dogs, and more! Mommy made potato salad and macaroni salad, and afterwards we ate the most marvelous watermelons yet. This season, we've had some of the best watermelons I've ever had in my whole entire life. I looked over at Madison as she ate - and that girl was downing slice after slice, juice just dripping all over. Oh well, it washes off easily. She really likes that watermelon!