The 4th up North!

Chris and I headed up North to RB to celebrate the 4th of July with my family. It was so nice for Chris and I both to get a break from the city and enjoy the peace and quiet of Red Bluff. Chris will blog more about our long weekend, but I just wanted to give a quick run down of the DELICIOUS food we ate that weekend (one of my favorite parts of going home is of course the food!)

My Mom and sister picked us up from the Sacramento airport and on the way home we stopped at Granzella's (a favorite sandwich shop of Northern Californians.)

(Just recently rebuilt since a fire burned it to ground a few years ago.)

Of course while we were up there we had to hit up Round Table (Not pictured.) I know many people who will argue with me about who makes the best pizza, but I don't care what they say Round Table wins hands down. Also, us girls hit up Chevy's (also not pictured) on Friday while running errands. mmmmm, I love those chicken flauta's!

Saturday we had an old fashioned 4th of July BBQ at my parents house. The menu was simple but oh so satisfying. BBQ ribs, baked chicken, potato salad, green salad, homemade baked beans (I know homemade is redundant, since everything in the Wess house is homemade, but for some reason I still feel the need to specify) and garlic bread.

Travis, Karen and Marcie filling their plates with dinner.

Yeah, I know! Now your craving BBQ.

After dinner we enjoyed some homemade ice cream and strawberries (Thanks Donna!) I shared mine with Alise and I'm pretty sure she ate more than I did. Everytime I scooped more out of the bowl to eat some, her mouth was wide open ready for more.

And how do you say no to such a cutie?!

Tayden enjoyed his ice cream too and asked Chris if he could eat some of his. Chris wasn't so willing to share, but I had more than Alise and I needed, so we scooped Tayden some of ours! (Note: Even now as I warn Chris that I am putting him on blast publicly for not sharing with a 3 year old, his response is "he's a big boy, let him get his own!")

Once the sun went down we headed over to Travis and Karen's to set off fireworks. When we arrived at their house we were welcomed with a few nice surprises.

First, Pepsi and Crush in glass bottles!

There isn't anything more old fashioned or more patriotic than the ice cold refreshing taste of Pepsi enjoyed with friends and family on a warm summers eve.

Second, two very beautiful, intricately detailed Red, White and Blue Star cakes. Both cakes were absolutely beautiful. Good Job Karen!!!

WOW!!

And inside the cake was another surprise!

Of course I can not forget to mention my Dads home grown grapes. Several years ago, one of my Dad's friends gave him some "Sticks" to plant and assured him they would one day produce grapes. We have teased Dad for years about his "Grapeyard" (we have no intentions to make them into wine, but simply eat them as grapes!), but this was my first time eating his very yummy grapes.

As you can tell by the smile on his face, he is very proud of his produce.

It was so nice to be home with my family again. These visits are few and far between now, but hopefully one day soon we'll be able to see everyone much more often.