I've Been Waiting All Year for This!!!

 So it's finally happened! The first frost of the season!!!

This is OFFICIALLY the beginning of the holiday season for our family-the first frost of the season !! We wait for this event all year long!

It's almost as anticipated as the first snow of the season- or even Christmas Eve!!!!

Halloween is great for the kiddos, but for the adults, we watch/listen to the weather forecasts from mid-September onwards. Anticipation builds week after week. We never know when it will be!  We've had first frosts as early as September 20th- and as late as December 11th. 

Our family Tradition for the weekend after the first frost is to all get together for  a Bonfire Night! We make a huge pot of Texas Style Chili(with beans of course) and have all the usual toppings on it- 

Cheese- some like sharp, some like medium, some like mild. I usually have mild and sharp  and everyone can  mix and match to their taste. 

Sour Cream. ( I like Greek Yogurt as an alternative- it's got a similar twang to it and is a little healthy- but again- I usually have both.

Diced onions or chopped spring onions. We are a family divided on this one. Exactly half like one and half like the other. We have both.

That's all the toppings.

We usually have a few big family sized bags of Fritos too. Chili is NOT Chili without the Fritos. We all agree on that point.

We all grab a bowlful and there is rarely any left because everyone goes back for second and third helpings. 

Afterwards, we light the bonfire(or firepit depending on the wind) and we make S'mores for dessert for everyone. The kids run around in the leaves and climbing trees or riding bikes while the adults make smores and trade stories of days gone by. No one is allowed to be stuck to their electronics on Chili Night! It's all about the simplicity of life and interacting with Family.

Honestly it's my favorite event of the year with  my babies... and Grands, and now Great Grands!!!!

I'm so Blessed to have this in my life again.