Joe's Festival of the Sun

We celebrated Joe's Fest a little early this year due to scheduling conflicts!!!!

I was gonna post a link to previous Joe's Fests, but it looks like this is my first Joe's Fest post, so I'd better explain!  A few years ago, my dad was thinking about the summer solstice and how the sun is out for the longest time this day.  He said in the winter, he wants to remember this day.  So he made it an unofficial holiday:  Joe's Festival of the Sun.  We're just waiting for Hallmark to pick it up!  Hallmark, if you are out there reading this, call me!!!  The idea of the holiday is to be outside from sun-up to sun-down!  Kids and pregnancies have complicated it a little in terms of the lenght of day outside (the first year, I think we met at like 6:30 am)...but we still celebrate.  Past years we have done: bike riding, strawberry fests, italian fests, trips to the zoo, boat rides, world cup action and lots of fun meals outside! 

It was Caitlin's 1st Joe's Fest...and we couldn't wait for her to participate!!!!

This year, we began our day at Arlington Race Track!  The race track is really a win-win place for families.  The kids LOVED the horses, and the adults love the extra-curricular activities!!!!  And the best part was the streak my dad and I were on...we won 4 exacta boxes....3 in a row!  It was quite amazing!!!!  Abigail also picked the winning horse of the last race for my mom...my mom's only win of the day!  The weather threatened rain all day, but my dad got there early and got us the perfect table!!!!  Rob was golfing so he wasn't there at this point...but it's okay as long as he's outside!!!!

After a great day at the track, we headed back to my parent's house for a shrimp boil!  The first event of this part of the day was to give Rob his b-day present from Joe and Julie, Katie, and my parents.  I can safely say this was the highlight of Rob's day!!!!

"Are you serious???  Blackhawk Stanley Cup tickets?????"

Next activity:  Beer challenge.  Joe said my dad and I couldn't tell the difference between miller lite, bud light, and coors light!  Game On!!!!!  My dad and I were pretty sure we could tell the difference.  We were wrong!  We both got 0 right!

Next, it was time for the shrimp boil.  Unfortunately, the rain began right when it was time to eat....but we moved the dinner inside and had a great time!!!!!  Why?  "Cause we're the Muskovichs (and Wennerstroms and Blandfords)!"  (That was our family motto growing up!)

The boys ended the night in the garage having cigars and beers...and the girls inside having wine!   We also had bday cake for Rob!

It was a GREAT Joe's Fest...and we can't wait for next year when we get to introduce baby blandford to her first Joe's Fest!!!!!  We may even have a destination Joe's Fest!

Thanks to my sister for the pics...I forgot my camera!