fiesta!

the tamale party.

nana demonstrated the proper procedures for making the masa {dough} and spreading the chili, and folding the tamales into their small sleeping bags. 

then we steam them. 

then we eat them!

the whole process begins with me. I am the masa spreader.

 then amanda {cousin. not in this picture but you'll see her soon} is the chili spreader.

I know these look like simple jobs, but our nana is very particular about the tamales.
we had to be careful about the width and depth of these circles {oblong, actually, is what they should have been}

hailey is the tamale folder. what an important job. I tremble at the thought!
nana corrected her form at first.
we musn't squish. 
these are delicate little gems {who knew?}

"...now then hailey. we musn't squish the tamales..."

 nana can be one feisty little mexican.
{there's amanda. she is perfectly spreading the chili, and laughing at the antics of this crazy grandmother}

oh yes- scott had a job as well.
he was the tearer. not the terror.
see him swiftly tearing sheets of aluminum foil?

[some candid t-party shots...]

oh and PS I like tamales