What's for Dinner?

Fall is in the air (I don't know if it will even make it to 80 degrees!) and I have been on a cooking hiatus since the oven broke oh so long ago. One can only eat so much grilled fish and salad. This is a fish recipe, but it involves a skillet rather than a grill. How about sautéed tilapia with lemon- peppercorn pan sauce? I think I will pair it with some brown rice and fresh asparagus (while it is still somewhat in season). I am planning on replacing the peppercorns with capers. I will let you know how it turns out. Happy Monday!

Barney's On...

Allison has enjoyed a fairly busy Friday. She is in the midst of her second nap right now. After a nice morning run and a morning nap; we went to the kindergarten school to have lunch with our friend, Mary Claire. It is Mary Claire's first week of school. She and Allison both enjoyed their happy meals. After lunch, Allison enjoyed a bit of Barney at our friend Tiffany's house.

Absolutely mesmerized! Sorry for the poor picture quality, I took it with my phone. TGIF!!! Happy Friday and an even happier weekend!

Birthday Dress

As most of you know, I am a sucker for smocked dresses! That is the SOUTHERN girl coming out in me! I also love the idea of tradition. My mother put me in smocked dresses, now I am doing the same for Allison. I just ordered one that Allison will wear for her first birthday! Hopefully someday, her daughter will wear it too!



Check out the website for Hiccups Children's Boutique. For all others who love smocking out there, I am sure you will find some things you adore as well.

Now, if I could just decide on a birthday party theme...
Happy Monday!

While Dad's Away...The Girls Will Play!

Nick went to Red River, New Mexico with some friends this weekend to go four wheeling. Yes, you read that correctly, four wheeling. Anyway, while my dear husband is out of town, Allison, Margo and I have turned the house into a bachelorette pad! We relaxed, ran, spent time at the pool, did a little laundry and relaxed some more. Here are some highlights from the weekend...

We slept in for a bit and then went for a nice run (while the weather was still cool!). I love the fact that Allison can stand up and greet me in her crib when I get her! It makes my entire day! Her smile just melts my heart!





After our run, I promised Allison pancakes. Well, OK, that is a lie, I promised MYSELF pancakes, but Allison did not protest. In fact, she helped me out pretty well with those pancakes. We enjoyed our "girl's breakfast out!"




We had to play with Margo for a while!






After some reading, some "Elmo" and some napping Allison played in her room for a bit. Check out her cute blue and blue "A" onesie from Carrie and her precious stocking from Kim (it stays up year round in Allison's room). Both beautiful pieces handmade with love!






We finished off the day at the Borger Country Club for the "Back to School Bash!" We had a great time with several of our dear friends. Allison's highlight...her first snow cone! Here is another shocker for you...she loved it! What a surprise! Can you sense my sarcasm!? My little food monster! She loves it ALL!!!




We have a had a great time, but we are eagerly awaiting your return, Nick!

My Favorite Hour of the Week

I will admit, I am an NPR (National Public Radio) junky. I fell in love with NPR while in college. I think I was in my junior year at OU when I realized how much I adored KGOU. I listened to several of their shows: Calling All Pets, Morning Edition, Fresh Air, Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!, You Bet Your Garden and my very favorite, This American Life. I do not think I truly fell in love with This American Life until the summer of 2004. It was right after Nick and I got married; we often had NPR on in the house. One Saturday at noon, our world stopped and we escaped listening to Julia Sweeney. She did a monologue which later became, "God Said Ha." It was about her diagnosis with cancer. Sounds heavy, but not the way she delivered it. She was hilarious. She spoke so frankly, yet was full of absolute humor. The next week, we listened at noon to hear a story in which a man tried to pitch a cable channel with all puppies all the time to a network...it didn't work out for him, but he tried. Although, I just found out the Puppy Channel is a website now! This American Life was like nothing we had ever experienced before. We were hooked.
This American Life is hosted by a man named Ira Glass. Each week they choose a theme and feature several stories related to that theme. Sound simple? Well, it's not. These stories are truly unique. You never know what you are going to get. One moment you laugh, the next you cry, but with every hour you listen; you change into an arguably better person. It is so refreshing.
When we moved to Borger, I was extremely sad to leave KGOU. Our NPR in West Texas is a little lacking compared to KGOU. I understand why; KGOU has the support of a major university behind it. That is extremely instrumental in a public radio station flourishing. They receive more money, thus provide more programming. West Texas NPR is good, it just offers fewer shows. This American Life is broadcast in West Texas at 3:00 on Sunday afternoons. Most of the time, I cannot pick up our NPR station in our house. But there is a solution, This American Life is available on a podcast. I download it every week. I typically choose to listen to my special treat during a long run. It truly is incredible. There is a television series of This American Life on Showtime. Nick and I rented season one on DVD a few weeks ago. It is very good, but there is something about the radio show that just moves my heart. I urge each of you to give it a try. I can guarantee, it will reach you in some way. Take a listen to This American Life....it will make your week.
If it is your first time listening, click on this link for some episode favorites. The "puppy" one is on there, it is called, "Starting from Scratch." Also, listen to last week's episode, "Going Big." The first act is about Geoffrey Canada and his solution to urban poverty in America. It is truly life changing. We are so blessed to have people trying and actually succeeding in making our world a better place. I have yet to find the Julia Sweeney one, if I ever do, I will let you know...it was classic!

Mommy's Little Helper

I'm trying to teach her young...




Hopefully this means she will ALWAYS want to help me Swiffer!

Have a great weekend, everyone! Don't work too hard around the house!

My Front Porch Threads

I got a package in the mail that made my day! Everyone check out Front Porch Threads!
I can promise you will love it! Watch out, Anthropologie...Here comes Carrie!

Allison is 10 Months Old!

On August 17, Allison hit her 10 month milestone! I just can't believe how time flies! Cliche, I know, but honestly it feels like she should still be an itty bitty baby. We are having the best time. This age has been the most fun by far! I know it only gets better! Here are some vital stats on Allison:




*Allison has four teeth now! Yes, four! Three of the four have come in over the last week! She now has two top teeth and two bottom teeth.

*Allison is officially finished with her pacifier! We took it away four days ago. Her first night without it was a bit rough, but it was easier to get rid of it now rather than a few months from now when her reasoning skills improve.

*Allison is a sippy cup champ! She has truly mastered the art of drinking out of her sippy cup! I am so proud of her! The bottles are getting fewer and farther between and she will be ready to say, "bye bye" to them at a year.

*Allison is still a bottomless pit when it comes to food. I would have to say it is her favorite hobby. She is still nursing, still has a bit of soy formula and eats every bit of solid food we give her. She ate almost an entire large pancake at breakfast on Saturday. Right this moment, bananas seem to be her favorite, but she is always interested in anything I have. She is not picky to say the least!

*She can "click" her tongue!

*She started pulling up to stand on August 7. She still crawls, but standing and trying to walk is the new "hip" thing! She stands in her crib, she stands at the coffee table and she even pulls up on Margo to stand! She will be taking steps before we know it!

*Allison loves Elmo and is still absolutely OBSESSED with the Feist "1,2,3,4" song from Sesame Street. I blogged about it last month. You can click on the song title to see it. I would venture to say we watch it at least 10 times a day. The world stops when it is on. Last night, Allison was throwing an awful fit. Nick and I tried everything to calm her down. Finally, I turned on her "1,2,3,4" video clip. she was perfect. Nick was in shock! He said, "Seriously, after all of that, that is what calms her down?" Yes, dear, that is what calms her down.

*Allison can clap now. In fact, we ALWAYS clap when "1,2,3,4" or Elmo comes on TV!

*Allison sings with us! We can say, "Allison sing, aaaaawwwww...." and she joins in, "Aaaaawwww!"

*Allison still waves at everyone and everything. She has yet to meet a stranger!

*Luckily, she is still my smiley, giggly girl! She is in a good mood most of the time, we are so blessed!







Changes happen everyday. Every time I blink, I miss one! Happy 10 months, Allison! You keep lighting up our lives!

A Look at the Weekend...

In addition to our fun birthday party, we took some snapshots!

Margo and Allison played A LOT this weekend. Thank goodness Margo is patient. Allison pulls on her, crawls over here, etc! Here they are having a great time:




The weather was beautiful this weekend! We took Allison and Margo outside to take some pictures. We were never able to get both of them to look at the camera at the same time! Never work with animals or children, isn't that how the Hollywood saying goes?






And Allison is so big now, all she wants to do is pull up! She will be walking without help in no time!



Have a great week, everyone!

Happy Birthday, Mary Claire!

We celebrated Mary Claire's birthday at the pool over the weekend. Like any Ristroph event, it was amazing; wonderful food, awesome favors and always a great time! Check out these precious cakes Tiffany (aka the hostess with the mostess) made for the party. Yes, you did read that correctly, she MADE them!




Not only were they precious, like all Ristoph foods, they were incredibly tasty! Here is the birthday girl, Mary Claire, with her cakes and her cute zebra tote party favors!



Here is Mary Claire opening her James Avery silver charm bracelet Nick, Allison and I gave her. We gave one to her older sister, Caroline, for her birthday in December. My charm bracelet is still a very special part of my life. I hope Mary Claire feels the same way about hers.




Allison had a great time at the party. She had her friends there, she was at the pool; what more could she want? Cake. She wanted more cake and ice cream. Allison had her first taste of cake and ice cream at the party. What a surprise, she LOVED it! I think she would have eaten an entire flip flop on her own if given the opportunity. Here is my bottomless pit baby:




She wanted the cake and ice cream to last. There was just a bit of icing left in the crevices of her spoon. She had the death grip on that spoon. She was not going to let go for anything!




We love you tons, Mary Claire! We know your year 5 will be wonderful! Happy birthday, "MC Hammer!"

Thoughts Swimming in My Head...

I am a little upset with myself this morning. I should be taking advantage and sleeping in past my typical 5:30am wake up. We traveled to Oklahoma for the day yesterday for a funeral. It was a long, but blessed day. However, we are tired. Nick is already off to work with the egg sandwich I made for him. It is pouring down rain (the impatiens are loving this), boot camp is cancelled and my little lamb is still sleeping soundly. I decided I would postpone my venture to work until tomorrow so Allison could play, watch Elmo and possibly go to the pool (if it clears up). So why am I up folding laundry and blogging...seriously!? I guess I have a lot to look forward to in the coming weeks! I am always a little sad after a big event occurs (like Christmas or more recently our trip to Jamaica). I love to hold on to that excitement of an "upcoming event!" But in my reflections with a pile of laundry and a cup of coffee this morning, we have a lot to look forward to...

24 More Days Until Sooner Football! West Texas has had a slight "fall" feel in the mornings and my heart just jumps with thoughts of the Sooners! Thank you, Sam Bradford, thank you for coming back this year!



45 More Days Until HOPE! HOPE stands for Hutchinson County Oil Patch Extravaganza. It is the largest American Cancer Society fundraiser per capita in the United States. It really says a lot for little Borger to put on this big event. For the last two years, Nick and I chaired a committee. It is an incredible event. It all culminates on September 26. Roger Creager is our entertainment this year. We received our invitation yesterday. It is a nine month process and to finally see it all come together is amazing. I can't wait!



49 More Days Until Ben Folds in Dallas with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. It is a chance to see one of my favorite musicians with some favorite people!

79 More Days Until My Baby Turns 1! Let the party planning commence!

Should we have a Raggedy Ann party?



PS...Those were my dolls, now they are Allison's!

Should we have a Halloween party to celebrate "Baby Boo's" first year?



(I can't believe she was ever that tiny?!)

Well, friends...let me know what you think or any other ideas you may have to celebrate our precious baby, soon to be big girl (sniff, sniff). Happy Thursday!