End of Summer

We have had the most interesting weather the past few days here. Usually at this point in August, the temperature is averaging 100 degrees, and we're cringing at the mere thought of longsleeves or sweaters. But with all the rain and cool weather we've had, fall is seeming more and more like an imminent possibility. Four inches of rain fell overnight in Oklahoma City; in other parts, we actually had 11 inches! 

This evening, as I stepped out to get the mail, there was a cool mist and everything felt so fresh and clean. I'm ready to curl up in a sweater with a good book. I grabbed the camera and shot a few photos of the trees in the front yard. The bark is completely saturated with water and the greens just pop against all of that bark and moss.
Yesterday, my nephew Matthew called and wondered if he could come over to hang out with Jude. I had just gotten home from the grocery store, and was happy to have him come hang out. Matthew will start the third grade tomorrow and is a gourmet cook in the making, and I love to make stuff with him. A couple of years ago at Thanksgiving, he helped me make the yummiest apple pie. I know he has great potential for big things and even bigger ideas. For dinner, we made spicy chicken strips with corn and smashed potatoes (individual Yukon gold potatoes: boiled, and then smooshed and then baked with cheese, chives, bacon, butter, etc. SOOOO good). For dessert, there was a YUM chocolate chip cookie bar recipe.

Jude was totally enthralled with his cousin and could not take his eyes off of him. We are so lucky to have such wonderful boys in our family for Jude to look up to. I am realizing more and more what an influence that older kids can have for little ones, even at this early age. 

So today, I got to hang out with Matthew's older brother Benjamin. Ben is starting the fifth grade tomorrow, and wanted to spend the last evening of summer freedom with us, and I was happy to oblige him. I cannot tell you what a joy these boys are! Anyway, with the rain and all, we ended up going to Barnes & Noble to look at books. Like Matthew, Ben is really good with Jude, and -- like with Matthew -- Jude was enthralled with his older cousin. When we came home, I made chicken fried rice while the boys ate crackers (above). Here's Matthew (below) with Jude on Monday night. Aren't they sweet?
Here's the beginnings of the chicken fried rice (below). It's one of my favorite things to make and is an easy crowd pleaser. Ben made us some delicious peanut butter cookies. We laughed that they were inadvertently vegan PB cookies ... because an egg was forgotten in the mix. :)  Oh well, they were still really delicious!

With all the rainy-ness, I went out the other night and shot some photos outside. In my college photography class, I really enjoyed learning how to shoot outside in the dark. You can get some really interesting results. It was one of my favorite projects... Anyway, I'd like to start trying some different things in my photos, but this was a start. 


Finally, a few photos of family silliness. Jude sure loves his daddy, and so do I!

Getting Away: Dallas Weekend

Sometimes you've just got to get out of town. And for us Oklahomans, there's not much that's easier than hopping in the car and driving south to Dallas. For as long as I can remember, we've taken occasional weekend jaunts to the Big D. I have early memories of staying at the Marriott Quorum, and wandering through the Galleria where I would beg my parents to let me go ice skating on their beautiful rink. I had great designs on being a figure skater back then. :)

Anyway, we love to make the 3 hour drive, and enjoy all the great restaurants and shopping. It's an easy way to come back refreshed and ready for the week ahead. On Friday evening after work, we loaded up the car with all our goods (so much more stuff than we used to travel with - thank you, Jude) as well as my parents and all of their stuff, and we headed on down I-35. We seem to have settled into a fairly predictable pattern: we drive down after work, and upon arrival into D, head straight to the Grand Lux Cafe and have a sizeable dinner, and then go straight to the hotel and hop into bed. And this trip was no exception. Except now we have to wait to get a crib sent up to our room before we hop into bed, and this makes for a fussy and tired enfant.
Really, for us, it's all about the food and the shopping. I don't know what else to do there but that. That's sad to say, I guess. I have no doubt there are a myriad of other fabulous cultural activities we could be participating in. But some people go to places just to golf, you know? So I guess going somewhere just to shop or eat can't be all bad.

Every Saturday morning, we get up and go to Chick-Fil-A for a chicken biscuit. Ok, I know we have these at home, but it just feels like such a treat. I mean, what is better than a delicious buttery biscuit with delicious Chick-Fil-A chicken on it, and a large unsweet iced tea with lemon? I don't know!
Here's Jude at Chick-Fil-A, enjoying some Cheerios furnished by the establishment.  How thoughtful!

Saturday afternoon was spent exploring the delightful Northpark Mall. When it's 100 degrees outside, it is entirely necessary to be indoors. We enjoyed checking out the different stores, and seeing new things. However. It is with great sadness that I announce that Jude's beloved Sophie the Giraffe is now living at Northpark. Somewhere in between J.Crew and Neiman Marcus, Sophie was lost to us. I hope she has found a happy new home. 

Here's Sophie with Jude, in happier times. :(  Jude hopes she's ok.

If you're ever in Dallas, you must eat at the Taco Diner. A fun modern interior with a great, light Mexican menu -  you just can't go wrong. Also try Mi Cocina, a part of the same restaurant group. It has a slightly more complex menu, but it is so good.

Last year at this time (actually, right at our anniversary), we enjoyed a weekend in Dallas, and celebrated our 2nd anni with a Sprinkles cupcake. And, come to think of it, we enjoyed a Sprinkles cupcake in Beverly Hills on our 1st anni in 2006. So we had to complete the tradition by having another Sprinkles so close to our 3rd. Plus, it's right across the way from the Taco Diner, so of course we had to go. Mom and Dad tried coconut and dark chocolate, and Simon and I split a red velvet and a dark chocolate marshmallow. Mom is vouching for the coconut being the best. I think I'm voting for red velvet. It's that darn cream cheese frosting, I tell you!

We also made a trip to the Williams-Sonoma Home. If you ever should get a chance to visit one, do take the opportunity. It's just a great visual experience. They have some really luxurious fabrics, and if you can hit a good sale, all the better. Their linens, in particular, go on excellent sales.

It was so gracious of Mom and Dad to offer to keep Jude on Saturday evening so Simon and I could have a night out. Jude had a little crib in our room that rolled on wheels, so we put him in it and rolled him down the hallway next door to their room along with some of his things. He looked like he was on a magic carpet or something. He thought it was just the funniest thing ever. He looked pretty cute, too!

Here's Simon rolling him away. Here I go!

Simon and I had THE best dinner in a long time at Taverna Pizzeria & Risotteria. Really, anything dubbed a risotteria has to be fantastic. Close to the Knox-Henderson neighborhood, we had tried to eat there last year for our anniversary, but we couldn't ever get a parking space (a good sign, I guess, of a good restaurant?). This year, we were lucky and so we figured that we might as well hang around and wait for a table since we scored a parking space. And what else did we have to do? Besides, every plate that passed by us looked incredible, not to mention smelled amazing. It was entirely worth the wait. We started with parmesan-dusted shrimp on polenta, with a fresh caprese salad including yellow cherry tomatoes (i'm sure there's a technical term for that, foodies). Simon had the mahi with whipped white polenta and asparagus; I enjoyed the pesto risotto with fried zucchini strips and scampi. To. die. for. Everything on the menu was well-priced as well as diverse. I would love to go back and try a myriad of items. It seemed everyone ordered the chef's special flatbread.
When we got back, it was late, but we heard Jude in my parents' room, so we rescued them. It was around 11 o'clock, and Jude had just woken up. Unfortunately, he didn't go back to sleep until 1am! It was a really late night, but we slept in to make up for it. Breakfast was at La Madeleine at the Galleria. We enjoyed wandering around, checking out all the shops. Mom and Dad just spoil Jude (and us!) rotten: Jude got some fantastic new clothes as well as some cute blankets. We are so thankful for all they do for us; they really keep us outfitted cute.

Can I just say that the sales were rocking this weekend? Ugh, it may be a recession, but that means that all the stuff is going on mad sales! We all scored big time in the shopping department. I came away with an obscenely-discounted Diane von Furstenberg. I'll have to take a picture of it to post, because it is just too cute. 

It was such a great weekend. We always have such fun with my parents. They have a fun sense of humor, and we always enjoy swapping funny stories with them. Jude was an excellent little traveler and even though we lost Sophie (tear!), he was a good little trooper.

Happy Anniversary!

Three years ago today, I never would've expected that I would be sitting in our pretty little house, tending to a very unhappy teething baby on our third wedding anniversary. Three years ago today, I was having my hair and makeup done, and then hurrying to the church to shimmy into my dress.
Three years ago today, we cut into our beautiful cake and giggled like teenagers. We had just said our vows, and did not know what was to come, for better or for worse, sickness and good health, but we knew that we were in it together. And while the good and the bad have both come, as well as the sickness and the health, we are stronger than ever. The past year in particular has been full of many ups and downs: the early birth of Jude; plenty of health problems, both ours and of our family members'; moving to a new house; and enjoying the delights of a growing baby boy. Each thing comes with its own trials, but with its own distinct blessings as well.
I love you, honey. I knew from the beginning that you and I would be good together. Being with you is God's biggest blessing and I am thankful for every day that we have together.

Me and my mom.

My sister and I.

Awww, look how young and sweet we were!

I will s ay, I wish we were getting on a plane for Hawaii tomorrow, like we did three years ago! And I'm wishing for some wedding cake, too... yum!

Fantastic Fourth

Patriotic Cousins! Note Jude clutching the flag.

I hope this weekend found everybody enjoying friends, family, freedom, and lots of fireworks. Add food to that, too, and that's a pretty potent combination. Simon and I both commented to each other that we thought this was quite possibly the best Fourth of July ever. It was particularly nice that it fell on a Friday so we could enjoy a three-day weekend. Three cheers for that!

Our long weekend began Thursday night with a campout of sorts. For whatever reason, Jude decided to be particularly fussy and woke up numerous times Thursday night. At some point after midnight, I had nearly decided it must be the inevitable first tooth, since he was so so so sad, and wouldn't let me feel around in his mouth. This teething business is fishy - every time he's uncharacteristically unhappy or a fuss-face, we attribute it to teeth. And as of yet, there are zero teeth. So, Jude and I camped out in the spare bedroom where we got very little sleep. However, he was Mr. Perky at 8 a.m., which bode well for us since we were going to meet my sister and nephews at 9 a.m. for their local neighborhood parade.

The parade was a huge success and so much fun. The neighborhood puts it on every year because families wanted something to go do on the 4th of July: the kids decorate their bikes, there's a parade of cool old cars, and there's one dude who brings out his gigantic snake (think the snake that Britney Spears shimmied around with) that all the kids pat as it slithers around in the grass. Jude was thrilled with all of it. He just kicked his feet and squealed. 

The snake! I love the colors of his skin - the yellow and gray is so chic right now! :)

Kennedy for President: Best for Oklahoma

Rachel and Jude in front of the firetruck.

Great vintage cars. Wouldn't it be fun to buzz around town in one of these?

Really, everything is just so much more fun with kids. Maybe it's just that I really liked being a kid and still like doing kid things, so now it's just a great excuse to be a participant again! My nephews also have a new trampoline, so we enjoyed jumping on the trampoline. Simon can do four flips in a row. I really need to get a picture of that, because it is something to see -- all six feet four inches of him flipping in the air!

The afternoon was spent lounging at my parents' house, who are out of town on an Alaskan cruise. We slathered on the sunscreen and baked all. day. long. There is no better way to spend a summer day than in the pool.  We also ate more junk than I care to admit. So much for my resolution of taking good care of myself by eating good things and exercising. :-\

Ugh, speaking of the pool, Jude thoroughly christened it. I was holding him, he was gleefully frolicking, and all of a sudden, there was, um, debris floating in the pool, despite his swim diaper. We all squealed, promptly removed Jude from the pool, and stripped him down in the grass, where we then hosed him down(!) to get all the poo(!) off of him. Sounds harsh, but he thought it was great fun and the water wasn't too cold. 

Maui Babe Suntan lotion and Biotherm sunscreen. 

We unearthed the Maui Babe browning lotion from somewhere in our bathroom. Despite the fact that we bought it on our honeymoon in Maui nearly three years ago, we think it's still good! Either way, we are all sunburn-free, and slightly glowing from our tans. 

We enjoyed dinner at Simon's parents' house, and then packed up in the car to go look at fireworks. Fireworks are always my favorite part (once again, it must be my inner child or something). Is there anything better than listening to the oohs and aahs of the little kids as they stare up into the sky? Jude was sound asleep, but quickly woke up, and was slack-jawed as he stared at the firecrackers bursting. I'm kicking myself that I let the battery get down on the camera, because I think I could've gotten some really great night shots. It was just all so magical, all of us there, and I do mean all of us, which is great. I think the last time I saw fireworks with my entire family was when I was 7 or 8, in Colorado Springs. It just felt like we really celebrated this year. It was just so great, everyone sitting out on a blanket, and cheering. It would have only been made complete by the presence of my parents, but I'm glad that they're enjoying a great vacation.

Saturday, Simon worked really hard to get all of the stuff that had been sitting in the garage appropriated to its final resting spot. I'm glad he felt the urge to do this as I have been seriously unmotivated to even touch anything in the garage. 

We enjoyed a yummy lunch at the Iguana Cafe, a cool new spot in downtown OKC. Once again, we consumed a ridiculous amount of food, and then hurried out to Mom and Dad's for more sunning and swimming. Check out that 7-layer dip that came out in an Oklahoma-shaped platter. Delicioso!

Jude and Simon, eating their hands, being silly.

Weekend Fun

We had lots of fun this weekend. Saturday was filled with lunch with the Doner grandparents, and then Simon took me out on the town for dinner that night. We ate on the patio at Bellini's while Jude hung out with his Shingleton grandparents (Thank you!). It was apparently prom night, and it was funny to see the high school kids out in their glamorous duds. Seems like prom came early this year.

Anyway, when we went to pick Jude up, it was around 9:45. He and his Oma Linda were sitting outside looking at a beautiful full moon. As we walked up, Jude looked at us, and then he looked at me and held out his little hand, reaching for me. It totally melted me. He is just the sweetest little thing that ever was!

Today we went to church and had a Mexican lunch before driving around (as we tend to do on Sundays).