Austin - We Will Be Seeing You Again

Austin was so fun.  JM and I bonded again - with it just being the two of us, we didn't have any other distractions.  We laughed and laughed and laughed.  Only got in a couple minor tiffs, but hey, we're dealing with me, right?

Thursday when we landed at about 1 p.m., we checked in and then hit downtown.  All the touristy spots of course.  We stopped at The Dizzy Rooster on 6th Street... or dirty 6th as the locals like to call it...where the Real World Austin was filmed. 

 

Then we were hungry.  Most places were pretty dead since it was only about 3, so we finally found a place with people and stopped there.  It was called Bikini's.  I honestly didn't even look at the name, until I went inside and saw the dress code of the waitresses.  So yeah.  Now I know why it was the only place that was busy.  Here is our waitress behind JM. 

Then we just trotted around town until about 5:00, went back to the room, got dressed and ready for dinner at Eddie V's.  Faaabuloso.  Super nice place on East 5th Street... close enough away from dirty 6th.  Our waiter was Luigi, you must ask for him if you ever go.

Next day we got up and walked to brunch at the Blue Dahlia Bistro.  When he guy at the hotel suggested it, I kept thinking he was saying the Blue Deli Bistro, but that he was pronouncing it "Dahli", because that is how they all talk).  It was good as well.   

Afterwards we went to South Congress Street to shoppity shop.  I was on the hunt for some shades since there were no clouds to be seen and it was inching toward 95.  Boo splurged and got me some ray bans, whooo!  Lord knows I needed something, I was afraid I was going need Botox after all the squinting I did that day, it was the brightest sun I've seen in a while.  The only other clothing purchases we made were at a thrift store.  I got a pair of jeans, JM got a shirt and a cool jacket.  Yep, we are thrifty. 

Next up:  Lunch at Doc's.  It's an old oil change garage type place but turned into a really cool restaurant.

Our plans were to get to ACL by 2.  Future reference, it takes at least an hour just to get through the line and checked in.  I have honestly never been surrounded by that many people in my entire life.  I think they said there were about 200,000 people at the festival.  We finally got in and got to see the band before their show.  And they remembered us... is that a good thing or bad thing?

Then we caught Band of Heathens (great) and Bingham.  Overall, ACL was a cool place to be for sure, but so crowded, it kind of stressed us out. 

These letters were made of quilt material.  Neato.

Do you love the rocks behind?  Pretty view.

Afterwards, we caught a pedicab (an experience) back to our place to get ready for Bingham's aftershow at MoMo's.  We were very lucky to get tickets because it was a very small venue.  We had such a great time.  It was funny, we saw a few of the same people that we've seen at many of his shows all around.

Not going to lie, everybody wanted my homemade shirt.  I had girls asking me where I got it.  Letters at Hobby Lobby and and shirt at Target ladies!

The end to a great night.

Second Honeymoon

John Michael and I are going to Austin on Thursday for the Austin City Limits Music Festival.  We're going to consider it our second honeymoon.  Since going on our real honeymoon in Jamaica, we have been on lots of vacations since we got married 3 1/2 years ago.  We've been back to Jamaica again, San Francisco, Breckenridge, lots of trips to New Orleans, Beach trips, lots of away State games, New Braunfels, but each and every one of these trips have been with other people.  This will be the first time since our honeymoon that we are going on vacation with just the two of us.  I'm trying not to think about having to leave Ryder right now, because it makes me really sad, but the good thing is we will be back Saturday after lunch so we'll have the rest of the weekend with him.

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We had a GREAT time this past weekend.  It was the first weekend since I can remember that we didn't have to be anywhere.  Friday, I got off work around 1:00 and ran a few errands, picked up Ryder, got dressed and headed to Burgers and Blues with JM, Ryder and JM's parents.  It was a great atmosphere and perfect for Ryder since we were eating outside and he got to play instead of sit in that mean high chair that he despises so. 

Guess it's time to put safety's on the door knob

When I tell Ryder to brush the horse's hair, he pats it.  Very sweet.

I put Ryder to bed most nights, but sometimes on the weekends JM does it.  When we got home from eating I guess JM was so exhausted that when it was time to put Ryder down, he said if I put him down he would go shopping with me on Saturday (I told you he was exhausted, he must've been sleep-talking).  So, Saturday morning we got up, I cleaned the house and lit fall candles everywhere.  My dad and Kayla came over to see Ryder, we watched the State game, and then once we were whooping them pretty bad, JM said we could leave to go shop (maybe he wasn't sleep-talking after all!).  One of our stops was Gap, so that we could get Ryder a belt for his skinny little waist.  He loved staring at and touching the weird statues outside of Gap. 

Ryder's belt, worn with love.

On the way home we stopped by the grocery store and got stuff to grill out.  JM cooked hamburgers and I made Bread Boat Sausage Dip.

Bread Boat Sausage Dip:

2 pounds ground sausage

1 8 oz package cream cheese
16 oz sour cream

4 cups shredded mexican blend cheese

1 10 oz can rotel tomatos

1 4 oz can green chiles

2 loafs french bread

Brown sausage; drain.  Stir in all ingredients, then remove from heat.  Cut off the top of the french bread and scoop out the center.  Fill with dip, wrap in aluminum foil and bake at 350 for 45 minutes.  Serve with fritos.  Serves 15-20.

When we pulled up to the grocery store, Ryder was asleep so I stayed in the car and gave John Michael the list, which included ingredients for this dip, fritos and aluminum foil.  When we got home, I began to unload the groceries and pulled out a great big box of this: 

Which is apparently the same thing as aluminum foil to John Michael.  When I pulled it out, I looked at him (with that look) and all I said was, "Reynold's Wrap."  He said, "That's what I got."  I said no, I need Reynold's Wrap a/k/a Aluminum Foil."  He said he thought Reynold's Wrap and Cling Wrap were the same thing (???).  Luckily we had enough foil at the house and used what we had.  So now, we have two giant boxes of Cling Wrap, which we never use because it sucks and it doesn't stick to anything.  So, if you're in the neighborhood and need some Cling Wrap, just holler.

On Sunday we got up and went to church.  Before we left, Ryder wanted to go outside and get some fresh air.  And when I say he was getting some fresh air, he was gulping it down.  Look at that mouth wide open.  It's his new look, seriously.

 

After church, we decided on Cracker Barrell for lunch. We didn't make it out of the church parking lot before Ryder's eyes started rolling in the back of his head, so instead John Michael went up to the office for a bit and I cleaned up the house some more while he napped.  When JM got home, we all went to the golf course with our friends Lindsey and Todd so the guys could shoot 9 holes.  Ryder was right at home in his golf cart since his Grandaddy and Nanni have one.  He looooves to ride in it, but only in the driver's lap.  I was taking offense that he did NOT want to ride in my lap.  Of course, once I got in the driver's seat he was all mine.

When we got home, I made Chicken and Dumplings, Black Eyed Peas and Cheesy Italian Garlic Bread for dinner and my mom came over and gave Ryder his bath while I finished cooking.  She came at just the right time, not only because she "got" to bathe Ryder (YES!!) but because she also got to take home some grub.  Let me just say, I like to bathe Ryder, but boy do I love when someone else does it sometimes!

Cheesy Italian Garlic Bread

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon italian seasoning

1/8 teaspoon seasoned salt

1/2 cup shredded montery jack cheese
1 loaf french bread, halved lengthwise

Mix mayo, butter, parmesan cheese, garlic, italian seasoning, and seasoned salt until smooth.  Stir in Montery Jack cheease.  Spread over cut sides of bread.  Bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 350 for 12 minutes, until cheese is melted.  Slice and serve warm.  Makes 12 servings.

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I know I've said it before, but Ryder is so strong!

Ryder and I were playing in the living room yesterday.  I went to the kitchen to do something and came right back and his pants were under his feet.  I don't know how he got them off.  Then I noticed a really powerful smell.  I couldn't blame him for wanting to get out of those pants!!!

Ryder loves this water hose.  Loves it.  I hate it's getting cold because it can really keep him busy.

I took Ryder to TJ Maxx with me and he would have it no other way but to push the cart.  So everyone stared at us as I held up his body and let him put his hands on the handle.  He was grinning ear to ear.

When I couldn't take the stares any longer, nor the pain in my right arm, I let him push it from the ground.

 
He will not sit in the cart.  As I've mentioned before, he MUST be in control.

A few facts:
-He is getting two more top teeth, for a grand total of six.
-When we say to dance, he knows exactly what that means.  It's the funniest when he is in his carseat.  The middle section of his body is really still and with a super size grin on his face he bobs his head and kicks his feet around... and to the beat might I add.
-When I ask where his head is, he puts his hands there.
-When I count to five, he now repeats each number after me, in a very slurred version of course.
-He is getting better at walking, but it's still not his transportation of choice.
-He'll be thirteen months on Friday.

Golfing buddies to be

Ryder and I sat out at the driving range tonight while JM hit some balls.  It was so hard to keep him quiet and I was afraid he was making the others mad, so I just kept stuffing Cheetos in his mouth.  He didn't complain.

Then JM came over and gave him some juice.

Once he went back to hit, Ryder couldn't stand it any longer, so he wobbled his way over to see what this "golfing" was all about.

Now he's hooked.

 Then we got home, took a bath and read our favorite book,

"That's not MY monster"

Connie - He is OBSESSED!

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Last weekend we had fun at Preston and Pace's first birthday party.  We attempted a group photo of the chillins and it wasn't as successful as we'd hoped, but cute nonetheless. 

Let's see, we've got from the left: Collin, Preston, Brantlee, one of the triplets (Allie, Reese or Juliet), Ryder, Luke, two more of the triplets, Pace and Charlie.

Hi!!!

Birthday Boy Pace pulling Birthday Boy Preston's hair.

Didn't faze Preston.

"You get my drift?"

Cheesin' in the hay

Trying to wiggle out of my hands so he could go play

Ryder finally got to meet his friend Charlie Kingrea, who is only about 3 weeks older than Ryder.  

After fighting over the toys, Ryder finally agreed to share.  The more he is around kids, the more I see that my child does not like other people holding "his" toys.  He likes to hold ALL of them at once.

Three muskateers: Pace, Charlie and Ryder

The cute, cute cake

Jan, Pace, Preston and Payton
Happy Birthday to the sweetest twins I know!

Ryder learned something new at the party, how to suck a straw from a juice box.  That juice was gone before I could run and get the camera to get this picture.

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Ryder had his mini-session pictures with Jeanelle on Monday and he was a HOOOT!  The pictures were taken out at an old barn, and the minute we opened the car door and Ryder heard that cow moo, he was in hog heaven.  JM unbuckled the seatbelt and I thought Ryder was going to roll right out of his seat, he was ready to see his cows.  He started Moooo'ing and didn't stop until the pictures were over.

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Since Ryder turned 1, he has decided it would be appropriate to change his bedtime.  He refuses to go to bed before 8:00.  Here is a picture from last night around 8:15.  He was screaming so bad in his crib.  I figured another glass of milk and half an episode of his favorite show, Sid might help.  And it did.

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We can't keep little jungle man out of the bushes.

Well, until he sees his car.  Why must we always forget to put it away until we are ready to stroll him?  Now that he knows how to get into by himself he will just sit in it and stare at us until we push him around.  And if he has been sitting still for more than 20 seconds, he starts banging his head back and forth trying to get it to move himself.

Some things Ryder is doing since he has turned one:
-He can roar like a monster.
-He is completely off the bottle and only drinking from a sippy cup.
-He is drinking whole milk, and cold at that.  I never warmed it up from the beginning so that he wouldn't get used to it.
-He can now stand up by himself when getting ready to walk.
-Crawling is still his preference.
-He says BYE MAMA (only when I say it first, of course).
-When I say one...two...three...four... He will say "Fiiiii" (sounding like eye with an "f" at the front.

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Okay, it's kind of difficult to cook dinner while it's just me and Ryder at the house.  But I really want to cook dinner most nights.  And JM is still so busy at work that he can't get home before 6:30 or 7 (except tonight of course.... driving range, remember?).  Last night I wanted to make something so I put Ryder in his highchair and cut up some grapes to put on his tray so that he would have something to munch on in between bites of real food that I would give him in between running around the kitchen, back and forth from the high chair to the stove to the high chair to the fridge from the high chair to the microwave from the high chair to the sink.  Trying to cook dinner and feed Ryder all at the same time.  I felt like I was neglecting him so much because I could hardly pay any attention to him while he sat in the highchair so I would just try and talk to him the whole time I was cooking, telling him what I was making and what ingredients I was using and so forth.  So here is what we had:  I don't know what it's actually called, so I'll call it yummy.

YUMMY
1 can tomato sauce
1 can tomato paste
1 lb ground beef
fresh garlic (I used garlic powder b/c we didn't have any fresh)
4 oz cream cheese
1/2 tsp onion powder
1 cup sour cream
8 oz cheese, shredded
10 oz package egg noodles, prepared

Mix together cream cheese, onion powder and sour cream with electric mixer and set aside.  Brown ground beef with garlic until cooked; drain.  Add tomato sauce, tomato paste and prepared noodles to meat; stir.  Then add in the cream cheese mixture; stir.  Pour into a 9x13 dish and top with shredded cheddar cheese.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.  Easy.

MY MEME'S GREEN BEANS

1 can Del Monte Fresh Cut Green Beans (only kind I use - don't accidentally get the can that is no salt added)
1 tablespoon sugar (or a tiny bit less)
1 tablespoon olive oil (or a tiny bit less)

Don't drain the green beans and pour all three ingredients into a pot and cook on the stove on medium-high for about 30 minutes, or until all the water is soaked up.

Many times I double this recipe if my main dish is large enough that we'll have leftovers the next day.  My mom and grandmother have always made green beans like this so it's how I always thought green beans should taste.  When I was younger and would eat green beans at school or at a friend's house, I honestly thought something was wrong with them because they weren't sweet.

MAYONNAISE ROLLS
Please know these do NOT taste like mayo.

1 cup self-rising flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
1/2 cup milk

Mix first 3 ingredients well.  Add milk and stir until smooth.
Either fill muffin cups 1/2 full (instead of muffin cups, I just spooned them onto a pan)
Bake at 400 for 12 minutes

Just butter 'em up and these are good rolls!  I knew we needed a "bread" with our meal, but we were out of any frozen garlic toast and the bisquick was expired when I checked, so I searched the recipe books for some type of bread that I could made with flour, and this is the first one I found.  I'll be making them again.

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My dad and Ryder's Papa has had a birthday since I last blogged, so I want to wish him a happy late birthday! He and Becky took a fun trip to Boston, Maine and New Hampshire for his birthday. How fun!!!  I love you daddy!!!