Lylah & Santa are BFFs

I love that double chin so much!

:)

Thanksgiving...dun dun DUN

Haha, don't let the title fool you. Thanksgiving was fantastic! Ryan and I had so much fun cooking the turkey together. We didn't even argue. I am so thankful for my little family of three, and that I made an edible turkey! :) 

Here is the bird, stuffed with garlic, onion, lemon and a bunch of spices. 

Here is the mixture we soaked the cheesecloth in...

Ryan stirring the mixture....

 Lylah was so excited. Can you tell? (She loves her woombie!)

Soaking the cheesecloth...

 Putting the cheesecloth over the bird...

 Putting it in the oven....

 TA-DA!!!!!

Carving the bird!

Ahhh, success. It was so yummy! My family came to eat with us and they enjoyed it. It was a great day. Happy Thanksgiving!!

My first Thanksgiving....

So tomorrow I shall make my FIRST Thanksgiving turkey. 

I know, Lylah. Crazy, right? 

I found a recipe on The Chew. It's a cooking show on CBS that I used to make fun of, because I think that's a lame name. Anyway, in passing I saw they were doing turkey recipes, so I DVRed it, and lo and behold...there was an easy recipe using cheesecloth. It seems easy enough. You make a mixture of butter, chicken broth and a bunch of spices I had never bought before and then soak cheesecloth in the mixture. Then just cover the turkey in the cheesecloth while you roast it. So we'll see. Luckily my sides are all super easy and I am just doing brownies for dessert. I was going to make a pecan pie, but then I decided I don't care that much. I think my company will prefer the brownies :) 

IT'S TOMORROW!!!

It will be interesting to time Lylah's feedings with the oven schedule and my small freak-outs. 

Should be an interesting day....

Lylah's First Halloween

I wasn't planning on doing much for Halloween. I have never been a huge fan of the holiday, because I usually wind up eating way too much candy. Plus, we could never top this costume. But I wanted to dress Lylah up as something....I just didn't know what. Then my Mom gave us a little bear hoodie that my sisters and I wore as babies, so I thought we would use that.

Cute, right? :)

Then, I made a trip to Gymboree. I had a giftcard, and needed to buy tiny little black shoes for our Family Pictures. On my way out the door, I saw the clearance rack and decided to take a peek. What I found was this awesomeness...

I love that little lobster! And for my fellow FRIENDS obsessed friends...."She's our lobster!"
See this video for reference.... totally worth it...

We went over to the Browns house and went down the street to a few houses. Lylah was a trooper...anytime Ryan is holding her, she is happy as a clam lobster. (See what I did there?)

This was right before she conked out. It was so fun to have someone to take around at Halloween, even if she had no idea what was going on. It's only going to get more fun! Crazy to think how big she will be at the next Halloween. 

We love this lobster!

4th of July

We had such a great weekend. My in laws came up on Friday, and we had a fun night as the Harms unit. We even got a visit from my Brother-in-law! It was great to all be together. On Saturday we left for Perry, to see Ryan's Dad's side of the family in Perry, OK. We got to see Ryan's grandma and cousins! It was very fun, and that night we went to stay with Ryan's other Grandma in Ponca City. Then, we went to see Ryan's best friend in Stillwater. They had just moved there from Alaska! We are so excited they are close again, and they have the cutest little 8 month old, Charles. He is so adorable and right about now I am kicking myself for not taking a picture of the cuteness.

Then, we went to my parent's NEW house! They had just moved out of the house we lived in for 17 years! It was quite the move, but they are doing a great job of putting everything back together and settling into their new home. I love it! We even squeezed in a quick visit with our good friends from college, the Hejls.

So we saw a LOT of people! It was very fun. And I just keep getting bigger....
(Not my favorite picture....I look ragged and for some reason there is a stick in between my legs, but oh well..)

And check out what we got...

Ryan's Great Grandfather made it long ago! Isn't it sweet? And it will go perfectly in our playroom.

Next Saturday is my first baby shower. Eek...I guess we're really having a baby!

Hope you had a great 4th! We did. :)

Going to try to blog about something else besides the Nursery, baby, etc.

Happy Fathers-to-be Day to my awesome husband! This is a late post, but hey, I'm pregnant. Oh, you didn't know that? Yeah, I don't talk about it enough. Sorry. I'll try to post more about being pregnant. (Sarcasm.) 

For Father's Day, I wanted to do something really sweet for Ryan. Let me tell you something about Ryan. He needs NOTHING. He doesn't need clothes, shoes, movies, cologne, ANYTHING. If you ask him what he wants, he doesn't know. If he needs something, he purchases it. (He gets this from his Dad.) If he wants something, it is way too big of a purchase for me. Like a receiver, or a TV. Yeah, like I'm gonna get him that without him. I ain't nobody's fool. 

So I do know he likes food. And recently, I have introduced him to massages. I have an amazing massage lady who I LOVE and have seen for over a year. She is fantastic. Her name is Megan and she is at Salon and Spa at Eaton Court in Allen, TX. If you need a massage, she is awesome. 

So Sunday morning, I snuck out of bed early. This is really hard to do, because Ryan is an especially light sleeper, and even more so that I've been pregnant. But somehow I made it out to the kitchen and managed to cook this without waking him. I thought for SURE I had woken him up, but when I went to bring him breakfast, he was dead to the world. 

YUM! 

It was so yummy. (Of course I made some for myself) I gave him a gift certificate for massage and we headed off to church. 

I am so lucky to have this awesome man! He is going to be such an amazing father. I love hearing him talk about Lylah, and how he can't wait to play with her. Just take a look at this....

Yup, that's my awesome Husband reading to the baby. I love him. 

Happy Fathers Day also to my Dad. He is such a great Dad! I love him so dearly. He always makes me laugh and is just a fun guy. If you know my Dad, you probably know that I am a lot like him. I just love him...He is the best. I miss living close to him and will get to see him in a few weeks. 

And Happy Father's Day to my awesome Father-in-law! He is such a great guy, and I'd have to say the BEST Father-in-law a girl could ask for. He is so kind, easy-going, and very easy to get along with. He is such a great man! 

My little girl is SO lucky to have these three men in her life. I can't wait to see them interact with her! :)

Happy Father's Day!! (A little late...)

Anniversary (Very Late!)

Ryan and I celebrated our 4 year anniversary on May 12. My Grandmother passed away the next day, we painted our nursery the next weekend, and bought a car last weekend (more on that in another post). So, I am late with my anniversary post!

I love my Ryan so much, and I am so excited we are having a baby in a few months. He will be such an awesome father. He already is! He has read to Lylah, talks to her all the time...he is the best. I can't wait to see him love on our little girl.  He loves children and babies, just like me. It's one of the first things I noticed about him. Here is proof...

Ryan with Jonah, our friends the Fleming's baby boy

Playing with sweet Addi (several months ago!) our friends the Brown's baby.

With newborn Addi last June.  Can't believe it's been almost a year!

(And wearing the same shirt as when he met Jonah. Must be his "baby-meeting shirt"!)

I can't wait to add pictures (many, I'm sure) of Ryan holding Lylah!

We had a great anniversary, with a trip to Joe's Crab Shack, which is my favorite!! He gave me a massage certificate (the man knows me well) and a sweet necklace with an L on it. He did well, and we had a great time! I love that man. Can't believe it's been four years! Time flies....

Happy Valentines Day!

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How to have a great holiday baking experience.

Here we go.... 

Pre-baking.

Step 1: Set up your baking station. Equip yourself with snacks, recipes and make sure your Husband (and children) and pets are occupied. 

Step 2: Start out with something easy, to build your confidence. These are so easy and can be ready in minutes. A little droopy, but delicious. Eat immediately. Hurry, before Husband sees.

Step 3: Try something harder. Call necessary relatives and in laws for advice. Don't bother anyone local, cause they will want to eat it. 

This is  yummy Southern Pecan pie. Add Cool whip and enjoy a couple of times a day.

Step 4: Take a picture of yourself with the pie. Success.

Plan for next time! :) 

Happy Birthday, Memaw!!

Ryan's Memaw turned 80 yesterday! We had a party for her on Saturday, and got to spend time with lots of family. It was great to see everyone! Happy Birthday, Memaw!

On the way home from Ponca City, I snapped this of the sunset...

So pretty!!

It was such a great weekend. I got to see some people that I haven't seen in years! It was so great to see everyone. 

Hope you had a great weekend, too!

Our Three Year Anniversary

This past Wednesday, Ryan and I celebrated three years of marriage! We can't believe it has been three years and how quickly the time has flown. I am so blessed to have this man! He is a wonderful husband and will be a great father one day!

Tis the Season

This blinds me a little...does it blind you? Anyway, Merry Christmas!

Our tree....

Happy Father's Day!

I LOVE my Dad. He is seriously the best. He is funny and sweet and loving and I am very blessed to have him. I love you, Dad!

My Dad and I at the Sooners/A&M Game last season!

My Dad, Ryan and me at Ted's for my Birthday last year!

Happy Father's Day, Dad! :) 

Much love, 

Allison

Happy Two Years!

Today is our two year anniversary! We can't believe it has been two years since we tied the knot. We had a great time reminiscing today....there are so many fun memories of our 6+ years together!

What a blessing my husband is to me! I cannot describe how much I love him and how special he is to me. He is sweet, honest, smart, entertaining, good-looking, fun and I am so blessed to have him! 

May 12, 2007

Halloween 2008: Brangelina

Fall 2008: Supporting our Sooners

Fall 2008: First "Child"

Holding the keys to our new house! (Dec. 2008)

Heres to many more years together! :)

Much love, 

Allison

I love my Mom!

Happy Mother's Day to my Mom! My Mom is great for so many reasons, and I hope that one day, I am a great Mom like she is to me and my sisters. The song below reminds me of her....

"Best Day"

by Taylor Swift

I'm five years old
It's getting cold
I've got my big coat on

I hear your laugh
And look up smiling at you
I run and run

Past the pumpkin patch
And the tractor rides
Look now -- the sky is gold
I hug your legs and fall asleep
On the way home

I don't know why all the trees change in the fall
I know you're not scared of anything at all
Don't know if Snow White's house is near or far away
But I know I had the best day
With you today

I'm thirteen now
And don't know how my friends
Could be so mean

I come home crying and you hold me tight and grab the keys

And we drive and drive
Until we've found a town
Far enough away

And we talk and window-shop
Until I've forgotten all their names

I don't know who I'm gonna talk to
Now at school
I know I'm laughing on the car ride home with you
Don't know how long it's gonna take to feel okay
But I know I had the best day
With you today

I have an excellent father
His strength is making me stronger
God smiles on my little brother
Inside and out
He's better than I am

I grew up in a pretty house
And I had space to run
And I had the best days with you

There is a video
I found from back when I was three
You set up a paint set in the kitchen
And you're talking to me

It's the age of princesses and pirate ships
And the seven dwarfs
Daddy's smart
And you're the prettiest lady in the whole wide world

Now I know why all the trees change in the fall
I know you were on my side
Even when I was wrong
And I love you for giving me your eyes
Staying back and watching me shine

And I didn't know if you knew
So I'm taking this chance to say
That I had the best day
With you today

Do you think we look alike? 

(I took the above picture before a job interview a few years ago, and I took the picture solely to show my Mom how much I looked like her. I think we might even be wearing the same suit! )

I love my Mom! I hope you have a great day!

Much love, 

Allison

A different kind of Easter

Our weekend was filled with LTC, Bible Bowl, seeing old friends from OC, judging choruses as nicely as possible, driving, encouraging Prestoncrest kids (they did GREAT!), working in the nursery, and trying to keep the dog from destroying our house and backyard (she got lonely while we were gone). 

I wish I had some pictures to post of us in our Easter gear, or with Sadie with bunny ears on (that would be cute!) but alas, I didn't take any.  The Easter bunny didn't even visit Sadie. But it's okay, she didn't know. We will have to make up for it on her Birthday, May 20th. :)

The best news today? Ryan let me pick out where we went for our Easter lunch, and we went to Genghis Grill, which is one of my absolute faves. Loved it! 

Happy Easter!

Ryan and I are desperate need of an actual weekend. Here's to one next weekend? We'll see!

Much love, 

Allison

Valentines Day!

Here is a little recap of our Valentines Day. I know it was a long time ago in the blog world, but it deserves a post!

A note before I share....Ryan and I trade off on Valentines Day. I planned last year, so Ryan planned this year. 

Our day...

1. Ryan and I made breakfast together. This was more fun than the traditional breakfast in bed, because whenever we do that for each other, someone gets something spilled on them. Sometimes something hot. So we opted out of that this time!

2. Ryan and I played with Sadie and hung out around the house. See below. 

3. Out of the blue, Ryan hands me money and tells me to go shopping for an hour! Whooo!

4. I come home and this is waiting!

The chair I have been wanting! Love it!

5. Ryan takes me out to a fancy dinner and to see a movie I had been wanting to see! 

Great job, honey!

About to go out!

The bar is set high for me next year.  :)

Happy belated Valentines Day!

Much love, 

Allison

Christmas is LONG over, but this is too beautiful to keep to myself....