The Latest in Lubbock...

July and August have been super busy and fun for us!  Here's a quick rundown of the latest happenings, travels, adventures, etc in our little Winter Wonderland.  :)

We found this little Step 2 picnic table at Sams for a bargain!
On the first day, Hudson decided to have a "tea party" for a few of his friends.  I think he is calling to order a pizza....they were HUNGRY. 

Here is Buzz Lightyear in all his glory  (Thanks Aunt Linny!!)

We made a trip to OKC.  Hudson got a spend a day with Reid and Noah at the pool....Oh! what fun!!!

Little Reidy was SERIOUS with this water gun! 

I brought home a couple of new chairs from Mathis Bros..LOVE them!!!

Mama, Papa, and Uncle Da-Da came to visit last weekend....

READING TIME:

Wrestle-mania with Uncle Da-Da!

INJURY CHECK:

We are seriously considering Acting Classes...

All better now!

Beef: It's what's for dinner.

Greg wanted a ribeye tonight so I sent him to the store to pick them out and grab a few veggies. 
What I didn't take into consideration was that we had only eaten breakfast today and had been working out in the yard for about 5 hours on what was predicted to be the hottest day of the year thus far.

This means, I sent him to the store hungry.  Very hungry.
He came home with $32 worth of steak and $4 worth of veggies.  I decided we MUST have some fruit as well, so I threw some pineapple (that Melissa sent us from MAUI) on the grill too. 

Here was the final product:

Oven Roasted Corn w/ chili/lime butter, Green salad, Grilled pineapple and Ribeye Steak

This was my plate.  Greg's steak was actually even bigger, but he had already cut into his before I could even get my camera lens off.  I must say, this was the very best steak I have ever cooked.  In fact, it was pretty close to perfection.  Nothing but salt and pepper and a grill that was about 600+ degrees. 

I have never been super confident in my grilling, but with ALL of the Food Network shows I watch, I finally decided I really could grill like Bobby Flay.  There is just one rule.....Don't Fear the Flame.  Let them be.  Don't touch.  Don't even peek.  Let the grill, the heat, the flames do their job for crying out loud! 

And always, let them rest after you pull them off.  It makes ALL the difference in the world. 

The verdict:  Greg said it was amazing.  Restaurant quality.  The best steaks I have ever made.  

Yaaaay for me!....and my tummy. 

Now, time for bed! 

X-GAMES

Hudson decided on Saturday to try out his skates/roller blades that he got for Christmas.  Truthfully, I am so thankful he has just now remembered them....these things scare me to death!  He put on all his gear and was ready to go!!!  Me, on the other hand, was praying for no broken bones....for either of us. 

BEFORE:

AFTER:

This was one hot & sweaty little boy!

Recent Events...

Grandee was here for a whole week and we had SOOOO much fun!....that we barely took any pictures.  :(
Anywho, we went to Chucky Cheese one day for pizza and games.  I think Grandee and I had just as much fun as Hudson.  :)

Here is one the "prizes" he got with all his winnings.  It cost 300 whoppers! (Tickets, that is.)

THE EXCAVATORS!!

Greg, on the other hand, wasn't quite as certain about his expertise in the field....

The last piece is found!

And....the finished product.

Fun with Friends: Part Deux

Ok...even though poor Campbell was cutting her molars, it was a SUPER FUN week with Lindsey and Campbell and we miss them terribly.  Can't wait to go to OKC in a few weeks and do it all over again.  :)

Here is more evidence of all of our fun....

She caught the "Buzz" bug....BIG TIME!

BATH TIME!

I bought berry-flavored bubbles and little missy just LOVED them 

Hmmmmm....I wonder WHO has been playing with this?

I think Hudson was trying to "bribe" her for one of the Buzz's.....

A little lovin from Uncle Greg

Time for a stroll before they leave...

THIS is what helped get Campbell through the week of teething....

THIS is what helped Lindsey and Aunt Callie  :)

Fun with friends!!

Lindsey and Campbell are visiting this week from OKC....Oh how we have missed them!!
We have had a great time thus far, even though little C is working on getting her molars in which is NO fun for her!  She is definitely uncomfortable and not 100% herself, but we are making the best of when she is feeling good!  :)  Here's just a few pics from our first full day....

Here's the PRINCESS enjoying Hudson's bean-bag and watching some Baby Einsteins....

She had her first popsycle at Aunt Callie's house!!

Here's Hudson....oh, I mean BUZZ LIGHTYEAR!!

Looking for Hudson...

This  is an outfit I sent her!!  Sooo "cool" and cute for summertime.

And the GRAND PRIZE WINNING picture for Day 1.....

It just doesn't get any better than this!  :)

Lord, help me!

WWW.FOODNETWORK.COM
I can't stop watching this channel!!! I have NO idea what the proper definition of a "foodie" is, but if it means you would watch this channel ALL the time and virtuously nothing else, then I definitely meet the criteria.

As a matter of fact, just now when I typed the word "meet" in the previous sentence, I first typed "m-e-a-t" and not "m-e-e-t". See what I mean? Scary.

I do want you to know that I'm not just a couch potato watching-watching-watching. I am LEARNING too! I can say I have learned more about cooking, baking, ingredients, food-prep, etc. by watching The Food Network cooking shows than I have EVER known before. (I don't really get into the competition shows though) I have learned about ingredients that I never in a million Buzz Lightyears would have ever tried before. Oops!....sorry about that. We have recently traded in our son, Hudson, for Buzz Lightyear and we are in Toy Story mode at all times. Anywho, I don't just watch and learn, I have also put lots of my new-found knowledge to good use in the kitchen. And Greg says it shows!! :)

Gotta run, Barefoot Contessa is starting.....