you say it's your birthday...

...it's my birthday too, yeah! Yep, that's right- another birthday has come and gone. Don't worry, this one did not go by without the proper celebratory activities. When Tison asked me what I wanted  to do for my birthday, I told him I wanted to browse local shops and then possibly look for a grill for our backyard. With Miss E around, it is hard to go in and out of places and so I have just been avoiding it all together to spend time with her. BUT... since he asked ;) he was in charge of baby girl while I got to look around while also enjoying their company. I wrote out a lengthy list of places and we hit the road.

{Here are a few snapshots from the days adventures.}

{At about 6pm I told Tison I really wanted to get the grill we saw at Lowe's and cook on it. He was like, "tonight??" So, we bought the grill, put it together, put baby girl down, and had a romantic meal on the back porch. It was perfect. And I love that our table setting includes a baby monitor.}

On Sunday, my in-laws invited us to Sevendipity Cafe for brunch. This was our second time there and we just love it!

{The huevos rancheros could be my breakfast everyday. And I am sure you have heard of the cronut? Well, the chef, Dominique Ansel, asked that Sevendipity stop using the name creauxnut. After a facebook poll, the new name for the amazing croissant/donut pastry is the juggernut. I'm not crazy about the name, but it's not going to keep me from ordering this dessert.}

On Tuesday, my birthday day, my mom made a home cooked dinner at their house. We arrived excited to see family, but I had no idea what was in store. The doorbell rang and Mom asked me to get it (she was busy in the kitchen.) I just thought it was Lauren and the boys arriving for dinner. I opened the front door and when I first looked out no one was there- and then- bam- Leslie jumps in front of me. I just stood there, literally for a full minute, trying to figure out why she is standing at the front door of Mom's house in the United States of America in July when I wasn't expecting her to fly in from Africa again until December!?!? She got me. She kept it a surprise from me and Lauren that she was coming in and we were both stunned, shocked, and thrilled. Everyone in the house knew but us! What a great secret :) She is in town for the next 3 weeks- whoohoo!!

{Tison was snapping photos of us when Lauren points out that she is sitting in a rocking chair with a blanket covering her legs while we all gather around her for a photo- she felt like a great grandma- we died laughing. Sure do love having everyone together.}

lately through the linz...

life according to my iphone:

What can I say- pregnancy is tiring! By the time I have done the things, I am too tired to blog about doing the things! I have, however, been snapping photos along the way. Here is a "lately through the linz" update for ya...

We did some house hunting and we played some mini golf. I used this specially-for-me reserved parking.

I've craved burgers, I've watched my belly grow, I bought an outfit for little girl, and I have loved the fall.

We went to the new Dunkin' Donuts and it was so good- the chocolate filled ones are my new favorite, but their lattes are even better than their donuts!

We celebrated Andrew turning one, I visited Mom's Day Outs, I got to see baby girl sucking her thumb. AND we signed our lives away- err- I mean, bought a new house!

We said goodbye to the Dudley- my home for 5 years... we traveled to Canton and found this adorable halloween outfit for next year ;)

 We went on a road trip to Tahlequah, Oklahoma with Russell and Tiffany for Nick and Angie's wedding.

We held a successful work meeting, Tison finished the fence and the boys were welcomed into our new home, and I picked out chalk paint at Milling Around for the nursery furniture!

I read Divergent and loved it- Allison threw an amazing book club. We are currently reading Gone Girl.

We painted the nursery walls and the furniture and picked out bedding...

We celebrated Halloween at Kate's house with delicious treats and pumpkin carving.

 We made smores.

I went to Paul's wedding and watched Maggie dance, I started noticing Christmas items in stores already. We had special visitors from Chicago over for dinner. Aiden is such a precious baby girl! And Tison and I both dressed up for Halloween at work. Aren't we festive ;)

 Our friend Leslie threw a Halloween party and her house was decorated to the nines! Loved it. There was also a pretty heated debate about the rules of beer pong... yep, my husband led the discussion.

 The boys are having a ball in their new backyard. I am enjoying watching them play in this bigger space. We had the family over for 'family dinner' and Tison made homemade french onion soup!

I have been looking around at TJMaxx, Marshalls, Tuesday Morning, and World Market for home decor ideas :)

I am 26 weeks pregnant! Whoohoo!

 And we are still going strong with Movie Night every Thursday- last night we watched White House Down (a very silly movie) while dining on bbq bacon wrapped chicken, bbq beans, salad, hawaiian rolls, and rice crispy treats (a very good meal)!

Well, there ya go! We are all up to date now :) xoxo

pickled progress...

I have really been wanting Pluckers fried pickles and Mr. T, great husband that he is, got all the supplies to make his version of my favorites at home this weekend!

Ingredients included: 

smashed corn flakes, buttermilk with eggs and Louisiana hot sauce, flour, pickles, and canola oil

{While the oil was getting hot, T dunked the pickles in the milk, then the flour, and finally the corn flakes. His fingers were also well coated for frying!} 

{Our first batch cooked quickly and turned dark brown in what seemed like an instant - maybe the peanut oil would have been worth the $21 they were selling it for - but with more of a watchful eye, the second set was juuuust right! A little ranch for dipping and I felt like I was sitting on Bluebonnet in Baton Rouge enjoying my favorite fried pickles!}

Other cooking adventures of the weekend:

Beer Bread that we used for grilled cheeses

Black Bean and Cheese Dip with chorizo tacos

Oven Roasted Tomatoes at family dinner

Of course nothing tops Mom's work in the kitchen. For family dinner this Sunday we had teriyaki grilled chicken, zucchini boats, homemade guacamole dip, oven roasted tomatoes, roasted red potatoes with onion, and a fruit pizza for dessert!

{Hudson tried on his dad's glasses- doesn't he kind of look like the Jerry Maguire kid here?}

-post title inspired by this blog-which is now siddathornton-

making a house a home...

Things are beginning to settle down around here- post wedding and honeymoon. I am excited to share all of the stories and photos with you detailing our beautiful wedding day and adventurous road trip! If you know me at all, you know that I took a gazillion pictures of the trip and I just haven't been able to organize them yet into a blog post. However, that day is coming soon. What I have been doing is organizing our little house and making it cozy with all the wonderfully generous items our friends and family gifted us with over the last year.

When we got back from our honeymoon and picked up all the boxes from my mom's house, I was so anxious to set the table with our new placemats, napkins, plates, and silverware that once I did, we scheduled two dinner parties! I have christened the bread maker and the pistachio green kitchenaid mixer with pizza and a strawberry cake. I am looking forward to making popcorn with our whirley pop gadget and experimenting with our new ice cream maker! Mr. T is in the process of growing some watermelons and I am kind of hoping to make homemade popsicles out of them. I feel so inspired by all of these new kitchen accessories! My grandmother was a home economics teacher and my mom is the queen of the kitchen, so surely there is some of that in my genes, right?

My new role as a wife is different than a girlfriend or fiance, there's a lot of weight in that title -but the day-to-day stuff is a lot of the same- in a good way! I continue to ask myself, "What can I do for Tison today? How can I show him I love him right now?" This next chapter in our lives has so much potential and is filled with an ocean of possibilities. Talking with my husband about our future goals- sharing our dreams and encouraging one another to reach them...these are the things that make life worth living. This creative, positive, loving energy that is alive in our conversations inspires me daily. Can you tell my love language is quality time??

(yes, I still have some work to do on my baking techniques...but it was tasty!)

*photos from this weekend

things to remember from family dinner...

Mom: No one can calm a baby like you, Mom. You are stunning.

Leslie: You could have any hair color and still look like a super model. It really is amazing.

David: It never fails that you will make a funny face at the camera...
I am feeling a collage coming on!

Lauren: How can you put together a well balanced meal for 7 with 2 kids running around? The answer is- quite perfectly. Thanks for the chicken fettuccine, salad, rolls, and cake.

Dad: I'm impressed that you have taught your grandson to "dap."
Way to keep it real, Poppa Doc.

Hudson: I could eat you up. I love playing chase with you in the backyard as you scream at the top of your lungs. (I also love screaming at the top of mine.)

Andrew: You have lost your newborn "tan" and are starting to look more like your mom to me. That is a very good thing sonny boy. You mom says that you are in a fussy stage and don't really like to be awake. I wish I could take away any tummy pain you are having.
You're too cute to pout.

Tison: I had a really good time with you at the Marriage Prep weekend. Learning our love languages and personality types was not only informative, but fun. I am enjoying putting our lessons into practice already. I can't wait to be married to you.