Cowgirl Up?

Once upon a time, Waylon Jennings crooned to the mamas out there, begging them not to let their babies grow up to be cowboys.  I always thought, hey, what about the chicas? Doesn't every girl have the desire to man the reigns, to kick up dust, to wear cowboy boots for other reasons than the desire to be on-trend? 

Nope. Well, at least not in this house.

  I have a whole photo shoot's worth of evidence to the contrary. You see, Felicia's lovely cousin Maggie picked out a special little cowgirl hat for Feesh.  It. Is. Adorable. (Or if I want to be on trend, I'd say it is adorbs. Don't think I want to go that far yet.) Anyway, Mags requested pictures of Feesh wearing said lovely hat.   

(The non-Smartphone you see was meant to be a distraction, as Feesh struggles with the concept that hats go on heads.)

No, Mom!

Take a hike, Mom.  I'm busy trying to agree to the terms of your mobile application usage agreement.

Stop holding my hands- I want this thing off!!

 She indulges me for about two more photos while I hold her hands away from her head.

 

Shoot 'em up, Tex. I have to say, she if she had a holster, that phone may very well have ended up in it.

Then...it's the look. I think that one will be seared into my brain forever. Yikes. If it was any other baby? Nightmares. Yep. *Night.*Mares.*

And at last, she remembers she is mobile and rides off into the sunset away from the preying coyote that is her mother. I get one more strike in. Victory.

Sorry, Gretchen Wilson. Don't let the fact that she trolls around in the house only in a diaper fool you. You're going to have to find some other "high-class broad" to do your bidding and hang out with you on your four-wheeler while your porch alights in the background with the July sunset and the Christmas lights you refuse to take down.

She's more of a Stones kinda gal, anyway.

Summer Yummy Time.

You know your life revolves around food when the highlight of your week (which at any given week includes traveling, playdates, and moms' nights out, and trips Petco to look at birds and mice) is shopping for groceries. Don't even get me started when it's Farmers Market season.  

And now that I'm enjoying a good bottle of wine more often these days, it makes planning for and cooking meals that much more enjoyable. 

I have been experimenting with kale these days, and this pesto was so much fun to create with it. Olive oil, parmesan...what's not to love? Oh, the kale. If you don't like it. Yeah, it's an acquired taste- but if you like kale, you'll adore this pesto.  And a white wine goes so well with it. Especially a chardonnay that escapes the usual discrimination- too oaky, dry, whatever- it's great!

(Ignore the naughty name if you must, but try the wine.)

We tossed some whole-wheat spaghetti (Target has a great store brand, just FYI) with the pesto and sauteed up some fresh, chopped tomatoes and mushrooms for a side. The white stuff in there is goat cheese. Give it a shot- goat cheese can be a great complement to vegetables!

I really don't know what I'll do when tomato season and Farmers Market season is over. 

Really, it's worse than the post-college-football-season slump I get into. I like the Chiefs and all, but NFL post-season just doesn't compare to college football game days. (Okay, unless said NFL post-season game day involves beer, my giant and soft Chiefs blanket, and James at the grill. And possibly a babysitter.)

But that's a lot of 'unlesses.'

"Whassup with that, Moms? I dig football, too!"

Sorry, Feesh.

Anyway, to cheer myself up from that gloomy thinking, please allow me to share with you some ridiculously good recipes. I planned a menu full of my favorites this week, (some from my 'tested' board on Pinterest) seeing as we will be hitting a travel deluge once we hit August and on through October and well-planned cooking may fall by the wayside a bit.

Do yourself a favor- don't ignore the salad. I repeat, do not ignore the salad.  

 It's just too good to pass up. It is the most tasty recipe I've followed in a very long time.

 7/25: Buffalo Chicken Tacos

 7/26: Black Bean and Zucchini Quesadillas

 7/27: Mushroom-Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

7/28: Couscous w/Kale & Goat Cheese

I am actually using quinoa because I have it on hand already.

 7/29:Basil-Parmesan Risotto

7/30: Mama's Night Out

7/31: Southwest Chicken Chop Salad

Summer Livin

Summertime and the livin' is easy...

if you're a wee toddler, that is.

It has been a super busy summer for the family/extended family, and fall looks to be just as, if not more, hectic.  (Includes Feesh's first three plane trips- yikes!)

Even though we've been very busy, we've had tons of fun with our wonderful friends and families. 

June: After celebrating Feesh's first birthday, we enjoyed Father's Day...

                                                 

and stroller-ed our way around St. Louis with two babies.  We trained it the whole way, Amtrak-ing it from KC to St. Louis and ditching the car seats for light rail while visiting.  Feesh especially enjoyed the girl talk on the train. I think she and Lucy will make for good buddies!

Traveling with babies requires much planning and packing.  I think both families handled the responsibility well.

The next few shots are of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis (located in the Central West End area, which is where we spent a lot of our time). I highly recommend visiting this beyond-beautiful space, even if you are not Catholic. Any person of faith and spirituality would relish in the holiness and beauty of this campus. Seriously- even the babies had their reverent moments!

 

 St. Louis has an amazing zoo! And it's FREE! And it has PENGUINS!
James and Feesh were in absolute heaven. I'm pretty sure Lucy enjoyed herself, too!

 

 

The trip sure tuckered out the family. Smoosh.

Let's just not even discuss the train ride back.

We'll be back to share our favorite photos from July with the Bruck, Ahrens, and Klemz families next. But for now, I have to go...

there is a not-so-reverent moment occuring in Feesh's crib.


 

The Case of the Missing Cupcake Affection

Feesh got to celebrate her first birthday in style. She enjoyed two birthday parties- one in Iowa with family (thanks for hosting, Grandma and Grandpa!), and one in Kansas with our "extended family," as we like to call them.  Thanks again to everyone who helped us celebrate this special occasion. We are incredibly grateful and so blessed.

(Sorry to disappoint, but Feesh didn't provide the crowds with much messy cupcake affection, so these are relatively "clean" photos!)

Iowa Party

 

 

Kansas Party