How many years?

Has it been since I posted?

Rory is now in his second semester as a freshman at Notre Dame. We loved having him at Christmas!

Reid is a senior at Jesuit. I just dropped him off at work at Liberty Burger. He's been working there since the beginning of Junior year. His BFF Daniel was working there at the time, so Reid thought it sounded fun! He's gotten all his college apps in ~ ND, Fordham (his #1 choice) Chicago Loyola, Baltimore and Spring Hill. I'm very curious what his choice will be. He's headed to Italy over Spring Break just as Rory did last year. We had Mattia stay with us this fall and Reid will be staying with his family in Milan.

Rudder is a junior and just finished up his second time acting in Jesuit One Acts. He was also in Jesuit's production of The Outsiders in the fall playing the policeman and a soc. He is still just as close to his posse as ever1

Riley is in 7th grade, part of the choir, musical (Beauty and the Beast as a servant) and girl scots. She also dances at the studio on Wednesdays in MT class.

We're almost done with the big kitchen and family room switch. We've used Holter Homes and even though it was supposed to be done for Thanksgiving and there's still a lot of trim / finishout to be done, it's beautiful! Regis is cooking a pot roast right now and I'm going to make an iron skillet cookie for dessert! YUM!

It's my second year owning the studio. We just tried an experiment yesterday... Jessica is the new Company Director and we had showcase yesterday, 5 weeks before our first comp, as a dry run with the teachers acting as judges. We also had a lovely dessert reception put together by the moms. I think in the long run it will pay off even though I had a huge panic moment when the girl literally did not know the entire last part of production.

We have a "new" dog (for two and a half years now) Shakespeare! He's a standard poodle who we all love even though he can be feisty!

Enough catching up for now... time to make dessert!

Carnival Weekend 2014

September 2014


This week our neighbors down the block for 12 years moved to Arkansas. I didn't realize how much I would miss them until I drive home passing the moving truck and saw their Big Green Egg sitting out on the front lawn waiting to be loaded up. That Egg provided many neighborhood meals, contests, and good times. We had one neighborhood progressive dinner and now that they're gone I'm sad we didm;t do it again. We talked about it... a lot. Talya even tried but we're so busy now with the two older boys at Jesuit we could't commit.

Now I wonder who is going to be the glue for our neighborhood? Start the parties up? Is that Regis and I?

It's a busy weekend here, it's Bingo / Carnival at STA...Rudd's last one and the first one in seven years that Melissa and I didn't chair the pep rallies. Both of which were bittersweet.

Reid was so very excited for his first bingo night back as a Freshman. (It's a very big deal for the freshmen to come back and see everyone.) But when he arrived he found out that most of his class was at the BL football game. He was so disappointed so I took him and two other Jesuit boys over to BL. The talk in the car on the way there was priceless...who has asked whom to their first Homecoming mostly. No sooner had I parked, after much searching for a spot at a busy bingo night, did I get a text from him asking me to come and pick him up. What! I haven;t even eaten, or visited, or had one of those really cold beers that I really never drink but at carnival taste sooooo good because it's so hot...and muggy...no matter what. every year.

I told him I'd leave in a hour which turned into two trying to gather the troops and spring Rudder and Jett from the dance. Finally Riley and I headed that way. Turned out most of his buds were at bingo and the game was only ok. His crew mates were there though.

Rudder attended his last carnival dance with his crazy bunch. Rudder, Joe, Jonathan, Jett, Matthew Garrett and Connor. A few of them have been together since preschool and as others have moved in they've become close. And so have the parents. We started the school year with a dinner at The Lot and there devised a plan for a monthly girl's night. Christine has September which is foot massages tomorrow night.I'm November and I'm thinking drinks at Veritas and bringing in dinner? I love visiting that place with Regis!

Riley's Girl Scout troop is performing in the carnival talent show today. A rhythm stick routine (done by moi!) to Imagine Dragons' "On Top of the World. Thanks Rory for the introduction to that band!

Spring Break 2012

SO, Rudder caught a glimpse of this blog as I was typing last night and begged this morning to see the picture on the front. He thought Riley was so cute like a little muppet! He asked if I had blogged about our spring break adventures, specifically their log ride adventure at Dinosaur Valley State Park...so here goes...

As we are trying to save money for a hopeful trip ti visit Rick in Brazil the summer of 2013 we stayed home this year a planned a STAYCATION :)

Monday: Dallas World Aquarium with the cousins James and Jacob, Hillary and Heidi.


Tuesday: The Lorax Movie with Grandmel

Wednesday: Dinosaur alley State Park with Regis, Grandmel and Gramps and Kate. We picnicked in the usual spot first so the kids could play on the swing set and climb on the rocks. Riley decided some boy was following her so she whacked with a stick and then hit him for good measure. Regis took care of that one. SHe apologized and he dealt with the mother. Whew! So the log ride. It had been raining a lot and the Paluxy river was higher than ever before, Usually even a baby can sit in the water its only a few inches high. Well, this year it was running and had a fast current. The first time the kids tired to cross they went without us as usual and Kate started to get swept away but RUdder held on telling her I won;t ever let you go! They finally got her up only to have Riley slip on the rocks and start to go! It as all very dramatic so Regis pulls off his shoes ( after I unkindly snapped) at him and runs in to get her (and so does grandmel) After that I take Kate across while Regis takes Riley and it was HARD! I was nervous especially on the way back because I knew how fast the current was running, the rocks are slippery and you're trying to get across one way while a heard of people are on the same rocks trying to get where you're coming from!

SO we move on the the second crossing spot downstream which is even wilder because the rocks are farther apart but we make it across, it's Riley's favorite because there are little inlets to swim in and all she wants is to be in the water. After a while I realize I cant see the boys anymore...hmmm. SO we head back across (again very scary but people were helping each other out this time...I'll take your kid you take my kid) and Regis heads down to the third spot to try and find the boys. When we do they had been on perhaps the grandest adventure of their lives. The kind of adventure that it's very good a mother does not know about as it's happening! :)

The had found a large log in the water and dislodged it. It was long enough for them all to sit on it or hang on and float. Which is just what they did! Reid had procured a walking stick as we set off to the river and they took turns using it to guide them way down the river! It was like Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer which is exactly what they said. Never mind there were very deep spot where they could have drowned or at one point they got stuck in the middle on a sand bar and had to work together to figure out what to do or that they were sure I would be angry... it was all very scary and very exciting and EXACTLY the kind of adventure every boy needs!!

Thursday: We had a down day so we could all recover although the kids did sleep downstairs. Reid stayed up until 4:00am! (riley and rory gave up at 12:30 am and came to bed)

Friday: Science and Nature museum but all but Rory were so tired from the night before that we skipped the Nature museum after the usual PB&J sandwiches in the car and headed (the whole five minutes) home.

Saturday: was the usual stuff, karate, working on the house but it WAS St. Patrick's Day too so we cooked five corn beefs, ten pounds of potatoes and more so that we could have everyone over and had a wonderful dinner out on the back porch!

Sunday: was the best, we just hung out at home, no chores, no cooking just leftovers. We all worked to clean up the backyard and planted some herbs that Riley and bought at home depot using a gift card thank you very much! Basil Cilantro and oregano (i think!)

The it was back to work on Monday. :)

Hard day/ Good Day

3/23/12:
Rudder came home with his first detention today for not having his log book signed. It was SO very sad. Then NOTHING went his way after that. He wanted a cup of his favorite tea and started to make it in the keurig only to discover there was a coffee pod still in there ruining his tea...and it was the last bag of the tea.I made a quick call to R though who was heading to the grocery store and he picked up two boxes full of his favorites! Then we did make your own pizza (veggie style for lent of course!) and that helped him too. SO next Thursday the Allison Boys will be representing in Detention... Rudder for 30 minutes and Rory for the full two hours for six efforts marks. SO sad! I'm praying the detention doesn't knock Rudd off the honor list though!

Riley wanted to sleep on the floor by my bed so I made her a palate from which she repeatedly shouted her new catch phrase"I'm an inch worm!!" Right as she was drifting off she said "Mommy, I don't love to the very top of my heart, I only love God that much but I love you three squishes below that" It doesn't get much better :)

Scrambler: GRILLED CURRY LIME PORK TENDERLOIN

GRILLED CURRY LIME PORK TENDERLOIN

Ingredients for main dish
1 1/2-2 lbs. pork tenderloin, (or use boneless chicken)
1 lime, (use 3 Tbsp. juice and 1/2 tsp. lime zest)
2 Tbsp. fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
1 1/2 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp. canola or vegetable oil
2 tsp. curry powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper

Ingredients for side dish - GRILLED BROCCOLI
1-2 heads broccoli, cut into spears (s)
1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil (s)
1 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese (optional) (s)

Ingredients for side dish - STEAMED RICE WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS
1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil (s)
1/4 yellow onion (s)
1 cup white rice (s)
1/4 tsp. salt (s)
1/4- 1/2 tsp. curry powder (optional) (s)
2 cups water (s)

INSTRUCTION FOR PORK
Lay the tenderloin in a flat dish with sides, just big enough to hold it in one layer. In a small bowl, whisk together all the remaining ingredients. Brush or pour the mixture over the tenderloin, and flip the meat several times to coat it. Marinate it in the refrigerator, covered, for at least 30 minutes and up to 24 hours.

Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. (Alternatively, you can bake it in the marinade at 400 degrees for 20 - 25 minutes.) (Meanwhile, prepare the broccoli and the rice.) Grill the tenderloin for 20-25 minutes, turning it occasionally, until it is nicely browned on the outside and just a tiny bit pink in the middle of the thickest part, or has an internal temperature of 144 - 155 degrees. Slice the tenderloin to serve it.

Do Ahead or Delegate: Prepare the marinade and marinate the pork.

Scramble Flavor Booster: Add a little red curry paste or chili garlic sauce to the marinade.

Tip:

Pork tenderloin, the tenderest cut of pork, is a very versatile piece of meat. It is delicious both cut into medallions and sautéed, or baked or grilled whole, as suggested above.

Servings & Prep Time
Prep time: 10 minutes + time to marinate or chill. Cook time: 25 minutes
Servings: 6







SERVE WITH GRILLED BROCCOLI & STEAMED RICE WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS
To grill broccoli, cut 1 - 2 heads broccoli into long spears. Toss or brush them with 1 Tbsp. olive oil. Grill the spears directly on the grill or on a vegetable tray or aluminum foil, flipping once (use tongs), until they are lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Toss the grilled broccoli with 1 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.

For the rice, in a heavy saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, sauté 1/4 yellow onion, diced, in 1 Tbsp. olive oil over medium heat until the onions are lightly browned. Add 1 cup white rice, 1/4 tsp. salt and 1/4 - 1/2 tsp. curry powder (optional) and stir the rice to coat the grains with the oil. Add 2 cups water or broth, bring it to a boil, and simmer the rice, covered, for 15 - 20 minutes, or according to the package directions.

Waay too long!

SO I've obviously been away too long! Work, kids activities, their school everything! Boy I had fun reading what we were up to bacl then! I need to be better about keeping that up. So, What's been going on? Rory is on 6th grade now officially Jr High and really liking it. He's also a green belt in karate! Reid is playing soccer again after a while off. He's on a team called the Rockets and I can't say enough good things about the coach. Rudder is still dancing and doing gymnastics. Riley has started kindergarten, become a Daisy Scout and loves it ALL!

Well, I've got lesson plans to do... hopefully it won;t be two years before I'm back!

WOW it's been a while! I can't believe it's the holidays already! We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. The DH's uncle has a farm in Oklahoma and every year most of the family decends on him and his sweet wife. It's just perfect, no TV, lots and lots of open space for the kids to play, lots and lots of cousins to play with, and no worries about cars, drwoing, kidnapping, all the usual thing I worry about at home! ;)

This year it had the added bonus of a fallen tree needing to be burned! The wonderful husband always says that was one of his favorite times times while growing up, burning brush at the farm. Well, this year our kids got to experience it.Very fun, although I'm still not sure how it doesn't catch onto the surrounding grass and just go!!

We always do the early morning black friday shopping trip at Wal-Mart. So there we were at 5am. People were NOT nice this year! =( Usually it's friendly, other customers are joking, helping others out, answering where they found such and such... and it's very "spirit of Christmas-y".

NOT this year!!My brother-in -law was knocked repeatedly in the back if the legs by other shopping carts. I passed a mother YELLING at her little girl (about 7) to "shut up, I said shut up and come on, now tie your shoe and shut up!!" Really? REALLY...what you need is SO important it's worth ruining a Christmas shopping trip and quite possibly your child? I often wonder with parents who behave like that, if that's how they are in public, what are they like behind closed doors?

Well, I've digressed to a not very happy place!

So that long and short of it is, we had a wonderful time! Riley enjoyed being with the other girls and a stray cat she named Fluffy (until it bit and scratched her) at which point she cried inconsolably because "Fluffly hated" her and she loved him. Reid and Rudd loved being with their cousins and Rory was our birthday boy.

Eleven years old! Goodness, I can;t believe it! Happy birthday sweetie! we love you SO much and are so grateful God chose us as your parents!