Weekend Recap: More pumpkins and a birthday

This weekend was filled to the brim with lots of non-stop fun! We had a few things all coming together at once: Fall Break, OU/TX weekend, my birthday, and family visiting.

My grandma from Alabama came into town and met Molly for the first time. They hit it off and Molly got to spend some good quality time with her. My parents and my brother also made the trip.

On Friday we kicked off the weekend with a visit to the Dallas Arboretum. Autumn at the Arboretum is one of the most amazing things you will ever see. Its world renowned for its Pumpkin Village with over 50,000 pumpkins creating lots of beautiful displays. We didn't get a chance to go last year so I was excited to check it out and take Molly. We are so so lucky to have a place like this right in our backyard.

After exploring the pumpkin village we found a nice lush spot in the grass to have a breakfast picnic. 

On Saturday it was the big game. OU vs Texas! If you are not from either school or live in the area you might not be aware of this tradition. Every year OU and Texas play on neutral ground at the Cotton Bowl in the Dallas fairgrounds. Its a huge rivalry and there is lots of trash talk and crazy times. Plus they divide the stadium 50/50 at the 50 yard line so half is red and the other half is orange. I have been going to this game since college. Its so much fun.

Come Sunday it was birthday time! I turned the big 2-8. I am officially in my late 20's and headed for 30. I am okay with that though. I might not be exactly where I thought I would be at 28 but where I am is pretty darn good. A lot happened in my 27th year, it was incredibly hard and tested me like I have never been tested before but it was the most amazing year of my life. We did not expect my 27th year to kick off with a baby but boy are we happy it did. (a little glimpse at last years bday and my bump!)

We jumpstarted my birthday with brunch (and mimosas!) at OddFellows and then hit up the nearby market.

We followed up brunch with present opening and cake! Yum. Plus I had a handy little helper with my presents this year.

Whew! What a weekend. It wore me out but it was oh so much fun!

Now, lets do this 28 thing.

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First two arboretum photos courtesy of the dallas arboretum website.

Texas State Fair - Take Two

Last year was our first year to experience The Great State Fair of Texas that is right around the corner from our house. We started a couple of new traditions last year: 1. Sneak into the OU/TX game and 2. Try all the crazy fried foods. In true tradition form we picked those right back up this year as soon as the fair set up shop.

The OU/TX game sneak-in was successful for the second straight year and we got to see OU put a pounding on Texas which is always fun. But more importantly we carried out the 2nd Annual Fried Food Tour (check out our tour last year).

So without further ado, let us begin our tour.

First stop on the fried food train, deep fried biscuits and gravy. Take your basic biscuit, fill the inside with gravy and then flash fry it. Not bad but not great either.

Fried biscuits and gravy


Rolling right along we hit up the item that won the Texas State Fair contest for best tasting 2011, Buffalo Chicken in a Flapjack. Buffalo chicken, rolled in a jalapeno flapjack, fried and served with syrup. The chicken and waffles approach. Salty, sweet and delicious. Our 2nd favorite item of the evening.

Buffalo Chicken in a Flapjack


After the sweet and salty from the flapjack we were on the hunt for something a little spicy, enter  Fried Salsa. Chase was really excited about this one but it ended up being pretty disappointing.

Fried Salsa


Time to stop for an ice cold beer and a chat with Big Tex.

Big Tex


Then on to more fried goodness. After the salsa dissapointment we needed something we knew would be good so we hit up the best tasting from 2010, Fried Frito Chili Pie. We had this last year and it was our favorite. It was just as yummy this year. Was our #1 favorite thing again this year.

Fried Frito Chili Pie


And what's a state fair without a corn dog?

Corny dogs


After all this, we were stuffed but we HAD to try some dessert (plus we still had a bunch of coupons left). We hit up the Fried Autumn Pie- a pumpkin pie gingerbread concoction that was to die for! And Fried Pineapple Upside Down Cake which Chase had to force down because we were so full.
 
Fried Autumn Pie & Fried Pineapple Upside Down Cake


Whew! That was a lot of food and we were feeling the affects. Chase was highly considering sticking his finger down his throat on the walk back to the car so he could puke it all up (he chickened out and didn't do it). Another successful Fried Food Tour.

Until next year when we do it all over again -- and introduce Molly to the magic of the fair!

Bedlam 2010

bedlam  noun  (bed′ləm)
A place or situation of chaotic uproar, and where confusion prevails.


In Oklahoma, college football rules the Fall and Winter season and at the end of every regular season Bedlam takes center stage.  Bedlam is the rivalry game between the state's top universities, The University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University.  Check out the elaborate definition and history of The Bedlam Series at Wikipedia, its actually quite interesting.


However, the only tidbit of information you really need to know is that Oklahoma currently leads the series 82-16-7.   The other interesting piece of information is that Chase and I are on opposite sides of the Bedlam rivalry, which leads to some pretty interesting game days.


This year Bedlam was only a few short days removed from our wedding so it was extra special and exciting.  And I must mention that Paisley (our dog) is an OU fan.  





We decided to ride to Stillwater for the game in style.





And I was forced to tailgate with a bunch of Pokes.





But we ended up with great seats for the game.  It turned out to be a total showdown.  Very exciting.





In the end, OU was victorious!!  OU:47 - OSU:41


Next stop...Big 12 Championship.