Father's Day Weekend (along with MANY hyperlinks)

We had a great Father's Day weekend, complete with Gigi, Doc, and Gramps!  Everyone got to see the new house, and Thomas got in some great playtime with the grandparents, which is always one of his favorite things to do.

In fact, on Friday morning, I went into his room to get him up, and said, "Thomas, Gigi and Doc are coming today after school!" 

That kid hopped up like his butt was on fire.  He was so pumped.  Immediately, he said, "I'm gonna show Gigi/Doc my new room!"  (side note---I simply LOVE how Thomas refers to them as one entity.  It's never Gigi AND Doc--always GigiDoc. :)

So you can imagine how thrilled he was when Gigi/Doc came with me to pick him up from school Friday afternoon.  This was, of course, after I had a little alone time with my mommy and daddy, outside of them having to be Gigi/Doc.  We went ot lunch at Olexa's, complete with warm vanilla wedding cake topped with chocolate ganache...oh my. 

Then after lunch, I took them to check out the house, and then they made my day by saying our housewarming present was ...  WAIT FOR IT: a trip to Target.

Best. Ever.

So while dad found a comfy recliner in the Target furniture section to relax in, mom and I picked out some great little treats for the house.   A fun new rug for T's room, and a new rug for the playroom, and on top of that curtains and a rod for the playroom to cover up what we're using as our makeshift attic space.  And I just think it looks fantastic.

So thanks mom & dad.  Quite the little treat.

After we picked up T, we went and met BT for dinner after he got off work at Village Tavern.  Another great spot, great service, and you would have thought the four adults were on a standard cruise ship meal plan, as all our plates looked the same: steak and mashed taters.  Maybe we should all check our iron levels soon....

Saturday started off with breakfast at Homewood Diner.  Have you guys been here yet?  I have to tell you, because it would really be a disservice not to tell you: they have the BEST cinammon rolls I have EVER put in my mouth.  For serious.  In every way.  This is sort of becoming our new favorite go-to little hometown place.  We are loving it.  Great food for great prices in a great little atmosphere. 

Can you sense a theme so far? 

Father's Day Weekend theme was apparently EATING.

After breakfast, we went over to Railroad Park for a little bit before we hit up the new Dora & Diego exhibit at McWane Center.  OH MY GOODNESS.  I didn't think we were going to be able to get Thomas out of there.  It was like watching a crack addict who hadn't been with the good stuff in a long time.  The kid went nuts.  In fact, after we finally pulled him off the Dora and Diego floor, we had to go back up there one more time before we left. 

T @ the Diego/Dora Exhibit

So my parents headed back home after McWane, and after nap, we hit the Freshworks festival up for a little bit.  That's where T discovered his (and mine too) love for the newest craze: Steel City Pops.   Oh my.  In case you were wondering, they really are as good as they say.  I recommend the strawberry. 

After that is when the shopping and prepping began.  I sent BT to the grocery store to get the food while I took T to get BT's father's day stuff. 

I have to admit.  I did a little Pinterest thing.  I can't believe I have caved to Pinterest.  But I did.  So oh well.  I have to acknowlege it, and just move on .  There.  It's out. 

How cute did THIS turn out?!

I'll leave it up to your imagination what label is behind the homemade sticker :-)

So to say I was ready to fall asleep on my face about 7pm Saturday night is an understatement.  Of course, I couldn't, because I had to make the dough for the pie crust.  But more on that in a second.

Sunday morning, my alarm went off at 5:45, and the Father's Day Feast prep began.  I got inspired this year by none other than the Pioneer Woman herself.  In fact, I picked the recipes I used of hers after I watched her food network show. 

And I need to tell you to do something: GO MAKE THESE RIGHT AWAY.

Father's Day Feast included her Spicy Pop Pulled Pork, sauteed green beans, tasty rolls, baked potatoes, and for desert, her Flat Apple Pies with perfect pie crust (and the pie crust really was perfect, and EASY AS PIE, pun intended). 

In fact, both recipes of hers were SO easy, that I'm sort of embarrased to say that's what they were.  But I guess it works in my favor, and it'll work in yours too.  Because both taste like you slaved in the kitchen for hours.  In fact, aside from the little bit of prep time involved (I made the dough the night before and stored it in ziploc bags, then rolled it out the next day), the food essentially cooks itself.  Especially the pork.

Now remember this if you make the pork (which  you should): it does have a bit of a kick to it.  I mean, it marinates for six hours in chipotle peppers.  But from someone who likes spicy, but not too spicy,  I can tell you it's actually the perfect combo of sweet and spicy, thanks to the brown sugar.  Just make sure you remove the chipotles before serving. 

I never took a picture of the pork.  But I can tell you it went really fast. 

But this is how my pies turned out. 
I can tell you they were good because BT ate off it for the two days following that!

So Gramps and BT had quite the feast that day.  Thomas preferred the pie over the rest.  Of course, who doesn't?

On another note, I've ordered my (very) early Christmas present.  A new camera, which I'm super excited about.  I wanted to go ahead and get it for our trips this summer.  Beach & Disney are both coming up very soon.   Can I just say: I am SO excited to spend an entire week at the beach.  It'll be me, BT, Thomas, my parents, and my brother. 

And even better: fireworks at the beach for the Fourth. 

It's been a long time since I've gotten to see those fireworks in the sky over the water....

Just somethin' about it.

Yes, y'all, it's a very GOOD year.