Pyles of Fun!

20 Years Remembered

noreply@blogger.com (Pyles of Fun) — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 19:31:00 +0000

April 19, 1995

Today marks 20 years since the Oklahoma City bombing.

I remember sitting in my 5th grade class and hearing a big boom of thunder around 9a.m. which was odd since it was a clear day. I remember the field trip we were supposed to leave for shortly to downtown Oklahoma City just blocks away from the bombing was cancelled but none of us knew why. I remember various friends leaving throughout the day to go find out the fate of one of their parents. I remember rumors of an explosion in downtown but not understanding how big or how close it was. I remember the day my state and home city was attacked, but I remember it through the eyes of a 10 year old who didn't fully comprehend any of it.

Now, today I am struck anew by the devastation of that day as I look upon it as a 30 year old instead. I see it now through the lens of a mother's whose children go to daycare and my heart aches for the mothers who lost their children in that daycare. It was not fair. I see it now through the lens of a wife whose husband goes downtown each day to work & runs by the site every week. My heart aches for those who lost their spouse that day. It was not fair. I see it now through the lens of a suburban Oklahoma family who wouldn't ever dream of something like this happening in our state much less our area. My heart aches for our state and the scar it left on so many of us.

And I see the survivor tree and I am reminded of the goodness of God. I am reminded that in spite of evil, our God is supreme and we have a Hope. I am reminded of the resilience of Oklahoma City and how everyone came together to support & love one another in the face of the worst tragedy we had ever and hope to ever know. I am proud to be an Oklahoman.

The Run Free Mama Dash

noreply@blogger.com (Pyles of Fun) — Sat, 10 May 2014 16:30:00 +0000

You’ve heard of the Warrior Dash, the Color Run, and even Glow Runs. Neat. We have too. But when we tried to think of what makes a person a true athlete…a true warrior, if you will, there was nothing that more clearly identified the kind of champions we strive to be than this little adventure race called Motherhood.

When we saw the Run Free Mama Dash Adventure Race was going to be held on Mothers’ Day weekend, we knew we owed it to ourselves and our precious children to see if we had what it takes to test our mental and physical mommy strength. So, we gathered the fiercest group of mothers around and signed up.

Our adrenaline was really pumping as we geared up at the starting line. Our first challenge was to carry babies in the world’s heaviest contraptions (aka infant carseats). They loaded our little darlings down with full diapers to really give the obstacle the extra 3.5 pounds of weight it needed. And let us tell you, carrying these while running 5K…not easy. We just kept telling ourselves to pretend it was a Sunday morning sprint across the church parking lot. Because we all remember those Sunday mornings of being 40 minutes late to church because of baby spit up, toddler tantrums, and poop…so much poop. But, by golly, you got everyone dressed and to church and you were not going to let a simple thing like “being on time” stop you. Once we channeled that, the 5K was a breeze!

The next obstacle was The Diaper Crawl. This obstacle was built for us. Sure, as new mothers the smell of a baby’s poop was enough to send us gagging. But after changing somewhere in the range of 12,500 diapers, this obstacle was nothing we couldn’t handle. A little mommy competition may have even come out as we set out across the soiled battle field.

After The Diaper Crawl, we ran another 3 miles to The Grocery Store Challenge. All mothers know that grocery shopping with children is its own special experience. Sometimes the children are wonderful and engaged in the shopping experience. Other times, you have to be ready to run through that grocery store like your life depended on it. Because YOU KNOW you have exactly as long as the free Target cookie lasts until one of your children has a complete meltdown.


Public Service Announcement: If you own a pair of jeans that resemble these, THROW THEM AWAY! Mothers of the world, give up the Mom Jeans. They are not flattering. At all.

Why was this race so fun??? Because we had the loving support of our sweet husbands and children cheering us on the entire way! Just like any rough day, a simple sweet phrase and hug from your kiddo can make you feel like you can get back up and go an extra mile…or 20. The goldfish and juice boxes also provided just the sugar boost we needed.

After making record breaking time at the Grocery Store Challenge, we sprinted to the next obstacle. While this one appears to be simple in nature, The Highchair Highway was trickier than we expected. We strapped our youngest ones in and ran 3.2 miles. We must admit, the Goldfish crackers being thrown from the trays became an obstacle in and of themselves. If you think Goldfish dust isn’t a real thing, then you’ve never strapped a one-year-old in a highchair and run 3.2 miles. It’s all kinds of real.

But that Highchair challenge was only the beginning of the food throwing we were about to endure. As mothers, we’ve all been covered in peas, corn, and multiple other foods on more occasions than we can count. In fact, from the time our children were ages birth through 3, most of us didn’t purchase any new clothes because we just knew they’d end up covered in stains. So, this was a challenge we were fully prepared for. You aren’t a true mommy warrior unless you’ve been pelted with handfuls of corn and peas from multiple children all at one time!

The biggest challenge we had to face was the emotional endurance test – the Mile Long Nag. We ran as fast as we could through this obstacle, gathering our patience and endurance to help us push through. It was tough. It was draining. Even now, I can barely speak of the challenge without my head tilting slightly and forehead vein popping out.

Once we made it through that obstacle, we were tired. We were worn. We were exhausted. This race of motherhood isn’t for the faint of heart. But we kept running because that’s what mothers do. One foot in front of the other. One step at a time. And then we looked up and remembered why we do it. Because the blessings for which we run are completely worth it. And as we crossed that finish line, we were met with their sweet little faces eager to say, “GOOD JOB, MOMMY!” There, waiting at the finish line were our adorable children with their homemade medals. They were so proud of us!

You see, our children were waiting for us at a streamer that marked the end of this little adventure on pavement. But the true adventure of Motherhood never ends. From the day you find out you are expecting a bundle of joy, you are a mother. And you get the privilege of having that tile for...forever. No matter the age of your baby or the stage of life they are in, you will always be "Mom." What a blessing. What a privilege. What a journey. And so on this Mother's Day Weekend, we are reminded that this job - MOTHERHOOD - it is work. It is hard. It is 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. And there is nothing better than getting to do it each and every day.

Disclaimer: No children were harmed during the course of the Run Free Mama Dash Adventure Race. Blog post was written in conjunction with 2 Kids Playing House.

29 Before 30

noreply@blogger.com (Pyles of Fun) — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 00:25:00 +0000

In just a few weeks, I will celebrate my 29th birthday. My husband's 29th birthday was just a couple weeks ago, so we have been talking about what it means to be approaching the end of our twenties. These are the years we are supposed to look our best, have tons of energy, live a super active life, and savor our youth. However, the more we talked, the more we realized something very true about the Pyles. We are boring. We haven't been adventurous in our twenties - not even before our son was born. When people ask us, "What are your hobbies" or "What do you do in your spare time?", we both struggle to come up with what to say. The truth is we don't have any hobbies. We just spend time together, doing day to day things. Even before Nash came, our "hobby" was eating out and drinking a lot of wine. Not really something to brag about.

So, we have decided not to waste our final year in our twenties. Each of us is making a 29 Before 30 list of 29 things we must accomplish before we turn 30. Some of these are big undertakings, while others are minor life pleasures or accomplishments that we have never taken time to enjoy. Here are some of the things on my list, in no particular order:

Sew one thing for our soon-coming Baby Girl - I have an awesome sewing machine that I got for Christmas about 4 years ago. I have yet to use it. To be honest, I'm scared of it. Time to face that fear and bust it out! What better excuse than a baby girl?!
Memorize 10 Bible verses. I don't mean just regurgitating words that I know. I mean really ponder them, know them, and use them in life. I want to know God's Word better.
Cook real Pad Thai - none of this "from a box" stuff. I want to try to make the real thing.
Make a new friend. Who doesn't want a new friend? I'm now accepting applications. ;)
Be able to label all 50 states on a blank US map. I cannot even come close. I am terrible at geography - it's really embarrassing!
Create a love drawer . This is something Dave Ramsey taught us in Financial Peace University that is so important should something ever happen to Nathan or me. We have never taken the time to do it. Now is the time.
Visit all of the Oklahoma Diner, Drive-Ins and Dives restaurants within an hour of us.
Have a healthy BMI. The above goal is pretty much contradictory to this one, but there has to be cheat days in any diet, right? I don't need to be a supermodel by any means, but I do want to be healthy.
Read a classic book. The classics are consider classic for a reason right? I read some in school, but most likely I really just read the Spark Notes. Any favorites out there?
Successfully hard boil an egg. Yes, I know there are plenty of Pinterest pins and blogs that tell you the fool-proof way to do this. But somehow, I find a way to always mess it up. Not this year. You will not defeat me!

These are just a selection of the 29 things on my list, all aimed at improving myself, trying new things, and spending a year finding an answer to, "What do you do in your spare time?" So, here's to a more active final year in our twenties. This is going to be fun.

My Daily Blessings

noreply@blogger.com (Pyles of Fun) — Thu, 23 May 2013 01:29:00 +0000

Two days ago marked another tragic day in Oklahoma history as a 2-mile wide tornado tore through miles of Moore & South OKC. I have been overwhelmed by the destruction, the loss, and the helplessness of my beloved state. However, through this, an outpouring of love has come from fellow Oklahomans, Americans and people all over the world who are hurting along side our state and stepping up to care for us. It truly is amazing and humbling.

So, today I am choosing to see the blessings - the small moments that make up the larger moments that are our life - and thanking the Lord for another day with my loved ones. The things I usually take for granted are sweeter today.

My daily blessings:

Family worship time reading a simple toddler Bible story together followed by snuggles in bed and more books to read.
A cupcake date with my son.
Assembling a new rocking chair for our baby girl's nursery as a family, working together to make sure she is well cared for when she arrives in just a few short months.
Quiet moments in the house with two loving pups curled up at my feet.
Chaos moments in the house as we scramble to get everyone dressed, fed, lunches packed, teeth brushed, and out of the door on time.
The constant assurance of a Savior who is sovereign in the midst of all of life's moments - big, small, minute, and catastrophic - He is in control & He is good.

I hope you too will pause today and see your blessings through routine.

The Cluttered Living Room

noreply@blogger.com (Pyles of Fun) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 13:57:00 +0000

As I sit here enjoying the silence of my home and my tasty bagel with cream cheese, I look out across my kitchen and living room with a sigh. It is once again cluttered with toys on the floor & tables, blankets strewn across the couch, dishes in the sink while the dishwasher awaits emptying, and an empty milk carton sits smack in the middle of the island. It's easy to get frustrated as a mom with young children when our homes do not look the way we imagined them to be. But this morning, I am choosing to find joy in the clutter instead of frustration. You see, when Nathan and I were pre-kids, we swore we would never have a cluttered house. Our children's toys would stay in their own rooms and they would not invade our adult spaces. Ha! There is so much we didn't know.

I didn't know that the green ball in the middle of the kitchen floor would make me smile as I remember the joy on my toddler's face as he brought it up to me and declared it was pink. I didn't know that the books on the table would not be a point of annoyance but a reminder of the sweetest moments with my son when he carefully selects a book and without a word, backs into my lap to snuggle and read. I didn't know that the disheveled blankets would be because we were crawling through a fort the night before and then after bed, they served to help me snuggle up to my man while we enjoyed some quiet moments just the two of us reminiscing about the day and our wonderful life.

Yes, we give up a lot of personal domain when we welcome children into our families - but we get so much more. So today I choose to find the joy in the clutter - even the dirty dishes which continue to multiply because there are more mouths to feed and to love. We are blessed with clutter and I wouldn't have it any other way.

The Run Free Marathon

noreply@blogger.com (Pyles of Fun) — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 19:24:00 +0000

Today was the long awaited Run Free Race. I could not have asked for better running mates than my fabulous gal pals Sara & Elizabeth. They kept me motivated through all 26.2 nonexistant miles. Now this was not a race like any other race. We faced obstacles, injuries, and wild animals along the way.

Pre-Race: Carbing up
It's very important to have proper nutrition before a big race. We took this quite seriously with homemade buttermilk biscuits & bacon gravy, banana bread, sprinkle donuts, and a little extra bacon for good measure.

Preparing our Bodies
Not just anybody can run 26.2 miles. It's important to prepare your body for what's to come with proper stretching.

Team Hot Sundae is ready to rock this!!

Off to a good Start
The way you start a race is just as important as the way you finish. We had immense concentration as we kicked off the morning.

We got this!

We're serious about running.

Police Escort
The local police were there to get us going as well. Officer Miller helped set the pace and make sure the roads were cleared for us to run. Clearly, we started out in the lead of all the other runners.

We should have gotten a ticket for speeding!!

Wild Animals
A flock of ferocious birds blocked our path but we did not let this deter us. No wild beast could stand in our way!

The Rock Wall
We had to scale a rock wall to continue on. We took that wall by force and gracefully mastered it to continue on.

Agility Test
Each of us had to face our own agility test around the traffic cones. We had to prove that we were the fittest of the bunch by leaping, weaving and hurdling these obstacles.

Staying Motivated
When the going got tough, we were encouraged by fans and our team mates alike. It's important to have a strong support system during a marathon. It's also important to have someone dangling Thin Mints in front of you to keep you going.

You can do this, Sara! (E was our motivational coach)

Thanks for the motivation, Cooper. I will run like I am chasing the ice cream man.

The Zip Line
As we approached the end of our journey, we had to face the gruesome zip line. Once again, we faced our fitness fears with grace and ease, mastering this enormous challenge.

No Pain, No Gain
Our journey was not without injury. Luckily, Dr. Nash Pyles was there to nurse us all back to health.

Dr. Pyles is so kind to his patients. You're going to make it, Miss Elizabeth.

I desperately needed a shot along the way - just a little adrenaline.

An ice pack for Sara's hamstring

Finishing Strong
Finally, after 26.2 long miles, we approached the finish line. It was a feeling like none other, to know that we had accomplished something amazing.

26.2 miles really is exhausting

I rock!!

The Recovery
It's important to hydrate and consume nutritious calories after a long run.

So there you have it. My first 26.2 Run Free Race. It really was the greatest race that never was.

Recipe Test: The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie?

noreply@blogger.com (Pyles of Fun) — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 20:28:00 +0000

I recently saw a recipe on Pinterest for the perfect chocolate chip cookie. Now, this is a big statement for someone to make. Could it really be perfect? And how do they define perfect? In my opinion, it would be slightly crunchy on the outside but soft and moist on the inside with just the right cookie-to-chocolate chip ratio, all in a perfect circular shape.

Could one cookie really accomplish all of my expectations? The answer, to my surprise, is yes. This cookie is a little piece of heaven in baked good form. Mmmm! And just in time for Christmas cookie exchanges and gifting.

You can find the fabulous recipe on this site, appropriately named The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie.

Make these cookies today - your tastebuds will thank you! Enjoy!

Lessons from a Toddler: Help

noreply@blogger.com (Pyles of Fun) — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 01:11:00 +0000

I think one of the reasons God gives us children and the blessing of parenthood is so that through our children, we may more accurately see ourselves in relation to Him. I always smile when Nash does something that makes me realize a new aspect of my relationship with Christ. Tonight was one of those instances.

Nash is becoming more and more independent. It's wonderful, heartbreaking, freeing and terrifying all at once. It's fine when he wants to try to take his shirt off himself but another story when he doesn't want to hold your hand while you walk across the parking lot. As I watch Nash struggle with new things, I know that I could step in and get it done quicker but then, how would he learn? Tonight after we put PJs on, he really wanted to put his sock on himself. He ran away from me holding it yelling "I do it. I do it." I knew he couldn't accomplish this task, but if I stepped in and just did it for him we'd be in full force tantrum mode. So, I let him run off and proclaim his independence. And as he plopped down, he realized this was way outside of his abilities and quickly changed his chant to, "Hulp."

How often do we run away from God holding our burdens saying, "I do it. I do it." Our God is merciful to give us freewill, He allows us our independence to choose which way we go. And as soon as we pause long enough to try to figure it out ourselves, we quickly see how incapable we are and cry out for help. I'm so thankful that God is patient and faithful to help us despite our stubbornness. And even more than that He is capable. That's where I rest tonight - in His hands that are able to deal with my "sock" of a problem that is trivial to Him in comparison to what He is capable of but that He lovingly helps me with.

"'Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.'" Matthew 11: 28 - 30

The Big Green Egg

noreply@blogger.com (Pyles of Fun) — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 00:25:00 +0000

I absolutely love anything cooked on a Big Green Egg. If you have never experienced its goodness, then let me enlighten you. It looks like this:

My parents purchased one a little over a year ago and it produces some of the tastiest meals I have ever had - from salmon to burgers to steaks to pizza! It also has this amazing smell that seems to waft for miles. Every time I pull up at their house for dinner and the smell of the Egg hits me, my mouth starts to water and I quickly have to wipe away the drool.

Now, this is all good...unless you are out on a stroll with the fam and you get hit with the smell. Reminds me a little of vampire thirst in Twilight (go ahead and judge - I'm not ashamed that I liked those books). You smell the goodness of meat being slowly smoked on this glorious invention and it's all you can think about. I've decided to start a petition. Just like in elementary school when we were taught you could only bring in candy or sweets if you had enough to share with the whole class, I think you should only be able to fire up your Big Green Egg if you have enough to share with your neighbors. It's just the right thing to do. We'll see what the HOA thinks.

-Amy

A Drive Down Memory Lane

noreply@blogger.com (Pyles of Fun) — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 15:44:00 +0000

My husband had to take his beloved '99 4Runner into the "doctor" this week after his check engine light came on. I've never seen anyone love a vehicle as much as he loves Kirk (yes, we name our cars). Kirk has 150,000+ miles on him and the hubs is praying that he gets to see 300,000. He was very anxious and nervous while Kirk was away. Luckily, 2 days and a chunk of change later, Kirk is back home with a clean bill of health. Whew! The close call with Kirk made us reminisce about our 11 past vehicles. That's right - eleven. Here they are!

The 'Lero (and my old college roommate Sarah!) [2002 - 2006]
This is the car my parents bought me when I left for college - major upgrade from my 1984 Mercury Grand Marquis!

The Jeep [2005 - 2006]
Loved this car - it stayed with us for about a year then went to live with Nathan's sister.

The 50cc Vino [2006-2007]
Yes, Nathan used to drive this around Fayetteville in below freezing weather. It couldn't go faster than about 30 mph (downhill, of course). Other drivers loved him. It was particularly awesome to see him on this tiny scooter, with full armor and helmet on!

The Honda [2006 - 2008]
This was originally Nathan's dad's car, then his sister's, then mine. We traded the Jeep for the Honda while I was commuting to Siloam Springs from Fayetteville. They never had a single problem with it - then I owned it and it broke down every other month. My ability to destroy mechanical things is really a talent.

The Vespa [2007 - 2008]
After growing tired of never being able to go over 30 mph, Nathan upgraded to the Vespa. We both loved this ride - he even drove it all the way from NWA to OKC for an oil change, in full armor and helmet of course.

The Passport [2008-2009]
This was Nathan's rainy day car - cost us less than our most recent Kirk repairs. It had the worst screech every time you turned it on, the A/C didn't work, and the doors didn't lock. We always hoped somebody would steal it...

Bonnie Lass [2008-2009]
When the Vespa no longer had enough power for Nathan, he upgraded once again. This time to a Triumph Bonneville that he and his dad drove to Atlanta to pick up. This exact bike used to belong to Alton Brown. He loved this thing - I hated it and spent many evenings praying for his safety!!

Ruby [2008-2009]
After killing the Honda (yes, I killed a HONDA), I decided I needed something new that would be more resilient. So, for the first time in my life, I had a car payment for this Ford Edge. That lasted less than a year - car payments are stupid. Plus Ruby had no power - I need some pedal to the metal action, friends.

Kirk [2009 - present]
God finally answered my prayers and helped Nathan get over his love of 2-wheels in favor of something safer and more practical. We bought Kirk off Craig's List from a family that was having their second child the next day and had just bought a mini-van. Their desperation to have one less thing to deal with worked in our financial favor!

Richard [2009-2011]
This was my "get out of debt" car. Richard - or "Dick" as I called him when he acted up because I'm classy like that - had a lot of get-up-and-go, which Ruby lacked. He is who we brought Nash home in, so there will always be a special place in my heart for him - despite doors that didn't lock, oil leaks, and torn interior leather. Still better than a car payment!

Ms. Patty [2011-present]
And finally, we've arrived at my current vehicle...Ms. Patty the Caddy. She's got get-up-and-go, a DVD player for road trips, and doesn't break my back getting a kiddo in and out. Not to mention she was in a wreck in her early days and has a rebuilt title, once again working in our financial no-car-payment favor! We're all about the the deals!

And last but certainly not least - the best ride of all! Nash is starting his car collection young!

Just a Quick Hello

noreply@blogger.com (Pyles of Fun) — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 16:50:00 +0000

Holy moly - the last post I made was Little Man's One Year birthday party?! That's crazy, friends! Life seems to be on fast forward with him. He's learning new things every day as he is quickly approaching two. It's so fun to see him experience things for the first time. Just this week he's learned how to fist bump. Definitely a milestone and important life lesson.

Look at his cuteness...

In other news, my work computer ~~got a virus when I stupidly downloaded a browser from a fishy source~~ randomly caught a virus this week. I am constantly amazed at how terrible people can be. I mean, really, what's the point of creating computer viruses? It made for a frustrating week of trying to get old files off, having my wonderful IT guys at work build me a new computer so they could overnight it to me, working off our home Mac (don't get me started on Office for Mac...), and feeling like a complete fool for ~~downloading~~ catching such a virus. In order to make myself feel better, tonight's dinner will be from Pioneer Woman - her food (*cough*butter*cough*) makes a rough week better. Here's what we're trying - fingers crossed it will be amazing!!

Spicy Lemon Garlic Shrimp. Yes, please.

Happy Birthday, Little Man!

noreply@blogger.com (Pyles of Fun) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:32:00 +0000

Wow - I am so behind on my blogging, but I could not miss the opportunity to relive my son's amazing Little Man birthday party. I still cannot believe I have a one-year-old. It's been such a great year, but I'll leave the gushing for another post.

Today, I'm reliving his wonderful party. We had the best time, and thanks to the ever so talented Elyse Fair (www.elyfairphotos.com), we have some great pictures to remind us of the day. Here are the highlights:

The decore: ties, everywhere - around lamps, hanging from chandeliers, tied nicely on a coat rack, and of course, on every guest.

The food: Big Man Brisket, Macin'-on-some-Cheese, Little Man Crackers (aka Goldfish), and Root Brewskies.

The cake: Mustache cupcakes

The activities: Paper tie decorating, reading of The Book of Nash, and best tie contest

And last, but certainly not least, the man himself: my wonderful, funny, sweet, shy, silly, little man Nash

Gosh I love him! :)

Like Mother, Like Daughter

noreply@blogger.com (Pyles of Fun) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 13:21:00 +0000

Since I've moved back to Edmond, I have noticed more and more how alike my mother and I are. But Friday night was eerie. Hubs and I had been prepping all week for Little Man's birthday party (it was amazing - more on that later this week). So when Friday night came, I was pooped and was not going to be cooking! We decided to hit up our favorite restaurant down the street. Just as we got situated in our booth (not an easy task with a 1 year old) who should walk in but my parents! We had to laugh that when we both decide not to cook, Interurban is the restaurant of choice. We enjoyed a nice meal and parted ways. There's a grocery store down the street which reminded me of a few last minute prep items I needed for the party. As I was walking through to the back of the store, cutting through some random aisle, I ran smack into my parents once again buying their last minute prep items as well!

I really am my mother's daughter...and proud of it! :)

Recipe: Balsamic Baked Tilapia

noreply@blogger.com (Pyles of Fun) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 00:56:00 +0000

I made a fabulous tilapia recipe tonight that I thought I would take a moment to share. I meant to take a picture of how it turned out, but it smelled so good that we devoured it before I remembered to snap a shot! Woops. :/

Ingredients:
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 small onion, chopped (or 1 cup frozen onion)
1 red bell pepper, chopped
2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
4 tilapia filets

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Heat olive oil over medium-high heat and add onion and bell pepper. Saute until vegetables are soft (about 10 minutes).
3. Add salt & pepper to taste as well as balsamic vinegar. Heat another 1-2 minutes.
4. Place fish filets in 9x13 baking dish and poor vegetable mixture over. Bake for 30 minutes.

Super easy and super yummy! For those on Weight Watchers, this is about 3-4 points depending upon how big your filets are. Enjoy!

Family Photo Fun!

noreply@blogger.com (Pyles of Fun) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 01:42:00 +0000

During the Thanksgiving holiday, we took advantage of the fact that we had everyone in one place for some family pictures by the wonderful Elyse Fair. Below are some of our favorites that I thought I would share:

This is my Mom's family. Great lookin' bunch.

Just our smaller family unit, which as you can see is continuing to grow!

My sweet grandparents...love this shot!

Love this man.

And this little man!

Be still my heart! This was our favorite from the day. Love!

And you may now return to your previously scheduled activities. Thanks for stopping by!

Christmas Approaching

noreply@blogger.com (Pyles of Fun) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 01:29:00 +0000

With Christmas just weeks away, Nathan and I have been discussing what Christmas will be for our family - what traditions do we want to start and what do we want to carry over from our families. It's amazing how little you talk about these things until you have children. I look back at my childhood and Christmas was always such a fun and special time. There are so many of my experiences that I want to give to Nash. But there are also new ones that we want him to have. I want Nash to know that we don't celebrate Santa and that Christmas is not about "me". It's about the birth of our Lord and celebrating the sacrifice he gave to us. While a big fat man coming down your chimney with presents may sound more magical to Nash, the true wonder is how our Lord came into this world and that he defeated death that we might live. But how do you teach that? How do we learn that and model that for our son? That is definitely my prayer this Christmas - that God would change Nathan's and my mindset so we could teach that to our son. I so desperately want him to be a better person than me!

Parenthood

noreply@blogger.com (Pyles of Fun) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 23:40:00 +0000

Today has been one of those memorable days that Nathan and I have many exchanged looks that say, "Yes, this is parenthood." Here's what we have experienced in the past day:

Baby waking multiple times through the night to babel, cry, and cough. (breaks my heart to hear that pitiful cough!)
Diaper explosion that had poop up to the armpits, complete with Daddy accidentally flinging said poop onto my face. (Yes, that was disgusting.)
Quickly running over to whatever Nash is getting into and yelling "No, Nash!" about 50 times.
Baby almost pulling a bottle of red wine off the end table
Baby almost pulling a glass of Scotch off the end table
Pulling a dog bone out of Nash's mouth as he peeks up between your legs as you sit on the couch trying to enjoy that glass of Scotch
Baby licking an outlet (yes, it had protective plugs in PTL!)

Whew...and we're loving every minute!

Change is good for the soul, right?

noreply@blogger.com (Pyles of Fun) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 02:44:00 +0000

Once again, a lot has changed since my last blog post. I definitely have to mark 2011 down as the year I have seen the most change in my life - and there are still 3 more months to go! Since my last post, I have left my job at ONEsite, returned to Rockfish working remote from OKC, and our baby boy has started moving and grooving. When I stop and think about everything we've been through this year, it's no wonder I'm exhausted!

We had our first baby.
I returned to work.
We moved to OKC.
We sold our beloved custom-built house in Arkansas
I took a new job.
We bought a new house that we love even more, despite its quirks. ;)
I put Nash into a new school, that lasted 3 days.
I put Nash in a new in-home school.
I left the new job.
I returned to an old job, working remotely.

Whew. It has already been a year of change, of life lessons, and immense blessings. Now that my work life has leveled out a bit, we finally feel like we can focus on establishing our life here in OKC. I'm so anxious to build relationships here - we truly miss our friends from Arkansas.

Nash continues to change every day, it seems. He brings us so much joy. He is crawling and babbling now which makes him so much fun. He is such a blessing to our lives. Don't these pictures just make you want to squish him? :)

A Baby Changes Everything

noreply@blogger.com (Pyles of Fun) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 02:21:00 +0000

Having a baby changes your life. We knew this, but the reality is so different, so much better than anything we could have ever imagined. Nash is almost 8 months old and by now, it feels like he has always been a part of our family and that our routine isn't a burden any more but just our lovely life. He has been doing so well - learning all sorts of new and exciting things. He wants to crawl so badly right now. As I watch him struggle to learn this new skill, I just want to help show him exactly how to do it but know that he must learn it on his own and in his own time. I know this is just the first of many times where I will want to jump in and show him exactly how to do it, but doing so would deprive him of the triumph he will feel once he accomplishes something himself. I'm sure I will learn this lesson again and again as a mother.

We are facing new challenges in this phase of his development, though. We are trying to get him onto table food, which he is less than happy about. You put a spoonful of mashed potatoes in his mouth and you'd think the boy had been fed poison. He gags and acts like he is just going to throw up! I'm hopeful that we will get over this hump soon so he can begin enjoying the flavors of the world...and so mommy and daddy's bank account can hopefully be a little less burdened by baby food! Whew - that stuff is expensive! I've been getting lots of tips from other moms that have been so helpful. I even got to be the "experience mom" in the grocery store the other day. A mom was there with her 7 week old and was looking at formula while I was grabbing some more for Nash. She stopped me to ask questions about what we used, if it seemed to be OK on Nash's tummy, etc. It was great to share my experience with her, and at the same time, realize how much Nash has grown since he was 7 weeks old. I remember being so frustrated when someone would tell me "They just grow out of it." But it is so true! I was glad to lend her a little comfort, though, knowing how much it meant to me to have another mom share their insights when Nash was first born. It was so overwhelming and I often felt so helpless. I finally get why moms need a network of other moms to offer support. I am anxious to find that here in Edmond as well.

I'll leave you with a few of our favorite shots from Nash's 6 month photo session. I might be biased, but I think he might be the most handsome baby I've ever seen. :)

Update from the Heart Land

noreply@blogger.com (Pyles of Fun) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 02:13:00 +0000

I was driving this past week and had a sudden realization - we moved. I mean, I knew we moved to Oklahoma but the weight of that finally hit me. Everything we once knew has changed. Even though I grew up in Edmond, it is a totally different town now and different things are important to me today than 10 years ago! It will take us time for this to feel like home.

We also bought a "used home" (as we lovingly refer to it) for the first time. It's been strange moving into a house that requires a bit of work (ok, maybe more than a bit) but we are also excited to live in it for awhile and really plan out what we want to do. The yard needs a ton of work as well but who wants to do that in the 100+ degree heat. I had forgotten how unbearably hot Oklahoma can get! Whew!

Our house has sold in Arkansas and closed today. Our NWA chapter of our lives has officially come to a close. It's bittersweet - we loved our time there but are so happy to be here close to our families. It has been nice to see them so frequently and for Nash to get to spend quality time with them as well. He's a very loved little boy.

Speaking of Nash - he is now 6 months old! Can't believe he's changed so much and how quickly time has flown by. He is now rolling over, eating lots of baby food (his favorites are sweet potatoes and pears), cooing and squealing ALL the time, sleeping through the night, and overall one of the most chill babies I have ever seen. I can't express how much we love him and how lucky we feel to be his parents.

Our family on Father's Day

Nash and Meme Grape

Tummy Time at School

Overall, life is good but hectic. We are anxious to feel settled and have everything put away in its perfect place and get back into a groove. Hoping it comes soon!

O----klahoma!

noreply@blogger.com (Pyles of Fun) — Fri, 06 May 2011 22:04:00 +0000

Well, the NWA Pyles are officially Oklahoma bound...for good! We are moving back to Edmond so we can be close to our families and have Nash grow up close to his grandparents. I have accepted a job with ONEsite as their VP of Client Services & Nathan will continue to work for ThinkPen. It's a bittersweet decision for us. We have loved our years in Arkansas - we've considered these past 5 years our extended honeymoon. It has been so great to spend this time together just us. But Nash has truly made our life sweeter, and we want to share that with our families. So while it's sad to say goodbye to our home & friends, we are looking forward to the new chapter of our life!

In the words of Carrie Underwood, "There's nothing like Oklahoma."

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's off to work I go.

noreply@blogger.com (Pyles of Fun) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 02:09:00 +0000

Nash is now 3 months old, I have returned to work, and our household is finally taking on a new rhythm. It's been an interesting adjustment back to the professional world after 12 weeks of being a stay-at-home mom. I am so grateful for my time home with Nash - it was the toughest and the most wonderful 12 weeks of my life. We were blessed that Nathan was able to work from home during those 12 weeks. That was truly God's provision. I'm not sure I could have handled being alone for that long or had the stamina to keep up with a colicky baby. Praise the Lord those issues have passed!

My last post was 7 weeks ago - Nash has changed a lot! Here's what's new:

Nash has just started sleeping 10 - 11 hours at night, waking only once to eat quickly and go right back down. It's wonderful to be getting 8 hours of sleep again - not looking forward to teething when that might get disrupted again!
Nash weighs 14 pounds, 12 ounces as of last Monday. He's a big boy now!
He laughs and smiles and interacts with you now. It melts my heart every time I tickle him and he gets his big toothless grin on his face. Priceless!
Nash still isn't interested in toys but he's watching them. I can just see those little wheels turning & thinking, "How can I get these arms to reach those toys?"
Nash has been adjusting great to school. His teachers love him and he seems to like them as well. They have webcams so I get to peek in on him throughout the day, which helps me make it through the day! The first day was the hardest, but we're all adjusting and getting our new routine down.

I'm still amazed at how much I love him - I didn't know it was possible! We can't wait for the next new thing he'll do - and at the same time, we miss things he has already stopped doing. That's the life of a parent, I guess!

That's the latest and greatest in the Pyles Household. Good times and lots of love!

7 weeks!!

noreply@blogger.com (Pyles of Fun) — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 16:46:00 +0000

It's been about a month since I have posted here. Hard to believe Nash is already 7 weeks old. He has become much more alert and aware of the world around him. It's so fun to watch him experience something new - a new sound, texture, object. He is starting to sleep better at night as well, which makes for a very happy mommy and daddy. We're down to 2 feedings a night - whew! He's growing by leaps and bounds - already 10 pounds, 8 ounces and 22 inches long. We just boxed up his newborn clothes and moved up to 3 months clothes. Big boy!

Here are some of Nash's favorite things right now :)

Being clean (hates the bath, but loves the after effect!)

His new best friend, LB

Colic Calm (ok, this may be more mommy and daddy's favorite - works wonders)

And of course, Nana!

Overall, life is good. Being a full time mom is hard and has its challenging days where I feel completely inadequate and have no idea what I'm doing. But it's all worth it during those sweet moments when my son locks his eyes on mine and I feel like all is right in the world. :)

Enough

noreply@blogger.com (Pyles of Fun) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 01:26:00 +0000

Nash is 3 weeks old today. During these first few weeks together, I have been overwhelmed by the realization of how not enough I am for him. I know that I cannot teach him everything he will need to know. I cannot provide him enough love and security to make him complete. I cannot provide for his every need. I am just not enough. But I am comforted by the fact that our Heavenly Father is enough for him - that all of my shortcomings will be filled by his complete goodness. When I am not enough, He always will be. What a powerful truth for a mom!

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." - 2 Corinthians 12:9

What I have learned in 11 days

noreply@blogger.com (Pyles of Fun) — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 00:30:00 +0000

Nash is 11 days old today. It's hard to believe he's already been with us that long. He is so sweet and overall a wonderful baby. Motherhood thus far is pretty surreal. I still feel like I am just in survival mode, and am guessing that will continue for a few more weeks as we adjust. There is so much I have left to learn about him and about caring for a baby, but I have learned quite a bit in just the past 11 days. Here are a few snippets:

1. Postpartum recovery is a lot more difficult that I imagined.
I had assumed I would have Nash one day and feel the sudden relief of not being pregnant any more coupled with overall physical rejuvenation once I gave birth. Nobody really prepped me for how my body would feel after having a baby. The pain and physical fatigue were unexpected and made me extremely thankful that my mom was able to stay for a week to help care for Nash while I recovered. Luckily, I am feeling loads better and have kicked the pain meds by now.

2. I can do more than I ever imagined possible on just 3 hours of sleep.
Every parent warned us that the first few months are absolutely exhausting. They didn't lie. It's truly amazing how much you can really do on just a few hours of sleep. I have also learned the joys of a well-positioned power nap. Luckily, Nathan is an early morning person while I am a late night gal. It's 6:36pm right now, and Nathan has already gone off to bed to get some solid sleep before he takes the 1:00 - 7:00am shifts.

3. You have to do what is right for your family.
Everyone has a lot of opinions when it comes to parenting - particularly parenting a newborn. From breastfeeding to co-sleeping to soothing techniques. I have learned that you have to do what is right for your family and not worry so much about what "they" say. A baby needs unconditional love and care, and you can't give that if you are trying to fit into a mold that only frustrates your family. If you do what is right for your family dynamic, everyone - including baby - will be happier.

4. I now believe in love at first sight.
I cannot express how much I truly love this little boy. I wish my arms and back could stand to hold him more - I would never put him down. The first major "Mom moment" I had was in the hospital right after Nash was circumcised. They brought him back to us and the scream he let out when he got shifted the wrong way was one that brought tears to my eyes so fast and made me want to do anything in my power to make him not be in pain any more. I'm sure I will have many more moments of wanting to save my baby from pain, heart ache, and loss over the coming years. I just pray I have the strength!

I know there are millions of lessons left to come over the course of the next 18+ years. We're so excited to have him in our life and begin building a family.