Truly Outstanding

To celebrate 1 year of wedded bliss, we attended an Outstanding in the Field dinner this week. Thanks to Erik and Molly Lund for introducing us to such an incredible experience! For those of you who haven't heard of OITF - it is essentially a  "restaurant on wheels" the makes stops at farms throughout the country (and even Europe) to serve farm fresh food to 100+ people. Each stop is honored with a local chef that sets the menu and prepares the food.

Touring Bus

Rain Lily Farm Austin, TX

Chicken Coop

Beautiful table setting for 120 people

As true Kansas Citians, we were in awe with the grilled meats (here is Award Winning Rene Ortiz grilling). You'll note we were too engrossed in the food and the company to snap any pictures of the various prepared courses.

The tradition of bringing your own plates for dinner made a colorful tablescape.

Enjoying a mini glass of bubbly by the garden

Tee Pee behind the farm house

We were graced with the James Beard Award winning Rene Ortiz of La Condessa, one of our favorite restaurants in Austin. Our expectations were rather high, and let's just say that our minds were blown.

We started with a reception hour, complete with bubbly and...


Springdale Farm okra with chile tajin/eggplant/roasted garlic dip
Pure Luck goat chevre, arbole chile caramel, zuchini flowers
Dewberry Farm chicken liver pate, tomato jam, ancho chiles
Strube Ranch waygu ribeye, Rain Lily Farm serrano, persimmons


We then toured Rain Lily, the farm that hosted the event. Rain Lily if one of 4 urban farms on the East Side of Austin, just 15 minutes from our house.

We were seated amongst strangers who quickly became friends...
: Fellow Chicagoans
: Newleyweds from Atlanta celebrating the same 1 year anniversary as us
: A fascinating neighboring farmer who provided much of the produce for the meal and whose farm house was built by the same architect who built our home
:A women who works at Rain Lily who is due 3 weeks after us

Together, we devoured this mouth-watering lineup, paired with various delightful McPherson Cellars wines:

Rain Lily Farm turnip, butternut, goat feta, pea tendrils, creamer peas, mustard seed


Twin Oaks Heritage Pork, house tofu, Texas oyster sauce, broccoli rabe, chiles


Richardson Farm sirloin, braised kale, black bean mole, lemon verbana chimichurri


Gundermann Acres butternut squash break pudding, smoked Farwell gala apple, piloncillo toffee sauce
Pure Luck Farm chevre ice cream

365 Down

One year ago today we were reveling in the beauty of Watercolor with our friends at family at our wedding. We couldn't have asked for a better day to celebrate - beautiful weather, sweet memories, and the beginning of our journey together as The Thomases.

Video brought to you by Ryan Johnson.

The past year has been a busy one with a new home, a honeymoon to Greece, a baby girl on the way, and amazing trips to Santa Rosa Beach (3x), Chicago (2x), KC (2x), Vail, NYC, Kohler, and St. Petersburg.

We celebrated 1 year of wedded bliss with brunch at Olivia's, supporting the Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas at the Buddy Walk, cheering on the Chiefs, and an old fashioned grill out at home.

Mini Horses at the Buddy Walk @ Reunion Ranch. Our first "ranch" experience... pretty impressive.

Last but not least...

18 weeks and counting!

Private parts revealed....

Alright folks, I'm taking my first whack at this blogging stuff so bear with me... I have a tendency to ramble and not make much sense. So here goes:

First of all, thanks to my friends/family that blog for all of your wonderful posts... I plan on stealing your great ideas and showcasing them here. Sarah has already had to help me like 3 times... I just keep screaming to her upstairs - "HOW DO I MAKE THIS F'ing THING DO ____?" I now know what it was like for my Grandma and Grandpa Manning when as an 8-year-old I had show them how to set the clock on the VCR.

It was a big day for the Thomas household.  We had our 16 week sneak peak at the sex of baby T. With Granny Nancy at our side it was revealed that a baby girl will be joining our family!

Whew... this is crazy.  I'm still wrapping my head around that fact that I will have TWO girls to love in the very near future. I'm pretty sure every guy has that fantasy... right?


We will be selling naming rights to the top bidder on eBay... wait... j/k.  That's for us to share with you on her birthday.

That's my short and sweet virgin post. You will see me as a semi regular contributor... especially when I want to go on a political/economic/talk-about-how-dumb-everyone-is rant so my baby girl will know I was looking out for her.

Here are a few pics from the weekend...

Sarah looking fabulous at 16 weeks

Mah and Pah