houpley

It's official. We are grown-ups. Eric and I now have yearly appointments to a dermatologist. Being pale and freckled, I started going two years ago. With weekends at the lake, visits to Gulf Shores, Ocean City, hanging at the pool and maybe even a few tanning beds (like maybe once before prom...ok twice...seven times....) I've collected plenty of sunburns in my portfolio of skin damage. I stopped sunning ages ago, slap on the SPF and am as pale as the piles of snow we are still digging out of. I've tried to learn to embrace my paleness. But those rays from bygone days are catching up with me. So much so I had to have a few freckles removed. While they weren't unsightly, they were something to catch early. But did it have to be Valentine’s Day weekend? So for our romantic dinner that same night, we made reservations for three: Eric, Me and the band-aid slapped across my face. And I'm not sure if it was the sheer thrill of being able to go to a restaurant that didn...

Each night before going to bed, Jackson and I would admire the Christmas tree and select our favorite ornament for the day. Sometimes he would pick the same ornament each night, sometimes he was partial to the ones that featured photos of himself, and sometimes there would be much walking around the tree to find just the right one. One night, we were curled up on the couch while trying to pick that day's ornament when Jackson turned to me and said: Mama, do you know what my favorite ornament is? What? You! Does this kid have my number or what? ------

Jackson's version: http://www.flickr.com/photos/73102019@N00/5279884683/

more here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/73102019@N00/5283941497/

Mama? Davis is not letting me move this piece of train track. Can you take him away, please?

Thanksgiving may be my favorite holiday. I know the Christmas season is heavy upon us and while I love all the festivities, family and fun, Thanksgiving sometimes seems a bit more meaningful to me. That's why I loved one of the ideas I snagged from the Family Volley web site. She is always coming up with fun easy activities the whole family can get on board with. I really liked her thankful chain idea. We cut strips of paper and every night everyone wrote down something they were thankful for. Then we would tape them together and string it across the doorway into the living room, which got easier as the chain grew the closer we got to Thanksgiving. We also had close friends and family that would stop by for a visit in the upcoming days before the holiday add their own slips of thankfulness. Then, because we have family all over, we brought it with us over the holiday break. The traveling chain of thanks was added to by even more family and after the big meal, when everyone was rela...

Oh mom! We could get dad a snuggie! No. He had one years ago. I know! Wanna get him a new one? C'mon! Like a funny one? No. He'll kill himself.

Jack-O-Lantern P.S. Did you click the link near the top left to see Jackson's science project? It's worth it.

Not everything can go as planned, we all know that. However, our journeys to and fro were fairly uneventful . We left rough weather behind us and all were in good spirits along the way. But here are few of the less perfect moments: Chocolate Meltdown: They only time Jackson came unglued was during the first ten minutes of the trip back home from Chattanooga. And really, it was my fault. I had brought with us some tiny holiday chocolates from Omi . Over our travels we would open one and all share it. I though it would be fun to start the journey back with a little treat. That morning, it seemed Jackson's holiday spirit had vanished and he wanted it all to himself. Who wouldn't? Anyone who has ever been around a two-year-old will know that there are just some things they won't do at that moment. No matter what. And during that particular moment, the chocolate was not to be shared. After a bit, we all recovered and were on or merry way. We've All Got Baggage: Some of it go...

It is still January so, while late on some details of our holiday adventures, it is still early enough in the year to jot down some of the highlights. Of course, spending so much time with tons of family is always the best part of any trip. It warmed my heart to see so many family members that upon arrival always greet us as if we've never left. Jackson slipped in with his cousins as if they'd been pals for years. There were however a few moments that were really special, thoughtful, hilarious, memorable, etc. that I never want to forget. Car Rental: This was encouraged by my father who does it on a regular basis when it comes to lengthy traveling. And I must say it was a great idea. We saved a lot of wear and tear on our vehicles and the SUV we rented was bigger and more comfortable for all the passengers we picked up along the way. It also had all-wheel-drive which came in handy several times. I highly recommend it because there was no better feeling then handing over the key...

We have spent the last three weeks soaking up every free moment with friends and family over the holiday season. It has been hectic and there was a lot of traveling but well worth it. To us, the holidays are all about the people we love. No gift is greater than that of a good time with close friends and family. Warm and cozy nights were spent talking, sipping wine, catching up, dancing, reminiscing and getting reacquainted after such a long time apart. There is much to be told so I thought I would start with our Holiday Geography. The Geography After Little Christmas in Fort Smith, we headed back to Tulsa only to turn around the next weekend for holidays Little Rock. After Christmas there, we returned home for only two days before packing up for our final stretch and long haul of the season: Tennessee. We left a blizzard in Tulsa and headed for an Uncle in Conway. After a quick bath snack for Jax, we loaded up Travis and headed to Memphis for an overnight pit-stop with Dan (Jackson...

This morning while Jackson and I were cuddling in our bed, I thought I would start to prepare Jackson for all of the holiday traveling we will be doing over the next three weeks. I thought I would start small. Little did I know he is our in-house travel agent who has been paying attention. Me: Jackson, guess who we are going to see over the next few weekends? Jackson: Paw-Paw! and Elvis! and Mam and Granddad! aaaaand Sylvie! Me: Well. Actually. Yep, that pretty much sums it up. Later in the conversation, I asked him if he had slept well and if he had any dreams. He said: I slept very well. I dreamed Paw-Paw and Elvis and a lion.

My father turns 60 this week. A milestone. He decided to spend it with us in Tulsa. He and mom drove into town for the weekend and we celebrated with struedel, singing, candles that wouldn't blow out and an ORU/ULAR basketball game. It was also that perfect beginning-of-the-holidays time when down come the boxes of Christmas decorations and out come the twinkling lights and oh...here come the hideous yard decorations across the street. But this year.... ...we have a tiny little man in the house that looooves all hideous holiday deocrations. We took Jax across the street to see the giant snowman, huge snowglobe and Snoopy in a bi-plane. Also included in the hodge-podge display was a spiral Christmas tree and two moving, white, lit reindeer - to which Jackson "moo-ed" at this morning on the way to school. I guess one might confuse them with cows. We also did some Christmas shopping and our kitchen turned into a cookie-making factory with mom sprinkling, filling and baking ...