We bought this tree on Dec. 24, 2000 for 1/2 price at Michael's. This is its 8th year -- always the same blue and white scheme. The little snowmen and crystals made their debut in 2003.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Tree
Merry Christmas Eve!
We bought this tree on Dec. 24, 2000 for 1/2 price at Michael's. This is its 8th year -- always the same blue and white scheme. The little snowmen and crystals made their debut in 2003.
We bought this tree on Dec. 24, 2000 for 1/2 price at Michael's. This is its 8th year -- always the same blue and white scheme. The little snowmen and crystals made their debut in 2003.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Candleman
Catherine thinks that Frosty is a candleman -- not a snowman. It's easy to understand why. She learned about candles before she learned about snowmen. We have a snowman votive holder. It and the tree are the only Christmas decorations in our house this year, so there are no other snowmen in the house.
It's really fall over funny to hear her say "CANDLEMAN!!!".
It's really fall over funny to hear her say "CANDLEMAN!!!".
Fell
Today was the last day of fall. It went out rather dramatically. You could see the front in the sky that dropped the dewpoint 25 degrees instantly as it passed.
Catherine and I were in Starbucks at the time.
E did some smiling today. She's much smilier now, all of a sudden.
Catherine and I were in Starbucks at the time.
E did some smiling today. She's much smilier now, all of a sudden.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Sleep
Catherine has been sleeping in her big girl bed for over a month now. Sleeping under sheets is yet to be learned -- but then again, sleeping parallel with the matress is too.
She's had a cough lately, especially at night, so the vaporizer is going full steam (pun intended).
35mm f/1.4 1/40 sec @ ISO 3200
She's had a cough lately, especially at night, so the vaporizer is going full steam (pun intended).
35mm f/1.4 1/40 sec @ ISO 3200
Monday, December 15, 2008
BUCKS!
Catherine likes Starbucks. Her first trip to 'bucks was when she was a week old. Of course, she didn't order anything then. Now she likes "nade" -- blended lemonade. Daddy took her to 'bucks on Sunday (and took a few pictures).
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving morning included the customary watching of the Macy's parade -- C's 3rd viewing!
C says "Dance with me!!!"
Thanksgiving dinner at Scott and Misty's.Catherine never looks this "Osh Kosh"!.
C hung out with her cousin Austin, who is very sweet with her.
Later in the evening we had a baby shower for Amy and Markus.
Everyone wanted to hold E -- especially her grandma!
On Friday Brian and C drove to Norman for Thanksgiving, part 2.
A rabbit in the courtyard. Rare in Norman.
C enjoyed having a large, attentive audience
Uncle Doug makes a good audience.
Gran Gran gives good baths.
Catching her balance. She likes to walk on ottomans.
Cake! Candles! Celbrating Pop's birthday.
Pop and his younger brother Ben -- Ben has come for Thanksgiving 25+ years in a row.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Autumn
I don't know why, but this year's color is the best I've ever seen in 30 years of living in Texas and Oklahoma. The right amount of rain at the right times earlier this year, I guess. The urban environment isn't necessarily the best place for pictures of nature, but there's plenty of people out there shooting in the Smokies and no one else to record the things I'm personally enjoying -- at least not in the way I'm enjoying them.
November and December tend to have the best sunsets as well -- so far this year is no exception.
You can see bigger versions of the photos by clicking on them -- at least this one is worthwhile, IMHO...
November and December tend to have the best sunsets as well -- so far this year is no exception.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Halloween
It's almost Thanksgiving, so I ought to take a couple of minutes to blog about Halloween. It was a hoot -- C is now old enough to just start to get it. We tried to get her to try on her Tigger costume a couple of weeks prior and that didn't go over well at all. Maybe getting E in the Pooh costume first and talking up the "candy" angle motivated her to go along with it.
Pooh and tigger were very cute together.
After doing a little bit of trick-or-treating we hung out on the Huntley's front porch and ate their beef stew, like we have for 4 of the last 5 years.
We did the pumpkin thing at the Dallas Arboretum again this year, but we went on November 1 this time -- in case you haven't read the blog entries below, October was quite a bit nuts for us. C didn't do all that well this time, but we went straight to the pumpkins when we got there and had low expectations so we got the shots we wanted.
Pooh and tigger were very cute together.
After doing a little bit of trick-or-treating we hung out on the Huntley's front porch and ate their beef stew, like we have for 4 of the last 5 years.
We did the pumpkin thing at the Dallas Arboretum again this year, but we went on November 1 this time -- in case you haven't read the blog entries below, October was quite a bit nuts for us. C didn't do all that well this time, but we went straight to the pumpkins when we got there and had low expectations so we got the shots we wanted.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Narong
Narong and his employees did my parents' landscaping for years in Norman, OK. He was a high school classmate of my brother. He was one of the nicest, most selfless people I've ever met. I hardly knew him -- I only knew him from the times he came down to mow our lawn when I was undergoing chemotherapy and from him helping me fix Lisa's Civic. He got me into eating Pho in Dallas by recommending his favorite Pho restaurant in Carrollton (there's 5 on the corner of Josey and Beltline).
He and my parents grew close over the years. He offered to drive my mother to Dover, AR when her mother died last month – that’s 4+ hours each way. Where did he find the time to do things like that for people?
In the newspaper article about the accident, his brother said that Narong is the type of person "who, if you asked for a $1, he would give you $2. He would do anything for anybody.”
He and my parents grew close over the years. He offered to drive my mother to Dover, AR when her mother died last month – that’s 4+ hours each way. Where did he find the time to do things like that for people?
In the newspaper article about the accident, his brother said that Narong is the type of person "who, if you asked for a $1, he would give you $2. He would do anything for anybody.”
Narong Viravong
1972-2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Bookends
That's been our October 2008.
Elizabeth Grace joined the family at 8:04am on October 1.
Her maternal grandfather passed away on October 15 in Lubbock.
Her great grandmother (father's mother's mother) passed away on October 23 in Dover, AR.
So, by the time she was 25 days old Elizabeth had attended two funerals. And had also logged over 1500 miles on the highway. Crazy.
I think that Elizabeth is just beautiful. Here she is, on her second day. Quite a character for a 1-day old!
Things are quite different having a kid when you already have a kid -- the juggling act begins!
This is probably my favorite picture of Elizabeth so far -- 7 days old!
Elizabeth's 2-year old sister Catherine is quite fond of her! She calls her "E".
Catherine and Elizabeth's grandfather, Tom Kawecki, had been in the hospital for 2 months when he passed. The mass was beautiful and the weekend was a bittersweet family reunion.
Lisa and I didn't know how we were going to take a 2-year old and a 2-week old to Lubbock for 3 days and 3 nights. Actually, the girls were very good on the trip. Good thing, since we had to turn around and do it again 6 days later.
Time out for dinner at Sonic in Post, TX ~8:30pm. E wanted a cherry limeade, but Mommy vetoed that.
Breakfast in the morning at the Homewood Suites. Pook gets her first Froot Loops.
We'd never watched DVDs in the car or in bed before, but they're a life saver on a trip like this.
We spent a large part of the second day at the house.
The viewing was Friday evening. Here's Lisa and Catherine with Lisa's brother Scott and "Moo".
Their church -- St. Elizabeth's -- is beautiful.
During the service -- shot from the cry room.
Saturday night was like a family reunion
Lots of pictures to look at and memories to share.
Elizabeth's great grandmother was 85 and had suffered quite a few minor strokes over the past several years, resulting in mental degradation that resembled Alsheimer's. The little church was packed and the funeral was quite a tribute.
The weather was perfect -- not the stereotypical rainy day with black umbrellas.
At the graveside service, after the pall bearers placed their boutonnieres on the casket, I carried Catherine to it and she sprinkled rose petals on it. As she finished, one fell to the ground and she said "UH OH!". It was just what the service needed -- to end with a little comic relief from the newest generation.
Catherine loves cows.
Catherine got to see lots of cows.
Catherine is quite fond of kitties too now.
Great grandmother never got to meet Elizabeth, but great grandfather did.
The girls were very well behaved on this trip too.
I got some good shots of the farm.
Elizabeth Grace joined the family at 8:04am on October 1.
Her maternal grandfather passed away on October 15 in Lubbock.
Her great grandmother (father's mother's mother) passed away on October 23 in Dover, AR.
So, by the time she was 25 days old Elizabeth had attended two funerals. And had also logged over 1500 miles on the highway. Crazy.
I think that Elizabeth is just beautiful. Here she is, on her second day. Quite a character for a 1-day old!
Things are quite different having a kid when you already have a kid -- the juggling act begins!
This is probably my favorite picture of Elizabeth so far -- 7 days old!
Elizabeth's 2-year old sister Catherine is quite fond of her! She calls her "E".
Catherine and Elizabeth's grandfather, Tom Kawecki, had been in the hospital for 2 months when he passed. The mass was beautiful and the weekend was a bittersweet family reunion.
Lisa and I didn't know how we were going to take a 2-year old and a 2-week old to Lubbock for 3 days and 3 nights. Actually, the girls were very good on the trip. Good thing, since we had to turn around and do it again 6 days later.
Time out for dinner at Sonic in Post, TX ~8:30pm. E wanted a cherry limeade, but Mommy vetoed that.
Breakfast in the morning at the Homewood Suites. Pook gets her first Froot Loops.
We'd never watched DVDs in the car or in bed before, but they're a life saver on a trip like this.
We spent a large part of the second day at the house.
The viewing was Friday evening. Here's Lisa and Catherine with Lisa's brother Scott and "Moo".
Their church -- St. Elizabeth's -- is beautiful.
During the service -- shot from the cry room.
Saturday night was like a family reunion
Lots of pictures to look at and memories to share.
Elizabeth's great grandmother was 85 and had suffered quite a few minor strokes over the past several years, resulting in mental degradation that resembled Alsheimer's. The little church was packed and the funeral was quite a tribute.
The weather was perfect -- not the stereotypical rainy day with black umbrellas.
At the graveside service, after the pall bearers placed their boutonnieres on the casket, I carried Catherine to it and she sprinkled rose petals on it. As she finished, one fell to the ground and she said "UH OH!". It was just what the service needed -- to end with a little comic relief from the newest generation.
Catherine loves cows.
Catherine got to see lots of cows.
Catherine is quite fond of kitties too now.
Great grandmother never got to meet Elizabeth, but great grandfather did.
The girls were very well behaved on this trip too.
I got some good shots of the farm.
The future of energy -gigantic wind farms near Sweetwater, TX
...and Arkansas Nuclear One at Russellville, AR.
...and Arkansas Nuclear One at Russellville, AR.
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