Mirror, mirror

After bathtime, you don't want to forget to check your look in the mirror. That would just be embarassing.

Swamping 'em

The box came on Thursday.

That was while Daddy was away in the Chugach Mountains.

It was signed from Great-Grandpa Ed, and it said to always cheer for the Redskins. Thanks Great-Grandpa (and his surrogate, good ol' Aunt Linda)!
On Sunday night, I stayed up late and cheered real hard.
But the Redskins proved so weak, uninspired and ultimately injury-prone that I eventually cried myself to sleep long before the 24-10 punishment was over. I'm learning that my inherited fandom promises to leave a lot to look forward to!

Deck the Halls

We decorated John-Henry's first Christmas tree on Sunday - he even helped mommy put the star on top. JT is really fascinated with the lights - they are so pretty and sparkly.

turkey-lurkey

John-Henry wasn't quite sure what to think when we presented him with the turkey leg...he was perplexed to say the least.

Hangin' with Big Sis

John-Henry got to spend some quality time with big sis Sadie this weekend...

Family Time

Grandma & Pops were here from Dallas and Sadie came in from Houston to help celebrate John-Henry's first Thanksgiving.

Spendin' Time With Daddy

Daddy travels almost every week now so it's important to get as much time with him as possible - even if it is just a quick cat nap.

Our favorite neighborhood restaurant just put up their awesome Christmas lights and John-Henry found them pretty fascinating.

Halloween Turtle

JT was a turtle for his first Halloween. Mom and Dad took him trick or treating in Hyde Park and then up north to Grandma & PaPa Lenaburg's house to spend the night.
(Daddy's hair is grey because he was dressed as Kenny Rogers...the beard was too hot and scratchy for trick or treating - or so he claimed.)

John-Henry, Big Tex

So, we went to the fair last month and JT got to meet Big Tex. Mom, Dad, Grandma & Pops also got to have a delicious corny dog...yum.

Waiting for the merry-go-round...

Gettin' sleepy on the merry-go-round and round and round...zzzzzzzz

The Great Pumpkin

We had a great time a few weeks back going hunting for pumpkins in a patch just north of Dallas.

Welcome home, JT

I think John-Henry likes his new digs...

Hey, baby

I'd say the best one came from Tupelo, Mississippi...

A pretty good town

Nashville's where you go, the man said, to see if what is said is so.

We walked her streets and from the saloon doors we could hear pickers singin' what hearts they had left out at eleven o'clock in the morning.

We acquired some guitar picks of our own from the old Texas Troubador.

We felt some ghosts in Nashville and we said so long so soon.

Ode to Waffle House

Oh, Waffle House, King of road breakfasts. How I love your dirty highchairs and even dirtier bathrooms.


Perhaps, you would like to peruse the menu - I'm slobbering even thinking about those biscuits 'n gravy.


Argh, never mind, I'll just eat the menu instead.

Gettin' clean

Living on the road, my friend, was gonna make you hard and lean. Sometimes, to get a warshin', ya gotta do like ya gotta.

The way things are in the car

Daddy drives:



Sometimes Mommy drives:



John-Henry sleeps:



And, so far, Hudson has not been sick. Yay, Hudson!

John-Henry, John Henry

On Wednesday we stopped in Summers County, WV to get a look at the statue of John Henry erected by the Hilldale-Talcott Ruritan Club. The big man towered over the entrance to the Big Bend railroad tunnel on the old Chessie line. That's where he was supposed to have died, driving steel to beat the baron's new machine. Hudson was scared, but I wasn't.

Cranny Crow

On Tuesday we took a rest from traveling. Everyone was happy to be out of the car. We made the long hike to Cranny Crow, the park's centerpiece vantage. Daddy carried me, and I caught up on sleep in the backpack carrier (I leaned forward so long I rubbed a little blister onto my forehead). I woke up when we got to the top. Daddy got real quiet, but he was smiling a lot. It sure was pretty.

Lost River, Mathais, WV

We spent Monday and Tuesday at beautiful Lost River state park in Mathais, WV. JT went hiking for the first time. Hudson remembered the place from our last trip and kept trying to go to cabin 17 instead of ours next door. He also seemed perplexed as to why Jeff and the rest of the crew weren't there.

Hello, Washington, D.C.

The first stop on our trip to Austin was Washington, DC. We arrived on Sunday evening and spent the night with Linda & Stim. Thanks for the hospitality y'all!

Daddy & Hudson at a rest area:


John-Henry playing with his toys (thanks, Lisa):

Goodbye Brooklyn

We said a tearful goodbye to Jeff, Jenni & Revelie and hit the road on Sunday. We had a great 10 years - we'll miss you all!