2 more to go...

Today Ryan makes 10 months old! The little tyke is growing so quickly. I guess I need to start getting his stuff together for his birthday party.

Look at him GO!!!

I finally got a video clip of him walking last night. He mastered it while at my parent's house last week. He also learned how to climb stairs!!! He was halfway up them before we new it.

Pics from drive out

Here are some pictures of the drive out - I'll have several more posts with pictures! Enjoy.

We left the house at 6:30 Arizona time. Got to Albuquerque, NM about 7 hours later. Que the music... "Amarillo By Morning..."
Good Morning Amarillo!!! We got here around 7:00 local time, just 11 hours after leaving the house. Can I tell you how terrible the roads in New Mexico are - they suck ass. Nearly all of I-40 was under construction. Gotta love Texas after that!




Don't ask... I have no idea! It's some shrine or something outside of Amarillo. There are also a crap-ton of these windmills. The weather was icky... very foggy and breezy. Next stop, OK City.


THIS is what most people would call a "navigable water way". In Tucson, ours look like dried out sand beds. What is a road trip without a stop at Cracker Barrel? We stopped outside of Oklahoma City for lunch. Three more hours logged.

Don't know why I didn't think of this before this point in the trip... We only had about 200 miles left. Surprisingly, the van averaged great gas mileage. We only had to officially stop 2 times for gas. On other time we stopped for Ryan's bottle and got gas because it was cheap.



Are you feeling his love...???


OK City to Ft. Smith, AR - about 3 more hours done. Only about 75 miles to go!!!!


Now, can you explain this?? How is it that in the heart of the bible belt, where most of the counties are "dry", I can stop for a Big Mac and walk next door to a porn shop??? I don't get it! As soon as we go off the interstate and turned right to head up the mountain, we headed straight at a storm. It poured on us our last 10 minutes of the trip. Oh well - I love rain!

Rick is doing the next post... we just love Oklahoma!!! HA.

We made it...

Well, after almost 20 hours in the van and 1241 miles, we made it to Clarksville Friday afternoon in one piece, but all very tired. The kids did AWESOME! Ryan had a few rough hours at the beginning, but we turned his carseat around to forward-facing(I don't want to hear the sighs or see the heads shake) and Sydney was a little chatty Kathy the entire time. We've done a few things with the family so far... a lot of playing with cousin's Allie, Braden & Peyton. They kids have been riding on the 4-wheelers, eating watermelon, playing with the kite, chasing butterflies and bugs, dress-up and yelling!!! Heading to Conway tomorrow to do a little birthday shopping for me and winter clothes shopping for Ryan. Should be lots of fun... Topic to come: Oklahoma = not smart! Will try to get some pics up tonight after my sister and her heard head back home.

SIL/BIL - Happy Birthday!

We wanted to wish Sarah and Frankie both a very happy birthday! We love you guys and hope you have a great birthday today!

Rick, Holly, Sydney & Ryan

Packing List

Have you ever wondered what it takes to pack a family of four for a two week road trip???

Here my list: (this is off the top of my head)
2 large suitcases of clothes
1 suitcase of extra diapers, wipes, bibs, formula, food, etc
bag of misc stuff
basket of toys for Ryan
basket of toys for Sydney
bag of books for Sydney
crate of snacks
cooler for juice boxes and water
1 very large diaper bag loaded with everything but the kitchen sink
Bumbo & trap
Ryan's walker
stroller
2 carseats & all that crap
pillows & blankets
potty for emergencies
DVD player & all that crap
Bag of books & magazines for adults

That doesn't count the:
3 diaper boxes of clothes that's getting returned to Heather
Bag of stuff for mom

Gotta love road-trips!!!

It's Here!!!

The time has come for us to take our two week road-trip vacation! We head out tomorrow night around bedtime ... destination - everywhere that has been hit by Gustav or Ike (Louisiana/Texas/Arkansas). Route altered because of no power/gasoline in Texas, so we will be heading to Arkansas first. Our plans are to hang out with my family for about a week doing all the things "country folks" do... fishing, swinging on the front porch, catch lightening bug, riding 4-wheelers, etc. After that much needed break from reality, we will head South to my old "home town"Ama. Do a little visiting there (this is still a very tough one for me... Mom said "it's terrible there and that I should not return home anytime soon." My house looks so bad that even she was upset by it.) Going to head to Denham Springs to my BFF Phoebe's house. Hopefully, she'll have time to give me a haircut while we are visiting, but that's a toss-up. Last stop in Louisiana - Cajun Country! Time to hang with the rest of my abnormal family. I miss them all so much and I hate the fact that we never get to see them. Our vacations are always to Maryland or Arkansas, so we don't get time to make it down there. It's been almost 3 years since I've seen my grandma and that is just wrong... I'm excited to see my cousin's twins, Mallory & Addison, who were born a few months after Sydney. They are the most adorable children. Sydney loves being around all the kids back home. I have tons of 2nd/3rd cousins now, thanks to my always reproducing relatives. I'm glad Rick will finally be meeting my Uncle Tommy - he's been away from the family for a long time and has recently returned. Plus this is another opportunity for him to be exposed to my other uncles that are just down right nuts, not clinically. I love the both dearly, but they are just not right! Rick gets fabulous stories to tell his squad because of it. I'm hoping to take the family to see my grandfather (Daddy's dad). Since my grandmother died a few years ago, he's decided to live in an assisted living place right down the street from his house. I'll take the kids to the house though, so they can play in the yard like we did as kids. My grandmother always had a beautiful yard and I'd like to get some pictures of Sydney & Ryan there. Rumor has it, Ampa is planning on selling the Hockaday house soon - better do it before that happens. After that, we head West to Texas. I have more family that live outside of Beaumont and two uncles that live in Houston. We'll probably spend some time with Nanny (aunt) and her family then just "pass through" Houston. Although, if we have some spare time, I'd love to stop and see two of my friends there. I loved living in Houston and had some really great friends there. Dale & Alyse have both started their own companies since I left and are doing wonderfully. I want my house to be done by Dale - he has flawless taste. I'm pretty sure I'd be working with Alyse now if I had stayed there. Oh well...

Then.... the long ass drive through Texas back home. We'll be home next month!!! I promise to post updates & pics along the way. Should make for some great entries.

80's Fan?

We've come to realize Ryan really likes 80's music. He dances every time it's on.

So there was this Priest and a Rabbi...

On September 15, 2001, just four short days after the horror of "9-11", in South Louisiana, I married my friend. Surrounded by friends and family from near and very far, Rick and I exchanged vows and started our lives together as Mr. & Mrs.. It has been seven good years. I look forward to seventy more.

It was such a wonderful day... I remember it like it was yesterday! I look at my album all the time with Sydney - at least a few times a month. We used it to help her learn who was who in the family. These are some of them...
My Parents:

My in-laws: Brian, FIL Brian, Rick, MIL Shelley & Amy

Our "Party": Comprised of people from VA, NY, MD, KY, AR & LA... and of course, Us from AZ!

The craziness begins... show a bunch of Cajun's Hava Nagila...

And yes, I thought I was going to fall! Rick loves this picture.

Under normal circumstances, this would have never happened! Two sisters having a blast together... who knew it could happen. Heather was 5 months pregnant with my first love, Allie.





And we lived happily ever after...

Happy Anniversary Rick! I love you...

Daisy

I decided to be Sydney's troop leader for Daisy Scouts. I have not a clue what I'm doing, but will go through "Daisy training". They didn't have Daisies when I was little, so I can't turn to my former troop leader/mom for suggestions on what to do with a group of K-1st graders. Should be fun and Sydney is beyond excited. More to come later...

Ryan's 9m Pics

Walking??

So.... it happened! He's taken many steps tonight. He's done the step here, step there, but tonight he "walked". He loves standing all on his own now and can stand up, squat, kneel down all on his own. Tonight while he was just standing around playing with the toy in his hand, he made his move. We've been watching him very closely the last several days hoping this would happen. It did... he took a few steps, turned and took a few more. He did that a few times... We were so excited. I guess it will just get better each day. I can't believe he will is walking at 9 months! Sydney took her first steps on her first birthday - this is just so strange! I wonder what's going to be next.... I guess talking???

Playtime

For almost two hours now, I've been listening to the best sounds ever. Our children are playing together in the playroom... no shouting, no crying, just having a good time with each other! I can hear them laughing together... it's awesome.

Doctor Visit

Ryan saw Dr. Auerbach this morning and, like always, is doing extremely well. He weighs 22.2 pds (75%), 29 1/4" long (75-90%) and his head is 45 cm around (25-50%). Got his 3rd Hep B vaccine and his first flu shot. The next one is in one month. He's got EIGHT teeth (4/4) and it looks like there are 2 more about to come down on the top. He's all over the house now. He's mastering the navigation of his little walker. Still likes to climb into the dishwasher and put any and everything in his mouth. Sydney & him are getting along much better. She's learning her limits, but he likes the roughness sometimes. Tubby-time has become a favorite! He loves splashing water and putting his face on/in/near it. Makes lots of noise - I think he likes the acoustics.

He's been cleared to eat just about anything; except eggs, citrus fruit/juice, chocolate, shellfish, peanut butter and tomatoes. We can give him milk products, but still no milk. I'll try some cottage cheese tonight and see how he likes that! We are still working on the sippy cup thing. He's really likes to throw them at the floor, so it's a battle at this point. He'll drink from them but would rather play with them. Oh well... More to come soon.

New Ride

We got Ryan a walker today! He's fascinated by it and seems to really like walking around with it.

#9

Today is the big day... Ryan is NINE months old!!! Man, has time just zoomed right by. We take his pics today and he has his check-up on Friday. All is good - he's an amazing little man.

Go Away Gustav...

I've always liked hurricanes. For some reason they've always fascinated me. I love the change in the skies, the way the trees move differently, the quietness in the air. It's just different...I guess I've always loved the "calm before the storm". Granted I never liked packing up everything and boarding up the house, nor did I like the feeling of "what if". You know that feeling of what if I have no house to go home to, our house gets flooded, all of our stuff gets ruined? We never left for hurricanes when we were little, but we did leave for a few "bad ones" as I got older, and it was so scary. As you leave home you always pray it will be just like it is when & if you go back.

Katrina was just another hurricane that came and went. Her damage was great and mighty - she did her thing & left. Flooding from poor levees ruined what was left. I was here, watching it on TV around the clock with Mom. Daddy was there... hopefully living through the horror of hurricane aftermath as best he could. We wanted so badly to be there - to do our part to get life back together again. Granted "we" were very lucky with Katrina. "We" lived on the Westbank. We got no flooding - our house was unharmed, as always. Minus lots of broken trees, everything that made Sellers Village my home, was still there. My childhood neighborhood was basically untouched. One exception - when you have ginormous Oak trees on your property, don't build your house by them. The Zeringue's found that out the hard way when one smashed down their home.

Fast forward three years... I can't get off the Internet or turn the TV off. My parents left "home" the April following Katrina. They were done with all the bullshit that we all go through every hurricane season. They were tired of always worrying when would the next one come and what if this was going to be "the big one". I was devastated by their move. Words will never fully describe how that one decision crushed part of my soul. Where would I call home if home was no longer in Ama? I never thought in my 31 years I'd ever say this but, I'm glad home is not Ama anymore. Gustav looks to ruin what was left of my precious "home" - that quiet little town with no traffic lights, one road in/out - "River Road", two churches, a tiny little post office, and about 20 streets right off the bank of the Mighty Mississippi. He looks to wash away what makes me miss that place terribly. Bastard... I worry about my friends that are still in St. Charles Parish. I worry about my family that is in the heartland of Cajun Country. I worry about everyone I know that's stuck in some crappy hotel or crammed into a friend's house up North. I worry that they will not have much to return home to this time and that breaks my heart.

There's nothing to do to prevent things like this from happening. God unleashes his might every summer and he looks to have a go with South Louisiana this time. I pray he goes easy on them - there are some really fine people down there! I also pray that he keeps everyone safe and that he leaves just enough of Louisiana there for me to show my children. They need to see where I'm from when we are there in a few weeks. I NEED to see it. Please let Ama be there... I can't imagine this world without that little place of heaven.

So, with a heavy heart I head to bed - with one last check online and Channel 66.

Is it terrible for me to hope Gustav takes a sharp turn to the West once in the Gulf and slams Mexico's ass???

Is this news???

It wasn't long after Gov. Sarah Palin finished her speech today when I happened upon this...Thanks Reuters!

Love them, but really, is this important? Aren't there better things to take pictures of and debate about of right now during this historic campaign??? I mean really, who cares what the next VP's shoes look like. Let's talk about the stuff that matters.

Happy Birthday Girl...

Just wanted to wish Girl a very happy birthday! Hope the next year brings you everything you want and need.

How much do I suck?

Today was another Monday, that was until I looked at the clock at exactly 11:00 am! HOLY SHIT and a few other choice words flew out of my mouth. As a scooped up Ryan and flew out the garage, he gave me this "What's the deal Mother?" To my reply "Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit... I forgot Sydney!" I was supposed to be AT the bus stop no later than 10:55 for her. As you can see by simple math, I was late. As I got to the corner I looked up the street, no bus. Then I looked down the street... *#@K! Damn it... there it was at the end of the road turning. I could have died right there in the road. Ryan was playing very happily in his stroller as I sat on the curb shaking my head in utter disgust. How terrible was I? How could I have done this to her? She's going to hate me even more because of this! That was the only thing I kept thinking - how bad of a mom was I. Now what???? Do I go call the school? Do I wait? This is not one of those things covered in the school handbook... "What to do if you suck as a parent and forget to get your kid from the bus stop". So we waited and waited and waited! I just prayed that the school wasn't trying to call the house - Rick was in coma land & I didn't bring the phone with me as I flew out of the house as a lunatic. Waited even more... then I heard the best sound ever! I shot up and looked back up the street and there was her bus, chugging back down to us. As the driver opened the door and smiled at us, he said "I've got something for you!". I apologized profusely and shook my head in shame. He shrugged it off and said "It happens all the time. We always make a second lap if we miss you the first time!" God, there must be a lot of crappy parents out here for them to do this. Sydney, being Sydney, jumped off the bus and gave me that "what the hell" look, then laughed at me when I told her I wasn't paying attention to the clock. She was actually very excited that she got to see the rest of the "drop-offs". As she did her George Jefferson walk back to the house, I realized that she didn't really care about it all. It was just something that happened and it was okay. We headed to Super Wal-mart (first time since before Ryan was born) for a few road trip things and for her to get her favorite "Chicken Balls" (balls vs. nuggets). All was good...

I love that kid!