Christmas 2010

Jack's first Christmas was magical. While he was more interested in the wrapping paper and boxes than the toys, his Mommy, Daddy, Nana, Pops, Aunts and Uncles adored seeing him open his gifts.

Jack and I were able to spend 8 days in Dallas. There are so many wonderful memories, it's hard to list them all, but here are some highlights:

1. Pops was off from school too, so he and his little buddy, Jack, were able to spend a lot of time together while Mommy did Christmas shopping and visited friends. 2. Mommy got to see her dear high school friend, Juliana after many years. It was as if no time passed at all and made her so happy to see her again. 3. We were able to see Uncle Joe and Aunt Christine's new house. It was decorated so beautifully for Christmas, and Jack was able to play with his uncles quite a bit there. 4. We were able to celebrate Grand-Nana's birthday. She was the guest of honor and it made Mommy's heart so happy to see her smiling at all of her family as we celebrated the life of such a lovely woman. 5. We were able to celebrate Christmas with Pops' side of the family. Jack got to see his Grand-MeeMaw and all of his cousins and great aunts and uncles. I think his favorite is his great uncle Tony...they are little kindred spirits...(Mommy hates that she didn't get any pictures of this, but hopes to get some from uncle Joe. ) 6. Daddy and Mommy were able to sit in bed Christmas morning with their Christmas angel and quietly thank God for the greatest gift of all, Jackson. Nana did so much and made this Christmas SO very special for us. Despite working full days, she was able to prepare a delicious Christmas meal and birthday dinner for Grand-Nana. The house looked so gorgeous and was such a special place for Jack's first Christmas. 7. Aunt Mimi and Daddy arrived on Dec. 24th. Mommy was so happy to see them both! Aunt Mimi helped Nana a lot since Mommy got sick and wasn't able to help much. 8. Nina and Uncle Michael couldn't join us, since Nina was put on bed rest, so we brought dessert to them and opened presents there. Nina looked beautiful and patiently awaited her little angel, Frank Michael, named after Pops. :) --We were secretly hoping Frank Michael would arrive a bit early so we could meet him, but he had other plans. 9. When we were celebrating our Christmas with MeeMaw, Great Aunts Dottie and Patti presented Daddy and Jack with their very own stockings. Meemaw had made each of us our very own that she specially designed, and Dottie and Patti are going to pass on the tradition, so they made one for each family member who had not yet received one. 10. Seeing Jackson with each member of the family...it was truly a miracle and no pictures can quite capture the beauty felt each time he was held by someone new.

It truly was a wonderful Christmas. It went by so quickly, but like Thanksgiving, holds a special place in our hearts always.

Pre Christmas Festivities

Daddy was able to chop down a beautiful Christmas tree on the ranch and bring it back home after Thanksgiving. We used the bubble lights Anne gave us for Christmas and kept it simple this year. It has been a good tree gracing our home each night. Jack and I have spent many nights there after we get home just admiring the lights, and all three of us have spent many quiet moments there. Jack likes to "pet" the branches and play and crawl in front of it. Yes, crawl...when we were in Dallas for Erika's Christmas party, Jack started to crawl, Army crawl, but crawl nonetheless. We are so proud of him and a little nervous for the time when he is truly crawling everywhere. :) Nana and Pops watched little Jack while Mommy and Daddy partied it up at Rika's house. It was another lovely party. We caroled, visited and enjoyed watching Rika play her violin with the band who came to play.

We also got to see Uncle Michael, Nina, and Uncle Joe, and Grand-Nana. It made us count down the days to Christmas break more vigorously.

It was so nice to be in Dallas, even if it was a short visit. Mommy hadn't been home since Jack was one month old.

Thansgiving 2010

I meant to write this blog right after Thanksgiving, but life, as always, has different plans. So here are the highlights: 1. We spent Thanksgiving in Spearfish, SD this year. It was a lovely visit with delicious goodies made by Anne and the sisters. Daddy, Aunt Pam, Jack and I had a fun roadtrip there too. 2. We were able to go to Two Pines almost everyday...and on one day in particular Jack tried his first dill pickle and LOVED it! (Just like his Daddy) 3. On another visit there, we were able to see the Conklins and Jack got to see Gabe and Isabella...and Mommy got to spend time with her dear friends Renee and Traci. We even got to go out just us 3 girls and listen to some great Irish music at the local pub while Nona watched Jack. 4. We did some Christmas shopping at Wild Rose. 5. Enjoyed great conversation over tea and coffee each morning. SO much to be thankful for...

Jack's First Hunting Season at The Ranch

Text below pics. :)

I wish I would be better about my blog entries, but this past weekend is simply one I can't let go by without documenting. About a week ago, Dan and I decided to buy a flight and head to South Dakota, visit his dad and go hunting opening weekend. Both of us were just needing the peace, quiet and beauty of The Ranch.

(In order to get a good price on the tickets, it required us to pull into The Ranch around midnight on Friday and leave from The Ranch at 3 am on Monday morning. A small price to pay to have Jack experience his first hunt.)

Unfortunately, we didn't get to The Ranch until well after 2 am because our luggage was left in Denver, and we needed to buy things for Jack and ourselves which were in the luggage. (It was returned to us the next afternoon...God bless the worker who had to find us...it was about a 2 hour drive into rural SD for him...) Dan and Kelly slept for about 2 hours before some family friends, Bob Spears and his two boys, Lane and Connor, joined them to head out. When they got back later that morning they had seen tons of deer and had had a wonderful morning. I just loved hanging out with Jack...no distractions, didn't turn on the TV, just enjoyed the quiet time with the little guy. After the boys had a bite to eat, we headed out again with Jack. Dan parked us near the hay yard, as it was pretty cold out, and we got to glass for deer and enjoy the sun going down over the fields. About 4 we saw Dan coming back, and on his way back, he encountered a buck he couldn't let pass. When joined back up again and took pics to commemorate "Jack's first buck." --Dan's wish was to get a good buck for Jack, so it was so special to see him hold Jack and smile that beautiful smile of his. --The Spears were also lucky. 15 year old Lane shot a buck himself. They had donned it "The Caribou" when they had been out looking the day before because of his unusual rack, so the conversation that night was full of fun stories about the day.

Later that night, we all just visited, enjoyed some nummy chili that Kelly made, and headed to bed around 9pm.

The next morning, the boys were out again. Kelly and Dan said it was the most fun they had had hunting in a long time. I love the way they hunt. They will choose a good spot and just sit there waiting for hours...just enjoying the quiet. They rarely shoot anything (this was Dan's first buck in about 10 years); they just enjoy the journey.

When they returned, Dan's mom came over and we all just hung out and enjoyed watching Jack. He rode on his first rocking horse, had Nona feed him and he played with his new favorite toy, paper. It was so wonderful to see him with his grandparents...it's one thing I miss about being so far away from our families...I miss our parents and seeing Jack with them more often. But he had a blast and so did we.

That afternoon, we bundled up our little guy and headed to what has now become one of my favorite spots on the ranch. It was atop the ridge of one of the draws where Kelly and Dan had spotted a good white tail. We all sat on the ridge, looking for deer, chewing on jerky, and watched the sun make its slow descent over the hills. It was a beautiful memory. Jack was so good; he sat there quietly for over an hour just enjoying the outdoors. I think he's going to be a good hunter like is daddy and grandpa.

As we headed back, Dan spotted a great buck. Kelly got out ready to shoot, but by the time he was set up it was too dark to hit him. I must admit it was pretty exciting for this city girl. :)

That night we visited again. Kelly sang Jack all the songs his dad used to sing to him. The boys recounted their stories from the weekend, and we enjoyed the last night away from it all.

We were asleep by 8:30 and up again at 2:30. It's going to be a long day for Dan at work, and Jack and I are trying to rest up today at home before I go back to work tomorrow, but it was all worth it. I love the look Dan gets when he's out on The Ranch. Jack gets the same look...capturing it on film is a memory I will hold dear always.

Scottish Fest

Jack's roots (tried to find Hogan but it wasn't available.)

Lee's cabin

Hangin' out with Aunt Pam

Fair grounds

Parade

We had a blast yesterday! Pam, Dan, Jack and I headed up to the mountains for Scottish Fest. The fair grounds were in Estes Park ( I hadn't been there since my dear friend, Katie's, wedding.) It is absolutely breath taking up there. The skies were crystal blue, there was a chill in the breeze, and kilts as far as the eye could see. :)

When we arrived, we realized we had just made it to the spot where the parade ended, so we just found ourselves a spot and enjoyed the bagpipes and Scottish clans. Jack was a bit cold, but looked oh so Irish in the outfit his Nana gave him. The parade was a bit too far for him to really see what was going on, but I think he enjoyed the music.

Upon arriving on the fair grounds, we found some yummy food. Pam and I split a Reuben sandwich which was expertly prepared by a grey bearded fellow...scrumptious... Next, we headed to the Highlander games. We saw something which looked like a discus contest and then a log throwing contest, all done in kilts of course. There was a fantastic fly over by the Marines as we ate our popcorn and barbecue, and then it was off to the Irish Dance competition. I think Jack really enjoyed that. He loved the elaborate costumes, loud sounds of the dance shoes and music.

Before we headed home, we stopped by Dan and Pam's cousin's new cabin. Lee's place was a bit hard to find, but once we did and stepped outside, you felt completely cut off from the world. It was so peaceful. The cabin was built in the early 1900s and Lee and his wife, Michele, are in the process of fixing it up. Quite charming, indeed. --Jack loved Gunner and Rico, Lee's dogs. He couldn't stop giggling at them, and he was absolutely taken with Lee. I also think he loved the clean, crisp air. Wish we could have stayed longer, but it had been a long day and we were getting a bit tuckered out.

All in all it was a great outing. Jack loved spending time with his Aunt Pam and being exposed to his Blair/Hogan roots.

Sl'inte!