DECEMBER 2009

We are finally settling into our rental house in Austin. It was quite a month. We have had a blast with our family and friends. Vaughan said, "This is the best holiday season, ever." Kinda hilarious since he's not had a lot of them to compare!

The boys turned 3 years and 5 years old and will reschedule their party someday soon. Mom has been sick for about 7 weeks and just couldn't get it together for a party in the freezing cold!

On Nash's birthday, he decided to visit Santa Claus with his brother. What a couple of cuties. We had a wonderful, almost mesmerizing day...

Vaughan and Nash both got a much coveted skateboard for their birthday...let the co-pays begin! And, Vaughan got to go to the KISS concert with his dad, in full make-up!

Christmas was exciting and busy. We all got fun gifts and even got to see our extended family, too. Quite nice, indeed.

We miss our Lorri and Rob and Carmen and Steven...and hope to see them in the summertime...once the great Northwest has thawed out!

So here's to a new year, new adventures and more of the unexpected!

Our Last Few Days As Oregonians

Vaughan's Pirate-face

Nash eating pre-packaged food, with plastic utensils and not a napkin in sight.

It's like we've done this before ...in fact, it is almost exactly nine months to the day that we did this, headed for the Great Northwest. Oh, the glory of not knowing what the future may bring.

We are still trying

There hasn't been any real activity in weeks, but at least the crying has stopped.

Celebrating Vaughan and Nash with the Ranslams

Me, and Lorri

The chocolate, chocolate, round and squirrely cake!

Steven, Carmen, Vaughan and Nash

KA-SMOOCH!!!!

We had a good time: pizza, chocolate cake, viking hats, fishin' toys, and legos!

Wooo Hooo!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

After bribing, begging, and re-dressing, this is as good as it gets!

Happy Holidays!

Aunt Sissy

These are a few of my favorite things...

Looking for a Rental House

As a mother, I have decided that one of the most painful things you can do to your children is make them look at real estate with you. I have never heard more whining, moaning, complaining, or "again?" in my life. It almost drove me to drink.

The funny part is that when my parents moved us from Houston to Austin, they rented a house on Camp Fire Trail. I thought that was such a stupid name for a street. Now, 25 years later, we are renting a house 2 blocks away from Camp Fire Trail...on Chuck Wagon Trail. But the best part is, after living 2000 miles away, Chuck Wagon Trail sounds Texan. And that's sounds good to me.