Great Christmas

Marlowe was a big joy as always.  Chippy, her Elf on a Shelf, was here for about 2 weeks before Christmas.  She got to hug and play with him on Christmas Eve for just one day.  She would hug and squeeze him all day long.  She said her favorite Christmas presents are her sled and her Ohna and Elsa dolls from the movie Frozen.  When I tuck her in at night, she always hides on the other side of the bed and jumps up and yells "jingle bells' to scare me.  I told her we're going to have to start saying "Happy New Years" and then "Happy Valentine's day."

Snow Snow Snow. 12-10

We've had more than a enough snow this past week.   We've now missed 4 straight days of school because of it.  Traci flew out for work this week.  Probably the most eventful thing for Marlowe, other than the snow, was last night we both ate soup at the main dining table, with all the lights in the house turned off except for the Christmas tree lights.  When we were finished eating, we then made hand puppets and pretended to be alligators and birds.  She said it was the best night ever and that she couldn't wait for Mommy to come home so she could do it with her.  She sure loves her mom.  Pic below is her eating a big bowl of snow ice cream

November 2013

What a month it has been.  Work has finally slowed down and now I'm playing a big chunk of the role Mr. Mom around the house.  Halloween was a blast again.   I dressed up this year as Jack Frost and Marlowe dressed up as the Tooth Fairy.  She chose my costume.  I was asked by some if I was dressed as an old man.  The weather was perfect and we had a ton of trick or treaters.  We were out of candy by about 8:00.  Afterwards we attended a party across the street at the Harvath's  with many of the neighbors.  Marlowe's friend Lydia came over and went out with us as well.

Marlowe has started riding her princess bike with training wheels.  Really want to work with her in the house this winter so hopefully by spring she's ready to roll all on her own.  Her new thing is when I walk in her room to tuck her in a night she has to hide and scare me.  Usually on the other side of the bed or in the bathroom area.  I always jump and scream so I can get one good laugh out of her before lights out.  I took her to Botanical Gardens and she had a great time for a couple of hours playing in the Fairy Garden.

Traci and I just returned from Jamaica.  We went with Neil and Jenna Roberts, and Bobby and Amy Hass.  We were pretty much just a bunch of beach bums, which was nice.  However one day we all went to Rick's Cafe where you jump from 100 feet off the cliffs in to the ocean.  You can also jump out in the ocean and swim in the caves, which is what I did.  I was the only one in the group but I did have 2 young Jamaican boys with me.  It was a pretty big adrenaline rush.  I had to swim in really deep ocean water that was up against some big bluffs without a life jacket.  The swim was probably the length of a lap pool but in the ocean with the waves and current it was a lot different.  Once in the cave, I had to climb on the walls barefooted with the ocean running beneath me for about 25 feet.  At the end I jumped in a pool that was only about 4 ft deep.  Then had to swim under ocean rocks for about 7 feet under water.  The 2 boys with me where about 13 or 14 years old and took really good care of me.  I tipped them well.  My heart was pounding afterwards.  Great time with some great friends

October 2013

Its been a few months since I've had the chance to blog or keep anything updated.  Work has been really busy with the guy that has been with me for 3 years broke his foot.  Good labor has been quite an issue

Marlowe has been developing socially so fast here lately. Her facial expressions while she talks can be humorous at times. She loves to sing a ton of songs that she learns in pre-school. This is going to be my last winter with her before she starts going to school all day, so I really need to make the most of it.   She says she loves preschool and really likes her teacher but doesn't really have a set friend.  Some days she says she plays by herself and other days she says she plays with someone we've never heard of.  Either way, she still so young and she doesn't need friends to make her happy.

Halloween should be fun.  Marlowe is dressing up as the Tooth Fairy and I plan on being Jack Frost per her request.  Which should be really easy for me.  Traci has made an awesome costume for her.  She really likes the Rise of the Guardians.   Can't wait for pictures 

 We've had a pretty exciting week.  This past weekend we went camping at Withrow Springs with the Flynts (JL and Dewayne), Bells, Donnells, and Kuharicks (Henry and George).  It was a really good time....so good that it was sad to leave the campground.  I would probably completely give up camping if it wasn't for Traci.  She's so organized, laid back, and innovative on these trips

Speaking of Traci, I can't believe we've been married now for 10 years this month.  No doubt the best and smartest thing I've ever done.  Heres to hopefully 50 more...at least.  Pretty amazing the impact she's had on my life.

Also this week, I saved 3 little puppies on the east side of Springdale. Someone had dumped the poor little guys right in the middle of the road.  Vet thinks they are 8-10 weeks old and part terrier and chihuahua.  We've found a home for one but the other 2 haven't been so lucky.  Marlowe has been awesome with them. Reading them stories, playing chase, playing good dog versus bad dog.  I've had 2 long serious talks with her about how we are going to send them to a new home (hopefully) or the pound in the next couple of days and she seems really good with it.  Says she won't be sad but we will see.  She has named the female PuffBall and the male Toto - From the Wizard of Oz

Just getting started......

I've started this blog as a way to cherish and keep my family memories unforgettable.  Having a 4 year old that constantly keeps my wife Traci and I entertained and not having a way of publishing it on a regular basis has become somewhat troublesome.  Especially due to the fact that Marlowe is growing up way too fast  and I kick myself every time the wife has to jog my memory on a special moment, such as a camping trip, family holiday, etc.  I know there is the world of social media, such as Facebook and twitter, but those just seem too broad for me.  I have hundreds of friends and followers, but don't know/remember half of them.

Credit to my sister and brother in law, Shelli and James for getting me up to speed on blogging.  She started one for one of their family trips, that included a bicycle trek across the entire state of Oklahoma.  I thought it was just a brilliant idea on their part to blog about it.

So here's to blogging.....