Keeping up with the Joneses

I try not to wear that catchphrase out but it's hard to resist. Some images from our holidays 08'...

Parties and cheer and many discussions about Santa and Elves and baby Jesus and the importance of being nice.
An extra special party at the Bartlett's in San Antonio
The Nutcracker at the Long Center was delightful as was Ella's repeat performances
Hulk gloves under the tree to channel boy energy
And a Big Boy Bike
Commence gulf coast excursion...
Lotsa jumping, running, chasing, crawling, catching, spinning, rolling, sitting and staring at the ocean from (and on) the sand dunes -- or "moon dunes" as Ella coined.

Texas Beaches are considered open highways for motor vehicles. So beware of the Portuguese man-of-war, sting rays, rattle snakes and big trucks. This is our humble mini van.
Self portrait
Buckets

Donut Party

If I stand very still outside the door of Ella and Cy's bedroom after "lights out" I may catch a snippet of a scintillating conversation. On one such occasion the popular topic of Birthday Parties was being discussed. Cy, continually carb obsessed, expressed his interest in a Bagel Party. Ella was unsure about the bagels but was certain that she would be in charge of opening his presents.

So in the days and weeks to come we got to talking about Cy's 3rd Birthday Party and bagels and circles and other things that are round, like pizza and Frisbee's and Cheerios and DONUTS!!!! Bagels were soon usurped by donuts as the central theme.

Voila! Donut Birthday party featuring....

Birthday Boy and DIY Donuts

Good friends and beverages

Girls

Trains

Requisite Pinata

My Pack

Mo Garbler developed a theory about people and their associated animal archetype. For example, I'm a cat (shocking I know). Mr Mooks is a big cat. Ella is a horse and Cyrus is a dog -- actually a puppy. Mo is a cat but also a dog and J Garbler is all dog where as little Finn Garbler is a puppy and maybe a cat too. I like to think there is a little dog in us all. That must be why it felt so good to have my pack together this holiday. Muchas Gracias Garblers!

Sample of J Garbler's 2008 Thanksgiving pic's