Georgia - Christmas 2009

Hello all!

We made it out to Georgia pretty much uneventful. We left behind a horrid blizzard by 12 hours. I would have enjoyed a white Christmas, but I think I like the warmer weather a bit better this time around. Kai and Kate enjoyed their laptop and game devices on the way to Georgia. Jennie and I are doing our best to stay away from the headrest DVD players. We want them to wrinkle their brains, even in the slightest if we can.





Kate says, "Take pictures of Kai! NOT ME!"



"But you're still cool."

We drove out to Cheaha (pronounced Cheeeee-haw!) State Park and did a little hike Sunday. Kai climbed some of the enourmous rocks that were along the trail.



Kate slept 95% of the hike. We should have brought the hiking backpack, but we left it in OK in the camper.



Eskimo Jennie and Hiker Kai!



Cheaha Trail... off the wooden plank path.



On the way back to Carrollton we stopped in Shinbone, Alabama. Couldn't help but take pictures and shop a little bit.



Me making sexy pictures with the cliff (Bald Rock I believe was its name).



Cheers,
Jon

Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas!!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Merry Christmas!!

Kai is very proud of our tree.


Kate immediately stole the hat that Ann & Chuck sent me. I think she looks better in it any ways.

Where have we been? At home, that’s where!

I’ve had bronchitis. Kai had swine flue. Kate had her spits of fever and bronchitis. Jennie even had some bad times as well. There were 5 weeks of someone sickly. Not fun around the Reynolds’ household.

But we make the best of it!


It’s a sign when Kate couldn’t dance while watching TV.



We did some home improvements. (Foreman shown below)



Ninjas were found hiding in the oddest places around our house. (Look hard, he’s slippery)



Supposedly I’m going grey. (Yes, that is how I spell grey. Blame my kindergarten teacher.)



Cuteness tends to overflow drawers. (We have abundance)



Superheroes visited our home and kept it safe. (Rock hard abs and fists of foam, I still wouldn’t cross him.)



Not sure what the pink caped crusaders name was.



What do you mean we “ran out of chocolate milk”?



“Just kidding”



Superhero version #2 (This one is slightly cooler. Note sunglasses, red shirt and no sweat stains!)



Baby Teacher disapproves of your book report.



Our tomatoes continued to grow regardless of the health of the inside of the house. (MAKES AWESOME SALSA!!!)



Cowboy up!



Cowgirl up!



Cheese and banana taste tester. (Note: boots and PJ dress are part of the uniform.)



Sun glasses optional.



Superheroes do household chores when they feel good.



The journey of Mt. Slide (@ base camp, gearing up)



Climbing Mt. Slide (Just above base camp)



During the ascent. (Just short of the summit)



Summit reached! (It feels good when you can see over the top to the other side!)

Roman Nose - August 2009

Thank you Kevin and Courtney for remembering your camera! I've had the worst luck with cameras this year. Kai "washed" my old one in the sink causing us to get a new one. I lost ours for about a month. Now I've lost the battery charger. Bugger.

After a successful canoeing trip:


Kai was trying to make his move on Courtney the whole trip. Kate was secretly hitting on Kevin.


Best... Fisherman... Ever.


Iz in ur lap. Stealin' your Bacardi and Coke.


Pretty much retired




Iz in da box. Makin' cuteness.

Mutton Bustin'

Mutton Bustin' is a rodeo event in which little cowboys and cowgirls do their best to hold on to a sheep as it goes running around the arena. Most kids last about 1-2 seconds. Our boy lasted 1.8 seconds while clutching to the side of one. This video is from the annual Yukon Rodeo in Yukon, OK.

Two More Chickens

Jennie, Kate and Ann went and got two more chickens last night. We were down to just one lonely rooster, Rudy. Now the red head stud has two little white hens to chase around.

Jennie was actually worried about Rudy more than the hens. The hens are used to being around 80 other chickens. So the girls bossed him around almost immediately. The poor guy was actually stuck outside his coop last night. We shall see if the girls will let him back in. I'm sure if he gets hungry enough he'll bully his way back in. He is twice their size for cryin' out loud! I'm pretty sure that they are not letting him in due to the way that he kept the coop. The girls are probably very mad at his organization and cleanliness. That'll teach him.

Cheers,

Trip to Amarillo, TX

Back in April we went to Arkansas for a wedding. This time around we travelled west. I just need to be invited to Wichita and Dallas and the compass shall be complete!

Arra Johnson is now married! Congrats Arra! Beautiful wedding, great reception!
All the best!

Kai and Kate danced it up at the reception. Kai got to dance with some of the prettiest girls while we were in Arkansas. But the poor boy kept getting shot down by the one girl he wanted to dance with this trip. She was just slightly older and refused to dance with little boys. :( I'm sure he'll survive. He snuck a good 3-4 cupcakes from the buffet line.

We took the camper out to Amarillo for our stay. We stayed at the Fort Amarillo RV Park. Everything worked out really great. Kai got to go fishing with his Spiderman fishing pole. Everyone got to go swimming. Kai can swim all by himself with just the smallest assistance from some arm floaties. Yeah. I know. I feel old. Jennie got to spend Saturday doing wedding hair. I got to take the kids Saturday to Palo Duro Canyon. The ole Yukon pulled the camper just great (a whopping 9 MPG)! This time next year the Yukon will be paid off! Woot Woot! More camping money!

I'm definitely going to have to go back to Palo Duro. But probably around September/October weather season. I was about a 100 degrees in the canyon and dry as ever. There are hiking trails, biking and interesting camp sites. I think a long weekend trip would be awesome. I didn't take any bikes with us this trip because we knew it was going to be a busy trip. Jennie, the kids and I only really had Friday to explore and have fun together. And there was plenty to do while at the RV Park or in town.

Cheers,

Missing Camera

Alright. The camera has been missing for about a month now. So I'm pretty sure the kids didn't just hide it. Sorry there won't be a lot of pictures. Everyone will just have to do what they hate, read.

Planumrotundumphobia

Figure out what the title means? I can't lay fame to figuring it out either. I read it in Rider Magazine, a motorcycle magazine. Not to be confused with Easy Rider which has pictures of ladies with low self esteem or large ... postures.

Planumrotundumphobia is a fear of a flat tire. I think I have it. I hate having to jog my bike back to the office from 3 miles away. (Done it) Having to jog the bike back to the truck from the middle of the mountain bike course. (Done it) I hate having buddies leave me behind when no one has a spare and jogging a couple miles before they make it back to the truck and come back to pick me up. (Yeah. That one too)

I carry two tubes and a pump with me every time I ride. My wife picked up my backpack and blurted out, "Geez! You ride with this thing?" I think she was talking about the weight and not its fashionability.

What do I carry?

- 2 tubes
- small pump
- flat tire repair tool
- multi tool
- 9/16" wrench - for my pedals in case they get loose
- screwdriver w/ multiple ends - multi tool just isn't enough for me
- extra chain link - I broke a chain on a bike less than a year old

All of that doesn't even include: Wallet, cell phone, keys, and camelback. But dangit! I can make it back under my own power! If not, that is what the cell phone is there for.

Cheers,

Sunday Morning Breakfast Bike Ride

The best things in life just need a little jump start. You have just the littlest thing trigger your mind and the best things can come from that spark.

While starting my ritualistic weekend pancake breakfast I made the discovery that we were completely out of syrup. This caused panic. The first pancake was already complete and cooling on a plate waiting for its sugar bath.

In a rash decision I stated, "Anybody want to pedal to Braum's for breakfast?"

After much applauding, changing of clothes, pressurizing tires, and high fives we were off!

Parking was very spacious at Braum's.



There was a small "snack" after breakfast.



The boy and I got a little bit more tan.



Our navigator made bicycles more fashionable than they have been since they had one giant wheel and one tiny wheel.

Tactical Diver and Mermaid

Tactical Diver

Master of all things aquatic. Can splash and run through water like a seal. Likes to go down slides and jump into pools from the side. Can swim all by himself using 'floaties' attached to the arms.



Mermaid

Enjoys standing in water up to her chest. Clutches to Mommy or Daddy when going through water falls. Pictured in her not-so-favorite new swimsuit. Her preferred swimwear makes her look like a ladybug.

First Long Distance Call for Kate

Kate racked up some minutes on a couple of calls to Granny. There were troubles keeping a connection while Kate utilized Mommy's Crackberry to monitor minutes and adjust the volume. Squeakers hasn't learned to text message yet, thank goodness! But I'm sure that will happen before she turns 2.

Cheers,
Jon

Memorial Day

Thanks to all the men and women that have died in military service. You are remembered!