Say cheese... and be still.

PS - This is my 999th post on this blog! I'd better come up with something good for the next one...

A family war...

Outside, the world was peaceful and calm.

Cedar Rapids, Ia. Sources report a violent fight took place this morning as a family divided and turned on itself in what can only be described as a merciless Nerf war. Mothers grabbed children and uncles formed alliances with nieces and nephews while grandparents stood on the sidelines, watching in amazement as their family members attacked each other.

Uncle Jesse and Aunt Julie. (They started it.)

Eyewitnesses report that the skies were filled with Nerf arrows and foam balls, bouncing off the walls, floors and every now and then off a kid's head. When the troops were disarmed, the weapons filled a suitcase and a garbage bag.

But although the shooting, looting and hollering has ceased for now... this was merely battle number one.

Uncle Jonathan shot a defenseless Aunt Julie...
but Kaylin came to the rescue, supplying her with more ammo.

Uncle Jesse setting a violent example for his son.

Aunt Britt uniting the forces of the little ones,
even turning Renae against her parents, so they'd fight on her side.

Sammy hitched a ride with Uncle Jonathan to ride around collecting ammo.

Did I mention we watched "Robin Hood" last night?

'Twas the day before Christmas...

A Christmas Eve walk in the snow

Merry Christmas, from the photographer... and her sidekick.

Jonathan exploring

Christmas cookie tradition

Oh Christmas tree beads...

Ducks out for a Christmas Eve paddle

All ready for the nieces and nephews... and the aunts and uncles!

So this is snow, huh?

So quiet by the tree... for now

Barns through the trees

Wrap it up with a bow

Such snow naturals

On the tree

A burst of color

Over the river and through the woods...

The secret life of grown-ups...

This post is largely addressed to our readership under the age of ten. Pull up a chair. I'm about to give you the real scoop.

As a kid, I always suspected that grown-ups had more fun after they put us shorter people to bed. I tried unsuccessfully to confirm my theory by catching them in the act.

I would wander out into the living room, lifting my eyebrows high because I thought that would show my mom that I was wide awake in case she wanted to ask me to join the party with my aunts and uncles. Instead, she would quickly usher me back to my bed... even after I explained how parched my throat was and that I liked water from the kitchen (other side of the living room) better. No luck.

So I never got a good look at what the grown-ups were doing after the kids were put to bed. But I sure did hear it. Bottles of Coke being opened, loud rounds of laughter, popcorn popping, movies with serious music, my dad cracking jokes... and sometimes I even heard the freezer door being opened. Ice cream.

The unfairness was overwhelming.

Well kids, I'm here reporting back to you as a grown-up that my suspicions have been confirmed. After you are tucked into bed, we do bust out the big servings of good dessert, the fun games and the movies you can't watch. And sometimes (like last night) we even make a late-night trip to get ice cream.

But don't worry, kids. Someday you'll be an aunt or uncle and you'll be able to pull the same trickery on your nieces and nephews.

A Christmas time machine...

2003: Miname, Senegal, with the Borders fam and some great friends.
As seen on the old school blog. We're in the back row... about 4 feet apart.

2004: Marietta, Georgia. Not technically Christmas, but two days before.
Note that we're no longer 4 feet apart.

2005: Lyon, France. Just les Masson.
As seen in this blog post entitled 'Our first Noël...'

2006: Lyon, France, with Kate and Chris (the photographer)
As seen in 'Noël, Noël, Noël'

2007: Marietta, Georgia, with the Borders fam
As seen in 'The first half of Christmas'

2008: In Madrid, Spain, with Jesse and Julie.
As seen in 'Ho Ho Hola!'

2009: Budapest, Hungary, with the Borders fam.
As seen in 'And a bulldog Christmas to you too!'

2010: Coming soon! Here's a sneak preview though. There will be a LOT of nieces and nephews in the picture :)

Making a (food) list, checkin' it twice...

Kari's to-eat-in-America list:

Really good fish and chips at a pub in New Jersey

Marietta Pizza Co.

La Parilla chicken nachos

Cheesecake

Great Plains Pizza

Bub's lasagne

Willie Rae's fish tacos

Krispy Kreme glazed doughnuts

La Parilla chips and salsa

Chick Fil A biscuit

Really good fish and chips

Iowa beef

Dr Pepper

Sarah Jean's mint chocolate chip ice cream

Hickory Park BBQ

Chick Fil A chicken strips salad

Sushi

Longhorn's steak

AW root beer

Colonel Poole's BBQ

Hot dog in NYC

Taco Bell double decker taco supreme

DQ mint Oreo blizzard

NJ bagels 

Greek salads

Root beer float

Dunkin Donuts Holes (blueberry!)

KFC original fried chicken

Papa John's pizza

Starbucks lattes

Checkers' 1/4 lb champ burger and fries


With only 6 weeks left in the US, I'd better get busy! Did I miss anything?

Snow joke...

I call it "Iowa in winter".

On the banks of the Cedar River

Southern Girl is getting a snowy education.

Fortunately, I bought (cute!) snow boots just in time.

Who knew not all woodpeckers were cartoons?

Who wants hot chocolate?