Pajama Day

Remember how much fun it was to have "Pajama Day" at school.

Me, neither.

But at Holland's school, it's a fairly common occurance, just like having a sofa in your classroom.

Elvis' Birthday

One of our favorite Mexican restaurants celebrates Elvis' birthday every year. If you dress like Elvis or Priscilla, you get a free meal. A free meal if you dress like Elvis? Sign us up! Turns out my friend and workout buddy, Laurie and her family have done an Elvis float in the family-friendly parades in New Orleans and even the local parades so she and her fam were on board for Elvis night. The impersonator didn't come to our Chuy's location, but no matter. Our table more than made up for it. We sang happy birthday to other patrons, ourselves, passersby, basically anybody with a pulse was fair game. And oh, the pictures with customers, waitstaff, managers and even some of the kitchen staff. So much fun. It really looks like Mac has found his Elvis kindred spirits.

King Creole

It never ceases to amaze me just how far this Elvis gig will go. Mac mentioned to our Elvis cohorts that we should have an Elvis party. And a party we had. My friend, Laurie's family can throw a party. An Elvis/Mardi Gras party. It was so much fun!! Mac performed his 10 song set to the lights and the smoke machine. Beads, singing, dancing. And then there was the shrimp creole....so good that's Mac's new motto is, "Will perform for shrimp creole".

Don't be jealous.

My friend, Laurie and myself in front of the Mardi Gras tree, practicing our moves. This was sort of a blend of Elvis and Body Combat.

Me, Jeannie, Lisa, and Laurie

We managed to score a few beads. Helped that I kind of leaped in front of everybody a few times.

I'm a wee bit competitive.

The Elvis Crew

(Those who dressed the Elvis part.)

You've Inspired Me, Stacy

I'm resuming the blog. I find myself very reluctant to put much on Facebook. Just a little too public for my taste. That doesn't mean I'm going to put anything important or interesting on the blog, but at least you know what you are getting into when you visit. I promise not to put my grocery list on here or check in at the gas station unless I'm really desperate for material whcih is always a possibility.

Anyway I was part of a peer pressure group to get our friend, Stacy, to start a blog since she is moving off to London for 3 years. sniff sniff. But I feel I should at least put some effort into mine since I'm asking her to. So, you can address all thanks and complaints to her at poolsacrossthepond.blogspot.com.

December 23, A Davis "Hollyday"

When December 23rd rolls around, and there is no missing it since the countdown on the wipeboard starts right after Thanksgiving, we set aside the Christmas revelry and celebrate Holland's birthday. We wouldn't dare not. This year, Holly Bear turned 9. Our 3rd grader is full of song and dance! We often hear her upstairs belting our made-up tunes during her bathtime. She loves to write stories, read, and has such an imagination. She had her first short solo during her Christmas play at school. Normally, a little shy, the girl loves a stage and a microphone. She is truly a joy to us. (We reserve the right to revisit the word "joy" when she hits the teenage years.)

We woke her up with a pink- lit birthday sign.

Then we put the sign in the yard and kept it on with all the Christmas lights.

The ceremonial opening of the birthday loot first thing in the morning.

Her big gift from us was the Ipod Touch complete with an expert to give her hands-on training on how to operate it, what apps to get, etc. (thank goodness for Grey)

In keeping with the spirit of "Predator on a Shelf".

(Predator fom the 80's movie "Predator" that I got as a white elephant gift.)

(Instead of elf on a shelf, we had Predator on a shelf. "Predator" ate our elf and shows up in different places each morning in the elf's place.)

He wrapped himself as one of Holland's birthday gifts complete with Barbie head and birthday card.

The ballon does not indicate any affiliation with the Herman Cain campaign.

She had Gigi's cupcakes for her birthday instead of a cake. Her personal favorites in the right hand corner, the Grasshoppers.

For her birthday, she picked three friends from school and went to the Kemah Boardwalk.

(even number of girls = fun times, odd number = trouble when somebody is left out)

That kind of wisdom comes from experience.

Caroline, Holland, Madison, Tiffany

We had one non-rider, one "Grey has met his match" rider, and 2 nervous, but warmed up to the rides quickly, riders.

There's always a comedian in the group.

The shark is their school mascot.

Last ride of the day.

We were able to make bail.

We also went to the little aquarium and got to feed the stingrays. There were a few sharks in

there,too.

One of the great things about having your birthday 2 days before Christmas, there was hardly anybody was at Kemah. They didn't have to wait on any rides or even to feed and pet the stingrays. Holla.

Then we returned home and 2 of the 3 were able to spend the night, playing games and watching a movie. There were battlecries of "We're staying up til midnight!!!" They were all out by 10:30.

It was a great way to spend her birthday and we all had a blast!!

Until next year.....

The World's Most Interesting Cat

Texas Roadhouse

So, I had lunch with the Unabomber.

Open House 2011

The other night the kids had Open House at the school. It is really not my favorite way to spend an evening. Parking is a nightmare, and I've seen the computer lab, library, and music room every year for 5 years. And every year I act like I've never seen it and ask the child leading the tour to show me around. Most of the evening is spent going to one of the children's classrooms while the other child complains and asks, "when are we going to my class?" And of course, Mac wants to catch up with every man, woman, child, and teacher he can find which gums up the whole process. What I actually do enjoy about the evening is getting to see the kids' projects and work. They are always so proud and so am I. I particularly liked this word problem Grey came up with.

You can take the boy out of Alabama, but you can't take Alabama out of the boy.

(Believe me I've tried.)

The Comeback Tour 2011

I am planning my Blog Comeback Tour, and it is going to be fabulous! Ok, it's really going to be more of the same, but since it's been awhile, it will seem fabulous. However at the moment I am in a holding pattern. Just circling the blog waiting for clearance to land and let loose with all those great posts. Hopefully, this will happen soon. My laptop of 5 years, which is like 95 in electronic years, gave it up a month or so ago. A couple of weeks later I got my new laptop. I felt like I was bringing a baby home from the hospital. All I needed was a baby blanket and a little hat to complete the moment. It works great. HOWEVER, getting all my backed up information, (my pictures being the only thing I really care about) onto the new computer has been challenging, to use a nice word. I have all the picture files but no pictures. So, I will be calling the service AGAIN, and waiting on hold AGAIN to see what the latest hangup is. I'm afraid the new computer might have some mechanical colic that will need to be addressed. So, until I can get all my pics and download the new ones from my camera, I probably won't be posting. Cause let's face it, you expect pics, not my random ramblings. In fact, I can't believe you've stuck with me this far in the post. I guess I should say thanks. So, thanks. And stay tuned, 'cause The Davis 4 Comeback Tour 2011 will be coming soon. (There might even be a T-shirt.)

From Your "Gorgeous Granddaughter"

Miss you, Pop

Pop ALWAYS called me his "gorgeous granddaughter".

"Pop"

A.A. Weathers

Aug.23, 1925- Jan. 28, 2011

Family

Hank, Me, Chris


Hank, Me, Banny, Chris

The same 4, a little closer this time

Hank, Christie, Me Mac, Banny, Dad, Sandy, Suzy, Chris

Same crew with our spawn, Parker, Holland, Grey

Banny, Toni Brady, Chris, Mike Brady

The Brady's are friends that we call family.

Alabama Christmas 2010

A couple of days after Christmas we headed over to Fairhope, Al for some Banny and Pop time. We arrived to a dinner of chicken and dumplings and banana pudding. Grey was ready to permanently move in. We had a lot of fun. We arrived on Monday and left on Wednesday so we packed it in. We went to the beach, hung out at The Hangout, bowled a few ugly games of bowling, (We all could have used the bumpers.) and then played some card games at night. We had a great time! Me, Banny, Pop

Great grandparents and the great-grand-hoodlums


My red hair sake

No matter how cold, he always heads to the water.

Beautiful beach. We only found seashells, not a single tarball. Guess we can always get those in Galveston.

There's the Christmas Card for 2010.

If only I had it before Christmas, I could have used it.

Merry Christmas, anyway!

Beach Bum

Loves her Banny

Ping

Pong

Thanks for letting us invade your home!

Same time, next year?