Merry Christmas!

Just a quick note to tell everyone Merry Christmas!!! We had a great Christmas Eve at Shawn's Nana's house last night. Jaxson woke up this morning to a pile of gifts from Santa and didn't really know what to do with them! After some coaching, he was opening them almost like a seasoned veteran. We had a great morning at home, now off to Grandma and Grandpa Maurer's house!

Our little tree

Dancing with Great Grandma

With Uncle Brandon

Look at what Santa brought!

More Trucks! ("Gucks"... Jaxson favorite thing)

I climbed in all by myself!

What fun having mom push me around the house!

Another favorite... a John Deere tractor

Merry Christmas from the Glowackis!

The FLU

Wow... You think that when you get the flu shot you're pretty safe... OH NO. Jaxson and I have spent the last week nursing each other back to health. If you've ever had a one-year-old help nurse you back to health, you know that as sweet as they are, they don't help much. There's no lounging around on the couch and sipping tea while watching Ellen. It's pretty much business as usual. I have to say it's been really bad. Last week Jaxson was running a low fever which I thought was just teething but Friday morning he woke up with a 101 fever, so off to the doctor... it was an ear infection (his first) most likely due to the pressure change from riding in an airplane the week before. He had other symptoms and I realized after coming down with my own fever, aches, pains, and no appetite Monday (and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and even this morning) that we were dealing with the flu. I hope nobody else gets this crud. It was bad. So that's why the lack of posts and phone calls and Christmas spirit (Bah Humbug... I've been in a pretty foul mood) So... just to catch up and cheer up a little from the last WONDERFUL (insert sarcasm) week...

Jaxson's first "accident" before getting in the bath one night

Happy bathing baby

One of his favorite activities... riding the truck ("Guck")

I think for Christmas this year we're just going to wrap a bunch of empty boxes... they seem to work just as well!

Sporting his new In-N-Out burger hat... mom and dad's favorite burger joint, and soon to be his too! No, there's not one in Houston, so every time we are in CA we have to go at least 3 times before we leave!

Helping mom with the dishes... he is fascinated by the dishwasher!

Frosty the Snowman

Rest in Peace

Frosty the Snowman

December 10, 2008 - December 11, 2008

We had a lot of fun with Mr. Frosty

Jaxson got the chance to meet him when he woke up in the morning

Even a bunch of our neighbors stopped by to take pictures this morning...

But by the afternoon...

He was toast

Mr. Frosty had a full, yet short life...

Farewell slushy friend!

Winter Wonderland!

WOW... I think I spoke too soon when I said that Houston is one-dimensional when it comes to weather and climate. I should have said that Houston is inconsistent or unpredictable instead!!! Yes, it snowed tonight! (and yes, I was shopping yesterday in shorts and a t-shirt) That is a very rare occasion here. The last time it snowed was 4 years ago. So we took advantage of the opportunity and gave life to Mr. Frosty the Snowman! No corn cob pipe (not too many of those sitting around the pantry), but he did have a carrot nose AND 2 eyes made out of coal! He did seem to come alive when Shawn put his old cowboy hat (not silk) on his head! It was a lot of fun and just reinforced my feelings of wanting to live somewhere with seasons. I fully enjoyed a run earlier today while it was freezing rain (Jaxson sat that one out and stayed warm at home with dad)... Houston IS unpredictable and keeps you on your toes, but the idea of it being in the mid-70s 2 days from now is NOT sounding very appealing. I LIKE COLD and SNOW!!!!! (although it is nice not having to navigate icy and snowy roads)...

Jaxson fully enjoyed the experience, although I don't think he really knew what to make of it.

He kept looking up at the sky...

Staying warm with mom and ready for bed!

Jaxson... the graffiti artist

Frosty and Shawn

Frosty and Ann

Having fun when the baby is in bed!

Farm Time

For Thanksgiving in Illinois we also spent more time on my Aunt Mimi's and Uncle Bill's Farm. Jaxson loved meeting Aunt Mimi's horse which he called a "dog", sitting on the tractor, and just being outdoors in a beautiful place. I enjoyed experiencing seasons and cold weather... and of course it snowed the day after we left... I was so upset! I actually would enjoy living somewhere with seasons and weather. Houston is very one-dimensional when it comes to climate. It's hot, humid, and cool in the winter... and you may have a couple of days with COLD weather but it doesn't last. In a couple of days you can guarantee being in shorts and a t-shirt again. Christmas shopping in shorts and a t-shirt today wasn't really getting me in the Christmas mood!

With my dad and sisters Stefanie and Kirsten. This was actually taken at the Maurer farm (my family's farm) up in the hay loft of the barn. The barn is really old and looked like it was made by hand. Pretty cool.

The view of the Maurer farm from the old barn

Now this is my Aunt Mimi's farm


The beavers have been busy!

Now you see why my nickname used to be "chompers"... for real. The guys on my Hotshot (fire) crew many years ago used to call me that and they used to tease me by pointing to a log or tree and telling me to "take it down". Wouldn't they be proud?!

Uncle Shawn and his nieces


The Mackinaw river

The rope swing

Jaxson and his tractor!

Aunt Mimi's horse, Shy



Jaxson meeting the "dog" ("og")

Thanksgiving 2008

Thanksgiving was a lot of fun this year, we spent it with my Aunt Mimi, Uncle Bill, both of my sisters and their families, my parents, and my cousins. My mom, Aunt Mimi and my cousin Jenny are wonderful cooks!

Jaxson and cousin Jenny

Jaxson's favorite pastime (other than reorganizing cabinets): climbing stairs! And these are even more fun... they're winding stairs!

One of the "Christmas Picture" candidates

My sister Kirsten, her daughters Alexis and Brooke, and her husband Nelson

Am I going to get some turkey or are you just going to feed me leaves???

Aunt Mimi and my mom wrestling with some turkey

This is the world-famous "cubby hole" (ie: baby cave) FILLED with toys circa 1970, the same ones my sisters, cousins and I played with when we were little. We could have spent HOURS in here, and we did... so would Jaxson... I could have just left him up there and not heard a peep all day! We used to sleep in there, and tell ghost stories in there when we were little... it was just a blast. Every child needs a cubby hole!!!

Mom re-living the "good old days"

Jaxson and cousin Brooke

Forget this cereal mom... I want turkey!