musings of Mother Hood

2002 B.C.

It’s 2010. It’s the age of blogging and social media and iPhones and status updates. It’s hard to believe that just 10 years ago, not everyone had a blog, not everyone had a digital camera or even a cell phone. It boggles my mind. There was life before Google. There were television commercials. People communicated face to face!

And oh, wasn’t it nice?

A few weeks ago I had a moment of radical nostalgia. I climbed up in the attic and pulled down a box I hadn’t opened in several years. And spent hours looking through pictures and mementos from the fall semester I spent abroad in 2002. Sadly, that was in THOSE days – the ones before blogging and digital photography. I have often thought how unfortunate it is that I don’t have an online, written record of that semester like I would if I went now. Let’s be honest, you poor people would be subjected to (likely) a daily dose of rambling from a 19 year old college kid on a 3-month trek through Western Europe littered with backpacking hostels, Eurorail passes, and homesickness. It would surely be overload. But oh – I wish I had those words to go back and read now.

And as I looked through the photos I hadn’t seen in far too long, I realized that the blogging, Shutterfly-ing, social-media-obsessed Sarah of 2010 just couldn’t bear to put all those photos back in the box and shut the lid for another couple years. I had to do something.

So I did. I found Digmypics.com. I put all my negatives (remember those?) in a box and shipped them off. They digitized all of my photos – at breakneck speed no less – and now you get to enjoy them with me.

Can you imagine if these beauties had remained boxed up forever?

Venice. Everything travels by water - taxis, police, business people. That vehicle in the water is a water bus - public transportation.

That's me. Feeding the pigeons in St. Mark's Square in Venice.

 
Left: In the Cinque Terre (Five Lands), on the Italian Riviera. Right: At the Leaning Tower in Pisa. It rained ALL DAY, but we climbed every slippery step all the way to the top.  

I took 16 rolls of film in one semester. That’s 400 photos. Only 400. I can take that many in a single weekend now, with my digital camera. Can you imagine how many photos I’d have taken if I had limitless digital memory and didn’t have to worry about developing each roll? If only I’d been able to just snap away at different angles like I do now? Taking multiple shots of details and landscapes and people and - just everything.

Yachts in the Monaco Marina.

Playing in the Mediterranean Sea. Italy.

At the Colosseum in Rome.  
 

These pictures are like finding 20 bucks in the pocket of your winter coat when you put it on for the first time since last season. Like buried treasure. I won't even tell you how much time I've spent looking through them in the last few weeks and thinking about the ETERNITY that has passed since I returned from this trip. It was a lifetime ago. 

Enjoying a Guinness on the top level of the factory, overlooking Dublin.

My favorite bridge in Europe. The Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) in Florence. It's lined with little jewelry stores and it's just adorable.

The Alps. Switzerland. 

 

Ok, I DID tell you I have 400 pictures, right? I promise I'll stop soon.

 

 
These are some of my favorite. We took photos of "Twinkie Man" everywhere we went so that Jenni (my friend and travel partner) could send them back to an elementary school class in her hometown - it was helping the kids learn about the places we went. Above: Twinkie Man posing for a (prohibited) photo with Michelangelo's David in Florence, and with Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Below: Twinkie Man with remains of the Berlin Wall.

These photos make me giddy. Dizzy with excitement for my next adventure. Whatever that might be. 

What the heck, January?

Didn't I just write a mulligan entry a few weeks ago? It was the Christmas Break that wouldn't end when a combination of bad weather and toddler sickness had us cooped up for almost an entire extra week at the beginning of January. The work/school/eating/sleeping schedule was completely out the window and just when I thought we were solidly back on track, here life went and happened again. 

Geez, it seems like forever ago now, but last weekend I spent the weekend in Cabot as a guest judge at the Cabot Classic. In a former life, I was a drama kid at Cabot High School and their annual tournament gives me a chance to go back "home", reconnect with old friends, and brush up on my Sylvia Plath.  Oh, those days. I spent nearly every weekend of my high school tenure on a bus with 60 or so of my closest drama nerd friends traveling to various schools around the state of Arkansas to compete in tournaments. And though I'm a little rusty these days, I once knew every single syllable of RENT- like any other self-respecting drama kid of the late 90s.

Why are entire years strewn
On the cutting room floor of memories?
When single frames from one magic night
Forever flicker in close-up on the 3D IMAX of my mind.

The tournament this year was a ball, I judged a few rounds and caught up with a few old friends. And the rest of the weekend I got to spend time with my friends David and Jennie and other friends from the church I grew up in. I've known David since 4th grade Sunday School and his wife Jennie since they started dating during our freshman year in college. They were so sweet to let me crash at their house for the weekend and let me tag along to a cook-out with more old church friends on Saturday night. Who says you can't go home?

While I was in Cabot, I got the news that my Grandma had passed away in Huron. I immediately made plans to join Mom and Dad, and Becky in Huron for funeral services. Driving to Huron and back meant that I would be away from home Tuesday morning until Saturday afternoon. If you're doing the math, that means I was home for about 2 of the last 10 days.  It was a long week. A hard one. But it's always good to see family. And unfortunately, funerals tend to bring everyone home. After we dropped Mom at the airport in Kansas City - Dad, Becky and I got back to Fayetteville Saturday just in time for supper with my boys.

So at home, things are more or less back to normal. Well, they will be as soon as I get our taxes filed and figure out who taught Colt to giggle when he passes gas.

Outside, however, is a different story. Schools were closed again late last week as we had ICE STORM v.2010. Ugh. Nowhere near the damage of last year. But what a pain. And quite possibly the most snow I have seen in Fayetteville in the 10 years I've lived here. Look here, Mother Nature, I REALLY need my family to get back to school and work so let's play nice this week, huh?

 

I honestly don't know why it still knocks me off track when things aren't "normal". When's the last time I had two normal days in a row? Ha. Certainly not in the last month! 2010 has been quite the whirlwind so far. I purposely made only one quantifiable New Year's Resolution this year - no french fries. No french fries in 2010. Which seemed OK until it dawned on me about halfway through January that "no french fries" would certainly mean "no cheese fries". I lost a little bit of steam at that point, but I still haven't broken it. Though, let me be clear that I'm certainly not on any kind of health food kick. In the interest of full disclosure, I confess that so far in 2010 I have eaten a Frito Burrito at each of three different restaurants -- and now that I think of it, in three different states! *BIG sigh*

I KNOW I've mentioned my unhealthy obsession with love for Frito Burritos here before. And it's not going anywhere. Last week I mentioned it to a coworker and she sent me the link for Hungry Girl. Evidently, there's a website out there that is trying to destroy me is focused on providing fun, realistic food advice to people like me. And Hungry Girl recently posted on this very topic! Her post not only divulges the nutritional information for the Sonic version - don't worry, I looked away - but it also gives a recipe for an alternative, healthier version. But in my rudimentary food experience I have learned that the "low cal" version rarely holds a candle to The Real Thing. And what am I saving those arteries for anyway? I think eating the turkey-chili-fat-free-cheese version might break my spirit.

And then this past week I discovered that both Taco John's (in South Dakota) and Taco Bell (in Missouri somewhere... in a truck stop...) now have their versions of the Frito Burrito. What can I say? I'm weak. What I lack in physical strength, punctuality, and patience for grammatical errors I make up for in taste bud intensity. It's a curse. If only I could find a way to put a productive spin on this. I'm more than willing to sacrifice myself for the greater good that is market research. Maybe I could travel the country - the world! - testing different versions of Frito Burritos. I could write a book. I could be my own twisted and slightly pathetic version of a food critic. Oh, wouldn't my parents be proud.

But hey! No french fries!

And as for Resolutions, if the 'french fries' thing doesn't work out I always have the usual backups:

• Get more sleep and/or go to bed earlier. RIGHT. And besides, sometimes my most productive minutes of the day are between the hours of 10pm and 1am.
• Lose weight and/or eat healthier. aka - Finally fit back into that other half of my closet I try not to think about too much and try even harder to casually overlook while I get dressed in the morning. But oh yeah, there's the Frito Burrito thing. Dang.
• Save money. *Another BIG sigh* 

I better get started.

And with that, I wash my hands of you, January. Nice knowin' ya. And to you, February, best of luck.

Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.

We (Mom, Dad, Becky and I) arrived in Huron, South Dakota a few hours ago and will be here all week to visit family and attend memorial services in honor of my Grandma who passed away Friday night. Be thinking about the Martins this week as we are together from all over the world to celebrate the life of a very special lady.

Four Generations. December 2008. Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The first time Grandma Martin met her (then!) newest great-grandchild. (Colt - 6 months old) 

________________________________________

Jean Martin, age 87, of Huron, died Friday, January 22, 2010, at Huron Regional Medical Center.  Her funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 AM Thursday, January  28, 2010, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church with the Rev. Terry Anderson as celebrant.  Burial will be in the St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery at Cavour.  Visitation will be from 1 to 8 PM Wednesday, January 27th at the Kuhler Funeral Home with a Scripture Service and Rosary at 7 PM, led by the Rev. Shane Stevens.  Memorials may be directed to the Presentation Sisters of Aberdeen or the Holy Trinity Catholic School. 

E. Jean O’Rourke Martin was born October 24, 1922, at Mobile, Alabama, to Michael Vincent and May (Stockman) O’Rourke.  She grew up in Mobile and graduated from Murphy High School.  She was employed at Brookley Army Air Field in Mobile after graduation, where she met her future husband, Edmund Thomas Martin.  They corresponded during the war and were married on March 4, 1946, shortly after his return to the United States. 

Jean and Edmund lived in Granby, Colorado for a little more than two years before moving to Huron in 1948.  They made Huron their home, where Jean soon became a busy mother raising her children, and an active volunteer in P.T.A., and Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.  She taught piano lessons, including lessons to all of her daughters.

Jean returned to work outside the home after her children were older and was employed for many years at the Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service, now the Natural Resources Conservation Service.  She volunteered as  a Pink Lady for many years through the Huron Regional Medical Center Auxiliary, and also was a volunteer in the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, the Huron Concert Association and the Huron Symphony League.  A member of Holy Trinity Catholic Parish, she was active in parish activities, including Catholic Daughters and the Altar Society.  Jean was also a member of the Y.W.C.A., TOPS, the Huron Area Senior Center and PEO Chapter CH. 

Jean enjoyed playing Scrabble and in addition to her membership in a local Scrabble club and the National Scrabble Association, she competed in state Scrabble.  She was a world traveler and had traveled to many locations in Europe and Asia, and had most recently walked on the Great Wall of China. 

Jean was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Edmund; her son, Paul; three grandsons, Mark Wigington, Tom Martin and Sherlock Hirning Jr.; three brothers; and two sisters. 

She is survived by her children, Katherine (Richard) Wigington of Huron, Edmund “Frank” (Candis) Martin of San Antonio, Texas, David (Susan) Martin of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, John of Sioux Falls and (Sheryl) Martin of Vermillion, Marie (Dr. Sherlock) Hirning of Chadron, Nebraska, Elaine (Jon) Hilton of Huron, Daniel (Diana) Martin of Derwood, Maryland, Janet Sargent of Mitchell, Nebraska, and Brian (Sang Ju) of Aviano, Italy; her daughter-in-law, Robyn Martin of Phoenix, Arizona; 20 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law Betty Bergstrom of Huron and Audrey O’Rourke of Grand Island, Nebraska; her brother-in-law, Robert Still of Mobile, Alabama; and many nieces and nephews. 

Grandma Martin's Register Book is HERE. 

Making Lemonade

It's hard not to think about what's going on in Haiti. It's everywhere. And it's heartbreaking. But when I saw the headline at CNN.com today, I stopped.

Is it ethical to vacation in Haiti now?

Is it "ethical" to vacation there? I somewhat reluctantly clicked on the link and read the story, to learn of a heated "debate" sparked by Royal Caribbean and their decision to resume tourist operations in Haiti. Even now, I sit here shaking my head at the misplaced anger and resentment.

The article contains quotes like: "Royal Caribbean is performing a sickening act to me by taking tourists to Haiti." and "Having a beach party while people are dead, dying and suffering minutes away hardly makes me want to cruise that particular line."

I respectfully disagree.

In November, Laura and I were very deliberate about spending our time and money in Zimbabwe - a country so deep in crisis that many backpackers and tourists are now simply discounting it as a destination. It was impossible not to see the looks of gratitude in the eyes of our guides that day, as we enjoyed our private tours. We were acutely aware of the fact that had we not decided to cross the border that day and schedule tours and activities on the Zimbabwe side of the Falls - the people we met that day would not have worked. The American dollars we gave them in payment - in lieu of their own worthless currency - were the only ones in their pockets as we saw no other backpackers in the lodge and no other tourists on the tour vehicles.  As we walked around the nearly deserted town of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe it was pretty brutal to see one dark and empty store window after the next. As our day unfolded, we talked and agreed that we were so glad we had decided to spend the day in Zimbabwe - a truly beautiful country - and that we hadn't shied away after repeatedly hearing "it's not what it used to be".

And while I'm not suggesting that the political and financial struggles of Zimbabwe equal the horrific destruction that's happened in Haiti, the hearts of the people in these two countries strike me as similarly dauntless and I've seen it with my own eyes. I could feel how genuinely proud the Zimbabweans we met were of their country and their heritage. Most of them had never left the country and were doing everything they could to make the best of it. They were thrilled to have a reason to go to work that day. And if people like us hadn't tread that "ethical" line of vacationing in a country in crisis, people like them would go hungry.

The article goes on to balance the debate with news that Royal Caribbean has pledged to donate at least $1 million in humanitarian aid and is able to help deliver supplies like water and canned goods. But aside from the direct aid they're able to provide, I honestly think it's just as important for the Haitians to see any little bit of "normalcy" they can during a time when nothing is as it should be. It's important for them to continue to welcome visitors and tourists and to benefit from the money and awareness those visitors are able to inject into the circumstances.

I usually don't get all serious on this here blog-o-baby-pictures, but I felt compelled to speak up in favor of giving the Haitians a reason to get up in the morning. Give them hope that things will be back to "normal" someday. God willing.

Holiday Recap

So I feel like I may have slacked a little on the holidays this year and I can't quite put my finger on it.  Let's see, I spent Thanksgiving - the unofficial kickoff of the holiday season - in sunny Africa. Which just kinda started off Holiday Season 2009 on a different page than years past. I must have been relying on Turkey Day for "the spirit" more than I realized. I got back from my trip just in time for December and I felt so behind. I hadn't started my shopping, I hadn't decorated the house. The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas always seems to fly by in a blur of parties and baking and shopping and traveling -- and I couldn't quite keep up.

I convinced myself that a tree was not in the cards for us this year. Honestly, I didn't think it would be any fun for Colt to have to stare at a big, beautiful, shiny, blinking, dangling temptation every day for a month but get his hands spanked every time he indulged. So we didn't put up a Christmas tree. I did put up our stockings - which are one of my favorite things about Christmas anyhow. And we went to visit Santa. We didn't go completely humbug.

   

This time of year always carries with it a kind of heightened level of emotion. Families are together. Or not. It's the end of one year, beginning of the next so it's a perfect time to reflect on both the memorable and forgettable moments of the past twelve months and beat yourself up about them. And this year, the emotion was not lost on me. I teared up at each and every clip I saw of a deployed soldier wishing his family back home a Merry Christmas. And I subjected myself to the last ten minutes of Marley & Me about seven times. What a mess.

And on top of everything. The Pampers - Silent Night TV spot. It absolutely melts me into a pathetic little puddle of mush. And I usually see it twelve hundred times around the holidays. But this year - nothing.  Not once. You know, this should actually be at the top of the list of pathetic reasons I feel like The Grinch this year. I didn't get my regular injection of peaceful widdle sweeping babies.

Told you.

So anyway. I am committed. Christmas 2010 will be different. We will decorate a tree. We will go see Christmas lights and leave cookies for Santa. We will take pictures in our jammies. Next year, Colt will be old enough to really get into things and I look forward to seeing the magic of Christmas through a whole new set of eyes.

***

Now that I've put a good, solid damper on things -- let's try to refocus. Despite my, ahem, minimalist attitude about Christmas this year, we had a holiday full of family and fun and memories.

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!
"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store.
Maybe Christmas... perhaps... means a little bit more."

We left on the 22nd for Hood Christmas in Arkadelphia. It is the only time of year that all the Hoods get together in one place and these days there are 14 of us! The Atlanta Hoods made it to town right before us and we attended the 2nd Annual Holiday Steak Night at the Teeds'. Last year, Frank and John grilled steak for everyone (they kindly grilled me a chicken breast) and it was such a big hit that I believe it's here to stay.

Several months back I innocently suggested to Sarah and Lynn that we attempt a family photo at Christmas this year as the last time a photo was taken of all the Hoods was at Pop and Grandmother's 50th anniversary in 2004. Well I guess that's not even true because there's a photo of all of us at our wedding in 2006. Either way, it was high time. Little did I know how entertaining taking a photo of 14 people could be! We should do it EVERY year! If I had thought about it I would have been taking photos OF the photo taking - priceless! We don't have proofs yet, but of course I'll post them when I get them.

Colt was pretty excited about being allowed to rip things apart when it came time to open presents. It didn't take him too long to get the hang of it. Santa (and Aunt Lynn, Aunt Sarah, Courtney, and Grandmother!) was very good to him this year and we had a lot of fun.

 

 

That cellphone was a gift from Aunt Sarah. I have no idea how he knows how to hold it... so accurately...  

Colt has been all about the kitchen lately, mostly trying his hardest to sit or stand in the 10 inch space between my feet at all times. I can't blame him. The kitchen has all kinds of interesting noises and smells and stuff to bang together. And Grandmother was more than happy to oblige. Here they are making meringue.

  

Colt spent most of his time chasing Grandmother around the kitchen or dancing up and down the hallway to the music pouring out of the Barney music game Grandmother left out for him. Quite the musical little guy. Once he figured out how to push the buttons and turn the pages on Barney - it was all over. I love that you don't have to teach babies to dance. They just bounce their little bottoms and wave their hands. Adorable.

The weather was downright crappy while we were in Arkadelphia. It literally rained the entire time.

 

See Arkansas in there, under all the "weather"? See the part where the yellow circle of Severe T'Storms Possible overlaps the red circle of Flash Flooding Possible? Yeah, that would be Arkadelphia. It rained over 10 inches in the 48 hours we were there. TEN. INCHES. And it was getting worse. The forecast for late on the 24th was looking like snow as we approached Northwest Arkansas so we loaded up and tried to beat the weather back to our house.

We made it back before it started snowing, and we woke up to the first White Christmas for Fayetteville since the 70s. Christmas Day was nice and quiet at our own house. We napped a little and played in the snow a little. Merry Christmas, Buddy!

 

 

  

The next day (the 26th) Grandma and Grandpa Martin and Aunt Becky arrived from San Antonio to celebrate the second half of Christmas! That night Grandma and Grandpa helped Santa assemble Colt's new tricycle.

 

And the next morning was another round of presents and wrapping paper and BOWS!

 

 

 

 

 
 

Aunt Laura sent Colt some shakers from Botswana. They are used in traditional Setswana dancing, wrapped around your feet. I think Colt is definitely getting the hang of them...

   

Grandma and Grandpa were able to stay for several days and it was so nice to get to visit with them. I missed their visit in November while I was in Africa so I hadn't seen them in a few months. And they got to spend a few days spoiling the little guy.

 

Grandma Martin thinks it is borderline child abuse that we don't give Colt baths. (He takes showers with Jeff. I don't remember who told us about this technique but we've done it since day one and it is CRAZY efficient.) So. Guess what Colt got for Christmas from Grandma!

 

And Grandpa's contribution. Always with the coffee. Over the course of a few days, Grandpa taught Colt how to use our coffeemaker. (And everyone knows you have to wear protective gear when making coffee.)

 

 

A lot of good food and a few movies later it was time for Grandma and Grandpa to head home. Merry Christmas everyone!

 

(We had to go over to Becky's apartment to take our family photo in front of a Christmas tree.)

***

Dear Santa,

I wasn't very good this year, but I sure appreciate all the laughs you sent me anyway. It's all I truly wanted for Christmas this year and you delivered - as always.

You're the best.

Love, Sarah

On travel.

December 19 Car ride. What did you see? How did it smell? Did you eat anything as you drove there? Who were you with? 

(Also: 

December 1 Trip. What was your best trip in 2009?
December 9 Challenge. Something that really made you grow this year. That made you go to your edge and then some. What made it the best challenge of the year for you?)

So the actual prompt for today is the Car Ride one at the top, but since I've missed half the month, and I consider the 12/1 and 12/9 prompts relevant to the discussion, I thought I'd give myself credit for them. 

It seems odd that we did so much traveling in 2009 with such a young kid, but after making a quick mental list, and conferring with Jeff as I forget things in record time these days, I realized the Hoods really made the rounds this year. Between the two of us Jeff and I have hit several major US cities: Orlando, San Diego, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Nashville, San Antonio, Seattle, and Las Vegas. All this year! And that doesn't even count my recent international jaunt to Africa during which Laura and I visited five countries in 8 days. Wow. 

Colt didn't make it to all those places with us, but my account of our trip to Seattle got picked up by a site called Pitstops for Kids!. He is totally famous - check it out RIGHT HERE.  

So - let's see. 

Car ride? We took a few. Branson. Little Rock/Arkadelphia/Smackover. Tulsa/Muskogee/Tahlequah. Probably others. The little guy tolerates the car pretty well and we try to time things with his nap and dinner time and such so that the ride is more bearable for everyone. We didn't take any major car ride across the country or anything - though I'm sure we'll lose our minds and attempt it one of these days. Honestly, my favorite car ride is the one I take at 5:00 every day when I pick up the munchkin from school. 

Best Trip of 2009. This is a pretty easy one. My trip to Africa will be hard to top. So many cool, once-in-a-lifetime experiences during that week. I feel so lucky to have had the chance to go. And glad my sweet husband made me get serious about going and buy my ticket. 

Challenge. Something that really made you grow. Again with the traveling. It was really tough on all three of us to be away from each other during various trips this year. With one of us gone, the other has to fill both roles and gains a new appreciation for how much the other one really does help around the house and with Colt. We've relied on Grandparents to help us a couple of times, and I know that's something that helps Colt be more flexible and get used to a little different routine. I love it when we're together all the time, but coming home after being gone is pretty good, too.

***

In response to daily prompts, reflecting back on 2009, provided at gwenbell.com. Join me, won't you?

The Best of 2009. Blog Challenge.

What is the challenge?

A look back on your year. A time for reflection. A chance to make new friends.

__________

Sign. Me. Up.

I live for that stuff.

So I recently found a website called gwenbell.com. And though I am 18 days late, I LOVE the idea of taking time during each day in December to look back and highlight all of my 2009 notables. There is a prompt listed for each day, but since I didn't get in on the ground floor, I'll be taking some liberties so that I can fit it all in.

*** 

December 18. Shop. Online or offline, where did you spend most of your mad money this year?

My name is Sarah Hood. And I am addicted to Shutterfly. I honestly can't imagine that you haven't heard of it, but I suppose stranger things have happened. From Shutterfly's About Us page: We are a leading Internet-based social expression and personal publishing service that enables consumers to share, print and preserve their memories by leveraging our technology-based platform and manufacturing processes.

Translation: A big pile of awesomeness.

I think I knew of Shutterfly before but I experienced my first Shutterfly project last Christmas when my sister-in-law Lynn made Jeff a photo book of his trip to Washington to climb Mt. Rainier. It is really cool and something we still look through from time to time. I loved that you could put journaling and photos together in a professionally bound book - and putting it together is SO easy. Everything is online so there are no scrapbooking supplies to buy/store/sort, you can make endless adjustments until you order, and you can work on multiple projects at once -- I currently have 6 open projects!

So. It's my new favorite thing. I did our Christmas cards with them this year and several Christmas presents for family. And! My most favorite! Colt's baby book. It starts the day I found out I was pregnant - October 1, 2007 - and runs through his entire first year. Shutterfly photo books start at 20 pages and max out at 100. His book is every bit of 100 pages and holds several hundred photographs. But honestly, if they had an option for a 700 page book...

I started it over six months ago. And working on it the last several months has all but permanently shifted my bedtime from around 10 to around midnight. I have stayed up after the boys are asleep, playing with backgrounds and fonts and cropping/editing photos until I just can't keep my eyes open. And I'm almost sad that it's all done. Though - never fear - I have already started his Second Year book!

Shutterfly is definitely a favorite new hobby - and not free (what is?!) - but it has truly been therapeutic. Looking through old photos, reading through old blog entries. I can't get enough. Jeff has been teasing me - saying I actually made the book for Colt's (someday) wife, which is probably somewhat true! But I hope that Colt and his family enjoy it someday, reading through his first year of life and getting a strong sense of where he came from.

I thought about posting the link here so you can see my handiwork, but I don't want to spoil the surprise for grandparents and family when they see it next week at Christmas. I promise to post a link after that. And as a consolation prize - and so you can see the photo book concept in action - you can feast your eyes on another recently completed project - my Africa trip.

Click here to view this photo book.

And if that doesn't work, try THIS LINK.

Africa - 2009

I've finally finished compiling photos, videos and journaling from my trip and you can find it all RIGHT HERE. 

For future reference, it's listed in the bottom left hand corner of this page - called "Africa - 2009" and photos are all in a photo album listed along the right hand side of this page - called, you guessed it, "Africa - 2009".

I hope you enjoy the stories and photos as much as I enjoyed the trip.

Tease

I'm back home, safe and sound, having just spent 10 days traveling to see my sister Laura in Botswana. SO much fun and I have 6 zillion pictures to prove it. I am currently writing everything up and will be posting about my trip before the end of the week. Maybe sooner if my technology will cooperate... I'm having some technical difficulties with my photos - my hard drive seems to have eaten several of them for lunch today.

So - checking in. No pictures yet. No Africa blog yet. But it's coming. I swear.

Training Mode

I mailed my passport renewal form today. What a racket. $75 and a mugshot later - I have officially notified the Department of State that #1: I changed my name almost three years ago, and that #2: I would like to travel out of the country, please. Bleh. 

But WORTH IT! I have not mentioned it here so I will now - I am going to Africa. Africa! I am more than a wee bit excited about it and haven't really stopped thinking about it since I booked my plane ticket to Johannesburg last week. I'm probably driving Laura crazy with emails and questions and phone calls and squealing and - you know - general girly excitement. And I have to wait all the way until No-VEM-berrrrrrr. *Whiiiiiiine* I haven't done any international traveling since I returned from my fall semester abroad in 2002, but I'm looking forward to dusting off the ole backpack and practicing my best Yes-I'm-an-American-but-I'm-not-as-stupid-as-we-look-on-TV face. 

So. In preparation for my trip. Which is 118 whole days away. Counting!

Sarah's Prep List*

1. Renew passport. Check!
2. Take advantage of Laura's Peace Corps discount on Chacos - umm, 50. Percent. Yes maam.
3. Watch the following movies about Africa: Hotel Rwanda, Blood Diamond, The Last King of Scotland.
4. Repair any damage caused by above movies by watching The Lion King.
5. What else? 

*Yes, I know. Another list. I can't help myself.