Ouachita Parish

After Cottonport, we journeyed north to Ouachita Parish. Each member of Chris' family lives in a different city in Ouachita Parish, so we need to give props to the whole parish, not just Monroe. 

I love family in Louisiana, it is all about getting together around food. Pork chops with apricot glaze, homemade spaghetti & meatballs, grilled chicken, cupcakes.....and beer. I love the lower altitude because my "half a beer and I am buzzed" self can drink .... two beers.

The best is getting to see all the little children who are multiplying at crazy rates. Oscar loves babies and he is so sweet and gentle with them. Madeline was as beautiful as she could be and had more hair than most two year olds. Since I have to still hold Oscar who weighs 32.5 pounds, I could hold Madeline for six hours without a problem. I loved swaddling her and she was just the best to hold. Stuart reminds me so much of Oscar in terms of he loves to eat so he has some stability to him, which is great because you never feel like you are going to break him. He is also a little older so he smiles and has the best eyes. Lilya, of course, is just amazing. I love being around her, she has such a great spirit, and she has her older brother wrapped around her finger, which is so cute to see. Lilya also has a pair of flip flops in every color- a two year old who loves shoes, we were meant to be sisters. 

Madeline, Chris, & "big smile" Oscar

Oscar, Stuart, & Chris

Oscar & Swolle  (the puppy with the largest shock collar ever)

Oscar & Lilya

I want one of those coolers!

Oscar: "Uncle Trav, you are crazy!"

Cottonport

Stuart Lawson was being baptized in Cottonport, Louisiana, so our first stop on this Louisiana tour was Cottonport. Of course this is after we did not get to New Orleans on Friday night until 1:30 in the morning because "Oops! We only filled the plane with just exactly enough fuel to get to MSY (NO Airport) and now because of weather we have to go to Houston to get more fuel." Are you kidding me?!?! Anyways.....

Chris is always amazed that I have never been to _________, Louisiana. Listen, when you are from Southeastern Louisiana, there is no need to visit any part of the rest of the state. We have New Orleans, Baton Rouge, the Nothshore, Grand Isle, Lake Pontchartrain.....  what does the rest of the state have....who knows I do not think anyone has explored it. :) (I am going to be in so much trouble.....) 

Cottonport is the home town of Kelly Paige (Descant) Jaubert, the famous Miss Cochon de Lait of 1995. (I took a guess on the year) Kelly's family still lives there and we stayed at here mom's (Kay Kay) house. Kay Kay is the best, she works at the Post Office and thinks I am wonderful because I am keeping her industry in business with all my letter writing. Oscar thought her house was the best too. Kay Kay had toys, Power Wheels, a swing set, a trampoline.... it was an amusement park! Oscar LOVED the Power Wheels! His only problem is he does not understand steering, so you have to be right by him and help him not run into the side of  a building or tree. The weather in Cottonport was amazing and we had a great time hanging out, drinking beer, and visiting with the Descant family.

Easter Photos... One Hundred Years Later......

Obviously Easter was a couple of weeks ago, but I am trying to catch up this week on all of  May, & June so I can start blogging in real time. 

Hawthorne Lane Tour

I know this may seem like it has taken forever for me to post these photos, but it has taken us a long time to get everything set up. We still have so much we want to do, but we wanted you to see our house. So here it is....

Front of Jauberry House from Hawthorne Lane

Living Room

Dining Room

Downstairs Bath

Guest Bedroom/ Oscar Playroom

Stairs

Oscar's Room

Upstairs Bath

Master Bedroom

Media Room

Backyard

More Backyard

Georgie Cat

 When Chris joined me in Wyoming five years ago this month, we knew we wanted an animal to love. There is the wonderful Animal Adoption Center in town, and we knew we wanted to rescue an animal. We love dogs, but unfortunately we could only have a cat, so one Saturday in June 2006 we went on a search for a cat. We sat in the "Kitty City" for at least half an hour observing all the cats, but we were in love with one from the first minute we sat down. He was grey, green eyed, and so charming, we knew that fate had brought us together. The shelter had named him "Sal", but we named him Gorgeous George after the boxer in Snatch. He was scared at first, but warmed up to his new house and us quickly.

He loved us, and he loved all people. He was so friendly and you were going to love him whether you liked cats or not, he was going to change your mind.

When I was pregnant with Oscar, he was obsessed with my stomach. He knew the first month and drove me crazy always wanting to be right ton top of my stomach. He was not so happy once Oscar came into this world. He was not happy to be kicked out of our bed (Oscar shared a room with us the first three months) and he was not happy to share the attention of mom and dad. He gained at least a pound the first three months, but eventually came around to the fact that Oscar was not going anywhere.

Over the past two and half years their relationship has come along way. George would even let Oscar pick him up and pretty much do whatever he wanted to poor George. They both really loved each other.
George also loved being outside. He would love to lay in the sun, catch mice, and just hang out. He did not like the winters so much because he was trapped inside the house.

When we moved into our first house last month, it came with a cat door into the garage, and George was so happy. We thought it was meant for us: Chris, me, Oscar, & George. It was perfect for our great family. Unfortunately it was not meant to be perfect as long as I would have liked. When we were moving in our new furniture on June 11, George escaped from the garage. We do not let him stay out at night, and usually he will come back home before bed. We looked for him, called him, shook his food bowl, but no George. We went to bed and figured he would be waiting by the front door in the morning. No George. Now over a week later, I am having to face the reality that George is not coming back. Unfortunately we have a lot of predators that live in Wyoming and one of them probably got him, which is why we did not let him stay out at night. Even as I write this entry I still hope he comes back, but I will be hoping that for a long time. We miss George so much and our hearts are broken. I am only comforted in knowing that we gave him a great five years and I hope we showed him as much love as he showed us. We love you Georgie Cat.

Hawthorne Lane

I know it has been a solid month since the last update, but this past month has been CRAZY busy. We went to Louisiana (I will update photos and such) and we bought our first house!!!!! So if any of you every send us mail, please update your address! Please bare with me and I will start updating jauberry again soon on a regular basis (probably not until June).
love-
jauberry

Madeline Elizabeth Rials

Our wonderful sister/aunt Beth had a beautiful baby girl this morning. Mom & baby are doing well and we cannot wait to see both of them next month.

Cute Photos I Found Today

Oscar spent the day at Parker's while Tara' & Billy were in town and I forgot about these photos and I found them today while cleaning up my computer. He loves his sorbet and obviously he needs his Blackberry close by to keep up with all his business ventures. He is such a toddler mogul, it is hard for the rest of us to keep up!

The Bald & the Beautiful

Oscar & Chris shaved their heads this year for St Baldrick's. This is the fourth year for Chris and he was having some trouble raising money this year since people have already seen his head shaved. I told him if he could raise $750, that we could shave Oscar's head too! Well that helped and we were at $800 in no time.

March 18 arrived and I definitely started to have doubts. My beautiful little boy was going to be bald...... I tried not to think about it, and when I saw him that night he was so proud and happy. He kept saying, "Mommy, look, I got a haircut!"

He was so excited to look like his dad, and we were happy that we were able to raise money again for such an amazing cause.

Our Son: The Multitasker

Oscar's teacher, Jane, captures him doing things that are just awesome. This is a photo she took of him talking on the phone and taking notes in school. I have no idea where he gets this crazy behavior from, probably his dad, he loves talking on the phone.

Luck of the Irish

Happy Saint Patrick's Day jauberry readers & of course a very Happy Birthday to my two favorite "Irish-ish" people- Dad & Hannah!

(My great-grandmother's last name was O'Neal so we are like a 1/16 Irish and that counts!)

Jackson Hole Winterfest

During President's Weekend was the Jackson Hole Winterfest. The JH Winterfest is, of course, a celebration of everything winter. There was a snow sculpture contest, cutter races, dodge ball on ice, professional aerial ski jumping, etc. The jauberry gang made it to as many events as we could that would also have something for Oscar. They had snow painting with non toxic spray paint, but all I saw in my future was a face and clothes full of paint, so we did not attend that event. We did go to the professional aerial ski jumping where they also had fireworks. Oscar kept saying "more fire! more fire!" and between jumps would play in the snow with friends. On Saturday we went to the Town Square where they were having a snow sculpture contest. The sculptures were amazing, the best was of the Aesop fable The Tortoise and the Hare, but the tortoise had a snowmobile. There also was a swan one and a Jeep one that you could sit in and take photos. It was great to have so many activities to get us out of the house and around town.

Disclaimer: All these photos below were taken with phones so do not except much.

Tara' & Jessica- Tart Masters

In October while I was at a used book store, I bought a 1992 copy of Martha Stewart's Pies & Tarts. I have always loved the way tarts look, so perfect with their beautiful fruit and delicious custard filling. I have always wanted to make one, but have never had the courage or the tart pan. After buying this book I vowed that I would make a tart before the new year. When I told Tara' she asked if I would wait for her visit in January. I need the time anyway to buy a tart pan and such. I made my first raspberry tart while Tara' & Billy were here and all I have to say is watch out Martha......(not really, Martha makes these in her sleep).

Breaks from the Dishes

When Tara' was not busy cleaning my house, I did let her take a break and hang out with me. Most nights we cooked great food, drank, and laughed. It is so wonderful having great people over because it makes our home feel even that much more like a home. Their visit was great and I cannot wait to do it again soon. Maybe we need a sister trip to Colorado or Canada now that all of us can ski...

No Free Rides at the Jauberry House

Apparently when you come and stay with us for vacation, we turn into slave drivers. Not really, but you would think that since I have 10 photos of Tara' doing the dishes and Billy cutting Oscar's hair. Poor Billy & Tara'. I hope they will come back one day. We will treat you better. Honest.