I Might Be InTexas If...

Folks, we're not in Kansas Doha anymore
(now don't get excited...we will be going back)

Boudin Balls are as common as Land Cruisers...

Crawfish season is up and running...

Family is all around...

(me, my mom, and my sis, Regina)

Trahan Family Crawfish Boil ~ June 19, 2011

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Homecoming

Sitting in the Doha airport lounge waiting for our flight to Austin. It's a bit of a bitter sweet moment as my dad and Kristi's "Paw Paw" passed away late Saturday night. So here I am on a planned eighteen our flight home that I would have been on even if I had not planned it. A bit ironic. Dad's moving on is not exactly a sad moment for me. Yes, I've spilled a few tears, but at the same time I know what a wonderful life he had. After all, he lived to the ripe old age of 85 and brought six children into the world with (just a little) help from my mom. Dad was always so proud of us. You know, embarrassingly proud. He introduced us to anyone and everyone he knew beaming from ear to ear like we were celebrities. God, he loved us. So, here we are, both heading home. Hope to see you one day on the flip side, Dad. I can hear you saying it now...

"If the good Lord is willin' and the creek don't rise."

I love you, Dad

...Syb

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Christmas Continues

I'm not sure where I left off on my USA visit, but as of two days ago, we have been chillin' at the in-laws in Tennessee waiting for more family to arrive to continue our Christmas celebrations. Chillin' consists of the usual eating and vegging, being that it's entirely too cold for anything else. It did reach a whopping 34F today, a tad warmer than yesterday's high of 30F. I don't know about you, but I think cold weather is for the birds...literally. Later.



P.S. We did enjoy Christmas at the old homestead in Texas with my mom and dad, along with the siblings and nieces and nephews. Proof positive...

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Christmas Memories & Musings

While in Texas, I've been taking a walk down memory lane, you know, dragging out the old photos of the kids from years gone by. Every December it was the dreaded ritual for the perfect Knox kids Christmas photo. Instead of the kids getting more agreeable with maturity under their belts, the whole ordeal got worse from year to year, even with the newfangled age of digital photography. Miraculously though, I'd usually come out with one good picture, well, most of the time, anyway. Here's a sampling of the twenty five or so that I have...

Now that the kids are so spread out, it's hard to gather for a yearly shot, and oh, how disappointed they must be. So, I have to carry on the tradition without them, I suppose. The upside is that I'm much more agreeable and I don't even argue with myself. HoHoHo!


One more picture to share with you before I go that I lifted from a friend's facebook page. It appears that Santa and one of his helpers made it down to Qatar all the way from the North Pole. Picture taker, Jack, says that the kids were lined up for over a kilometer in the desert dunes for a chance to chat with Santa. No snow needed.

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Birthday Wishes

Happy "85th" Birthday, Dad!

Mom, Dad, Shea, Kayla, & Dustin

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Thanksgiving Celebrations

My Texas arrival last Monday night was to 80F degree weather making me feel as though I never left Doha. Two days later the temps dropped to the 30's reminding me of the cliche on our weather, "If you don't like the weather in Texas, wait a minute". That saying held true as it was from AC to heat in just that, a matter of minutes. Welcome home. We had our traditional Thanksgiving dinner this year with an added bonus of boudain balls. I ate my fair share since I don't think we'll see those anytime soon in Doha. While I was having my dinner, my hubby was celebrating a supposedly traditional dinner with some of our new Doha friends. I asked him how it was and his response was, "Well, it would be like eating dinner with Shea (our oldest son~age 27) and his friends". Instead of following up dinner with football, it was drinking games. Lol. One old man and a bunch of 20 somethings. Sounds quite "untraditional" to me or maybe just same same, but different. Hoping you and yours had a wonderful Thanksgiving, as well.

A Mexican food outing with Dustin, my mom, and Kayla.

(Shea was with us, but missed the pic,
while Miss Kristi is still in Angers France.)

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Angers Management~Kristi Style

The time is here. Kristi is heading to France tomorrow to begin her study abroad experience for the upcoming semester. After months of preparation and planning, she's not about to let a little strep throat and upchucking get in her way. Although, prayers, well wishes and good vibes are being sent her way via Facebook, I'm not sure her fever is keeping up with my page! C'est la vie as the French would say, but at the same time, let us hope that tomorrow brings on some serious healing powers. Kristi's first stopover in France will be to visit a friend that she met on spring break this past March, and who subsequently visited with us during our summer visit in Texas. Now, it's Mat's turn to show Kristi the town. Afterward, Kristi will head to Angers*, France for her fall semester continuing towards her degree in International Studies at the St Edward's campus in partnership with the Catholic University of the West. Who would have known coming over to Qatar for her senior year in high school would have opened her up to such adventures, moreover, opening me up to allowing her to do such an adventure! My eyes have definitely been opened...there is a world out there, folks. Discover it, even if it is vicariously through someone else. Au revoir!

Angers
(via Wikipedia)

*Pronunciation: \äⁿ-ˈzhā\

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Shout!

My Texas phone ringing in Doha at 1:00 in the morning always makes my stomach churn. With four kids, my mind runs the whole gamut. Who's in trouble, who's sick, oh my God, who has died?! I know, awful thoughts, but my brain travels faster than that infamous Land Cruiser driver we spoke of yesterday. This particular call....a God send.

rring, rring: Hello?!
Kayla: Mom, don't be mad at me, but I got THE job!!!!!!!!


CONGRATS to Kayla who is on her way to continuing college life after graduating next month, but this time being the payee and not the payor. Her one and only interview has landed her a position at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas as a Residence Hall Director and Kayla is crazily excited, as are we. So much, Kayla, that...

You know you make us want to SHOUT!
Kick our heels up and SHOUT!
Throw our hands up and SHOUT!
Throw our heads back and SHOUT!

...sing it with me!

Shout ~ The Isley Brothers 1959

Related post: Kayla Get(s) A Life

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Circa 1930's

Happy St Paddy's Day! Did you know that St Patrick wasn't even from Ireland or that the very first St Patrick's Day parade took place in New York City in 1762? You can study up here for more historical info on St Pat.

On a completely unrelated note, old, I mean really old family pictures have been making the circuit on my facebook page these days. I thought I'd share this one of my mom and her two younger sisters. I always wondered where daughter, Kristi, got her eccentric streak, but I need look no more after seeing this pic of my mom in her Hawaiian tropic looking dress. Mom's the one in the chic hat...haha!

Lois, Margie Lou, Corrine (my mom)

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Blessed

No other word better than "Blessed" can describe how I feel about my "Sweethearts". To my beautiful children, inside and out, and to my original sweetheart, David,

Happy Valentine's Day

As well, to the rest of my family, friends, stalkers, and blog junkie friends!
May your days be filled with love and blessings.

Blessed ~ Martina McBride

Forgive me if you were one of the unfortunate ones to have to hear a Doritos commercial before the music. It plays every other hit or so. I had to settle for it. Sorry!

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Kid Update

The best part 'bout waking up is Folgers in my cup AND a Facebook status like the following:

It's "Doppleganger" week on facebook. Your supposed to swap your profile pic with a celebrity one that you look like. That would be Denise Richards replacing Kayla's.

I'll update you on the rest myself...


Kristi's turn. Here she is trying on a fur hat in Doha that pretty much resembles a mullet, which makes her a shoe in for David Spade in Joe Dirt. Ok, enough nonsense. We all know how beautiful Kristi really is. Anyway, she has her sights on Angers, France for this coming fall to do a little studying abroad. The info in the mail headed this way awaiting our stamp of approval. Well, she is "the baby". Besides it gives me an excuse to go visit her during her fall break in late October. I'm jazzed enough for the two of us. Hope it works out, Kristi!


On to Dustin. His lookalike would have to be Matt Damon. That's the name thrown his way over the years. Dustin has turned over a new leaf for grad school. He's Mr. Organized now and ready to roll. With a twelve hour load and pushing those pizzas, he's got his hands full. He's doing everything he can to get his Masters in one year, and trust me, I appreciate that.




Last, but not least Shea. I'm not sure I see it but he says that people tell him he looks like Joe Rogan. Yeah, that's what I said..."who?" Anyway, it looks like Shea might be making another Africa run this summer. He's sitting back in North Carolina waiting on the word. It's down to two countries... one where we would love to visit him (can you say safari?), the other where we would just say, thanks, but no thanks.


I can't sign out without sharing my mom's Doppleganger photo. What the heck is a Doppleganger, anyway? Google timeout. Aha, here's the answer.

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