The Visitors...

Grandparents are special people. These two grandparents are particularly special – they are Mason's grandparents. They live in Kansas and, despite the distance, they still manage to be loving, supportive and a big part of Mason's life.

I don't get a lot of opportunities to interact with girls, being that I have a son. When my nieces come to visit, it's a whole new ballgame – ribbons and dresses, boy bands and giggles. Not unlike mother and son relationships, I have found that grandpa and granddaughter relationships are very special...

...so special that a Grandpa with few computer skills will assist his granddaughter with online Webkin activities.

Oh, the joys of grandparenthood...snuggles and kisses, hugs and special time together.

Clown Dog on Christmas...

Christmas is the time for family, food and gifts...electronic gifts. Mason received a remote-controlled helicopter and Brian was giving it a test run when Callie decided it looked like it might be fun...

...she was hesitant at first.

And then the circus dog came out in her. She caught some air trying to get to it!




Mason got a turn too. Fun was had by all!

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve is Coming...

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...in the hopes that Grandma and Grandpa would soon be here!

And Mark, Elizabeth, Brooklyn, Jordan and Madison! Whoa! It's going to be a busy holiday season around the Fleske household.

The Christmas tree has a lot of room to breathe this year. There are lots of presents to be unwrapped! We can't wait!!!

Polar Opposites...

I had the pleasure of meeting a childhood friend of mine in downtown Atlanta over the weekend for a mini-portrait session. As a child, Cara was painfully shy, but certainly has blossomed over the years. It was interesting to meet her boys....

Austin, her oldest, is as outgoing as any child could be. All smiles and energy, he's a photographer's dream. I'm sure he would have let me take his photo all day long. I even got a hug when I left. Cool.

Then there is Trent. He's of the "very serious" variety and so much like Cara that it was scary. This is him just being stoic...I didn't ask him to stand this way – he just did. He didn't seem to mind me snapping away, but I certainly wasn't going to get a smile out of him – even if I did make a fool out of myself. He wanted no part of me and every time I got close, he would bury his face in Cara's neck. He he. Good luck with that, Cara.

I am hoping the next time she and her family come to town that we can spend some time together. Let's hope her husband doesn't get deployed to El Paso again. See you next time!