Allie's Birthplace

Finally, Monday afternoon, a visit to Allie's birthplace, Mercy hospital, located in northwest Oklahoma City. The two happiest days that were spent in Oklahoma City...first, the day that Allie was born and second, the day we Dad finished the Ortho program and we headed back to California!

The doctor that delivered Allie was wearing a cowboy hat when she was born. Seriously. Only fitting that Allie wear one in his honor!

The Cowboy Christmas Photo Shoot

There is always a great story behind every Holt Family Christmas card photo. That is what makes it such a fun Holt family tradition! This year was no exception! I already had a great family photo that I could use for the 2009 family Christmas card, which was taken last winter skiing in Park City. I was happy and relieved that it was done and with little or no stress involved. I gave a huge sigh of relief!

But then when Allie got thinking about all of us being in Oklahoma (her birthplace) together this past weekend, she insisted that we must get a "cowboy" picture for the Christmas card. So began my search for coordinating plaid shirts and cowboy hats!

It all seemed to be coming together and I was confident that we could pull it off with out too much contention and confusion. All was going well with the plan, until Sunday afternoon, when we arrived at the Cowboy Hall of Fame, where the photo shoot was to take place, and found it was closed ... but that didn't stop us.

As we were driving away from the building, we found that one of the gates was opened for deliveries so we turned in and piled out of the car, threw our cowboy hats on and stood by the statue of a cowboy and smiled for the camera. As we were snapping a few pics, a security guard greeted us and informed us that the place was closed and we could come back tomorrow. Gosh darn it! But that wouldn't work because Tyler was leaving early in the morning.

We walked back to our cars, dragging our boots and with our cowboy hats hanging low. But then we saw a home with a white split rail fence down the street and so we headed over there, busted out of the cars again...all 9 of us (I wonder what the neighbors thought of us!) and lined up against the fence. Perfect!

That is until the mesquitos caught wind of our plan! They started biting us...well, it was weird but they mostly attacked Allie, like they knew that she was from Oklahoma and wanted some of her Okie blood. She was miserable but was brave and just stood there as her arms were swelling up from the bites (Allie had just recovered from an awful allergic reaction to a bee sting and it was fresh in her mind!) and took it with a smile on her face!

We snapped the photos so fast...every combination that we could think of...fam photo, all girls photo, couples photo, just kids photo, little girls photo, etc... The boys were having so much fun and wanted more (I'm kinding!) but the girls had had enough of the bugs and mesquitos and called it a day! We were happy that we were able to get a few good ones and thought we would share.

Now we knew that the trip was a success, with all of the family together, an upset win over Oklahoma, good Texas barbeque, the pilgrimage to Allie's birthplace and a "Cowboy" family picture that is Christmas card worthy. As Allie put it, "This was the BEST vacation ever!"

These are the words to one of the Oklahoma Cowboy songs on the CD that Allie burned for us and we listened to it over and over on our drive to Oklahoma City!

"Cutest Cowboy Couple" award goes to Brooke and Ashley!

All the kids. Cute.

Runner up winners of the "Cutest Cowboy Couple" include the following:

Kimber and Brett

Mom and Dad

Tyler and Sonya

All the girls!

A Visit to the OU Dental School

Twenty years ago, almost to the day, Dad graduated from with a Masters Degree from the Oklahoma Orthodontic program. It seemed only fitting that we return to the Dental school and take the kids on a tour, conducted by Dr. Frans Currier, the chairman of the Orthodontic program.

Dad in front of the dental school.

The friendly welcome sign!

Dad pointing to the plaque on the wall with the residents and faculty pictures.

Dad hasn't changed much in 20 years, has he? Don't you love that moustache?!

Dad and Tyler tour the clinic.

Dad's thesis, that is bound and resting in the OU Ortho library.

The thesis was a joint effort. Dad did all the research, conducted the case studies and wrote it. I typed it and did the graphics. And Currier approved it. We can smile now, but when we were in the middle of all of it, there wasn't a lot of smiling going on, because it involved a lot of hard work, intense stress and a few tears were shed. After 20 years, it's only fitting that we take a picture with the finished product with smiles on our faces, just barely remembering the pain.

Dad, Tyler and Currier chatting about the school and enjoying the tour immensely.

Barbeque...Texas style

A trip to Texas would not be complete without some good ole Texas BBQ! So as soon as we landed in Dallas, we headed over to Spring Creek BBQ and we weren't dissappointed! Dad made us try the fried okra, which we all agreed, if dipped in enough ranch dressing, was rather tasty!

The next day we headed over to the Galleria mall for Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse BBQ, which was located on the 3rd floor of Macy's right next to the home department, I mean right next to it. You could buy a mixer, purchase a vacuum cleaner and eat your BBQed pulled pork sandwich all at the same time! Dad tried the black eyed peas that day and decided that they sound better (referring to the musical group) than they taste!

Dad and Tyler really did love their ribs!
Tyler and Sonya make a cute couple in their matching bibs!
Allie, feeling a little left out, insisted on a picture with her BFF, Tyler!
The girls enjoying the BBQ and delicious hot rolls at Sonny Bryan's.
The next day at Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse. Notice all the home goods right behind Dad, Tyler and Sonya.
Kimber and Brett weren't sure if they should eat their lunch or buy some linens at Macy's!
Allie gave Brooke her birthday present, a BYU keytag and a BYU pig!
Tyler and Ashley enjoyed the BBQ and ready to head to the game!

BYU upsets Oklahoma!

As soon as we heard that BYU was playing Oklahoma at the new Dallas Coyboys stadium on Labor Day, we started planning a family trip to see the game and finally, a trip back to Oklahoma...where we spent 2 years, while Dad did his residency at OU and most importantly, where Allie was born!

For years, Allie has asked, begged and pleaded to return to her homeland and see her birthplace. She is very proud of being an "Okie" and wears her OU T-shirt proudly! We agreed to drive her to Oklahoma City, if she agreed to wear BYU blue and cheer for the Cougars on game day. The kids all wanted to join us on the trek back to Oklahoma City. Having the whole family together was awesome and with an unexpected BYU upset, the pilgramage to Oklahoma and a walk down memory lane, it was a weekend that we would never forget!

Allie's text on her way to Texas:
"So many BYU zoobies on my flight!!
And some Sooners talking trash.
I almost made an alliance with them
by mentioning my place of birth
but don't worry, I CTRed.
This is so rough,
my two teams pitted against each other!
Just hope it doesn't end like BSU and Oregon last night..."

A cute Oklahoma fan took this picture of family in front of the new stadium. So nice! We made him take the picture twice because someone blinked and he didn't even complain. Then he wished us BYU fans "good luck!" Gotta hand it to those OU fans...they are some of the nicest people!

The game tickets!

Sonya and Allie inside the stadium.

The Cougars official logo on the big screen, 60 yards long and 7 stories high...impressive!

Mom and Dad before the game.

One of the many BYU videos that they showed on the Jumbotron.

The girls with the incredible stadium as the backdrop!

Coach Mendenhall and Coach Stoops chatting before the game begins.
The BYU player that really stepped it up in the game, Tyler's good friend, #33 Bryan Kariya! With Harvey Unga out, Bryan got a lot of action and had an incredible game! Here he is on the Jumbotron talking to Coach Tidwell. Little did we know what a game he was going to have!

Oklahomas official logo which flashed on the big screen and 60,000 OU fans erupted in cheers. The noise was deafening!

OU's band or as they are affectionately called, "The Pride of Oklahoma!" Again, the crowd of OU fans erupted in cheers! They stood and cheered the entire time the band wass playing! Impressive!

And then my personal favorite, the "Sooner Schooner" raced onto the field! The OU fans still standing and cheering from the band's performance, went wild as the "Sooner Schooner" ran the length of the field. It was all good and fun until one of the horses did "his business" on the field and the cheers turned into "Eeeewwws!" and "Boos" and the camera quickly turned away! Classic!

Gotta love that "Sooner Schooner!"

Allie and Sonya start celebrating as BYU takes over with a little over a minute left in the game.

With time ticking away and BYU leading 14-13, Ashley and Brooke are just a little bit excited!

BYU fans start celebrating the huge upset and start thinking that a BCS bid might be a reality!

These cute BYU fans made it on the Jumbotron throughout the night. Love it!

Tyler on the field with Coach Tidwell at the end of the game make it on the Jumbotron! Notice that all of the OU seats behind the Jumbotron that were red before are now empty!

Dad celebrating the BYU victory!

The girls after the game!

Mom and Dad, in their almost matching BYU shirts...cute!

The family minus Tyler, who is still celebrating in the locker room, are all smiles with the BYU upset!

Tyler showing off his field pass!

Family picture after Tyler returned from the locker room!