Austi Posti's Texas Birthday

This past weekend we celebrated Austin's birthday here in Texas. Since his birthday is in October, we have begun to celebrate it here before he leaves each summer. This year our niece and nephew came up for the celebration. We started at Gattitown where the kids stuffed themselves full of pizza, pasta and sweets before going and playing for a while.

Below: Katie & Austin looking too cool for the Gattitown

Below: Abby on her first merry go round. She had a blast!

Below: Alec is a bowling fool


Below: Austi and Alec riding the bumper cars

Below: Riley almost schooled Grandma at the air hockey, but Grandma barely pulled it out

After Gattitown we went back to Grandma and Grandpas to play, eat cake and ice cream and open gifts. Grandma got Austi good because she put trick candles in the cake and he blew and blew but could not get them to go out!

Afterwards we opened gifts. All Austin wanted was Wii games and art supplies so between Grandma/Grandpa and us he got that. We even remembered the Ecko's he wanted since last summer and got those too. We were surprised that he wanted Wii games since he doesn't have one up in Washington but he has had a blast playing the new Harry Potter game. I have to admit watching him play it it seems really fun. Auntie Neen, Uncle Brian, Katie and Alec gave him money which of course any preteen boy would think was cool.

Below: The picture of the cousins except we couldn't get them all to cooperate at the same time :). For some reason a little baby just doesn't want to sit still lol!

It was a fun filled time. I know they were sad to see their cousins go back to Katy.

Well...back to Twilight. Austin wanted to watch it all summer so we decided to watch it tonight. He seemed to enjoy it except when Bella and Edward kissed...Austin was very embarrassed :).

Peace Out!

Mike the Tiger & the Steps!

So I took a break from blogging! Our vacation made me tired :)...that and we seemed to be really busy this week.

So...where we left off. The last day of our vacation was on Monday, August 10th. We started out by getting up and eating at one of my favorite breakfast places...Waffle House! I absolutely LOVE Waffle House and get my hashbrowns scattered, smothered and covered! After we went to Waffle House, we headed to LSU's campus to go and meet Mike the Tiger. He is an actual bengal and they have totally renovated his home. I believe it cost quite a few millions to redo.

His habitat is in between Tiger Stadium (aka Death Valley) and the Pete Maravich Assembly Center (basketball arena). Luckily he was out and we could see him pretty good.

He was hot and stayed where he was. He didn't feel like moving around too much. The kids however had a grand old time taking pictures with teh bronzed tiger out front.

After we left LSU, we went down the road to the Capitol building. The kids were all excited because I told them how there was a step with each state leading up to the entrance and that it was built to be the tallest state capitol building in the country.....so since I love history I am about to get all history on each of you reading this....you ready?

The capitol houses the Louisiana State Legislature, the governor's office, and parts of the executive branch. At 450 feet tall, with 34 stories, it is the tallest capitol building in the country, the tallest building in Baton Rouge, and the seventh-tallest building in Louisiana. It is located on a 27-acre tract, which includes the capitol gardens. The Louisiana State Capitol building is a National Historic Landmark.

The building features sculptures depicting scenes from Louisiana and US History. Engraved into the stone around the main entrance is the quotation "We have lived long but this is the noblest work of our whole lives...The United States take rank this day among the first powers of the earth," said by Robert Livingston on the signing of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Leading up to the main entrance are a series of steps with the names of all of the United States in the order of each state's admittance to the Union. After the first 13 steps (symbolizing the original 13 states) there is a small platform. Behind this platform, the steps continue again with the rest of the 48 states. The 49th step lists both Alaska and Hawaii, which were admitted to the Union in 1959 after the Capitol was constructed.

As part of his campaign in 1928, Huey Long advocated the construction of a new, modern capitol building to replace the old capitol building, built in 1847. Ground was broken in 1930 after Long was elected governor, and the structure was completed in March 1932 after 27 months at a cost of $5 million. In 1935, Long—then a US Senator–was fatally wounded by an assassin in the Capitol building, where the bullet holes are still to be seen on the wall. He died two days later as a result of his wounds and is interred in the Capitol gardens.

The kiddo's thought it was really cool to go up the stairs and see the bullet holes.

On another history side note, my great aunt (MaMa Stafford's sister) was the first women elected to the LA State Senate and the first woman to serve in both houses of the state legislature.

Up next....Austi's Texas birthday celebration!

Louisiana Saturday Night...well really Friday, Saturday and Sunday and some of Monday!

This past weekend we decided to visit Baton Rouge and the East/Stafford clan. We hadn't visited in a while and we always try to go when the kids are in town because everyone likes to see them.

We started off by leaving early Friday morning. For once, we technically had NO plans with ANYONE on Friday evening. It is a first because we always have a jampacked schedule. We were staying at Bill & Polly's while they were on a cruise and it just so happened that about 2 miles down the road was the annual Hot Air Balloon Festival! We got to town, ate wonderful shrimp and crawfish at Sammy's and then went down to the festival. The evening was fun: the kids played in the kids zone, got miniature hot air balloons, watched the balloon glow (lighting the balloons at dusk), watched the balloon twinkle (the flickering of the balloon lights around dark), watched the Army Special Forces Black Daggers do a parachuting jump formation from 13000 feet and then fireworks! What a long night. And surprisingly...Abby did not fuss nor did she go to sleep..she was ....just.

Below: Austin going through one of the kids areas

Below: The kids posing with their new balloons as the real balloons start filling up behind them.

Below: The party is about to get started!

Below: Riley wanted to do a posing show before the balloon glow

Below: The kids thought Abby should have a picture with the balloons :)

Below: The balloon glow....isn't it pretty

The next day was another relaxing day. We woke up and I went and visited Ms. Sally & Mr. Aaron, Aunt Sue & Uncle Pops. It was nice just seeing them because it has been almost a year. Abby loved playing on the big pillows Ms. Sally has on her living room floor. I loved the same thing when I was younger. I guess we are alike!

Below: Abby playing with the Curious George 'Jack in the Box' with Daddy before the visits

After I got back, Abby napped and then we went to my sister's house for the afternoon. Christy, Hailey, Andrew, Toni, Brandy, Daddy & Ms. Bobbi were all there to enjoy the day. Lori made lasagna, corn, garlic bread and a wonderful pudding dessert...did I mention that all we ever do in Louisiana (according to Tracy) is eat :). I haven't seen Andrew since February. He was born 2 weeks after Abby and he has gotten so big. Abby started walking this past week, but he has been walking for a few weeks and he can just motor! Hailey has also shot up like a weed. Her hair is amazingly long...especially compared to Rileys.

Below: The (what I call) Marion East cousins! Austin, Abby, Riley, Toni (niece), Hailey (niece), Brandy (niece), Andrew (nephew). We were missing Ashley. They range from age 25 all the way to 11 months!

Below: Andrew running around with Abby's favorite toy Hippo...and yes, she was close behind him chasing after Hippo :)

Below: Abby chasing after her Aunt Lori and Cousin Toni's dog, LuLu

Below: Austin riding the stuffed fish

After Lori's we went to my favorite restaurant...TJ Ribs...it was wonderful! And then we just went to the casa and chilled the rest of the night...no plans...woohoo! On Sunday we had a lazy morning and went to Nancy, Lindsey, Lisa & Barry's (cousins). Aunt Margaret, Uncle James, Aunt Lillian and Cousin Fran all came to visit us there so we wouldn't have to go to Franklinton. The kids played with their cousin Kyle (2) and also with the duckies in the backyard.

Below: Daddy & Abby on the porch just a rockin (doesn't sound as good as Swingin :) )

Below: Riley & Kyle watching the duckies

After we left Nancy & Lindsey's we went to see PaPa East Cake (my dad) and we talked to him for awhile. Then ...we went back to Bill & Polly's and they were back from their cruise! Cam was with them and the kids played. Cam absolutely loves it when Austin comes to visit. He thinks Austin is the coolest. Cam & Riley played super too. And the adults...we just relaxed and did nothing but eat :).

We left Monday morning, but I am saving Monday for tomorrow's post because I am tired and ready to go to bed so.......until next time...peace out!

Baby Steps and More

Yesterday our good friend Cass came to town to meet Abby for the first time. I got off early and met Cass at home. She commented on how Abby was using me like a jungle gym and sure enough I looked down and she was climbing on me. I put my finger in her mouth just to see how the 'bumps' were doing and where there were bumps were now actual teeth coming in! It seems like both her bottom teeth are coming in at the same time.

Some more exciting news is that Abby has officially taken her first steps. I went in to work today to catch up on some things and then Tracy called. He said that Abby had taken 3 steps to get to him without holding on to anything! I was so proud of my baby girl for taking her steps before 11 months and for doing it while Austin and Riley were still here. They wanted her to walk sooooooooooo badly before they left at the end of the summer. Now, while being a proud momma, I teared up and almost started crying because I was sad at the same time. Sad that I wasn't there to see my baby bug take such a big milestone.

Tracy has no pictures and she is taking a nap now so I will try to 'catch her in the act'. Instead I will close with a song from the wonderful movie Dirty Dancing:

The night we met I knew I needed you so.
And if I have the chance I'd never let you go.

I know a little cheesy but that is how I totally feel about my little Abby. She has changed our lives so much and I don't know what I would do without her in it. Okay...promise my next post will not be so emotional :).