2 weekends...2 weddings

Just when a girl thinks she escaped road-trippin' for a while... she gets packed up & drug out of town to two cousins' weddings... the first weekend in Austin & the second in Abilene. Whew - - the car seat is my nemesis, but I must say... it was well worth the drive, because I had a blast at both weddings. It is nice to be back in Texas, so that we can go to these family events again!

After arriving in San Angelo on Thursday, June 18th... we hit the road again for Austin on Friday afternoon. Juanita (daddy's cousin) & Michael's wedding was on Saturday & I got to hang out with all of my aunts, uncles, & cousins (Popi's family). The wedding was great... dad spent most of the time entertaining me in the foyer, but I liked the view from the cheap seats better anyway... I could run around & play... and go to the windows every once in a while for a peak into the sanctuary.

The most exciting part of the whole ceremony (for everyone but the bride & groom) was when Juanita's engagement ring fell down the vent in the floor at the church. We didn't even realize it had happened, until afterwards when the whole family joined the search & rescue cause. Thankfully... after a little bit of MacGiver work, the guys pulled through & saved the day.

Their reception was a blast... it was at a hotel in South Austin. I spent some time getting to know my fun cousins, dancing, and eating cake. Juanita looked beautiful & I am so glad we got to attend her big day.

This past weekend, we again hit the road for another wedding in Abilene. Jessica (another of daddy's cousins) and Andy's wedding was on Saturday, so I was able to meet and hang out with the other side of his family. Their ceremony was so personal & special... they involved tons of little kiddos from the family and from Jessica's kindergarten class & Andy's dad was the minister.

Their reception was at a fun museum in downtown Abilene, where they had tables set up inside & outside. It was a toasty evening, but that didn't slow any of us down... especially thanks to the yummo mini ice cream cones they had (much to my enjoyment you'll see). I joined in with the rest of the crowd & danced the night away. The photo above (right) is of me shakin' it on the dance floor. You can also see me doing the "Y" of "YMCA" below. I'd say my dance moves have improved, even since one week before @ Juanita & Michael's wedding :o)

Hope you all enjoy these pix... I'm working on another post with photos of our new casa & the first few weeks in SA. Be on the lookout...

Juanita & Michael

Jessica & Andy

the loooooongest trip ever

Well folks... to Texas we went.... & to Texas we are. After a mere 20+ hours in the car seat over 2 grueling days... we finally pulled up to my new casa in good 'ole San Angelo, Texas last Thursday. The mild one-hundred degree heat greeted us as rolled into town & prepared to unload the moving truck.

The drive, while long, was not too awful. My fellow travelers have been bragging to everyone about how well I did during the whole fiasco. I did fuss for an hour or so during the first LONG 16 hour jaunt, but I could have laid it on even thicker, so I think they realize they got off easy! ... And if you can imagine it... after arriving in San Angelo on Thursday evening, we left on Friday afternoon to drive to Austin for my cousin, Juanita's wedding. (another post coming soon). Needless to say... by the drive back to San Angelo on Sunday, I was D-O-N-E, done with the car seat.... nut head parents!

I do love our new digs.... our house is a much bigger space than I'm accustomed to maneuvering (especially compared to our recent humble abode in Nashville), but I must say... I think I can get used to it. The hardwood floors are fantastic for pushing my bumblebee scooter around the empty rooms, and because mom & dad have been so busy - - I've been able to get into all sorts of trouble when they're not looking. Mom promises to let me post some pix of our new house soon.

If you can believe it, the paparazzi only managed to snap photos at ONE of our many stops along the journey. As with many of the other posts, they are not the most flattering photos of me. We stopped somewhere between Tennessee & Texas to get a bite to eat at Cracker Barrel, so I helped myself to some blue cheese dressing.... yummm! I should have bottled some of that goodness to go.

headin' west...

Howdy fans... there'll be a brief hiatus from my posts, as we're leavin' Tennessee for the good 'ole state of Texas tomorrow morning. We'd much appreciate a few postitive & prayerful thoughts as we make our way west. Don't you folks worry... I'll be sure to keep those parents on their toes for the ENTIRE 16 hours! There'll probably be many stories to tell when we get to Tejas... stay tuned.

There's not really any way for me to express how much we'll miss all of our wonderful, sweet friends.... you've been much more than friends... each of you has made up our family here in Tennessee. While we are so very excited to set out to begin new adventures in San Angelo and to be close to our families, .... this move is certainly bittersweet. The life-long family we've made here will be missed dearly... we are truly blessed to have gotten so close to each of you, and are already looking forward to coming back to visit. Our new home in Texas is far from visitor-worthy at this point, but you all better believe the doors are open.... come visit.... SOON!!! Love & Hugs!

gosh i'll miss my "maa"!!

Mia's Mimi invited mom & me over for lunch on Thursday... she is the best pseudo-grandma a girl could ever want (especially when the girl's thousands of miles from her real ones). Lunch was delicious, as it always, always is... and even more exciting - Mimi has the coolest toys EVER!

I'd have to say the bestest toy was her "vintage" McDonald's (I say "vintage" because it was "Aunt" Kellye's when she was a little girl.....whoa! ... don't you know - that's old!). We made cheeseburgers for mom & fries for each other (aka: passed plates & money back and forth across the counter to people). Now I know that working at McDonald's is hard work!... too many screaming people saying... "more fries, please" or "another cheeseburger, please"... blah blah blah.... can't you just let a couple of girls play?

Many of you guys know that Mia is practically my sister... we're almost twin-like, considering we were born not even 2 weeks apart, and because we see each other so much. So... you can imagine that every once in a while (& lately a little more often)... we can "butt heads" so to speak. I mean, really... no sisters get along ALL of the time, right? So - if I take her monopoly money - she takes it back.... and when she takes it back - I scream... and when I scream - she screams.... la la la. I think it kinda freaks our moms out just a little, but we know how much we love each other!... like sisters!

Mia, my sis.... I hope you know how very, very much I will miss you when I move to Texas in a few days. You have been such a very special part of my life & will continue to be so - FOREVER, I hope!! Each time mom says your name, I light up like a Christmas Tree and start asking... "maaa? maaa?" I'm not sure what I'll do without our almost daily play dates... I'll miss those sweet squeals & wild hand waves that you always give me when we see each other for the first time... and you better believe I'll miss my famous "Mia Love Hugs"!! Could you mail me one?? They say that we may not remember our time together forever..... but we should be glad that our crazy mommies & daddies have taken hundreds....NO - THOUSANDS of photos of us, so that we can re-live these 17 months when we're older. We'll keep in touch.... and who knows.... perhaps we'll meet up in college someday (that is - unless I decide that being a McD's drive-thru clerk is my calling). I love you & miss you already.... keep givin' those parents trouble... enough to be from the both of us! See ya later, alligator!!

Oh... and below these pix, I've added a slideshow of some of the thousands of photos of

me 'n' mia ... so scroll down & enjoy it!

ps.... I hope you don't use as many tissues as mom did while she helped me upload all of them!!

slides, static, & sitters

This week, we've been using the last bits of our time here in Nashvegas wisely... playing with friends & enjoying the beautiful scenery (both of which we'll miss so much!)

On Monday, we had a play date with Mia... her mommy made some tasty toasted chicken 'n' pepper jack cheese sandwiches & as usual - Mia and I were more than content to play with each other... giving our mommies a little break in the entertaining department.

We met Aunt Erica for lunch on Tuesday at a gorgeous park near Vanderbilt. The absolutely beautiful trees provided some great shade... and the playground was perfect for a little tot like me (small slides & easy access stairs). We got some photos of the park date & even a video or two of me on the slides. This is the first time that I really began to understand why every kid loves sliding so much... I went back for more action about 6 times. I was the only one on the playground, so needless to say - the lines were just right :o) You'll see that my locks (which I hope you've noticed have started to thicken a wee bit more) were standing on end after each jaunt down the tunnel slide... something called static ... I think that is what mom & "Aunt" E called it!?!?!

Last night, "Aunt" Erica & "Uncle" Brennan came over to play with me, so that the parentals could go out on a date. I have not yet figured out why they wouldn't just take me with them (after all, I am the one who draws "good attention" to our table)... but I'm certainly glad they left me at home this time, because I had a blast playing with E & B. Many thanks go out to my pseudo aunt & uncle.... mommy & daddy needed a date to finally celebrate the past few weeks!

So - it's been a fantastic week so far.... Daddy is wrapping up his last few patients at school, and we could be hitting the road to Texas in less than a week... woo hoo!!!