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10.23.2013

Meeting Louis Armstrong Traylor!

Last Thursday morning, SP and I dropped his parents off at DFW for their trip to Italy and then we hit the road to Arkansas!  We had a full weekend planned on the mountain.  A weekend full of getting to know my mom's new pup, Louis Armstrong!

Jack and Sheryl headed out on their next adventure!

As we traveled north, the trees were beginning to change and the weather was definitely cooler than here in Texas!  In fact, one day it felt like a winter day, burrr!

(excuse the bug splatters on the windshield :// )

When we got there, it didn't take long for us to fall in love with Mr. Louis.  He is the most perfect puppy...ever!  Just look at how cute he is!


We had so much fun laughing at him and playing with him throughout the weekend. His personality just cracks me up.  He can be so hyper, but the second you pick him up, he will be real still and just about melt into your arms (or lap) like butter.  So sweet :)


We had a relaxing, but busy weekend.  We had a friends wedding on Saturday evening. We were in charge of picking up the cakes and dropping them off at the event site. I was freaking out when my mom told me that this was our job.  I couldn't believe we had to get the cakes!   I mean, what if we dropped them, or they slid in the car and got smooshed.  Oh my!  Good news...the delivery was a total success!  Louis even got to go along for the ride.  That took up most of our day, leaving just an hour or two at home to get ready to go back out for the wedding.  We finally made it back home in time for the end of our terrible LSU football game.  UGH!  Could have done without that.  They played terrible and lost against Ole Miss.  We went from #6 to #13, boooooo!!!!!!!!!  I'm scared for what the rest of the season might bring.

SP spent a lot of time helping my mom with her "honey do" list.  He fixed her clogged sink, he fixed her garage door, he changed lightbulbs, he fixed a smoke detector, AND he started helping organize my dad's barn.  Seriously....he accomplished so much, and my mom was so thankful to have him there. And that he likes to do handy type of stuff.  And organization is totally his thing!  He's a pretty handy guy, if I do say so myself :)  

Sunday we hung out around the house all day!  I made pumpkin squares inside while my mom mowed with Louis, and Sean worked in the barn :)

He didn't last very long riding on the Kubota with her :)

Beautiful view from The Escarpment

His favorite thing to do is bring in sticks and leaves from outside!

Cold enough for a fire :)

That evening we had some friends over for dinner and to meet the puppy!  Sean smoked some chicken on the Honcho and it turned out perfect (as usual!)!  After everyone left around 8, we all sat down in the cozy living room to watch some TV before going to bed.  At one point, I made a comment, and when I turned around and looked at my mom and Sean, they were BOTH asleep!  OH, and Louis!  I was watching TV by myself, ha!  I tried to take a picture, but my mom busted me!  

We always have such a nice time in Arkansas and always look forward to our next visit.  My mom and Louis will be heading here in a few weeks as we all head down to Austin for my cousins wedding! Then we will have Thanksgiving to look forward to!  

Thanks for a fun weekend, mom!  We love you (and Louis, too!) :)

Raindrops on the drive home :)

While we were in Arkansas, we kept getting emails with pictures attached like this one from SP's parents...SERIOUSLY?!

Oh, Venice!

10.16.2013

Washington, DC!

At the beginning of October, Sean, my mom, and I flew to DC to visit with my brother and his family. My mom was fortunate enough to spend a full week there with Ian Felix!  Sean and I flew in on Thursday.

Sleepy eyes on the plane :)
We bought Yasha some firetruck PJs :)
We did a lot of hanging around the house, which was perfectly fine with all of us. With everything going on with the government shutdown and people catching themselves on fire at the monuments, I was perfectly content staying out of all that mess!  We cooked, and played with Yasha (a lot!), visited, went to an apple picking orchard, had a few yummy meals out, and shopped around Georgetown a bit. Georgetown is walking distance from their house!  Shawn and Anastasia took SP and I to Mike Isabella's restaurant.  This was really cool b/c Sean and I are huge fans of Top Chef, but had never been to any of their restaurants!  Before the end of the trip, we ended up getting to eat at two different Mike Isabella restaurants!  One greek, and one tacos!

Cooking in the kitchen!
Sean, me, Viktor, and Yasha getting ready to pick some apples!
Mom picking apples :)
The buddy with Babushka and Grammy! 
Sean and my mom picking raspberries
It was near the end of the season, so it was hard to find them that didn't just fall apart in your hands!
The buddy had a great time swinging between Deada and SP!
I just love this picture :)  He loves his Uncle Sean!
Playing in his truck and Grammy and Grampa gave him last Christmas!
He loves being silly!
These two are HILARIOUS together!  Papa is just like a big kid, so they have lots of fun!
Grammy and Yasha playing on her computer.  He had so much fun typing different letters, including his name!

On Saturday we all watched LSU beat Mississippi State!  It was fun to all be together for the game, even though we missed having Adam and Christy there as the rest of our team!  Shawn and Sean took care of the cooking (well the outdoor cooking anyway).  We had thai style bbq chicken, rice, and coleslaw!  


Watching games on the east coast makes for a late night!  But we held in there and won!  WooHoo!

My mom went home on Sunday.  SP and I didn't leave until Monday.  On Sunday afternoon, Shawn and Anastasia took SP and I to Georgetown for lunch.  Afterwards, we did a little shopping before it was time to get the buddy back home for his nap. We were almost to the car and Sean spots a tiny place that sells Lobster Rolls. Anastasia told him that they are awesome!  We weren't 5 more steps past Luke's Lobster Roll before SP backtracked.  He just HAD to have one (please know that we literally finished lunch 30 mins before this!)  So he goes in and we tell him to meet us at the car!  When we get to the car Yasha announced that he needed to "kaka" (use your imagination, and think potty).  That sent Shawn into instant panic, "ok we gotta go, like we gotta go now, where's Sean!?"....I call him, and he's still waiting on his sandwich that he HAD to have!  I tell him we have to go now and he will just have to walk home or take a cab.  Fine.  Done.  Next thing I know, about 2 mins into holding on tight while brother Shawn drives frantically through the busy streets I get a text from SP that I should jump out and come meet him.  So in a rolling stop, I jump out and walk to meet back up with Sean!  And let me say, I am sooooo glad I did.  That lobster roll, well, it was pretty much one of the best, most fresh things I've ever tasted!

Georgetown

Relaxing on a stoup
AMAZING!  

After a nice snack and some people watching, we trekked it back to their house.  It was such a hot day, and the walk is pure sun, so we were pretty tired after this adventure, but it was well worth it!  Oh, and the buddy made it to the toilet! Success!

Sunday night Anastasia's parents had us over for dinner.  They live within walking distance.  Yasha had fun playing and we had a delicious meal complete with turkey, eggplant, kale, and crepes with black currents for dessert!

Monday morning SP and I got to have breakfast with the buddy before heading home. He was having a good time!  
 
We had such a great visit and can't wait to visit again!  This kid is seriously entertaining!

Last but not least.  My favorite moment of the entire trip...Shawn's afternoon DJ session.