Rain, Ice Cream, and Laundry Baskets

The past few days have held lots of new things for me. Yesterday it rained all day. That made me sad, because I didn't get my morning walk through my new neighborhood with Grannie. I was sitting in Grannie's room with her and could hear the rain outside because her window was open. She let me kneel down by the window, and we liStened to and watched the rain. I was really interested in it. Grannie told me that when it rains, it means God is watering all the flowers and trees and grass so they can drink the water and grow big, just like me!


That evening, Mommy and Daddy had some errands to run. I'm into screaming a lot right now. The entire time we were at the store I laughed and screamed really really loud. Nothing was wrong - I was just happy and having a fun time!

When we were done with the errands, the four of us went to eat at Jason's Deli. If you're a good boy and eat all your dinner, you get a free ice cream cone! I didn't eat dinner, but Mommy, Daddy, and Grannie did. When Mommy came back with her ice cream cone, I got to try a little bit. I like it a lot! (Probably because it was really cold on my gums.... hint-hint!)

I WANT MORE!!!! MORE ICE CREAM!!!!!

This evening Daddy was playing with my while Mommy cleaned up from dinner. He was putting away laundry and I got a ride! Even my lion, George, got to ride with me.

Can you guess what it is?

I'm getting something new this week. Can you guess what it is?

Leave a comment on this post with your guess.

Stay tuned... as soon as I get it, I'll post a picture!

My Weekend at Louisiana Tech

This weekend was lots of fun! I got to go to Louisiana Tech with Mommy and Daddy. That's where they went to school. After Parin's and Aunt Emmy's wedding this summer, we went to Ruston to visit the Kings and the Gallaghers. But on that trip we didn't go to visit anyone at Tech. This time we got to go to campus and see lots of people. Mommy had a Foundation Board meeting, so I got to meet lots of engineering alumni who are on the Board with her, and some of her former professors. Everyone was really nice.

Mommy and Daddy took me around campus and told me about places where Mommy, Daddy, Parin, Aunt Emmy, and Aunt Leslie all lived and went to class. We went into the student center where they took my picture.

They were really surprised when I held on really well and stood there next to the Spirit of '88 Bulldog for several minutes. Mommy says I'm growing up too fast. Parin says it's the Spirit of '88 that held me up. And if you don't know what the Spirit of '88 is, see below.

We stayed in a hotel in Ruston. I'm very experienced at hotels - I've stayed in hotels in Oklahoma City, Shreveport, Atlanta.... But this time I got to do something fun. I got to ride on the luggage cart.

(Disclaimer: Mommy held her hand behind me the entire time, and it was only on the elevator.)

We went to dinner at the Gallagher's house. I got to play with Mr. Peter and Mrs. Marty. I had a lot of fun playing on the floor on my blanket. It was good to stretch out and play, since I was about to get in my carseat for the 4-hour ride home.

Yesterday I played a lot. Granpa and Mrs. Judy came over to visit us, too.

And I helped Mommy fold my laundry. I really did help!

And for those of you who think someone else does all the work, and I take all the credit for this great website, here's proof that I really do it all myself!

Spirit of '88

At the south end of Joe Aillet Stadium stands a bronze Bulldog statue named the Spirit of '88. The statue commemorates the 1988 Bulldog football team which blazed the path into Division I-A football for Louisiana Tech.

That 1988 team had to endure one of the most difficult schedules in school history while playing with only 65 scholarships - the allotted amount for Division I-AA teams. In what was the nation's 11th toughest schedule that year, the Bulldogs faced five I-A bowl teams including Houston, Florida State and Texas A&M.

The results were as expected: losses like 60-0, 56-17 and 66-3 ... but as a team, the Bulldogs grew. Those experiences likely played a key role in Tech finishing 5-4-1 the following year, its first in Division I-A, and then 8-3-1 in 1990 and an Independence Bowl berth.

The statue, which every Bulldog player touches as he walks down the ramp before every home game, has also brought good fortune to the Bulldogs at Joe Aillet Stadium. On Oct. 14, 1989, when it was unveiled, Tech proceeded to pummel a highly respected Northern Illinois team by the score of 42-21. That was just the start of one of the best runs in Tech football history.

An identical Bulldog is displayed in the Tech Student Center. Legend has it that if students touch the Bulldog as they pass by, the Spirit of '88 will continue with them as the take exams, etc. (You'll notice in the photo that the head is a different color from the many times it's been rubbed by a student passing through.)

Pictures from this Week

Mommy, can I have the camera??

Really, I want the camera! Please give it to me!


Now that I am sitting up on my own, bathtime is way more interesting! I have animals that float around me in the tub. This is my monkey from Uncle Ken and Aunt Erika. He floats in my bath most nights.

This one is for Keylee and all of Mommy and Daddy's other Michigan friends. Yes, they let me play with the University of Michigan bear. And that's okay. But don't think for a second that they'd let me hold a bear wearing purple and gold. And who would want to anyway? I don't even like purple or gold! (At least that's what my parents and Godparents tell me.)

Here I am playing on the floor and laughing. That's my lion, George,
from Aunt Emmy and Parin. I like my lion a lot!

Mmmm... Blueberries!

And some days, you just play so much you can't go any longer!

Did you vote? I did!

Tuesday was Election Day (of course, you know this by now!). I got to go with Mommy to vote in my first Presidential Election. It was an adventurous day, to say the least! I woke up about 6:30, so I ate my cereal and fruit, took a bath, and went back to sleep (Eating and taking a bath is really hard work!). I woke up again at 8:00, so Mommy and I decided we'd head to the polls - by now we thought most people would be at work.

We drove to the polling place in a city park near our house. There were cars parked on the streets and sidewalks about 8 blocks away. Luckily, we found a spot closer to the building. Mommy parked the car, put me in my stroller, and we headed to the entrance. As we neared the building, we saw there was a line outside - probably about 30 people ahead of us. So, we took our place in line. I was happy because it was a beautiful day and I love being outside! It took over an hour in line before we finally got into the building. By this time it was about 9:30. Once we got far enough in, we realized the line wrapped around the inside of the building, with still about 150 people ahead of us. I had a doctor's appointment scheduled for 10:20, so Mommy called to see if we could reschedule, but there was nothing else available. So... after waiting for almost 2 hours, we left.

We went to my appointment with my new doctor. I really like her a lot! She's very sweet and nice and even played with me for a little while. I weighed 22 lbs 10 oz and measured in at 30 inches long!!! Although I'm still off the charts for a kid my age, she said I'm very healthy and that my weight is very proportional to my height - I'm just really very tall for my age! She checked my ears and throat - all looks good. Then it was time for my shots. I don't really like them very much, but I'm a tough boy. The nurse was very good and quick. When I realized it hurt and started crying, she was already done with all three shots. I cried for a minute, then I gave Mommy hugs and kisses and was happy again.

When we got home from the doctor, I had a bottle and took a nap for about an hour. Mommy thought I would probably sleep all day from the shots. Boy, was she wrong! After my nap, I woke up really happy and ready to go! So, go we did - we got back in the car and went back to the voting place. This time we were able to go straight into the building, and there were only about 20 people in line ahead of us. I even got to go into the voting booth to help Mommy push the button to cast her vote. So, I participated in my first Presidential Election!

Daddy's Surprise for Mommy this Weekend

Daddy's friend, Bill, was getting married this weekend in Duluth, Minnesota, and Daddy was the best man. They decided that Mommy would stay here with me - life has just been too crazy with the move and everything. Daddy's been in Detroit for work this past week, and will be there next week, so he travelled straight from there.

Well, on Thursday Daddy surprised Mommy when he called her at work to tell her she'd be his date for the wedding - he'd gotten her a ticket to fly up to Minnesota and meet him! So I stayed at Paw-Paw's and Grannie's for the weekend (Daddy checked with them to make sure that was okay before he bought the ticket, but he knew it wouldn't be a problem!). What did I get to do with Paw-Paw and Grannie? Go toy shopping for Christmas, of course! Here's the picture they sent to Mommy and Daddy of me trying out something I think they're going to get me for Christmas.



Mommy flew out early yesterday morning, and they went to the wedding last night. Thier hotel is right on Lake Superior. They took a drive up the lakeshore this afternoon. Here's a picture of them in front of Lake Superior.

More from My Exciting Weekend at Paw-Paw's and Grannie's

While in Jennings this weekend, Paw-Paw brought in his old rocking chair from when he was a little boy (that was a very long time ago!). He sat in this when he was really little. Then Mommy and Parin and my cousins Julie, Jena, Janice, and Jenny got to sit in it. Now, it's my turn!

And after that, he got a really fun toy for me. This was Parin's tractor as a little boy. He rode in around the yard a lot. Paw-Paw took me around the driveway on it. I loved it!

(Paw-Paw was giving me some serious tractor driving tips!)

Trunk or Treat Pictures

Last night was Trunk-or-Treat at Grannie's and Paw-Paw's church. Everyone though I was the cutest little pumpkin around! It was getting dark outside, so the pictures aren't the greatest. But they're good enough to share!

Here's Grannie and me standing in front of the big ghost.
Grannie and Paw-Paw handed out popcorn to all the trick-or-treaters.

I got to trick-or-treat from in my stroller. I just sat there and smilled.
And people put all kinds of goodies in my bucket!

Fr. Wayne dressed up as a pirate!

It was fun to see all the bright lights and decorations. I can't wait until next year when I can walk and carry my own bucket. It's going to be so much fun!