Oh Baby, Baby!

Maybe it was the Houston heat making them drowsy,
but the girls didn't seem to notice...

...Baby Emerson Hayes McGraw!

It's been a while since I've held a newborn.
I'm not sure who looks more uncomfortable, me or Hayes.
I wish I could jump back in the picture and prop his little head up better.

The girls glanced in Hayes direction for a moment.
Then they resumed eating an entire cantaloupe.
Busy.

Getting a Hop on Things

The Easter Bunny treated us to an early egg hunt while we were in Houston! Last year Claudia didn't really hunt eggs. She rode around on Daddy's shoulders, chewed up a Cadbury Egg and spit it out on top of Daddy's head. This time went much better! She ran around Gram and Pawpaw's yard like a madwoman, snatching up eggs left and right. I think she'll be ready for round two come Easter!

The Easter Bunny left us this sweet guy.

The biggest egg I'd ever seen.

Paydirt!

The hunt begins.

A lot of my pics wound up a little blurry. She was moving too fast!

Best discovery ever... the confetti egg.

She smashed them all over herself.

Gram helps Claudia sort through her goodies.

We didn't expect this one...she loved that Easter grass!

Bop cracked open every egg in search of treasures.

Some eggs didn't have treasures.

This didn't go over so great.

Gram and Bop had a blast opening the eggs.

Claudia also took breaks to help Pawpaw weed the flower beds.

Stomping through the yard, eggs in hand.

Claudia dyed these hard boiled beauties.

A good deal of the eggs got cracked.

Bop really put the mustard on it when dropping the eggs into the dye cups.

This was my favorite colored egg.

Gram mixed up some really pretty colors.

Gram's chicken egg plate were perfect for displaying our eggs.

Here's just some pics of the beautiful flowers growing at Gram and Pawpaw's.

Spring is here. Or there.
It's just about here too. =)

More of Louisiana... the North This Time.

While we were stateside we managed to squeeze in two Louisiana trips... one to New Orleans and another to Shreveport & Cloutierville. Claudia was thrilled to see Memaw and very excited to see Memaw's neighbors who live across the street...

These gals were excited to see us too, apparently.

We were fast friends.

These guys were pretty as a picture.

So I took a picture.

I think I counted about 40 horses.

Claudia wanted to ride them all.

But we had ice cream sandwiches to eat,

so we crossed the street to Memaw's.

I've never seen a sign like this, but, lucky for us,

it actually makes some people slow down.

Memaw is the best. She had Blue Bell ice cream sandwiches.

It made this girl very, very happy.

It also made her really happy that Memaw lets her play piano...

...with her feet.

On the way back from Memaw's we popped down to Cloutierville.

Claudia got to play with Miss Molly.
There were lots more action shots.
This was the only on in focus. =)

And I got to catch up with my dear, dear Avery at the crawfish farm.

It was a quick, but special trip to North Louisiana.

This Ain't Her First Rodeo. It's Her Second.

The Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show is big stuff in Texas. Thanks to Gram we managed to get Claudia outfitted properly for the show and away we went. Gram, Aunt T, Claudia and I braved the miserable traffic and parking atrocities ... and it was all worth it. Rodeo!

pink hat. check.

pink pearl snap top. check.

pink boots. check.

all set.

Claudia learned to tip her hat & perfected several rodeo sayings...

My favorites: "yeehaw", "ride 'em", "giddyap", "yippi ki yay"But this is what it is all about.

Watching your child take out a massive corn dog on a stick.

Can't remember what this face was about.

I suspect it had something to do with the sheep poo fumes.

Claudia trying her best to pry open the chick case.

We rode to and from the rodeo parking lots on a trolley tram...

This was probably her favorite rodeo activity.

Thanks to Gram and Aunt T, Bop thoroughly enjoyed herself.

Cowgirl up!

Big Wedding in the Big Easy

Let me start by saying "CONGRATS" to Ryan & Rachel Brooks! My dear, dear friend Rachel got hitched in New Orleans two weeks ago and I was so thrilled we could come over and that G&G could keep Boppers for the wedding weekend. Big thanks to G&G. The wedding was beautiful and New Orleans did not disappoint. I took too many pictures so I condensed them into collages. I am so thankful I got to see my dear friends Rachel, Andrea & Logan and I am so very happy for Rachel & Ryan!

Logan and I hit up Cafe Du Monde and the French Market.

We strolled along the Mississippi River and then to Jackson Square.

Then we met Andrea in the Quarter and went to

Rachel's bridal luncheon at the Court of Two Sisters.

The rehearsal dinner at Muriel's was a great party.

Andrea, Logan and I toasted our Golden Girl by reciting

"Thank You for Being a Friend" as our toast.

Funny enough, most of the room thought we wrote it.

We didn't correct anyone.

We went on trolley rides down St. Charles, ate at Camelia Grill,

got crawfish from Big Fisherman, found some Abita Strawberry,

shopped our way down Magazine Street, stalked pretty houses

on St. Charles, and waited forever at Hansen's Sno Bliz.

Wedding Night!

The wedding was at the Elms on St. Charles.

Rachel was beautiful. Ryan was dapper.

Sha'On and the Girls with Success kept everyone dancing.

Good times!

Congrats to Rachie and Ryan!

PTI (Nothing to do with Tony or Wilbon)

Can you believe it? I haven't blogged or read any blogs in over a week - a new record for me. I love blogging & reading everyone's blogs - I'll definitely be catching up very soon. But I have a good excuse! In the past week, Claudia and I have travelled from Budapest, Hungary to Frankfurt, Germany to Houston, Texas to New Orleans, Louisiana back to Houston and now we are in Shreveport, Louisiana! Unfortunately, I overlooked the fact that one person in particular was missing Bop terribly and would really like to see her.... Daddy Boy Russ! He's taking care of business in Budapest. So, here you go!

Claudia is her usual sweet self. She's been playing with and eating sidewalk chalk. Nothing new.
She walks into anyone's house & makes herself at home.
Gathers and collects random objects.
Mostly candles and coasters.
She has taken an interest in golfing.
Well, mostly just pushing around her golf cart.
She also fills the cart with rocks.
She loves climbing the monkey bars.
She found a lady bug on her shoe!
She said "I love lady bugs and Phi Mu too!"
Well, maybe just the first part.
With proper training, the second part will follow.
Loves the slides. Likes hopscotch.
She's gone country.

Lots more Houston Rodeo pics to follow!

Bonnie - if you are reading - I'm so sorry I forgot to call!

You're probably better off... we spent 1.5 hours rodeoing

& 2 hours parking. What a mess.

She's into gardening.

... and catching butterflies in her net.

Technically, no butterflies have been caught.

Many have been scared.

None caught.

Look at her face. This is serious.

Overall, she has been the best travel companion.

She misses you too, Russell!

So, Claudia and I have been busy this week ... the Houston Rodeo, a New Orleans wedding, visiting a beautiful newborn baby (Baby Emerson Hayes McGraw!) and we have lots more to do before hopping the pond. Stay tuned!