Race for the Cure: In honor of Grandma

This year marks the 10 year "anniversary" of my Maternal Grandma's death after battling breast cancer. So in her honor, my family got together to walk the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Phoenix, Arizona. It was great to see my extended family on my mom's side. There was a total of 14 people plus friends who walked with us in her honor.
Top Row: Uncle Myron, Aunt Melody, Uncle Brent, & Uncle Mark
Middle Row (L-R): Mom, Stephanie, Aunt Jill, Nicholas, Aunt Sandra, Samantha, Austin, me & Scott
Front: Katie

My mom, Scott, Austin and I flew to Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday and then flew back to DFW Tuesday afternoon. This was Austin's 1st plane ride and he did AMAZING - his mom on the other hand (not so much)!! Between Scott, my mom and me, Austin did great during the almost 3 hour flight. He was so fascinated with all the new sights and sounds on the plane - he even meet a few friends. When he wasn't talking up a storm to the other passengers, he was sleeping so peacefully! Throughout the whole trip Austin did great with the 2-hour time difference and adjusted on his own accordingly without any fuss. We realize he is the perfect traveling baby!!!

It was so nice for everyone to meet Austin. Here are a couple of pictures with his Great Aunts and Great Uncles!

- here's a pic of Austin with some of his 2nd cousins at IHOP after the walk. (clockwise: Stephanie, Samantha, Nicholas, & Katie)


While we were in Arizona, Scott, Austin and I got to met up with a Sandbox Baby (& her Mommy) at the Race for the Cure. We were so honored that they joined us for the walk! Here is a picture of Danielle (mommy) & Madison (baby) with us right before the walk began!

We also met up with another Sandbox Baby (& Mommy) when we all went to IHOP afterwards. Here is Loressa (Mommy) & Mia (baby).
It was so funny to watch Austin flirt with TWO girls at once. If we weren't sure from his actions in the past, this one definately solidified it -- Our son is a TRUE Ladies Man!! He kept on going back and forth between Madi and Mia. He just couldn't decide!! Decisions, decisions!!!

[Austin's shirt read: I LOVE BOOBIES (Which is why we need to hurry up and find a cure to help save 'em!!)]

After IHOP we went back home to regroup then headed off to the cemetery. There we tended to grandma's gravesite and talked about the past.




Ironically Scott's own maternal grandma (as well as his maternal grandpa and great grandma/great grandpa) was buried in the same Mesa cemetery. Talk about small world!!!





Overall it was an amazing trip for us all!! We are so blessed to have been able to all get together and in doing so, walk in my grandma's honor.

State Fair of Texas

For the past 7 years or so, Scott and I go to the State Fair of Texas - mainly for the food (Fletcher's Corn Dogs, fried oreos, fried smores, etc), cars, and oh did I say food?! Well, the past couple of years, we have gone with Scott's parents - this year was no exception. It's a riot to watch Scott and his mom battle it out to see who can eat the most fried foods! This year I was so excited to take Austin to his 1st State Fair!! He did great - loved people watching and seeing all the surroundings. I was happy to report that there were three places for mom's like me to nurse, so I applaud the 'head honchos' on that breakthrough! Anyways, here are a couple of pictures:
Family picture:
Austin with the Scarecrow:
Scott and Austin in dreamland inside a F-350 Lariat:
Austin on a John Deere:
A VERY cool sculpture we came across on the Fairgrounds:
While we were there, we went to the Dallas Aquarium at Fairpark. Austin LOVES seeing fishes:
Scott and I were having fun with Austin inside the Kids Area (Backyard Circus). Here he's being 'eaten' by the Lion and made the best faces:

We met the Borden cow, Elsie, and her calf:

Tired boy:
Then on the way home Austin was hilarious! This is what he was doing as his daddy was driving us home from the fairgrounds!