Austen Famous Rodey

Austen, Mama and Dada went to a nearby painting place where you pick the precast item and get to paint it. Austen chose Elmo and decided to not follow his conventional red color scheme.

Austen and Mama sometimes get into debates over whose blankie this is.

One of the rare occasions that Austen's wearing any hair accessories. She usually takes off any clips but in the spirit of the fairy, she went all out (for a few minutes, at least).

This is what Austen says to Mama when she tries to steal Mama's blankie, which she's been using since infancy.

Hanging out in Westfield with Dada, Austen wanted to climb on top of a big snow mound. She enjoyed the view but didn't like not having full control.

The hills were alive with the sound of toddlers. Local friends and MOMS club members came for singing, instrument playing and snacking on strawberries, butterfly crackers, hummus and spinach and feta phyllo triangles. Mama and Austen had the best time, enjoying the lively conversation and all the noise (from running and toys mostly, but some singing.) Even Dada joined the fun … at the very end of the evening.

Everyone gathered together the day after Christmas to celebrate, participate in some art/craft activities, exchange gifts, enjoy some good food and drink, and start playing with their new toys. As usual, it was a very active day with no shortage of energy for the kids, unlike the adults, who were pooping out towards the end of the day.

Austen even got to try out her new jumpy castle, a gift from Chacha, in Mama and Dada's bedroom!





















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Morgan, Austen, Zack and Mama spent some time doing an art project. Using garbage bags with cutouts as smocks and for a table covering, everyone painted their wooden tree ornaments. Some were a mashup of colors, others carefully decorated with a few select colors but in the end, everyone came away clean and with some ornaments to use.

All the girls decorated a Gingerbread house, which Mama and Dada quickly assembled during the activity. Not having enough time to dry, the roof became too heavy with decorations and started sliding off.

The fix? Duct tape, of course! But wait, it's still coming apart. Staples over the duct tape...yeah, that'll stabilize it!

We wouldn't call it edible but it sure was fun.

On Christmas morning, Austen got to open her stocking gifts and a few other presents with Mama and Dada. She enjoyed ripping them open to see what was inside and quickly got into the opening-gifts groove.







Then, we went to visit Auntie Heather and Cousin Zack at their house. Austen loved playing with the kitties and especially with Rex, Zack's 10 year old boxer, who was very friendly.

Mama and Dada rocked out with Zack playing guitar hero on the PS2.

Auntie Janet also joined in and read several books to Austen.

Mama baked some gingerbread cookies in preparation for the upcoming celebration and Austen helped to decorate them afterwards. Just to make sure they were okay, Austen also served in a quality control role by sampling some of the products.

Mama, Dada and Austen visited the farm a few days before Christmas to visit the family. Lots of people came over to the farm and we exchanged gifts.

Austen enjoyed seeing her cousins and friends. They ran around, played with many toys, ate together, read some books and had a blast.

It was a short day visit but it was action packed.















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Austen's good friend Mia hosted a party, where several of Austen's friends gathered. Austen enjoyed eating food and snacks while playing with her friends. They ran around the house, jumped on each other, read books with each other and even climbed on top of Dada for another book reading.

Mama and Austen paint some new decorations. Austen chose an ornament-size christmas tree to be hung on her actual christmas tree while Mama made a colorful Merry Christmas sign.

Austen has named her faux fur white jacket (given by Auntie Heather) the “Polar Bear Coat.” When Mama first heard this, it came out of no where – we hadn’t been discussing animals, only putting on a coat. Mama laughed with astonishment. Maybe Austen will have a way with words, aphorism and non sequiturs like Dada.

Austen said this last night, much to Dada’s chagrin. Mama and Austen had gone to a sale at a local toy store to purchase Christmas gifts for the Famous cousins.

The Famous family came to America during the Revolutionary war period with Lafayatte, according to the stories Mama had heard from her elders. Interestingly enough, Mama was born in Havre de Grace Maryland, which was named by General Lafayette because it reminded him of the French seaport Le Havre, which Mama is reading about in Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon – Mama loved the first book in the series, called The Outlander.

From Wikipedia:

During the Revolutionary War the small hamlet known as Harmer's Town was visited several times by General Lafayette, who commented that the area reminded him of the French seaport of Le Havre, which had originally been named Le Havre-de-Grâce. Inspired by Lafayette's comments, the town was incorporated as Havre de Grace in 1785.

We had a fun time at cousin Morgan's third birthday party. There were art projects coordinated by "da teacher," plenty of kids running around, plenty of toys to play with and a nice multi-flavored ducky birthday cake. After all of Morgan's friends left, the cousins continued to play and enjoy the afterparty.

After putting on Morgan's tutu, Austen became inspired to do some ballet dancing on her own, even though Uncle Tod could not provide any JT music to dance to.

Austen, Mama and Dada spent a week at Walt Disney world in Orlando, Florida and had a blast. Austen did amazingly well, loving all the activities and sights. The days were long and action-packed but also included a nap for everyone in the early afternoon.

For Mama and Dada it was wonderful to travel again. All their fears about the plane ride were in vain; even though this was Austen's first flight, she did great (Mama also did much better). Austen sat on Dada's lap during the relatively short flight and was happy to play with her toys, rocks, coins, animal figurines, books and watch some of her favorite videos on the iPod, while munching on some snacks and chocolate milk and looking out the window to see the clouds, rivers, trees and tiny houses and cars.



The hotel room was comfy and the sleeping situation (two double beds right next to each other) worked out fine.

Using our park hopper passes, we visited all the theme parks many times. Austen made sure to see almost everyone costumed animal in sight, giving each one hugs and posing for pictures; she's so enamored with them that she forgets to smile!











Austen also went on many rides including some of Mama's childhood favorites like Dumbo and It's A Small World. She had a fondness for musicals like the Beauty and the Beast but was a bit fearful of the Disney villians and special effects like lasers and thunderous booms. Mama and Dada also got to go on some adult rides using the child-swap feature and fast-pass.



After going on the Peter Pan ride, we won three sets of fast-pass vouchers to be used at the Magic Kingdom theme park. It was kind of amusing to be able to circumvent the lengthy lines on the popular rides, almost instantly getting to go on them. We even heard many people asking the attendant's why we were able to go on so quickly!

The buses and monorail were like theme park rides in themselves for Austen and she got very excited everytime we boarded. While waiting on the line for a bus to arrive, if the incoming bus went to another line (for another theme park), Austen was dissapointed and proclaimed, "I want the bus. Where's Austen's bus!?" We only went on the boat a few times and she liked it at first but later decided she disliked boat rides!

Just walking to and from the hotel room was a chance to skip and hop and sing. Dinners were always entertaining with all the kids and colorful decor. Austen talked non-stop of seeing more animals and getting to meet "Meemee Mouse." Unlike a lot of the other kids at Disney, Austen preferred to walk independently, without her stroller: "I wanna walk!"





In between the rides, lines, eating at the various places, Mama and Dada stopped at the many themed play areas where Austen got to run around freely. She was hesitant at first as she explored the areas, which are very decorated and not just plain-jane slides and swings. Once she became familiar with the layout, she was off.





See some short videos from our trip.

By day seven, everyone was getting a bit overwrought and tired, so we were ready to get back home to the kitties. What a fabulous time! 'Can't wait for the next vacation. See all the trip pics.

Dancing with Minnie Mouse.


Dancing at the restaurant.


On the Merry-Go-Round with Mama.


Dancing in the hotel lobby.