Happy New Year!!!

Just got back from Alabama. Rain storms seem to be following us. When we arrived in Mobile a week ago, it was raining hard. I got to experience thunder and lightening for the first time. We had some big boomers that made me jump, but I didn't cry or scream. Mommy thinks I'm so brave. On the way back home, our flight from Houston got delayed on account of the 50-60 mph winds in San Francisco. When we finally got back to California, we saw lots of debris in the roads, down tree limbs, power outtages, but only a little rain.

Anyway, I had a great week. I got to sleep with my parents all week and play with Paw Paw & Mimi. It only rained in Alabama the first day. We ate out a lot. The first night we went the Cracker Barrel. I had popcorn shrimp and mac & cheese. The next day I got to meet my Aunt Kristy and my cousins Britian, Alec, & Kaitlin. We went to the Blu Rabbit's Paradise for pizza. I got to play in the toddlers castle and ride the indoor train. I also got more Christmas presents - lots of cool movies: Cars, Finding Nemo, Incredibles, Little Mermaid, Flushed Away, and Ice Age. Afterwards, we went to the Bel Air Mall to buy gifts for my cousins and Mimi. We didn't have room to bring much in our luggage. When we were done shopping, we met Uncle Tony for dinner at Logan's Roadhouse. New Year's was pretty low key hanging out with Paw Paw & Mimi. I heard a few firecrackers through the night, but nothing special. On New Year's Day, Daddy brought back steak bisquits from Hardee's for breakfast. Later, we went to Aunt Kristy's in Satsuma for dinner - more steaks, black-eyed peas, mashed potatoes, and rolls. I got to play outside with my cousins and their two dogs. Mommy pushed me around on a tricycle. We watched Shrek 3 and The Simpsons Movie before heading back to Mobile. Wedesday, Aunt Kristy and my cousins came down to Mobile to take a family picture, then we went $Two Dollar$ Bills' Kin-Folks Catfish Restaurant for catfish and fried pickles. I really liked the fried pickles. It's here that I discovered dipping sauces - ranch dressing for fried pickles, catsup for french fries, cocktail sauce for fried shrimp, and tarter sauce for fried catfish. I really liked eating the dipping sauces. I would dip my french fry, lick off the sauce, and dip it again and again. Our last day in Alabama we walked to Checkers for burgers and hot dogs. I ate two hotdogs and french fries with more catsup. For dinner, we went to Pintoli's Italian Cafe in Satsuma. I got to eat breadsticks with marinara dipping sauce and lasagna.

On the flight to Alabama, I slept 3 of the 4 hours of the first leg. My parents fed me non-stop for the last hour: banana, muffin, watermelon, and cheerios. I slept the entire one hour leg to Mobile. The flight back was just as fun. I didn't sleep or eat as much; although Mimi loaded us up with some yummy snacks - grapes, oatmeal cookies, chez-its, pecans, & vanilla wafers. But after running around at the airport during our 2-hour delay, I was content to snack occasionally and play with my magnetic drawing pad on the floor in front of Mommy's seat. My parents said I'll get my very own seat the next time we fly on account that I'm getting to big to sit on their laps.