Carnival Tour 2009- Bean City/Steel City

Not to be confused with Kenny Chesney's tour, but fresh off the 2009 Summer tour, Grammy (read Grandma) Award winner Maggie and The Ferocious Beast are back in the Peak of Good Living just in time for the pool water to be getting close to bath water temperature. ( You would probably have to be a bit of a Kenny Chesney fan and have a television set that lands on the Nogin channel frequently for any of the previous statements to have made any sense. )

To clarify, Maggie and I spent a week in Lima visiting Grandma and GB. On their way to Pittsburgh for the Kenny concert, we hitched a ride so we could meet up with Daddy and the Pittsburgh grandparents, and also half of the Colorado Austin crowd. As usual, it went way too fast, we had way too much fun, ate way too many Kewpees (if that's even possible), and are already in withdrawal.

Grandma had a 'jumpoline' in her basement. This was all Maggie could think about for the first two days we were there. Then we couldn't stop talking about Chucky Cheese- the place, not the mouse....we were not a fan of the mouse.

We met my mom's two sisters- Aunt Cheryl and Aunt Susie, my Uncle Darrell, cousin Todd and his fiance Megan, and two of Maggie's 2nd cousins? ( I never did understand how that goes.) Garrett-2, and Jayden- 1 1/2
And let me tell you, Chucky Cheese was a good time, and the pizza was good, too! (Just remember, I am pregnant, and I have yet to meet a pizza I don't like.)

Maggie and Grandma making apple crisp.

Rockin out in the kitchen between baking.

I did mention that it was the carnival tour....we had blue sno-cones the next day!

Making noodles with Grandma, something I don't even know how to do, yet!

Practicing the flower girl bit for Uncle Joe and Aunt Erin's wedding in August. (Don't tell Ti-Ti we borrowed her crown!)

We also got to hit Lima's St. Gerard's Festival....really sorry that I don't have any pictures from that event. Maggie got to ride some fun rides and play some carnival games. The crowd made the raunchiest NASCAR crowd I've ever seen look conservative and attractive. I'm talking mullets, scary tattoos, pregnant teenage smokers, extra large folks in extra small clothes, summer teeth, you name it. Good times. Oh, and I saw Shelli O'Conner's mom- she coached my softball teams, The Blue Angels and The Red Devils. Fourth grade, I think, again, good times.

The next day we headed over to the burgh- Uncle Joe met us at Bob Evans somewhere along the way-he's gearing up for a busy summer.

Steel City Tour began on the following Saturday, with special celebrity guest 'they call her Mallo Yellow' Austin.

Wagon rides with Uncle Chris- he also specializes in 'chase', a game that is not played in Apex due to humidity and laziness.

Bathing beauties, enjoying their very special girl time with Gamma. Every night they had a bath together, Gamma and Grandfather would get them dressed up in matching mermaid nightgowns, and then Gamma would turn into 'Glamma' and pamper them with lipstick and blush, blow dry their hair, and get them smelling good with perfume.

Having a good time in the kiddie pool!

We even got to hang out with Uncle Donald- apparently they let anyone into that country club pool.

The Austin boys with their girls.

Story time with Uncle Chris

Pajama dance party

another day at the pool

Big hugs- I hate that I couldn't get a picture of their faces...

what a load!

Auntie Paige- these are for you- look, no sunglasses!!!!!

We had a great trip, glad to hear Uncle Chris and Mallory made it home safely, hopefully it won't be too long before we see the rest of the Colorado gang. Thanks to the grandparents for spoiling us rotten, yet again! We had a great visit, and we miss you all so much already.