Biking on Folly

In less than 2 weeks I was blessed with seeing the ocean. This time with Momma and Daddy! We loaded up our bikes for a nice Sunday afternoon picnic and bike ride along the beach. The weather was wonderful for such a fun day at the beach in the winter. Here are some of my tips for picnics at the beach:

#1 It is best to eat your lunch while laying on the sand. It is a plus to empty all of your gold fish out of the bag on to the sand. This gives is a nice gritty taste.
#2 It is important to bring the towel with you to the beach not leave it in the car; when playing in the sand mainly the wet sand. Getting back into the bike trailer can be tricky with wet sand all over your body.

#3 It takes exceptional skill to balance a ball on sea foam. Only those who are really talented can master this task. I am one of the few. It is not a good idea to leave it in the trailer with me because I like to throw it out and sometimes Momma and Daddy are unaware of this trick.

Dre comes to Charleston

My cousin, Andrea came to Charleston to spend the week with me because she was on break from school because of Mardi Gras. I call Andrea, Dre becasue it is easier to say. Dre likes to shop so we went to lots shops which was fun and I was very good in all of them. We went to Folly Beach one days since the weather was in the 70's. We had fun at the beach playing in the sand and letting our hair blow in the wind. I really wanted to get in the water but Momma said it was way to cold. I didn't even get to put my feet in!

We also went shopping on Friday. On Friday's I like to go have lunch with Daddy then go home to take a nap because I go to school on Friday's and I play really hard so I am extra sleepy. But since Dre was in town wwe went shopping after school on Friday but I didn't even make it to the stores.

The last day Dre was in Charleston, we went downtown to the Battery where we found a park and of course I had to swing! Here are a few pictures of some of the houses along the Battery and Rainbow Row.

Picnic at the park

On Sunday, it was so nice outside that Daddy thought it would be a good idea to go get some Popeye's and go to the park for a picnic. Momma said it reminded her of being at the parades since we had Popeye's and she promised someday soon that I will get to go to Mardi Gras. At our picnic Daddy gave me my first taste of cole slaw and I loved it. After we ate our lunch it was off to play. Daddy was swinging me high and low and wiping the drool every time I needed it. We had so much fun at the park and Momma was sure I would take a long nap but I surprised her with just a 45 minute cat nap.

Mexia-neese Doll

In this political day and age I wanted to make sure that I know what it is like for all nationalities to live in America. Therefore it is time to play dress up or pre-getting ready for bed time. I put on my china doll outfit first and had Momma put my hair in a pony tail. Then I got my moroccan to play some music for Daddy while he was working on trying to fix his laptop with Dell. I was really enjoying my music. I don't think that Daddy was enjoying his on the phone.
I decided to give Daddy a break from my music to go have a talk with Bailey. Bailey sometimes does not listen to me so I have to lift up his ear to get his full attention. As you can see we have an understanding of who is boss!

Counting Fraggle

After much repetition of going up and down the stairs, counting the stairs. I finally will count away from the stairs. Momma is so excited that I am learning new things.

Christmas Season Continues from NOLA to Atlanta

After Christmas in NOLA it was time to go to Atlanta, for the Hoglund Christmas. It sure is fun to get to experience chaos and calmness during the Christmas season. For breakfast our first morning there Grandma let me try out a new cup which was the same cup my Daddy learned to drink out from. I was drinking out of a vintage cup, how cool is that! When it was time to open presents there was a calmness that overcame the process. I was able to study and play with my presents in between opening gifts. The one I am studying is one of my favorite toys to play with, it is a grocery cart and I can put all kinds of things in it to roll around the house.

As the Christmas season comes to a close we were able to celebrate the New Year with Clemson playing in the Chick fil A bowl. We really should not talk about this game because it did not end well but we had a good time before Momma, Daddy, and everyone left for the game. I got to stay and play with Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Jenna. But before everyone left my Paran Uncle Justin gave me piggy back rides. Be sure to note the cool orange patent leather loafers.Grandma is my favorite when it comes to Giddy Up Horsey. Unlike the carousel in NOLA this 'horsey' lets me slide down her leg.Everyone must have a family picture on New Years Eve just like on Christmas Eve.

The Eve of and Christmas Day Ode

After fluffing our curls for a long mass
To see the priest who was to marry Momma and Daddy at there wedding mass
But since the hurricane came,
these things would not be the same
My Nanny Hanna let me open a gift you see.
It was a new doll that I named Eva Marie
I took her with me to church where we played quite nice
We had to be as quiet as 2 little mice

Then we were off to Mimi JoAnn's, where I met a new friend
Kalee Jo said if we did not share it would be the end
For Santa would not come to see us,
And we would surely fuss

Another stop was to be made for dinner
Everyone knew that pasta would be a winner
Thank goodness for Aunt Angie and Uncle Andy for letting us in
For having McDonald's on Christmas Eve would have been a sin

As the night wore on I was tired as could be
For it was a busy day for little ole me

When I awoke from my sleep, Christmas Day was finally here
Now it was time to spread the Christmas cheer

Aunt Christilynn, leads us in song

So we know that it wont be long

The Garrity Caroling Tradition is here
For my singing debut was finally near

When the singing is all done

It is time for some real fun

The chaos came when the presents were passed out
For those who handed them out had to shout

When the presents were finished some love I had to show

To Uncle Johnny in case you didn't know

Uncle Dave was next, as he gave me some fudge
That dipped in shrimp dip tasted quite well so I did not budge

Little did I know this would keep me up all night
Which was not a pretty sight

Christmas Season from Charleston to NOLA

The Christmas season was especially busy in the south this year. It started out with Santa Claus coming to visit me early in Charleston since I went to New Orleans for Christmas this year. He brought me a kitchen set which has been alot of fun to play with my favorite part is playing with the spoon from my tea set and a pan. Since Santa did not eat all of the cookies I left for him, I decided it would be best if I finished them off. What a sugar rush so early in the morning. I only got to play with my kitchen for one day because we had to go to New Orleans to see the Garrity side of the family. Momma really enjoyed this trip because she got to take me to Story Book Land where her Momma took her when she was my age. As with everything we do in New Orleans we always take an entourage otherwise it just would not be as fun. Here is me an my Nanny Hanna with the elf.

I am not too sure about this Alice in Wonderland girl. I got to watch her movie in the car one day and it was weird. This just confirms my suspicions.I got to ride the carousel that just opened back up after Hurricane Katrina. It was so much fun. I was getting really tired of waiting to get our turn but when I finally got to get on one of the horses it made the wait worth it. It was almost as fun as playing Giddy Up Horsey with Grandma.

Aunt Sandra and Kalee Jo took us to see the biggest gingerbread house ever. It was bigger than Daddy. There was also a queen chair, Kalee Jo wanted me to share the throne with her but I thought it would be best if we each took turns.On Christmas Eve, Momma decided that we should start a new tradition for each time we are in NOLA for Christmas by going to Cafe Du Monde and Jackson Square to take in some holiday jazz.

Bakin' Cookies

Oh, what a glorious day when you get to bake cookies. Momma told me I would get to be her little helper while we mixed the batter. While she measure out all of the ingredients I made music on the mixer. As she was still getting the ingredients I told Daddy to take more pictures so we could have my first baking experience documented incase I become a famous chef someday. Momma was still getting the ingredients ready, I was getting tired of waiting so I helped myself to some pecans. Momma finally mixed all the ingredients together and she let me help roll the Cocoons, those are the cookies we made. While she was getting me the next ball of dough to roll I decided to have a taste. I even made sure to share with Momma.
Now every night I eat all of my dinner I get my very own Cocoon that I made. And boy are they delicous.

Cars and Climbing

I learned a new trick or two this past weekend. I had already mastered standing on the seat of my car but now I can stand and balance on the steering wheel. I was minding my own business making music with our glass Christmas tree dish when Momma noticed what I was doing. She must have not been too worried because she told Daddy to take a picture.

My other trick is not really a trick it is called working the system. My Momma was working on the computer one day and she let me play on the calculator. So now whenever she sits at the computer I give her leg love and make sure she looks right into my eyes so she knows that I want to work on the calculator. It worked the first couple of times but this time it didn't work one little bit. Wouldn't you fall for these beautiful blue eyes?

Christmas Time is Here

When we got back from Colorado we set up our CHRISTMAS TREE. I put on Daddy's night cap from when he was a little boy while he was setting up the tree. This helped keep everyone in the Christmas spirit. When Daddy was finished putting up the tree he turned on the lights and it was so pretty. As I was decorating the tree Santa and Mrs. Claus were having trouble listening to me so I put them up against the 'wall'. Daddy had to do most of the work on the Christmas tree because Momma was too dangerous by it with her crutches so when he was all finished I gave him a great big hug.