Going to America: Louisiana by Evie

It was pretty crowded at the Houston airport and I didn't want to sit around doing nothing, so I bided my time doing my best David Bowie in the Labyrinth imitation. I definitely think he should have put his crystal ball into his mouth. It's a very satisfying experience.


When we got to Jackson, I finally got to meet my Grandpa! Before this he had only been a talking head on Skype. He's definitely better in person.


My Lala was there, too (she used to be called Gram last time I saw her, but now she's Lala). We all had lunch and I threw my toys on the floor and then just got on the floor myself. Floors are my specialty.


We drove for a long time and finally we were in Tallulah. My Great-grandmother Virginia was waiting for me to arrive and I was excited to meet her, too. I rolled around on her bed and floor for a long time.


Before my parents moved to England, they had a dog and some other cats. The dog's name is Buster and he can't see or hear anymore, but when he smelled my Dad he got really excited. But mostly he loves my Lala.


Dogs are kind of a new experience for me. I met a lot of them when we were in Tallulah and I like them! My mom is definitely going to use my love of dogs to persuade my Dad to let us get one again some day. Here I am giving Buster a pet. He mostly liked me but was a little jealous when everyone was paying attention to me instead of him. He would get his toys out and throw them around in the middle of everything to divert the attention from me.


I didn't get to meet my Uncle Will, but he left me a pretty awesome keyboard, which I enjoyed playing the week I was in Tallulah. This is the publicity shot for my upcoming concert:


And this is the shot that corresponds with my hip hop track (which uses the handy dandy hip hop beats on the keyboard Uncle Will gave me. Word, Uncle Will.)


Lala and Grandpa have a pool, too. And some big dogs in the back yard. Contrary to how it looks, they were licking and not eating me.



Little did I know that the next day I was going to meet MORE RELATIVES! What a reception! First came Uncle Andy and he brought MORE DOGS!

Then I wowed my Super Shug and my Super Cousin Jimmy with my amazing egg box trick.


By the time my sexy Aunt Kate got to me, I was a little overwhelmed by all the attention. She, too was overwhelmed by the attention she got from truck drivers on her drive over from Atlanta. It's hard being beautiful like us.


Fortunately, we made up and went for a nature walk. Here we are enjoying our appetizers--cracker and leaf.


Dinner that night was festive. I missed all the festivities, though, because I had to go to bed. Jimmy rocked the bread in my absence.



During the next day, I decided to spend the morning at the pool in the nude. I swam and then I enjoyed a large piece of watermelon and a beer while engaging in a very exciting and interesting conversation with my Dad.


I was forced to be in some pretty ridiculous pictures. Apparently this is some kind of family tradition...


Obviously, the best part of the day was when Aunt Kate gave me my bottle. My Aunts sure to know how to make me happy!


Believe it or not, MORE RELATIVES came the next day. Here I am with my Great Aunt Sue. She and George drove up from New Orleans to meet me. Although I don't look happy, I really was only just hungry. After I had some supper, I was back to my cheery self.


Suzanne and Mike came, too, and showed us pictures from trips to Thailand and to North Carolina.


Grandpa made ribs. My mom doesn't eat ribs, but my Dad loves them with a carnivorous passion. SO probably when I'm old enough to eat them, I will like them, too. Only time and teeth will tell.


Sadly, my Super Shug had to leave after all the festivities. We raised the roof before she did.


A post-departure of Shug swim with Aunt Kate and Uncle Andy:


At this point, the whole 'I'm being licked by dogs' thing was getting a little old. Moose, though, was definitely the most sincere licker. I felt that he truly loved me and would have protected me from whatever threats might have come my way.


I was very excited to go with my Lala out to the garden, where she bravely picked tomatoes and a big cucumber, which she let me hold!



Don't ask:



Saying goodbye to Jimmy and hello to Earlene.


And, my very first crawl with Leslie in the Attic Gallery! Then I threw up on the $600 rug. Whoops!


It was non-stop action! I posed for a picture with Virginia before heading out for a coffee party in my honor. I love VIrginia!


I really turned on the charm at the coffee party!


Then I insisted that my parents and Aunt Kate take me to New Orleans. Unfortunately, they made me go to bed when we got there, but they went out with Meg and whooped it up somewhat. In the world of my parents, staying out until midnight is whooping it up.


I only hope that someone will someday convince me to take a picture as cool as this one of my Dad and Aunt Kate.


In New Orleans I finally got to meet Elly! I also met Vader and Yoda, who were the most enthusiastic lickers of all the dogs who licked me.



Other important things were being accomplished, too. My first visit to Johnny's po-boys, for instance:




Don't get between Aunt Kate and the fries.


It was a fun, but brief trip to NOLA with the extended but scenic version of the drive home at the end. Then it was back to Houston for a couple of more days before we headed back to London. One last meal with Aunt Mendy!


I love my family!

Going to America: Texas by Evie

Even though I was born in England and have only lived in England, my parents have always told me that I'm American (and shown me this book that has a very embarrassing picture of me when I was very tiny, looking not so happy about it all). They have also always told me about all these people who love me in America--naturally--so finally after all the talk we went!

My parents were smart for once and didn't book an early flight, so we were all rested and happy when we got to the airport. I assumed my favorite position: 2 headed monster mode.


Finger puppets only go so far when it comes to entertaining me...


so my dad let me watch a video and also spent a lot of time walking around with me. I was pretty good, but I waited to poop until we took off and my parents couldn't get up, so Daddy had to sit with me in his lap for about 20 minutes when I was at my smelliest. Muhahhahhahhah.


When we got to Texas, Nana and Papa were there! I stayed in a good mood and when we got to their house they gave me lots of fun new toys and played with me. I was in a toy frenzy for a little while.


We also went swimming. When we swim in London we either have to swim inside or we swim outside in a heated pool and then freeze when we get out of the water. In Texas the water is warm AND the air is warm. I was a happy swimmer!


More about swimming later, though. First I have to tell you about Jet lag! Even though I went to bed at my usual time (in Texas) I decided that waking up at the usual time was out of the question. So I woke up at 3:45 for a few days. Lucky for me, my Nana is usually up that early, too, so I had lots of people to hang out with. My parents were glad, though, when I got back to sleeping in.

On my second day in Texas, my Aunt Mendy and my cousin Jenna came over to see me. I was taking a really long nap when they got there and Jenna was really patient about waiting for me to wake up. Finally we met! I think she is very cute! By the way, the hairy leg in this picture belongs to my Dad and not to my Aunt Mendy.


Aunt Mendy knows that the way to my heart is through my bottle. Jenna knows it's very important stroke my head. Together they made me feel very welcome!


I never knew my Dad could do this:


And I am going to try to be just like Jenna when I can swim and learn to fly:


Even at the pool, Aunt Mendy and Jenna kept me very happy! My parents weren't doing anything. They can be so lazy sometimes.


Another exciting moment was when I met my new friend Ella and her parents Kristian and Jaime. It turns out that Ella is going to have a little sister, so she practiced on me. I told her little sister that it was going to be alright when she gets out of the warm and dark place. I remember how overwhelming that whole experience was.


Our Dads compared double chins and had some beers for old times sake.


We girls were more refined.


Ella also gave me my favorite toy of all time--the eggs. Here I am posing with my glamorous Aunt Mendy and the eggs. In time, I will post a video of myself 'scrambling the eggs,' which is now a daily pastime.


It turns out I have ANOTHER cousin--Olivia! She is tall and beautiful and she came over and exercised with my parents. She's a lot younger than they are, so they had to try really hard to look good next to her (clearly they failed).


Liza came to visit! Mom and she were so busy taking silly pictures of themselves that they almost forgot to take some of me with Liza.


I'm not one to stand by idly and not be photographed, though:


My Nana knows that I'm a growing girl and need to eat A LOT. Plus she snuck me my first cookie AND let me eat ice cream. I am so lucky!


Papa and I had some heart to hearts about his technique for scrambling eggs (my eggs, that is). I tasted some of his real scrambled eggs and was not a fan. I'm sure I'll like them later in life, so don't be discouraged Papa!


Mom kept talking about something called Tex Mex and finally we went to eat some! Fortunately, my parents forgot to bring my food, so I got to eat my first refried beans!


My pretty cousins Olivia and Jenna:




And all the beautiful Avant women...of which I am one! (my mom is an impostor, but they still let her in the picture):


I love Texas and my wonderful Texas family. I was lucky that I got to go back at the end of the trip and see everyone again! Stay tuned...