You're getting two updates for the price of one this week! The past couple of weeks have been busy for Mom, Dad and me so the blog got neglected. However, the calls, emails and not so subtle text messages from my loyal readers have reminded everyone that updates need to be weekly. (Seriously, I get it.)
Okay, so last week I was in Austin, TX for a family wedding. The Altons and the Houstons go back a long way and Grandma, Papa, Mom and Dad really get excited when they know they can spend time with that clan. I fondly remember hanging with Bob and Carol when they were in Des Moines last year but haven't met the rest of the family. Well, I can cross that off my bucket list after this trip.
Dad was in Atlanta so Mom, Grandma Maggy and I flew by ourselves. Austin is one of Grandman Maggy's favorite places so she was excited to go with us. Mom had been there before and gave the city her blessing so I guess you could call me the Austin "newbie".
Des Moines International Airport. United Airlines, I hope you're ready for us!
Nothing like chilling out at 30,000 ft. I really like flying!
Denver. My first time in the "Mile High City". The airport is nice (Dad spends a lot of time there) but it lacks a focal point of interest. Thankfully Grandma Maggy and Mom let me spend as much time as I wanted on the escalators and the mobile walkways. Fun!
Darn it, Dad! Seriously, take a picture that's in focus, please! Hello Austin!
Given the number of people we had coming in and the location Mom went to VRBO and we rented a house for our trip. Very nice. Thursday evening, after everyone arrived Uncle Matt and Aunt Emily came over with their favorite local pizza. (I think Uncle Matt and Dad wanted to hurry up and meet John Fruehe at a local "
watering hole" but I made everyone sit and eat for awhile.)
Friday morning was the best morning ever! It was garbage day in Austin! AWESOME!
So, after garbage day Grandma Maggy and Aunt Emily headed off to a massage and Mom, Dad and I headed back to the airport to fetch the Houstons. Welcome to Austin, y'all!
After early mornings and long flights everyone was ready for food so we loaded up the minivan (It was a rental. Mom and Dad swear that they will NEVER own one.) and headed off for some
food.
(Yeah, food!)
Uncle Eric and I liked the view. Water. Boats. Big, fake fish.
A Houston family tradition ... Bananagrams! (I'm not the strongest player, but I am working on my spelling and vocabulary so someday I'll take ya, Uncle Eric!)
After naps and getting cleaned up everyone headed off to the rehearsal dinner. We all came down for the wedding of Lindy and Ian and I was anxious to meet people, catch up with Bob and chill out Austin style!
Here I am with Papa, Mom and Nicole (Alton) Moore from Boston!
After introductions I went off to explore. Turns out they have dirt and sticks in Texas, too!
Live music! I was in Heaven. The Altons are pretty talented folks. A guitar. A bass. Vocals. I had a lot of fun listening.
As it turned out, Mom and Uncle Eric got into an animated discussion about issues of the day later on in the night. I just focused on my drink and went to my happy place.
Saturday was shopping day. South Congress is an Austin institution and I made my first trip to Allen's Boots! Dad got our boots there in February and Papa found a pair of pants this trip. I really liked all the designs and stuff to touch.
After some sightseeing and shopping everyone was hungry so we headed off to Shady Grove for burgers and queso. Yum! (Oh, and I got to play with my unilowler.)
Back to the house to clean up then off everyone went to Dad's aunt and uncle's house for a party. Great-Uncle Ken and Great-Aunt Penny were really gracious and hosted everyone...Pierces, Houstons and Millers. I ended up sleeping through the whole thing but word on the street was that everyone had a wonderful time.
When I finally woke up I got to play with some awesome toys that have been around for a lot of years and were played with by a lot of little boys. There aren't pictures but trust me when I say that all the boys (Ken, Mark, John, Uncle Matt) played with me on the floor and everyone had fun.
Grandma Maggy and I spent the night while Mom, Dad, Papa, Grandma Kathy and Uncle Eric headed off to the main event ... the Alton/Dille wedding!
It was at a ranch outside of town and, by all accounts, was a good ole blast of an affair.
Here is the crew enjoying themselves. (I can't believe they would without me there, but apparently they did.)
My friend Bob and his daughter and bride Lindy ... what a wonderful photo.
Okay. Sunday. Mom and Dad picked me up then rushed back to the house to pack everyone up and get to Stubb's Gospel Brunch on time.
Lots of bags and not much room in the minivan!
We finally arrived and met with rest of the crew. I tell ya, Stubb's Gospel Brunch is awesome. Great music. Awesome food. The whole family. Yeah!
I didn't want to put my fork down because the BBQ was so good, but trust me ... I was having fun!
The gang's all here! (Okay, Uncle Chris and Katie are in China and Zoe had her baccalaureate service so Mark, Lisa, Zoe and Xena couldn't come but you get the point.)
A trip to the airport to drop off Papa and Grandma Kathy then a drop-off at Uncle Matt's came next. Mom and Uncle Eric went to the LBJ library while Dad and Uncle Matt tried to convince me to take a nap.
Let's start with meeting the dogs. Hi! (No sleep.)
Movies on the iPad? Yep! (Still no sleep.)
Adding a blanket to the couch/dog mix? Cool. (No sleep.)
Working out in the gym. Fun! (Not sleepy.)
Playing on the floor with Aunt Emily. A nice way to spend the afternoon. (I'm so wide awake!)
More couch cuddling. (Still ... no sleep.)
Okay. Let's give up on this sleep "thing". Uncle Matt, let's just feed the dogs. They look hungry.
So, I guess that was it. Mom and Dad stopped taking pictures at this point. (Not sure why.) I did go to bed early on Sunday then Monday was a travel day. All-in-all Austin rocked! I will be back. It was good to have the entire family there. It was good to explore. It was good to spend time with people I never get to see.
Love to y'all ...
Pierce
That afternoon I was supposed to root Grant Fletcher's soccer team to a victory but Mother Nature put a stop to that. Instead of going to the game Mom and I joined the Fletchers at McDonald's. Mom said we were the most active group in the whole restaurant.
Friday after school Mom and I drove to Papa and Grandma Kathy's. Grandma was in Wisconsin for a couple of days so it ended up being Papa, Mom and me. Since it was Memorial Day weekend I helped pick some flowers to take to the cemetary.
While at one of the cemetaries, Papa gave Mom history lesson (I fell asleep in the car but they filled me in later). August Schubert was my great-great-great grandfather. He fought in the Civil War!
Later that day we went to Alyssa Houston's graduation party. It was good to see people there I knew. Congrats Alyssa!
On to Sunday. I showed Papa my iPad apps and we both had fun with Classical Guitar. (Papa's pretty good!)
Digger working? Yep!
One new thing this visit was Papa and Grandma Kathy's mower. It's much cooler than their old one and I liked my ride.
... before I talked Joel into giving Papa and me a ride on his tractor! Ha! Success!
It seems like work is never done. After the party I wanted to finish my part of the yard so mowed for a few minute before bed.
On Monday, Papa and Mom installed my new car seat into Papa's truck and managed to get it done without arguing! The instructions helped some, but they both had to use a lot of their brains to make sure I had a safe ride.
After their hard work I didn't have the heart to tell them that I really preferred to drive. 
One final bit of fun before heading home ... polka dancing and air guitar with Grandma Kathy! 
