Scarlett the Starlet: Happy Birthday, Grandma Shirley!

Scarlett's Grandma turned 60 over Labor Day weekend, so we headed down to New Braunfels to celebrate with her. Scarlett got to hang out with lots of family, including her Great Aunt Brenda and Great Uncle Frank. Scarlett loved the necklaces Brenda wore all weekend (they taste delicious), and Frank told Scarlett lots of secrets about the trouble they're going to get into when she's bigger (I overheard him telling her something about firecrackers; we're in trouble for sure).

Scarlett's Grandma and Grandpa gave her a set of blocks to play with during our visit. They're pretty fun to play with, but they're no match for the tupperware Scarlett snagged from her Grandpa.

The weather in New Braunfels was beautiful, so Scarlett got to spend plenty of time outside (something we haven't been able to do much of this summer because of the heat). Here we are hanging out with Scarlett's Grandma, Aunt Brenda, and Gus while the guys cooked brisket and chicken for the birthday bash. Note Scarlett is mid-sneeze (let's hope she did not inherit her Daddy's cedar allergy).

The birthday party on Saturday evening was great fun. Scarlett got a kick out of watching her cousins play football. I think she was taking notes for her next visit to New Braunfels for Thanksgiving, when she plans to play linebacker.

TOUCHDOWN! (Note that Sophie the giraffe got in on the action.)

Midway through the party an uninvited guest made an unwelcome appearance. Ever wonder how many Schwegmanns it takes to kill a rattlesnake? Here's your answer.

The day after the festivities, Scarlett discovered this birthday balloon and found it fascinating.

"Hello up there, balloon."

"Come down here so I can check you out up close. Hmmmm. Verrrry interesting."

And big surprise ... she tried to eat it.

On Sunday we had a tasty lunch at the Gristmill in Greune and walked around a bit and took in the sights.

On the way back to Dallas on Monday we stopped to check out Scarlett's Uncle Greg's new digs. A member of Austin-based alternative country band Reckless Kelly used to live in Greg's house, and evidently had QUITE the parties there. Among other interesting artifacts is a huge professional bar on the back patio with the Reckless Kelly logo in tile on the top of it. Scarlett felt inspired to pose on the bar in her Greune Hall onesie she picked up the day before.

Scarlett took a peek inside Greg's garage where more amazing relics from the Reckless Kelly era remain. Scarlett's expression says it all ... you have to see it to believe it.