We made it to Lee, New Hampshire last night around 9:30. The weather is nice and cool!! My Aunt and Uncle and cousins left this morning for a hiking trip up north New Hampshire....we are staying behind so we can get settled...need to do some laundry, unpack, go to the grocery store and just learn our surroundings. :)
My Aunt has gotten out a bunch of toys that she saved from Taylor (my 13 year old cousin). Aidan has his own toddler bed, a big box of hotwheels with a race track, train track, diablo blocks, a castle with horses and knights, tons of books, farm animals to play with....he is in heaven!! We just woke up and we are about to take a walk with their dog, Ella. She's a black lab and very friendly.
Will post our Niagara Falls pics in a bit...just wanted everyone to know we made it safely. Thanks for thinking of us. WE MISS YOU ALL SO MUCH!!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
O' Canada!
Hello again! Well, we woke up around 8:30 this morning and began our busy day. First we ate a breakfast consisting of fresh waffles and juices and then we headed off to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. On the way to the car from the hotel Aidan wanted to skateboard on the luggage cart (see picture below).
On the way to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame we saw all of the professional sports venues in Cleveland (baseball - Cleveland Indians; basketball - Cleveland Cavaliers; football - Cleveland Browns). Here are some pictures of the stadiums: 
Aidan and Andrea inside the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was a real blast! Afterwards we were off to Niagara Falls, NY and on the way out of Cleveland we stopped by Q Arena to get Aidan a Lebron James jersey. Aidan wanted to wear it in the car as soon as we got it!
Aidan and Andrea at Tony Roma's.
Aidan got some ice cream with his kids meal.
We got to write our name on the wall of Tony Roma's. 
Andrea and Aidan at Clifton Hill in Ontario, Canada.
Aidan winning putt-putt. Actually Andrea won!
The putt-putt course was pretty psychedelic with neon paint and black lights. Aidan really though it was cool!
The lights on the American falls through the mist. 
I know ... I wish I was riding that cart too! Oh to be young again!
On the way to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame we saw all of the professional sports venues in Cleveland (baseball - Cleveland Indians; basketball - Cleveland Cavaliers; football - Cleveland Browns). Here are some pictures of the stadiums:
Progressive Field - Home of the Cleveland Indians
Quicken (Q) Arena - Home of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Just a cool picture of Lebron James that was on the side of a building in downtown Cleveland.
Cleveland Browns Stadium
Right next to the football stadium is an IMAX theatre and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. All located right on the shores of Lake Erie. When we parked the car and started walking to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Aidan was more interested in the "sea gulls" flying near the harbor located behind the stadium and theatre. The building was really awesome to look at and a high school symphony was there playing rock and roll songs on their instruments outside the Hall. The highlight for Aidan was playing XBox. Cameras were not allowed inside the exhibits so out pictures are limited, but here are some pics of our visit:
Aidan and Andrea outside the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Aidan and Andrea inside the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.Aidan working on his Rock moves!
Andrea and Aidan looking at the North Harbor outside the Rock and Roll Hall of fame.
Aidan and I looking at North Harbor on Lake Erie with downtown Cleveland behind us.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was a real blast! Afterwards we were off to Niagara Falls, NY and on the way out of Cleveland we stopped by Q Arena to get Aidan a Lebron James jersey. Aidan wanted to wear it in the car as soon as we got it!
On the way to Niagara Falls we passed through New York's wine country. Andrea and I never had any idea there were so many grapes being grown in NY. We had hoped to make it to Niagara Falls in time to ride the Maid of the Mist, but we hit some traffic in Buffalo and had spent a few hours at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame so we didn't get to ride it today. But we managed to get into Canada even though we forgot our passports and birth certificates (passports are required as of June 1, 2009, if you are planning a trip).
We stayed in a the Sheritan Hotel Fallsview on the 19th floor and our room overlooked the Canadian side of the falls and we could also see the US falls. We ate at Tony Roma's and had some ribs ... YUMMY! Aidan wanted to go to "incredible land" (it is actually called Clifton Hill and is a really cool place with lots of nightlife and things to do). He really liked Clifton Hill and he played his first round of miniature golf (a.k.a. putt-putt golf). He can get a hole in one at will, unfortunately to get it he runs across the course and places his ball in the cup. He was too cute! At night the American falls are lit with colored lights and it is really beautiful to see the colors bouncing through the mist of the falls.
Here are some pictures of us in Canada:
Aidan and Andrea at Tony Roma's.
Aidan got some ice cream with his kids meal. 
We got to write our name on the wall of Tony Roma's. Aidan giving the thumbs up after buckling up during his first cab ride!
Andrea and Aidan at Clifton Hill in Ontario, Canada. 
Aidan winning putt-putt. Actually Andrea won!
The putt-putt course was pretty psychedelic with neon paint and black lights. Aidan really though it was cool!
The lights on the American falls through the mist.
After a long day of playing and seeing the sights Aidan was really tired!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
We made it to Cleveland!
Aidan, Allan and Gigi.
All of the kids at the Elkin's home.
The Gateway Arch lit up at night. 
A face only a mother could love! And everyone else too! 
Braxdale boys at the game!
Aidan cheering for the Cardinals with his new foam finger! 
Dragging the field in between innings. Or if you are Aidan, "Where's the dragon?" 
Aidan and his papaw munchin on some cotton candy as Andrea cheers for her Cubs!
The view from our seats! Very nice!
The new Cardinals stadium.
The boys in front of the Gateway Arch.
The Family in front of the Gateway Arch! 
Aidan in the museum underneath the Gateway Arch.
The Family at the base of the Gateway Arch.
Hello all, it is Allan blogging this time. Andrea is sleeping after our long day but wanted to update our blog so I am helping out. Well, it was longest and yet shortest 8 hour road trip we have ever been on. Luckily Aidan is so funny! We drove from St. Louis, Missouri to Cleveland, Ohio. Along the way we stopped to see Andrea’s friend April Porter and her son Sammy. They live in Columbia, Illinois just outside of St. Louis. Aidan had a great time playing with Sammy’s toys and Andrea enjoyed catching up with her April.
After that we took off for Cleveland while seeing some cool sites along the way. We saw Lucas Oil Stadium (home of the Colts) as we drove through Indianapolis. During our trip through Ohio we passed through Columbus and decided to stop and eat. We went to a Panera Bread Co. and it was closed. We really wanted something fresh for dinner so Andrea looked up the next closet Panera and we decided to call and see if it was open. It was and so we started off. When we arrived we realized we were at Ohio State University’s equivalent of the UT’s Drag on Guadalupe and so we ate dinner amongst a bunch of “Luck-eye’s”. We also got to see the stadium where Ohio State plays football.
So far we have all had a blast and Aidan keeps Andrea and I entertained. Today we compiled a list of Aidan’s top ten questions/statements since we left San Antonio. Here is what we came up with:
1. “Can I drive?”
2. “what are you doing?”
3. “How did we get here?”
4. “Where are we going?”
5. Every time we stop: “I have never seen New Hampshire.”
6. During the first inning of the Cardinals game: “It’s over … we got to get out of here!”
7. “We are off to see the world!” Aidan does not say this one, but we have heard it on his Alvin and the Chipmunks movie about one thousand times, and when the movie is not on he wants to listen to the CD that came with the movie … AHHHHHHHHHHH!
8. Every time we pass some trees (even while walking to the Gateway Arch which is in downtown St. Louis): “Daddy, look at these woods!”
9. “I feel sick, I need to eat something … can I have a granola bar?”
10. “I don’t want to go to a hotel, I want to go home.” Don’t let this statement fool you though; Aidan has really been having fun on this trip.
We plan on going to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the morning and then taking off to Buffalo, New York to stay the night and got to Niagra Falls. We have never been there and looking forward to seeing the falls. Hopefully they will let us cross even though we did not bring Aidan’s birth certificate! Wish us luck! We hope everyone is having a great week! Here are some photos we uploaded from the past couple of days!
After that we took off for Cleveland while seeing some cool sites along the way. We saw Lucas Oil Stadium (home of the Colts) as we drove through Indianapolis. During our trip through Ohio we passed through Columbus and decided to stop and eat. We went to a Panera Bread Co. and it was closed. We really wanted something fresh for dinner so Andrea looked up the next closet Panera and we decided to call and see if it was open. It was and so we started off. When we arrived we realized we were at Ohio State University’s equivalent of the UT’s Drag on Guadalupe and so we ate dinner amongst a bunch of “Luck-eye’s”. We also got to see the stadium where Ohio State plays football.
So far we have all had a blast and Aidan keeps Andrea and I entertained. Today we compiled a list of Aidan’s top ten questions/statements since we left San Antonio. Here is what we came up with:
1. “Can I drive?”
2. “what are you doing?”
3. “How did we get here?”
4. “Where are we going?”
5. Every time we stop: “I have never seen New Hampshire.”
6. During the first inning of the Cardinals game: “It’s over … we got to get out of here!”
7. “We are off to see the world!” Aidan does not say this one, but we have heard it on his Alvin and the Chipmunks movie about one thousand times, and when the movie is not on he wants to listen to the CD that came with the movie … AHHHHHHHHHHH!
8. Every time we pass some trees (even while walking to the Gateway Arch which is in downtown St. Louis): “Daddy, look at these woods!”
9. “I feel sick, I need to eat something … can I have a granola bar?”
10. “I don’t want to go to a hotel, I want to go home.” Don’t let this statement fool you though; Aidan has really been having fun on this trip.
We plan on going to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the morning and then taking off to Buffalo, New York to stay the night and got to Niagra Falls. We have never been there and looking forward to seeing the falls. Hopefully they will let us cross even though we did not bring Aidan’s birth certificate! Wish us luck! We hope everyone is having a great week! Here are some photos we uploaded from the past couple of days!
St. Louis!!!
We left the Eklins house yesterday morning around 9 a.m. Thanks Katie for everything!! It was so good to see Katie, Julie and Lyndsy and the kiddos and the hubby's! Katie had everyone over for dinner (a delicious meal!!) and we all hung out....so much fun because I don't get to see them often and miss them dearly!!
We arrived in St. Louis yesterday around 3 p.m. Papa, (Allan's dad) met us at the hotel and we headed downtown to the Arch. When we got there the tours to the top were all sold out.....I was kinda glad because I started getting real nervous about going up there....forgot how tall the Arch was. HA! So we walked around the museum for a while and Aidan really enjoyed seeing all the stuffed bears and wildlife and the old guns used back in the day....imagine that. lol After that we walked through the park and were on our way to dinner when we all decided that it would be fun to just eat at the ball park.....so we had hot dogs, nachos, french fries, cotton candy, ice cream, beer (not Aidan and I)......needless to say I think we all were feeling a little full!! Papa had gotten us great seats......Aidan even made it to the 8th inning!! We were all schocked....Papa's bet was teh 3rd inning, I said the 5th inning, and Allan said the 4th inning....he proved us all wrong!! He was a trooper!! Oh, and the Cardinals beat the Cubs last night.....I was sad, but that's okay, we still had tons of fun!!
Thanks Billy for everything yesterday....we had a fabulous time!!
I will be uploading our pics on our road trip today and post them tonight. We are headed to Cleavland, Ohio.....it will be a long journey today.
First we are making a stop in Columbia, IL to visit my old friend April....I'm soooo excited, I haven't see her in 9 years!
Bon Voyage!! Love ya'll!!
We arrived in St. Louis yesterday around 3 p.m. Papa, (Allan's dad) met us at the hotel and we headed downtown to the Arch. When we got there the tours to the top were all sold out.....I was kinda glad because I started getting real nervous about going up there....forgot how tall the Arch was. HA! So we walked around the museum for a while and Aidan really enjoyed seeing all the stuffed bears and wildlife and the old guns used back in the day....imagine that. lol After that we walked through the park and were on our way to dinner when we all decided that it would be fun to just eat at the ball park.....so we had hot dogs, nachos, french fries, cotton candy, ice cream, beer (not Aidan and I)......needless to say I think we all were feeling a little full!! Papa had gotten us great seats......Aidan even made it to the 8th inning!! We were all schocked....Papa's bet was teh 3rd inning, I said the 5th inning, and Allan said the 4th inning....he proved us all wrong!! He was a trooper!! Oh, and the Cardinals beat the Cubs last night.....I was sad, but that's okay, we still had tons of fun!!
Thanks Billy for everything yesterday....we had a fabulous time!!
I will be uploading our pics on our road trip today and post them tonight. We are headed to Cleavland, Ohio.....it will be a long journey today.
First we are making a stop in Columbia, IL to visit my old friend April....I'm soooo excited, I haven't see her in 9 years!
Bon Voyage!! Love ya'll!!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Razorback Land!
We have made it to Fayetteville, Arkansas. Sorry no pics....haven't had time for all that.....tomorrow while we are in St. Louis I'll have to post some.
We went to Trinity, TX last Friday and Saturday and got to hang out with Allan's Mamaw.....Aidan had a blast running around on the golf course finding golf balls and finding a new type of bug, Love Bugs! They are EVERYWHERE in east Texas. Sunday we went to my cousin's graduation party over in Huntsville, TX and had tons of fun with all my mom's side of the family. We then hit the road around 3:30 and drove to Fayetteville, AR arriving here this morning at 1 a.m. "Long Day" as Aidan told us last night at midnight.
Got to meet the girls and their kiddos at lunch today, then Katie and I ran around town running some errands and now we got the kids down for a nap and we are getting dinner ready.....the whole gang is coming over to The Eklins house for a dinner party....I'm so excited to finally meet Baby Drew!!
We are headed to St. Louis in the morning.....going to a Cubs vs. Cardinals game, HOLLA!! So pumped for that.....it's been years since I've seen my cubbies play ball! GO CUBS GO!
We went to Trinity, TX last Friday and Saturday and got to hang out with Allan's Mamaw.....Aidan had a blast running around on the golf course finding golf balls and finding a new type of bug, Love Bugs! They are EVERYWHERE in east Texas. Sunday we went to my cousin's graduation party over in Huntsville, TX and had tons of fun with all my mom's side of the family. We then hit the road around 3:30 and drove to Fayetteville, AR arriving here this morning at 1 a.m. "Long Day" as Aidan told us last night at midnight.
Got to meet the girls and their kiddos at lunch today, then Katie and I ran around town running some errands and now we got the kids down for a nap and we are getting dinner ready.....the whole gang is coming over to The Eklins house for a dinner party....I'm so excited to finally meet Baby Drew!!
We are headed to St. Louis in the morning.....going to a Cubs vs. Cardinals game, HOLLA!! So pumped for that.....it's been years since I've seen my cubbies play ball! GO CUBS GO!
Friday, May 15, 2009
We Are All Packed Up and Headed to New England!
Well, the Braxdale family if off for another adventure in their law school life!
Allan has enrolled in a Summer School Program with Franklin Pierce Law School in Concord, New Hampshire. We are a little nervous about leaving for a month and a half, but also very excited for our little journey we are about to encounter.
I have always wanted to live on the East Coast since I took my first trip out to New Hampshire when I was 10. I love New England! This will be a great experience living in a totally different place than Texas. I will keep you all posted on all our experiences and sights we get to see while we are there.
We are driving so if we show up at your door don't be too surprised! lol We are making some stops on our way up there......1st stop is East Texas to visit Allan's Grandma and to see my cousin Jenna as she graduates from A & M this weekend!! Then off to Arkansas to visit my girls! Not sure what is next, but I'll keep ya'll posted.
Love you all!!
Friday, May 1, 2009
Aidan and his favorite Super Hero!
Aidan went to visit his Nana and Papa a couple weekends ago. He had a fun-filled weekend with them! He got to go meet his all time favorite Super Hero...SPIDERMAN! They took him to Camp Mabry to see some airplanes and helicopters and he even got to ride a horse! He had so much fun and still talks about meeting Spidey!
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