Indoctrination of the Grandparents

It's been a few weeks, but we had a lovely visit with Derek's parents, though we wish it could have been longer. Ava warmed up quite nicely to Zsa Zsa & Sasha's mommy and daddy (their poodles, who did not come to Texas, but who hold a spot in Ava's heart). And apparently Grandma also has a spot in Ava's heart, as Ava actually willingly sat still for 20 minutes while Grandma put her hair in her first French braids. Very cute.

While they were here, we checked out the State Capitol. It's really beautiful, with all of these fabulous details. See the door hinges and knobs, the chandelier that spells TEXAS in lights, and the Lone Star chair:




This is the rotunda area beneath the cupola, where the portraits of all the former governors are hung.

Did you know that Texas had a female governor from 1925-1927, then the same woman again in 1933-1935? Her name was Miriam Ferguson, and she was the 2nd female governor in the U.S., following the first one sworn in just weeks earlier in Wyoming. Ferguson's husband had been Texas governor 10 years earlier, but was impeached and removed from office after a scandal related to state funding for the University of Texas. So what do you do if you get kicked out of one office? You run for President! Which is what he did (unsuccessfully, obviously).

And this is the Senate Chamber, with these cool hand-lettered signs showing all the state senators and the children or grandchildren born to them during their terms:

Come back and visit, Grandma and Grandpa. We miss you!