NOLA

We took a road trip this past weekend to New Orleans to visit Blair's Paw Paw. We had a lot on the schedule, and very little time, so we had to hit the ground running on Saturday morning. Our first stop was at the Audubon Zoo. Blair's cousins came into town so they could spend the day together with all the animals. Blair liked her cousins a whole bunch. Good thing they aren't animals because she doesn't have much liking for those!

Saturday evening we had a nice dinner planned in City Park at Ralph's on the Park. We tried to go a little early so we could take some pictures. Other than Felix catching the dinner napkin on fire, we had a great evening! Paw Paw was on CLOUD 9 because Tom Benson (Saint's owner) and his wife were dining just a few tables away from us. Next time you visit New Orleans, I highly recommend this place! It was wonderful!!

Felix wanted to spend Sunday showing Blair some of his favorite places in New Orleans. He loves the street cars that run up and down St. Charles Street. He is also a huge fan of a little Italian bakery called Brocato's that we make a stop at every time we are in town. Blair was a little unsure of the street cars, but she was DEFINITELY sure that she liked the sweet treats at Brocato's!

After a huge long nap on Sunday afternoon, we were off again to meet up with the rest of the Verdigets' family. I was still needing my crawfish fix and Blair needed to spend some time with Gigi Bert. Blair is Gigi Bert's youngest great-grandchild, so it was very important that he get to see her! He lost his beautiful bride on Blair's 1st birthday, and that will be a day we will always remember.

We had a wonderful mini-vacation! The weather is just right in NOLA this time of year and the crawfish are also in season. The city is so clean since Katrina, and the people there have come a long way since then. We are so fortunate to be able to go take advantage of it and spend time with family!

Easter (PG-13)

We had a wild and crazy Easter Weekend. It started off with a bang (and I do mean a bang) on Friday when Miss Clumsy thought she would face plant into the corner of a wall. I think I shed more tears than she did because is was SO scary! Thank God she was on my watch because I would have flipped a script on anyone else that may have been watching her. Of course, I had to document our first real boo-boo.

We also had another "first" on Good Friday. In southern Louisiana, it appears the thing to do on Good Friday is boil crawfish. Mama was cravin' em, and Daddy was feeling a little homesick, so we decided to give it a go. Felix picked up some at a local joint. They sure weren't like Daddy fixes em, but it cured the craving. Blair was digging it too...

Blair woke up Easter morning with a ton of loot from the Easter Bunny. Yes, the Easter Bunny did go overboard. He stopped by a few other houses on the way to pick up some additional treats for Blair. That is the blessing of Blair having SO many grandparents (and that is what I get for having to put up with divorced parents ;)).

So, we had already made an executive decision to not attend church on Easter morning because Blair had been under the weather all week. I was so saddened by this, because I love church service on Easter. But, I realized that Blair didn't need to go to church nursery with her immune system already being attacked. So, we rested on Sunday morning and met some friends for lunch at the Ritz Carlton. NOW, LET ME WARN YOU. THIS IS WHERE THE POST TURNS INTO PG-13. The Ritz had some festivities set up for the kids for Easter lunch. One of which, was a petting zoo. Blair isn't too into animals. I'm not really either, so she gets it honest. However, we did find some of the animals to be acting rather strange. Here is what we saw. IN. DOWNTOWN. BUCKHEAD.

WHAT???? DO WHAT?????

It was like a train wreck. I couldn't stop watching. So, I just decided to start snapping pictures. Don't ask me why. It was just so unbelievable. So anyway, once the train wreck was over, we got back to our normal picture taking routine. Now here's more like it...

Overall, it was a great Easter. The only thing missing was church, which was the most important thing. One of my favorite things to do (yes, I am just like you TT) is to sing those good ole southern baptist hymns. I will leave you with this since it is my favorite...

Because He lives I can face tomorrow

Because He lives all fear is gone

Because I know He holds the future

And life is worth the living just because He lives!