New Orleans

Main Entry: tour·ist
Pronunciation: \ˈtu̇r-ist\
Function: noun
Date: 1780
1 : one that makes a tour for pleasure or culture

This definition describes the last four days for Brax and me. We got to have a weekend away and it was marvelous! I know being "touristy" isn't really the cool thing, but I had never been to New Orleans and Brax hadn't been since he was 12 years old. We did all the touristy things and again, it was marvelous!

The trip was originally going to be a surprise to celebrate Brax's upcoming BIG birthday, but then I remembered how much he really doesn't love surprises. So after I had the hotel booked, and had figured out with his boss which days he could be off I told him. And he was really excited! It was great to have a break from taking care of our kids (thanks PaPa, MiMi and Aunt Katey!!!), and to have almost four whole days of just spending time together on no schedule.

We took our camera but didn't use it much. The only bummer was the parking was a pain. And our camera is so big, if we took it with us it was a LONG way back to the car to put it back when we were finished with it. So most of these were taken with my phone.

The center picture is us on Bourbon Street. Then clockwise from the left: Some lanterns on Canal Street, in the Piano Bar at Pat O'Brien's, Cafe Du Monde, one of the pianists at Pat O'Briens, an above ground cemetary on Canal Street, the Canal Street streetcar, on the streetcar, the New Orleans syline as we were coming into town, and Mother's Restaurant-home of the BEST POBOY EVER!!! (if you click on the picture it will get bigger)

 

Whirlwind Visit

My parents stopped in at the beginning of last week for a whirlwind visit. Mom was here for a total of 47 hours, and Dad was here for 12. :) They were on their way from places to places and we were "on the way." We'll take what we can get!

Mom and Thomas trying out Thomas's new magnetic bug puzzle!

 

 

Mae helping Pops play the Wii.

 

 

(Gram and Pops Themed) Funnies

Thomas: When Gram comes is she going to use our soap?
Kim: Yes, probably.
Thomas: Where will she and Pops take a bath?
Kim (changing Mae's diaper and not paying attention): I don't know.
Thomas: Well, I don't think Gram, Pops, Mae and I will all fit in the bathtub.

Thomas, looking at some bluffs: Do you think someone could climb those?
Kim: Probably.
Thomas: Pops could. He's really strong and big!

St. Patrick's Day

I didn't do green pancakes this year, but Thomas did get to start the day with green milk!

 

A picture of the green before the parade.

 

Watching the parade.

 

When Daddy got home from work.

 

An Irish Spring

This is my third season to sing with the Huntsville Community Chorus. I've loved it! It is hard work! We go to our rehearsals and REHEARSE for 2 1/2 hours on Monday nights! It's been a great creative outlet for me.

We just had our spring concert last weekend and Thomas went for the first time. I thought it would be a good one for him to to go to since we were also having an Irish Band-Slip Jig, and the Huntsville Irish Dancers! He did really well for being an almost four-year-old wiggly boy!!!

 

 

MUD!!!

 

It may be cliche, but boys sure do love mud! We had a puddle right outside our front door yesterday afternoon and Thomas went to town. He often feels like he needs someone to play with him outside, but yesterday he spend a good hour with just himself and the mud! I love days when he can just get dirty and run around. Something about that feels so fresh! (He loves it too!)

Saturday in Birmingham

A few weeks ago Brax went to help his dad and sister work on her house, and so the kids and I tagged along. We got to see the progress on Aunt Katey's house and then had a great day with friends that we just don't get to see often enough.

We spent the morning at the McWane center with Areta. Thomas had a BLAST! They had brought in some huge cranes for the day and he got to climb on a few. And he is just getting to the age where the McWane center was FULL of fun things for him to really enjoy. I couldn't have done it without Areta. She pretty much stayed with Thomas while I followed behind with Mae (feeding her goldfish so she'd be happy for so long in the stroller). She also brought her camera in, which I did not do.

 

After lunch we went over to the Kings so Mae could take a nap and I could visit! Clay found some boots and Parker was kind enough to hang out with Thomas while he played in the creek. Somehow he ended up swimming in the creek (and lost a boot-hope ya'll found it!) and had to take a bath. I got some great visiting time with Tracy and Marly after they got back from Marly's LOOOOOOONG visit to the salon!

 

Both kids were exhausted and took a few days to recover from the fun day! Too bad we don't live closer to such great friends!

Matchy Matchy

One of the perks of being in this family is that I am provided with as much University of Alabama gear as I could ever need! After winning the National Championship Game of course we needed some new things to wear that actually said "National Champions"! Well, apparently PaPa and I have very similar taste because we both picked out this awesome fleece! It is so soft, and it's lighter than a normal fleece. I love it, and I know PaPa loves his because I've seen him wear it on several occasions! He and I hardly ever get a picture together, so it was a perfect opportunity!

 

15 months

 

 

Well, we're still here in blogworld! Turns out keeping up with an almost four-year-old and a 15-month-old takes a lot of time and energy!

I took Mae for her 15 month check up last week and everything looks good. She weighs 22 pounds which is 47th percentile and is 32 inches tall which is 87th percentile. Still long and lean (although maybe not quite as lean as Thomas!). She is saying lots of words: ball, bow, daddy, bye, hi, water, uh oh, wow, cookie, no, cracker, thank you, please. Every once in a great while she'll say "mama", but she has yet to say it to me. Oh well. :) Our doctor informed us that the terrible twos have actually started by this age and I think that's true! Mae is definitely exerting her independence! But also learning things almost every day. This is SUCH a fun developmental stage to watch!

The pictures are of her eating with a spoon the first time by herself. She will NOT let me feed her from a bowl anymore, so we're mostly not doing baby food anymore. Crazy! Her favorite foods are goldfish, blueberries, cheese, strawberries, nutrigrain bars, and potatoes, but she's still a great eater!