These two

This photo makes me smile every.single.time.

Going Home: Day One

Few places give me a general sense of peace like New Orleans. I'm not saying that the trip wasn't crazy, or that it wasn't hot and sticky, or that there weren't a ridiculous number of tourist, but I am saying that at the end of the day I always feel like I've come home.

I took advantage of the long weekend and made the drive to New Orleans with just little old me and my two littles. Adam was on call for the bulk of the weekend so he missed all the excitement. On the way in, we stopped in Baton Rouge to pick up this lovely lady.

Love this lady. It was nice to spend the last bit of the drive chatting with her. We had a lot to talk about. We were lucky to have her around the whole weekend, as well as her awesome British fiancee. We always stay with our friend Livy and her family.

Side note:
Years ago the three of us, along with two more, took yearly trips to reconnect and regroup. Unfortunately grad school, fellowships, lack of funds, and lots of bebes have put the kibosh on our trips. However we came to the agreement that our dream vacation would happen in 2 years. We are headed to the Bay of Fundy to see the puffins. The reasons are too long to explain, but we have been dreaming about this trip for nearly 10 years.

The next morning we opted for pastries from La Boulangerie to start the day. If you ever go to NOLA this is the best french bakery in the city. It is always on my list. After breakfast we headed to the zoo. New Orleans has an AMAZING zoo. When Adam and I lived there we had a zoo membership and went nearly every week.

When I get with my girlfriends I swear we sound like this flock of flamingos.

Ain't it the truth. It gives me an eerie feeling to read this quote.

Ted was an awesome climber. He and Lulu did it a handful of times. Each time they would walk all the way to the end of the long corridor and Ted would turn around and run full speed back. Maniac.

Whenever you go to New Orleans a good rock in a porch rocking chair is a must.

This is in the Louisiana Bayou section of the zoo. We actually attended Adam's cadaver ball at the end of his first year of medical school. The party is in honor of all the individuals that donated their bodies to the anatomy lab.

Best way to cool off on a hot day: Hansen's Sno Balls. It was a long line, but totally worth the wait. Many might argue that their sno ball shop is the best, but I stand firm in my decision!

Dinner: I was hoping for a Domilise's Po-Boy but they were closed. Frankie and Johnny Po-Boys was a happy alternative. Delicious.

Back to School

Like most kids, Lulu started school this week. Ted will start within the next couple of weeks. To help start the school year on the right foot, we had our back to school dinner (ala NieNie). I love this tradition and kick myself for not thinking of it.

MENU
Spaghetti
Steamed zucchini
Martinelli's Sparkling Cider
Popsicle

I thought it would be fun to spruce up the table with traditional school items. Lulu said it was the best party ever.

School is viewed, quite often, as this arduous task. It seems to me that as kids age, they are less inclined to enjoy the daily rigors of attending school, completing homework, tests, etc.. It doesn't help that it comes immediately after a long summer of play dates, pool parties, travels, and (at least for us) total time/schedule abandonment.


I like the idea of celebrating the beginning of school on such a positive note. Even though it means we aren't as free, it is so much more rewarding than sleeping a little too late or having nothing but lazy days. I often think about how summertime is this delicious treat after a long year of hard work. It has its perks, but by the end of it, I'm craving order.

Disneyland

1. Ted and Adam on Toy Story 2. Lulu's sustenance was Churros 3. shell shocked Ted 4. a quick partial family snap while Ted was asleep 5. riding the rides 6. ANOTHER Churro 7. Stroller parking was our nemesis. 8. me and Lulu on the worlds shortest ride, but longest line 9. cab from Monsters Inc. 10. wonder how long that paint job took? 11. Ted hated 3-d glasses 12. Awesome Ferris wheel


Adam had to take his oral boards in San Diego this past February, so we decided to make it a family trip. We love heading to San Diego because we get to visit one of our favorite families and we always make a little time for Disneyland. My sister, Libby, just happened to be heading to Disneyland with her 8 year old and 2 foreign exchange students the same week, so we coordinated our schedules and got to spend a little time with them. We have lots of pictures at Disney, so I decided to take along my Fuji Mini to spice things up while we were in California Adventure.

'staches

Don't mind us- we are trying out our new 'staches and documenting it with my fancy new Fuji Mini.

Halloween

We had a pretty uneventful Halloween. Of all of us, Lulu had the most festive holiday season.

Halloween Parties
Lulu 2
The rest of us a big fat ZERO
(I guess we at least had the ward Trunk or Treat)


We put her dance recital outfit to good use and dressed her up as a fairy. This is her and her friend Olive dressed for one of their many Halloween Parties.

Ted doing the cowboy thing. He wore his costume for about a second. Although he did keep his awesome plaid pearl button and cowboy boots on.

Adam in his awesome Dickies. People would ask Adam what he was dressed up as and he would say "well what do you think?" They would then respond "I think you are a ..." and Adam would say- you're right. By the end of the night he was a sewer worker (he was wearing his wellies), a garbage man, and a ton of other things.

Shocker- I went as a witch, but I have no pictures.

A few notes from my head

1. This past week Adam and I were chatting and he commented that we no longer do a lot of the things we once did. I asked him to explain and he said:

"Well, we no longer take pictures. I no longer blog. You blog, but very infrequently. We no longer ask people over for Sunday dinner."

I was shocked. He was completely right.

Note to self: take more pictures, more Sunday dinners, and more blogging.

2. Adam tried to surprise me with a fancy "Holy crap we are finally done" gift, but I'm too impatient and nosy. He knew I was obsessed with this amazing Utah artist, Melissa Peck. She actually lives in my in-laws neighborhood so I invited myself over to meet her and see the pieces she was working on for her solo show. After much discussion and a whole lot of back and forth, this beauty arrived on our doorstep. I'm a HUGE believer in original art and this piece was just IT for me.


3. We are preparing to celebrate this little guy's birthday this week. He has grown leaps and bounds in the last 6 weeks or so. The other day he was trying to recapture his balloon in the car and I overheard him say "c'mon balloon" whilst trying to coax it back within his reach. A few minutes I heard "got it" and I looked back to see him smiling like he was the king of the world. Which, if you are wondering, he is in our little world.


4. Can someone please give me some pointers on surviving school?

a) The paper- my word the paper is just about doing me in. I swear I have two folders filled with paper and I don't feel like I can throw any of it away.

b) The meetings, coffee's (evidently a VERY popular thing in Texas), volunteer opportunities, Sally Foster (do y'all have wrapping paper you have to sell?), and schedules is enough for me to throw up my hands and give in. It is freaking Kindergarten people!


5. We had our pictures taken while we were in Utah by the very talented Ashley Thalman. I've posted a couple of them, but if you want to take a look you can go here. I wanted a Southern feel to it, with a little bit of Texas thrown in (hence the seer sucker jacket on Ted and a firearm for me and Adam).



And yes, that is me protecting the family. It was such a fun shoot. I can hardly wait for next year.

Out of the Mouth of Babes

"ROAR. I'm the Incredible Ted. Watch out or I'll slobber you and THEN eat you."

"GOTCH YA."

We were photographing the kids a couple of weeks ago (It was gorgeous 70 degrees, but by the next day we were back in the low 30's.) While we were out Lulu started playing hide and seek on the neighbor's porch. Isn't this dress great? My grandmother had these made for each of us when we were children. I wanted to make sure I documented Lulu in one of the dresses.

"STOP dressing me in your crazy princess getup. I DO NOT LIKE IT."



"I'm SUPER GIRL and this is my trusty sidekick."


"Sidekick. I'm no sidekick. I ROCK. I'm going somewhere that people give me the respect I deserve." (Isn't he cute?)

Thursday Forecast

Highs:

A glorious morning/afternoon spent at the arboretum with friends. Lulu has decided she is going to marry this little guy. The three of them were adorable. And just because we are Mormon, I don't want you to get the wrong idea.



Teddy finally on the mend.

Tator tots for everyone and a big gigantic Diet Coke for me. Oh the sweet nectar. And because of a low, I didn't even wait for Happy Hour!

Lows:
After being asked "is today the day I'm getting the flu mist" three HUNDRED times over the past 2 weeks the day FINALLY arrived. But then the nurse inadvertently mixed flu vaccine for Lulu, which meant she WOULD NOT be getting the flu mist, but rather a shot. This did not go over well. There was screaming, gnashing of teeth, you know.. all those fun things.

Another case of "leaving nasty anonymous comments" seems to be going around again. I know, given my history, it seems a little ironic for me to be lecturing, but seriously- if you wouldn't say it to their face, don't leave it as a comment! Especially if you don't know the person, because funny and sarcastic doesn't always come across. Trust me- you will always regret it.