All American

What better to do on a Memorial Day holiday than head to the ballpark.

We rallied some friends, other moms with husbands working on a holiday, and scooped up some $6 Met's tickets.  Don't worry, we managed to spend way more than the cost of a regularly priced ticket on snacks, beers, and souvenirs.

We've been to a few Met's games before, and this one was the best experience yet.  The boys are at a good age for it.  They're both interested in the game, the rules, the players so there was a lot more discussion about the game rather than what snack we'd be getting next.

The boys were able to get in a few bats a "Mini Field."  The line was long but they occupied themselves by looking at baseball cards.

Freddie had to have a shirt, which HAD to be washed when we got home so he could wear it to school, and Hans picked a hat.  Hansie kept the cheering section going pretty much the whole game.

In addition to wanting to know about outs, strikes, and players, Freddie has a huge interest in learning "Take Me Out to the Ball Game."  I suppose I should be practicing to help the kid out.

Visitor

• Gossip
• Cocktails
• Late night dinner ("late" is relative!)
• Book of Mormon 
• Laughter
• Shake Shack
• Walking, walking, walking
• Noodle bar
• Shoe browsing
• Beers
• Desserts
• Catching up

Down the Cape

Jessica is wearing a pair of my sunglasses, and people noticed.  And asked.

• Catching up
• Child free weekend
• Shopping
• Chats over coffee
• Chats over cocktails
• Beach margaritas 
• Scheming
• Sandy toes
• Chow-dah
• Sunshine
• Sleeping in
• Laughing
• Long uninterrupted meals
• Trashy television
• Late bedtimes
• Ice cream cones 
• People watching
• Planning

Meeting Baby Joe

Freddie got to have a peek at Baby Joe, who is now a month old.  He kept saying "so tiny," which definitely describes Joe.  Joe must have made quite the impression on Freddie because I heard him saying to his dolls today "Awww, so sweet.  Baby Joe so tiny," and when I ask about Joe he says "bring Baby Joe toys."

Hoping to get Baby Joe and Part Deux together soon!

Atlanta Weekend

My only photo of our hostess with Freddie and Madeline

• Naps on plane 
• Warm weather
• Sunshine
• Catching up
• Zoo trip
• Slow moving
• Chats
• Expanded vocabulary a la Jessica
• Baby "Hermano"
• Few photos
• Bounce house birthday party
• Suburban dining (AKA Chick-fil-A!)
• Calender comparing
• Visit planning
• Dry undies
• Hugs
  
• Long weekend = not enough time

Freddie and Madeline

Play time!

It's the middle of January, temperatures are in the low 30s, and slushy snow covers the ground.  Cabin fever has set in.  I know I'm not the only one.  I can see the crazed look in the eye of almost every woman passing us with a child.

 

Many buildings have "play rooms" that offer a place for parents and children to congregate, to get out of the apartment, play with some different toys, and interact with others.  Unfortunately our building does not have such a little spot.  I know what to look for next time I'm faced with finding an apartment in a city that has winter for what seems like 6 months out of the year.

 

It isn't surprising that pay to play spots are all over the city.  Places like My Gym, Gymboree, and Little Gym are just a few that offer classes for toddlers and open up for "free play" time during the day.  The fee generally runs about $200/month for one 45 minute class per week and some free play sessions.  Ouch.  Most places seem to offer free play sessions that coincide with nap time so we'd be unlikely to take advantage of that unstructured play time in the space.

Thankfully my time online is paying off and I've managed to find some deals via doodledeals.  It's like Groupon but all the deals are kid or mom centered.  Most deals have involved things like birthday parties or music lessons but I have seen a few things like eyelash extensions and botox treatments.  Haven't scooped up any cosmetic surgery deals quite yet, but we have been getting some indoor playtime on the "cheap," $15 per session rather than $25-30.

And Freddie loves, loves, loves it.  We've been to a few open play sessions and he's all over the place, moving nonstop from the time we enter.  His favorite is the trampoline.  Unfortunately our first attempt to go to a class was foiled because of closures due to snow.  Of course.

Thanks, Rebekah and Freddy for the company, and the pictures!

NOLA Friends

• Spicy seasonings
• Who Dat treats
• 18 month hand me downs
• Operation 10.5
• Mrs. Butterworth
• Stroller schlepping
• Walking, walking, walking
• Dumpling slurping
• Hot & Crusty verbage
• Long term planning
• Margaritas
• Looking the part
• Map reading
• Chinatown
• Marathon walking
• Elevator hunt

Thanks for the visit, Em! See you soon?

Day of Rest

Moving in on Friday was a fiasco, and that's putting it mildly.  I'll spare you the details but being that I'm used to the "Big Easy Factor" in doing business in NOLA I was surprised by how shocked I was by the experience we had.

But it's over.  We paid the hefty fee, sweat and cursed, and all the boxes and furniture from our POD made it into the apartment by 2pm on Friday.

I had my doubts about it all fitting, and it was pretty jammed in.

Thankfully, help was on the way.  Jessica arrived at 6pm, and immediately cracked open a Miller High Life for each of us, rolled up her sleeves, gave Charlie and me some orders, and started opening boxes.

Since there is not much space, moving things around to just unpack and see what was in boxes was tricky.  Finding places for everything after thinking "what in the hell did I pack this for?" proved difficult as well.  But everything has a spot.  That is pretty amazing.  Not only are the dishes in the cabinets but there are pictures on the walls.

Jessica worked wonders.  And for all of her hard work she got to see the bus and subway to and from LaGuardia, Target in Brooklyn, and Costco in Queens.  We did eat Hebrew Nationals at Costco though.  So she got a little of the NY experience.  I actually think that those three outings did provide her a healthy dose of the city.  Everything is an experience here.

Hanging around in our pjs after everything is all done

We are in search of a dresser or two to complete the moving in, and then nothing else is allowed to come into this apartment.  There is not an inch of space that is unaccounted for.  Pictures to come soon.  Promise.

Beach Bums

Jessica and I took off to the beach for the week. Morning walks on the beach, lazy afternoons with cocktails, and dinner while listening to the waves hit the shore made up the routine.


Everything seems extra special at the beach. The margaritas are even tastier after a long walk or while watching a pod of dolphins cruise near the shore.


The rest of Jessica's family caught up with us on the beach later in the week to shake things up and keep things interesting. Freddie was tickled to have some kid company.

Freddie *loved* Charlie, Jessica's nephew.
Charlie had the perfect touch with Freddie, being he gets lots of practice with his little sister.

Freddie enjoyed his week as well. He got plenty of lovin' and was hugging on everyone, as long as his Mama stayed in site.


Jessica taught Freddie about one of the world's wonders: Chick-Fil-A. He didn't quite get the whole waffle fry thing, but he was not giving up his chocolate milk shake.


She was also kind enough to share her peanut butter pie, chase him around the house, pick up everything he pulled out of the cabinets, fill the pool with water, and cuddle him on demand.

What you talkin' bout, Mama? I love peanut butter pie.

11 days together and we still have more to talk about when we get together again in a few weeks.
Never enough time.


It was a perfect week. Looking forward to many more just like it.

The Beach

• A flight to Atlanta
• A jam packed car
  
• A drive to the beach
• Gulf waves
  
• Margaritas
• Sunshine
• Seashells
• Saltwater kisses
  
• Sandy toes
• Pink cheeks
• Wine
• Big Gulp sized bloody Marys
• Chatting late into the night
  
• 7 days to go
  

Hoping

Today our heats are with our friends in Virginia. Lesley's son, Ford, has a brain tumor and is having surgery today. He's just a few weeks younger than Freddie.

They've been through months of tests and incorrect diagnoses before finally getting the MRI results last week.

We are thinking of them and hoping today brings news of a benign tumor and the end of this roller coaster ride for them.

Lovin'

Freddie and Jessica

• A bottle of wine each night
• Extended bed time
• Longer walks
• Chatting, chatting, chatting
• Catching up
• Sharing clothes
• Exchanging recipes
• Poolside lunch
• Advice
• Affirming decisions
• Work out tips
• Pep talks
• Extra hands
• Planning the next visit
  

Weekend Roundup

Sammy the Seal, one of Charlie's childhood lovies, awaits UmBabay

• I didn't vacuum, clean the tubs, or dust and we had a weekend guest. And amazingly, I didn't care the house was a wreck. Now that's friendship.
• UmBabay just about has a finished room. Jessica got things set up. She took charge and accomplished complete room organization in a matter of hours. This would have taken me days, several frustrating days.
  
• The rocker (to be delivered soon) and some things on the wall will just about complete the nursery. Pictures soon!
  
• After my third $300+ trip to Target this week, Jessica still told me she "didn't think I had enough stuff" for the boy. Sadly, she may be right. I still have a list going of things I need to buy. I don't think anything is urgent, but it'd be nice to feel settled.
• Jessica and I spent every morning in our pjs....at least until noon. Aaaahhhhhh....what a good influence she is on me.
  
• Charlie has made some considerable progress on the bathroom project. Updates to come.
• We ordered the vanity for the master bath.
• Dinner at Bistro Daisy was spectacular! The three of us enjoyed a night out, the company of each other, and another yummy meal in our city.
  

Lee and Angie Get Hitched!

Congratulations, Lee and Angie. We're glad it finally happened and we were able to be there.


They both looked happy and beautiful! Things were perfect.


Perfect party favors for Lee's wedding....koozies ! "To have and to hold...and keep your beer cold."


We celebrated our wedding in the same spot almost four years ago.


It was nice to be dressed up and out on the town...and enjoy a burger and milkshake at the Camilla Grill after wards.


And I got lots of questions, congratulations and comments on the belly. All which I loved except for someone who asked "Is it only one?"

We'll be going on a long walk tomorrow for sure.

That's us

A friend took this photo with us in mind and even framed it for us... we are blessed all right.

Escape

Taken in traffic on the way to the airport

It's nice to be with friends for a while to take your mind off of things. Even when my mind was "on things" it was nice to have someone to share those things with. And as always, the conversation picked up right where we left off as though it were yesterday.

Highlights include:

• A mani-pedi where the poor manicurist could barely get a break in the conversation long enough to comment on our long overdue visit
  
• Facials in a fancy shamncy spa
• Dinners with wine, Oprah with wine, beers with lunch
• Crawfish boils and sausage stained shirts (yes, crawfish in Atlanta!)
• Long walks and talks
• Sleeping in and sharing a pot of coffee until noon in the kitchen
• Trying on clothes and getting honest opinions
  
• Take out and Chinese donuts (who knew there was such a thing)

I miss having Jessica in the same city, but for now we'll have to schedule visits a few times a year. The distance or the time apart doesn't seem to make any difference on our friendship.

Vermont

Becky and Steven's wedding brought us to the Northeast last week. Vermont was better than we expected!


We were a little early for the fall foliage, but the trees were trying to make a show for us.


Evidently the foliage is in its peak in the first few weeks of October.


We'll have to go back because even the small splatters of oranges and reds awed me. I can't even imagine the entire hillsides being covered in fall.

For quite some time I have been on Charlie to take me to New England, Maine specifically, to wear cute sweaters and eat soup, so that was on the Vermont agenda for sure. Although the temperatures were a bit of a relief from the New Orleans heat, there wasn't any sweater wearing to be had. I did have lots of yummy soups,


but cold Vermont microbrews were what made our meals.


We loved, loved, loved, Woodstock. It's a town both of us could see ourselves living in. So much so, that we took a short drive to Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. It's about 30 minutes from Woodstock, and in the middle of September, it looked like the perfect place for us. Not sure what the winters would bring, but the gentle mountains surrounding old charming buildings look perfect.

And that perfection for me comes from the old houses and overgrown gardens. Reminds me of home. None of the houses stood perfectly straight. Each being over 100 years old meant their being a bit rundown was charming.

And the gardens! I kept thinking about my own garden. Each house has a garden just like what I aspire to...flowers, flowers, flowers. Everywhere. No symmetry, no manicured hedges, just wherever they'd bloom, flowers were planted.

We loved it all.


Wish I'dd taken more garden photos and photos of the covered bridges. As quaint as they are to look at, they are equally as amazing to drive through. My builder husband loved them.

Can you see the side of the barn is painted with "Live Laugh Love"? Picture perfect here.



We visited the Simon Pearce studio and gallery. I got a vase for our mantle.


The building itself was impressive and it's restoration was well done. I recommend a visit if you're ever in the area.

And we did get the chance to catch up with friends. Evenings at the Kedron Valley Inn went late into the night.


It's funny to see these guys together. They could go on and on and on talking about their time in New Orleans.


The many weddings over the last few months have allowed us more time to laugh and visit than we've done in the past two years.



And hopefully the trend continues. We'll see JB and Anne in December and plan some more traveling to visit with others.