NOLA summer 2011

ok, so we went to New Orleans again. We love the place. Amazing architecture, good eats, fun places, a river almost heaving its bounds, what could be better? About the Mississippi river, yes, it was historically high. Almost to the top. Overflowing the Atchafalaya Basin, at least 25 feet higher than normal. Kind of cool to see that. The good thing was, we have had a major drought as of late, which caused the ground to absorb a lot of the water, making it not as high and dangerous as it could have been.

This visit we skipped the French Market, Jackson Square and typical French Quarter walking to do some of the more natural attractions.

Audubon Zoo, which was surprisingly a very beautiful zoo with lots of European like fountains. It was a scorcher though, so after about 2 hours we just steadily walked towards to gate, barely glancing at some animals.

The Insectarium, the largest in the country (impressive) was VERY COOL! Not that we aren't familiar with large and disgusting bugs, living here in the south...but it offered a lot for the kids. Very interactive, a 4D movie, very clever writers for the info. (that always gets a big plus-come on, if it's going to have a "museum type feel" make it fun and interesting. and wow, they did!!! It was hilarious. We also ate bugs. YEP! ate bugs. Tyler, Jeff and I had white chocolate covered crickets, baby ones. Jeff tried the cinnamon sugar wax bugs. I couldn't go that far. They tasted great until I kept feeling like there were legs or parts stuck in between my teeth. I think this was mostly me being paranoid. I needed H2o after that.

The Deep Sea IMAX was entertaining and a great escape from the heat. Learning about cuddle fish was fun too.(the kids favorite--they are hilarious with their love triangle type of behavior) Lots of underwater creatures I had never seen before. Never boring with Jim Carrey narrating. :)

Last of all, the Aquarium. It was great, like any aquarium. Fun to look at the exquisite creatures. This part was unanimously the kids fave. Maybe because they got to pet and feed sting ray... LILY DIED over this. She couldn't get enough. Or the parakeet meet and feed. They each had feed stick and had many, many bird sit on them. That part was cute until one of the ferries honked its massive horn and the bird went haywire!!! They kept flying in low circles all around us. All in all, it was fun.

Also, a drive down the famous St. Charles street in the Garden district kept Jeff and I fascinated. Those homes really are an incredible sight! We just can't get enough of that city.

Bubbles and ruffles.

I don't know what it is about vacation that makes us want to get all the 'cute outfits' ready? Knowing you'll be in pictures? just wanna be cute on vacay? Whatever it is, the sewing machine always comes out. I can't help making fun, ruffly, summery outfits for the girls. Here is a preview of Lily's. Can't wait to take more when we're in New Orleans. :)

SUMMERTIME!--2011

2 more day until that glorious day when school is out. As a mom, this is mixed emotion day. Completely ready to sleep in and relax a little bit with the car pooling, driving, dance lessons...etc. Ready to have my kids back to myself... But, a tiny bit nervous and anxious about having the kids together that long, every day, for 11 weeks. And having the house get messy. And having to referee fights. So, every year, I make a summer list for us to remind us of our summer goals and all the fun things we've been waiting to do.---this doesn't include camps either. These are mostly just things for at home.

GOALS:
1. Teach my kids to work (I envision this every summer and I need to stick to the plan better, last year, living in a hotel did not lend itself to this.)
2. Keep learning- be ready for next year
3. HAVE FUN!

I copied my list from last year and am going to edit the parts the no longer apply and add thoughts I've been collecting the last few months.

1. make popsicles--- include links and recipes later
2. summer movies at mall
3. make fruit juice sno cones
4. grow salt and sugar crystals
5.permanent sand castles-family fun magazine recipe
6. miniature tree houses-family fun magazine
7. water play in back yard-possibly with PVC pipe contraption
8. library--many times!
9. water balloon fights
10. water painting
11. Play dates
12. make magnet ball run---family fun, I think?
13. wii party
14. camp in back yard
15. make fun luggage tags for upcoming trip (s)
16. visit grandma-and leave Brookln for week :)
17. read a book--- many, many books, get use out of the new kindle! :)
18. make home made ice cream
19. make sorbet in blender
20. children's museum lafayette
21. visit Houston and make use of Science Museum pass
22. teach kids to sew their own pajama pants
23. Red's pool and splash pad---bi-weekly
24. Make ugly dolls with the kids, or lala loopsy, which ever they want, this has been a long time coming
25. Eat lunch with Dadda ----All the time, especially Tues. kids eat free at Sicily's
26. side walk art- think Mary Poppins sidewalk art
27. Make dollhouse and furniture out of card board and egg cartons---Family Fun
28. go to the park on a not so humid day
29. fly kite on windy day
30. rainy day- watch movie inside and have popcorn
31. make forts---they still haven't gotten tired of this one
32. Teach them a few easy dinners they can make for the family
33. make new cookie recipes together
34. day trip---pick blueberries?
35. invite cousins to stay for a week
more to come.

10 yrs.

Although I have been treating Brooklyn as if she were almost 10 for a while now, it is hard to believe she has finally reached the decade milestone. She is roughly one third my age. weird. She is so wonderful though. Kind. Helpful. Loving. Smart. Good sister. Eager learner. Hard worker--wait, only if she wants to. Beautiful. so Sweet. I wanted to quickly upload pics from her 10 year old celebration with her girl friends. She has easily made good friends here! At her party we munched on yummy finger foods, petit fours, and had and ice craem sundae instead of cake. We did all natural foot scrubs made of brown sugar and lemon juice, and facials from avocado and yogurt. It was so funny how the girls got all grossed out and squealed, but I know they all LOVED it. We did fancy pedicures with little flowers I glue on, then they each got real pedi flip-flops, which made them feel so grown up. :) At 10, you're practically a teenager. :) Then they all got their sleeping bags out in our living room and watched Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2. Well, that only held their interest for so long, they started playing board games... so cute. They finally went to bed with another movie and I think dozed off around 12. Such precious little girls, so polite and sweet.

At 10---Brooklyn is into drawing, mostly cartoons, or animals. I actually gave her a Japanese animation learn how to book and she was so thrilled and has already started on something from it. She still takes piano, along with art and dance. She probably loves dance the most. Especially the ballet. She's playing Alice in the Wonderland number. She is an AMAZING helper with Ava, and loves to hold her right when she gets home from school. She has opinions about how she wants her hair cut now. sidenote---At 11 years old I wanted bangts SOOOOO BADDDLY, I can still remember how deperate I was. I had been begging for months, and I had really long hair, finally while we were on vacation in Greece, my mom let me get my bangs cut at the hotel. Well, like mother----like daughter. She has been begging incessantly, which is not really her style. Well, to statisfy her, I just cut a few bangs. She wanted "swoopy" ones. You know, like moms... :) She's so cute.

She is sensitive to others' feelings. Is always up for a good challenge and does sudoku. Math is her favorite subject. We love her so much. I appreciate her quietness! I have realized she is not so "shy" as I used to say, more just a listener, a quiet observer, even though she does hold back, I am glad. It's a wonderful quality to be able to think first. I love her!!!