Of Halloweens Past...

I thought it would be fun to take a little trip down Halloween Memory Lane...

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Now wasn't that fun? :D

We have TON going on this weekend including two birthday parties, an adult costume party (yay!) and trick or treating of course.

I imagine even my social self will be pretty ready to just sit down in my quiet house by about 9 p.m. on Sunday night...

Happy Halloween-ing everyone!

Autumn - You Capture

You know there's a saying that people are "in the Autumn of their lives"...

I think it means they are older and nearing the end of their life.

Right?

Well, it seems to me, as if we are "in the Autumn" of her babyhood"...

It's as if she is a full on toddler already.

Thankfully she's not saying "No" yet, so...

at least there's that...

And this one, well, he's got me wrapped around his little boy finger.

I'm not sure how he did it...

his precious face and cute voice get me every time.

I don't want him to grow anymore...

Although, I could do without the whining.

Guess it's okay if he grows out of that at some point.

But kinda wish he could walk around in his favorite jammies, outside, during the day, forever...

And on the subject of ACTUAL Autumn, apparently it's skipping us this year. It was like 92 degrees here the last couple of days. Is the pool still open? Geez...

She's Cuter Than Bristol Palin's Baby - WW*

I took this photograph of Baby K while on our family trip to New Orleans last month.

I don't think I posted it here before now. And I just HAD to for a few reasons:

1. I LOVE it. Like with my heart.

2. It's a pretty awesome photo and kinda makes me feel like a "photographer" (even though I don't really think I am).

3. I think the colors are to die for. (I made her sit in front of this turquoise door).

4. It's of MY baby girl.


*I used a few new skills learned at Bloggy Boot Camp, during the talk on SEO, in the title of this post. One, put things in your title that people will search for and second, if linking up to a carnival, put that part second in your title. Thank you Angela, you really do rock.

Bloggy Boot Camp, Round 1

I have a lot to say about this "little" conference.

And when I use the word "little" I only mean it in the sense that it has a smaller attendance per city (since it has and will be in a total of 10 places, I think) and in that it is a one-day conference.

I do NOT use it in the sense of "little" information because...

O.M.G.

Did I learn a TON from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in ONE day.

I don't have the time or brain capacity to share it all with you here, right now but I just want to say that I may be making some slight changes to the blog soon and I will share a few tips that I learned later...

Seriously, Tiffany Romero is a Rock Star (and very pretty too...)(kind of an inside joke...)(but she really IS pretty...) and Bloggy Boot Camp was totally awesome. The SITS community is really amazing as is their dedication to what they do and to other bloggers.

And the other best part, besides all the info was of course, the PEOPLE. Because we are no one (as bloggers!) without the people who do this with us and understand us and share our goals and ideas. It really is amazing to be in a banquet room full of women who just "get it".

Jennifer from Momma Made it Look Easy* and Me. She's so funny and gorgeous too!

Ash, Gretchen, Holly and Susan* - Some of my best Texas ladies!!

Me and Tip Junkie, Laurie* - her smile and attitude are contagious!

Brittany from Not Your Average Teen* and Priscilla from The Wheelchair Mommy* - they sat across from me at dinner. Such sweet ladies!

A shot of a bunch of bloggers at dinner...

Me and LaQuishe (Channing Tatum Unwrapped*), she's practically a celebrity - hello red carpet!) and Lisa from Mommy Mo.

Madame Bernthis* herself, Me and Ash (yes, my eyes are sorta opened)

Angela from Untrained Housewife*. How cute is she in that Cowgirl hat??

Tiffany (@SITSgirls)* and Me. She ran the show. She's awesome.

Tiffany and Lisa - love this shot!

Lisa, Me and Amanda (look Amanda, I linked to your blog!!) ;P

*This denotes a blogger I just met IRL at BBC. Lots, huh?

Instead of 5 posts on this trip to NOLA you just get one long one

You gotta love a town where just two blocks away from a street with BEAUCOUPS bars and strip joints there's a cathedral that has been named a Basilica AND the Pope John Paul II visited in 1987. Wonder if he sprinkled Holy Water on Bourbon St.

Now, let me make myself clear, I am NOT making fun.

I just find it quite interesting that you can literally drink yourself in to a coma and then stumble on down the street and confess your sins if so inclined. God bless America.

And y'all are gonna love this part. Our hotel?

Smack dab in the middle of both those places. Literally. You walked out the front door and 1/2 a block south, towards the river, is the church and just north half a block, all kinds of debauchery. Oh and karaoke too. In some cases some of those people should totally confess their sins. On my ears.



But the point of this post is that we had a great time with our friends and neighbors in NOLA (New Orleans, LA) last weekend.

(all above pics except very first 3 were taken on the street where entrance to our hotel was)

We were there to help surprise and celebrate our friend's 40th birthday (a little early), as well as enjoy an early celebration for mine and Tim's wedding anniversary in a few weeks.

And we did both and had a great time while doing so!

Our hotel really was in the best spot (all kidding aside. okay, maybe not "all") and we were able to walk everywhere all weekend.

Even The Ritz, where my friend and I had fantastic pedicures on Saturday. I cannot BELIEVE I did not take a picture.

So here's one from the interwebby for ya.



Ritzy, huh?
(get it, "ritzy"?) (oh gah, too easy, I know.)

But rewind to Friday night.

Tim and I had a great time being co-conspirators with our Friend C, who surprised her husband J, on Friday morning with the fact that we were going along on a weekend trip. And then, on Friday night three of his very best buddies (from middle school days!) came running up to him in front of the cathedral. He had NO idea they were going to be there! It was awesome.


Afterwards we all went to dinner at this more than fabulous restaurant, Irene's, and enjoyed wine and such delicious food. We kinda wanted to go back Saturday night. That's how good it was. And yes, we had dessert.

(J and C, aren't they a gorgeous couple?)

After dinner we hit Bourbon St. to check it out (we didn't even go there at all last trip and now I REALLY know why). After watching the Rangers lose (wah!) we hit another bar and then came back to the one where they had karaoke, just in time for Tim to belt out "Friends in Low Places." PERFECT timing!


Then on Saturday we hit The Old Coffee Pot for breakfast and had some good "soul food" breakfast, including "Cala Cakes". Tasty little buggars. (apparently this is the only restaurant that makes them because when I "googled" this was the only place that came up!) Anyway, they are rice fritters and are covered in powdered sugar, just like beignets.

Y'all would think I like food or something...

After stuffing our faces we went back to the hotel and got ready for the rest of our day. The boys and girls separated and C and I did a little shopping at Anthropologie (where I bought my first and possibly ONLY pair of 'skinny' jeans! see twitter pic here). And then we were off to Pinkberry for a small 'lunch' and nice chat before our pedis.

During our pedis I told C I might consider homeschooling at some point and both of our mouths dropped to the floor. No, I was not drunk, just high on yogurt apparently.

So since this post is getting really long I'll tell you that Tim and I visited the casino that afternoon for a bit (SO NOT my thing) and then went to get ready for our "early" anniversary dinner. After dinner we met back up with our friends and hit Bourbon again.

Let's just say a good time was had by all.


On Sunday we slept in (gee, I can't imagine why...), had a little tasty breakfast sandwich at a charming place by the hotel, drove around a bit and then headed home to get back to all of our kiddies.

It was indeed a great weekend and I'm SO glad that we took the time to be together as a couple and be with our friends.

I *heart* NOLA.

Oh and I'm linking up here...

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