Vacation Picture Overload!

Best vacation ever.

I know. I know.

I say that every time.

That's because we Soladays do it up right.

I have to say that there is no one I would rather travel with than Ryan.

There is nothing better than a man who is up for anything I suggest.

There is nothing better than a man up for an adventure.

That, my friends, is what NOLA was.

A straight up adventure.

I think I text Casey at the end of our first night there with one word.

WOW.

The city is out of control.

Full of culture, history, reckless abandon.

Love it.

Get ready for vacation picture overload.

The first pic I took after we dropped our bags at the hotel.

How appropriate.

 NOLA is serious about voodoo.

 Our first stop was Pat O'Brien's.

Architecturally awesome.

Historically awesome.

We noticed some spots were named on a whim.

Lots o'drinking imagination went into the name selection process at this location. 

Yes, they really were huge.

We also noticed an overall theme in NOLA.

The city wants you to drink.

Constantly.

Bourbon Street's nickname is "3 for 1".

Lord have mercy.

It did provide fantastic people watching.

Meet Dee Dee.

She is, although it might be hard to tell, only 6 years older than me.

She's a bar owner on Bourbon St.

She grew up on Bourbon St.

Enough said.

Great lady though.

Mi aime jou.

Would you like a snack?

Yum.

Shucked right there at the bar.

Are you feeling the love here?

I heart NOLA.

It's unlike anywhere else I have ever been.

The pride of the people that live there is incredible.

Canal St.:

Sushi NOLA style.

Remember the haunted pub crawl we took?

It started here at Lafitte's Blacksmith Shoppe.

It's the oldest bar in America.

The history in this place is bar none.

Google it.

It has been patroned by some of the greatest Americans ever,

Whitman and Kennedy to name a few.

What a fun night.

Monsieur Lafitte himself.

While on the tour, I snapped this pic.

I love the historical significance of the streets of the French Quarter.

Where else but Bourbon Street will you see a cross dresser directing traffic...just because he wants to.

And then 5 minutes later see this:

Wait for me!

Three inch heels are so not practical here.

I couldn't help but take this picture.

This sweet lady and her cats in her store on a Friday night in NOLA.

A few doors down was the very first pharmacy in our country.

And their liscence.

Really.

How cool is that.

Or what about the first brothel's liscence?

Nice.

Still historical though.

Now for a gag-worthy pic.

Just for you, Sass.

Some random person requested to take this pic of us because he said we looked "so in love".

We willingly oblidged.

Gag.

I know.

Don't ask me why I took this.

Because I don't know.

The street performers in NOLA are hysterical.

This guy stood forever like this.

We took pics with him, but I won't subject you to that mess.

Ummmm.....I have no idea.

Not sure about this one either.

It's a tradition.

We saw several wedding party parades.

They were awesome.

This pic doesn't do it justice.

I might have said this line a zillion times on our trip.

Because it was funny.

At the time.

Just for my friend because she knows who she is.

Good times.

Right after this picture, we went to the casino

where Ryan won a small fortune playing craps.
Impressive.

Just so you know, NOLA loves Bloody Mary's.

They don't play around.

The historic Jackson Square.

Beautiful.

On our last morning there, we took a picture holding our local newspaper.

Can't wait to see it in their next printing!

I am so glad we decided to travel somewhere new.

That's what life is all about.

Experience it.

Don't sit back and watch it go by.

Thank you, Ryan.

I love you, and I love NOLA!

And Off We Geaux!

Today is the big day!

As soon as all the kids are gone,

Ryan and I are off to the airport en route to The Big Easy!!!

Also known as NOLA!

Good times await.

Have a fabulous weekend, my friends!!

A Look Back & A Look Ahead!

A Look Back:

Lots of family time over the weekend.

Let's start with a Christmas craft why don't we?

How about some candy cane ornaments?

Annnnnndddddd DONE.

Even "The Teenager" made one.

Be still my heart.

Glad you got dressed for the occasion, Preston.

The final result!

 I was downloading pics on my camera and found this picture that Carter took...

He took it with his right hand while making
Joseph and a shepherd make out with his left.

Nice.

Should I be worried?

Also, while he was coloring yesterday, he was singing, "boobies, boobies, boo-bies."

I'm scared.

 Sunday the boys wanted to make the mini gingerbread houses my mother gave them.

Once again, "The Teenager" partook.

He had to go to his room midway through the fun for a short timeout

due to MAJOR hyper activity.

It's gets crazy when 4 boys all want to do the same thing at the same time.

Patience please.

 Remember I mentioned they were mini gingerbread houses?

Well, they were so MINI that it was nearly impossible to get them to stay together.

We decided to improvise, and the boys decorated gingerbread cookies instead.
Awesome.

Thanks, Mimi!

A friendly game of Candyland took place between Trysten and Carter.

Well, friendly until Carter got upset over having to move back 8 spaces.

It required a discussion about the importance of good sportsmanship.

All was well with the world after that.

Elfie "showed up" on the clock in the foyer early Friday morning.

He stayed there until Sunday night.

Because he liked it there.

For real.

No one forgot.

We set the alarm, Casey.

It's all good now.

He changed his resting spot late Sunday night.
He kind of creeps me out.

A Look Ahead:

Thursday morning Ryan and I will board a plane bound for

NEW ORLEANS, BABY!!

Cannot wait.

So much fun to be had.

Food to eat, people to watch, drinks to drink,

shops to shop, ghosts to haunt and much, much more.

Can't wait to see NOLA all decked out for the holidays!

Ryan and I decided not to pack any of our Razorback T-shirts.

Might not be a good idea to don that gear in the French Quarter

considering the beating we gave LSU on Saturday.

Maybe we're just switching off winning every other year.

LSU one year and UA the next.

Seems fair, right?

Have a great week, my friends!!

Thanksgiving 2010

I am thankful for so many things this year.

Life is so good for our little family.

We have been blessed with so much...

health and happiness just to name a few.

We celebrated turkey day with my extended family...

missing Ed and Carol every minnute.

Can't wait to see them in just a few short weeks!

It just doesn't seem right to celebrate holidays

without all family members present.

During lunch on Thursday,

my parents informed us they will

be on a cruise next Thanksgiving....in my almost 37 years of life,

I have never NOT eaten turkey with my parents

the 3rd Thursday in November.

It will be very strange.

Back to this year.

Another reason I love my husband.

He made the turkey.

Notice his conscious decision as to where to place the pineapples.

Nice.

Boys love boobies.

This is our dog Shelby.

She spent Thanksgiving wacked out of her mind on doggie valium.

Poor girl.

It made for lots of good laughs though.

 I put together some treats for the little ones.

 What's thanksgiving without silly string?

 And a silly string fight.

That's how we Soladays party.

My precious niece took over the veggies.

I could have eaten her for lunch.

Seriously.

 The Thankful tree.

Don't judge my artwork.

Lots to be thankful for this year.

 Ryan scored major points here:

 Considering the kids were running amuck most of the day, I didn't get any pics of the crazies.

I did however manage to get a couple of my handsome man and I courtesy of my SIL. 

 

That's it!

Thanksgiving 2010 has come and gone.

Elfie made his appearance overnight,

signaling the beginning of the Christmas season in our house.

We worked on Christmas decorations all day

in between watching the Auburn and Alabama game.

Here's a little sneak peek:

Have a great weekend friends!!!