Nope Lona, I didn't buy any beads with the flash-up boobies.  Too funny.  Didn't even see any.  Not that that would have made any difference in my buying decision.  LOL.  And I did get beads, although not by flashing any body parts (disgusting - what are women thinking about?) - some of the tour guides gave them out for free.

I spent part of yesterday with Michelle and Kaden.  Their place is starting to take shape.  I was very proud of Michelle - she actually went through her stuff and donated a bunch of it to Goodwill!  You go girl.  Which reminds me, I have quite a few bags stashed in my closet which haven't made their way over there yet.

More pictures.

This is twelve oaks plantation.  Very picturesque.

I had a mint julep here.  Yuck.  Way too much julep and not enough mint for my taste.

This is Laura plantation.  They still have slave shacks standing from the early nineteenth century.  They had beed in constant use until the 70's.  So they had to take out the electricity, etc so that you could see what they would have looked like 170 years ago.  Tiny.  Lots of people crammed into a tiny spot.  Yuck.

Tomorrow we'll take a tour of the bayou.

This morning I'm getting the second part of my rush allergy shots.  That's a more intensive way to start shots - it does 8 weeks of building up to a high dose in just two weeks.  Last week went really well, so I'm hopeful for this treatment.

Later this afternoon I'm meeting my red hat group for a tea at Queen Annes house.  I love tea stuff!  And tomorrow I am down for subbing at the local school where there are death treats for tomorrow.  So after my shots I'm calling the district to make sure I get a key to the room so I can lock it if there are any problems.  That's only fair and safe.  It's not fair to me or the kids in my class if we're all sitting ducks in an unlocked classroom because the teacher isn't there.

Later gators.  Get it - the swamp tour?  LOL

As promised, more pictures.

One of the things you notice in the French Quarter is all the wrought iron.  It is really beautiful stuff.

The Catholic church across from Jackson park.  The gentleman was our tour guide and the lady was in the group.

The Ursuline Sisters building - it used to be an orpanage/young ladies school.  I think it's still a school.

See, I was there!

This Iowa corn house is unique looking in the French Quarter.  Apparently, the lady of the house was from Iowa.  I don't know if you can see the corn on the iron works.

Break dancers, entertaining on Sunday afternoon.  They were really good!  I watched their whole show.

Then I persuaded Dave to leave the convention for awhile and walk around the Quarter with me.  It was too nice a day to be stuck inside!

More tomorrow!

Sorry I haven't updated.  We've been helping Michelle, Sam and Kaden move into their new apartment.  It's about 20 minutes from here, 30 from Sam's mom, so it's about as close to halfway as they can get!  I need to be over there again this morning, so this will be a short one.  With lots of pictures.

Crocus were blooming when we left Indiana.  Good thing I took these photos, because they were done when we got home.

Naturalized in the yard.

The Riverwalk is right next to the convention center and our hotel was just done the road from here.  A very convienent location.

Got to take a picture of a paddle boat!

Bourbon Street.  In the French Quarter.

At the Cafe Beignet.

Too bad I couldn't hear these guys play!

I stopped here for a beignet (that's the famous New Orleans fried pastry) then took a walking tour of the French Quarter.

I'll post more tomorrow.  Gotta run and help the kids!

It's our last night in New Orleans.  I'm watching Idol gives back and Dave is at the Convention Center at a poster session.  His post-doc is presenting a poster and Dave has to be there too.

The worst part of this trip is missing this guy.

 

Mr Cool Dude.

He called us this morning.  He was really bummed that babop wasn't there to make doast with.  Babop misses doast with him too.

But I've been all over this town, walking around the French Quarter and the Garden District, taking walking tours of both.  Yesterday I dragged Dave out of the conference and we went on a tour of the swamp.  We had a Cajoun boat camptain who really knew his stuff.  Thagt would be Cajun, but this internet is so slow everythime a backpace to correct something I have to wair= a full minute for it to catch up so sorry about the typos!

I also visited some  plantations.  The weather has been fabulous.  80s.  No rain.  Too bad I have to go back to Indiana and a threat of snow!  Or, at least, my mil in Michigan told me today they've got that in the forcast .  Maybe it won't come south to Indiana!

Tomorrow is a travel day.  Catch you all later!

 

New Orleans is a very interesting city.  We've (Dave and I) have been here since Satuay afternoon and the weather has been cooperating fully to make this stay very enjoyable.

Dave is here as a participant in the ACS conference (American Chemical Society) and I am here as a tag-a-long.  I took a walking tour of the French Quarter this morning and then spent the entire rest of the day there.  My feet are really tired now!

I'm using Dave's laptop in the hotel room and the hook up is slow, especially when I make a mistake and have to backspace to fix it.  Oh well.  We'll be here until Thursday.  Michelle and the gang are cat sitting for usso no worries, right?

Michelle turns 21 tomorrow, 4/7, so we had a party on Friday before we left.

Kaden blew out the candles the first time, so this is a repeat.  Funny that he knew just what to do!

Aren't they cute?

Not as cute as "the boys".

This is way too slow, so I'm ending now.  I'll try to visit while I'm chillin' tonight!

 

This will be a picture blog.

Grandma Katie arrives with Susan.

Natalie is intensely searching for eggs.

These children needed no instruction.  We just handed them a basket and off they both went, piling as many eggs in their basket as they could.  The funniest moment came at the very end, when all the eggs were found.  Natalie looked over at Kaden's basket and "found" another egg!  She just plucked it out of his basket and put it in hers!

These eggs were "hidden" for 2 year olds.  The hiding places will get harder as they get older.

Michelle, Claire and my mom.

Katie and Susan.  Can you see the little shoving match going on in the background?

Dave (babop) and Kaden.

Kaden really enjoyed holding Claire.  You can see baby Alphonse Sebastian Ferdinand under Michelle's peach top.  Please help me come up with more outlandish boy names that I can continue to tease her with.  They haven't come up with another boy name yet.  They have at least 3 more months.

The twins, my dad and Aunt Em.

Val (gee gee) and Kaden.

Kaden is hiding from the wind-up lady bug that was in his easter basket.  He is so funny!

Barney came in from the cold.

I really should take pictures of the snow outside.  I think my mom did.  BRRRRRR!

We had a very simple brunch of GFS muffins, mini bagels, fresh fruit and donuts.  YUM!

We'll be doing more tomorrow, with much the same cast of characters.  Dave and I sing in two services then I'll be able to come home and put in the lamb and the ham.

Have a very Blessed Easter Everyone!

HAPPY EASTER!

We are gearing up to have an Easter egg hunt this morning.  With brunch.  Very easy brunch - muffins and mini bagels from GFS, fresh fruit and Dan and Sarah are bringing donuts.  Including French Cruellers, which my dad called in as a special order.  Let's hope that Dan remembers!

The hunt will be inside.  Perhaps if Kaden and Natalie were 8 instead of 2 we'd have it outside, but since they aren't, we won't.

My parents arrived, safe and sound, just after 9 P.m. on Wednesday night.  Dave and I pulled in from choir and there they were, unloading their car.  It was good to see them.

They had a wonderful reunion with Kaden, who took to them like a duck to water.  No time needed at all to get to know each other.  Kaden recognised gee gee in great grandma (slight family resemblence I guess) and great grandpa too.

My mom posted a great video of Kaden reading.  So if you're on her protected list, be sure and check that out.  If you're not, let me know if you want me to post it here as well.

We'll both be posting after the festivities.  They begin at 9.  We have to distribute eggs through the living room.  Fun!

I can't believe I haven't been here in a week.

I can't believe it's Holy Week.

I can't believe how crowded this house will get by the weekend!

I can't believe my parents are coming for a visit.  They are leaving tomorrow and will probably drive all 17 hours that day.  My dad is crazy.

I can't believe that my cat scan came back normal!  That is a real praise.  So, apparently, my problems are all with allergies.  Maybe it's time for shots?

I can't believe my mil thought Kaden had changed so much in just under 3 months!

I can't believe she only stayed here for 2 days.

I can't believe I didn't take any pictures of her while she was here.

I can't believe I'm writing a blog this way!

I think I will break the cycle and just post pictures for the rest of the blog.

Some shots from my Hawaiian dinner last week.

The fruit.

The sideways cake. (Sorry about that)

The cool faced coconut.

The committee.

On to other pics.

My great neice, twice removed, (who cares - I call her my niece), junglewife, had a baby girl early Saturday morning.  Michelle and I went to see her on Sunday at the hospital. 

So, no, this isn't Michelle's baby.  Hopefully we'll wait another 3 months for that great event!  The end of June/ early July is the forcasted arrival.

We hauled out the old radio flyer wood wagon and Kaden loves it!

I can do it myself!

Mom can help, but I may escape first!

I'll take pics of my parents and Kaden.  Watch for them later in the week.

Thanks for the prayers - all is OK for right now. They did do a test that we won't have results for awhile - something about a test for real contractions. But, for right now, they've sent her home and she's comfortable.

Please keep them in your prayers.

Emergency prayer request:

Michelle went to the hospital with contractions.  She's only 6 months along, so this is really not good.  Pray please that this baby stays inside her where he can continue to grow healthy.