Trip to NOLA!!

Sorry for the delay in postings but all of my free time during Kaitlyn's naps this week and evening have been spent trying to "declutter" and "spruce up" the house and get it ready to put on the market in the next few weeks or so. Kaitlyn and I also took a long trip down to NOLA (New Orleans, LA for you Northerners) to visit my family, celebrate a delayed Christmas, throw a baby shower for my best friend from high school, wedding dress shop with Aunt Lindsey, and celebrate birthdays with Bebe, Pops, and Soon-to-be Uncle Alan. It was a BUSY ten days!! Not going to lie I was a bit nervous flying by myself with Kaitlyn for the first time solo but she did great and was a very good girl thanks to lots of distractions and "bribes" :) We had a great trip!! She was such a trooper being dragged around town everyday to lunch with family and friends, dress shopping (yes - a one year old in a bridal shop!), going to Aunt Lindsey's soccer game, and running errands. We took Bebe (my mom), Pops (my dad), and Uncle Alan to Cirque du Soleil show on Saturday as a surprise birthday gift and she sat through the whole show either waving at the performers on stage or looking over at Pops to see if he was clapping and then clapping along with him....I think I was more entertained watching her :) We took LOTS of pics during our trip so enjoy as many as you would like.....

We spent lots of time playing with Bebe and Pops in the kitchen - Bebe and I resting on the floor after a busy day of cooking, cleaning and vacuuming :)

Pics from Aunt Kelly's Shower... she's having TWO girls (Kate and Lilly) - can't wait to meet them and have more playmates.

Aunt Lindsey helped keep me entertained during the shower with a little soccer outside...

Wedding dress shopping sure is fun (promise there was plastic on the dresses). Aunt Lindsey found her dress but we can't show you the pics just yet - Alan might decide to peak :) Don't worry Dadda - think it might be a few more years until you have to buy one of these for me!!

Pops sure is a fun "horsy"...

Check out my new computer Santa left me at Bebe and Pops' house... now I can play computer like Mamma and Dadda!!

Aunt Lindsey and Uncle Alan gave me this stylish new outfit - perfect for "work" as I bring my computer along with me.

A true New Orleans girl getting ready for Mardi Gras already... I loved walking / running around the house with me beads on!!

I sure LOVED Bebe's Honey Nut Cheerios... she even didn't mind when I dropped them all over the floor and if you know my Bebe that's a BIG deal (she likes things clean) :)

Speaking of clean ... Bebe bought me my own vacuum so I can be just like her!!

I had a great time visiting with my Aunt Geralyn and cousins, Stephen and Daniel. I even tried to help Stephen with his homework and Daniel shared his teddy bear with me.

I visiting my Great-Grandma and got a cuddly bear and adorable outfit that I can't wait to wear in the Spring (if it ever comes)!! (P.S. take note of the bows - for whatever reason we finally decided that we can keep them in our hair - for a little while at least)

Got to hang out with my Aunt Joann too... SO good to get a chance to spend time with all of our family!!

Check out my new car and the beads, of course!!

One of my favorite parts of the trip was playing outside....

Not sure if I've ever seen these things before but think they are called pine needles?!?

After getting all "dolled" up for the Cirque du Soleil performance Uncle Alan brought me a special treat to hold me over until dinner - McDonald's French Fries!!! Yummy!

Happy Birthday Bebe, Pops, and Uncle Alan!! So glad we were there to celebrate with you!!

Hope everyone had a great weekend! Miss you all tons!!

Happy New Year!!

"Young Love".... doesn't this one just melt your heart :) I think this will be a great pic for Kaitlyn and Sam's rehearsal dinner slideshow in about 25+ years!! Last week we drove down to Nashville to visit our dear friends - the Olds (Matt, Molly, Jack and Sam). The Olds used to live in Ann Arbor until they moved to Nashville last summer and it was SO great to have a chance to catch up and see these kiddos play together. Kaitlyn loved chasing Jack and Sam all around the house and loved all of their new toys including the train table. We took a trip to the Nashville Zoo and were about the only ones in the place (humans and animals) but it was nice to be outside in the "toasty" high 40s :) Our New Years Eve consisted of putting the kiddos down for bed, having a great dinner and talking for hours over several bottles of wine just like old times. Wouldn't have had it any other way :) We also get a chance to check out one of the parks in Nashville where I realized just how out of shape I am trying to battle the "hills" of Nashville. It was a very relaxing trip filled with lots of laughter and hugs from the kiddos all around.

Here are a few more pics from the trip.....

A little indoor soccer to keep us entertained....

Two peas in a pod....



After our stay in Nashville we stopped off in Columbus, OH for a night to check out our new home come July. I had never been there so it was nice to finally get a visual of the city and check out some of the areas around the hospital to figure out where we should live for our year there. I must say I was pleasantly surprised - it's a lot bigger of a city than I imagined and we found at least two areas that look like they would be good options.


Today was sort of my first official day of "retirement" since the holiday break was officially over. It was great to take our time getting ready this morning, run errands, and just play all day without having to worry about checking email or doing work :) Now we just need to find things to keep us busy but somehow I don't think that's going to be a problem. Kaitlyn and I are headed to New Orleans on Friday to see my family and friends and have a delayed Christmas. We're excited to see my family and high school friends and do a lot of "wedding" shopping with Aunt Lindsey!


Hope everyone had a great New Year's and 2009 is off to a great start!!