Glover Wedding

New Orleans

We arrived at our hotel on Friday about 11 am. We stayed at a really great place, the Holiday Inn in the French Quarter. It had a pool we cooled off in while there and it was close to everything so we were able to walk every where. After we settled at the hotel we headed to the French Quarter to look around and find a place for lunch. We ate at the Central Grocery, the home of the Mufaletta. It was a little bitty place. Your only menu option whole or half mufaletta. Once you have your food you can squeeze into a little place in the back to eat. We spent the rest of the afternoon walking around looking at things in the French Quarter.

The rehersal dinner Friday night was orginially scheduled on a Riverboat Cruise but was cancelled at the last minute becuase of a large oil spill in the Mississippi River. The Coast Guard closed the river to all boats so they could work on clean up. Despite the last minute change we ate at a wonderful historical place called Tujaques. Everyone is served the same thing, 3 appetizers, then a choice of Beef, Veal or Fish and then dessert. The food was amazing! After dinner we had some drinks with people in town for the wedding at the Omni rooftop. Aaron and I thought we would have a drink on Bourbon Street on the way back to our hotel. We quickly realized we were out of our element. Most of the people were college age. We did get to see a person pulled out of one of the bars and we couldn't help but snap his picture since he was so drunk and thought it was super funny. He captured quite a few looks from passerbys. We didn't stay on Bourbon Street very long and headed back to the hotel.

Saturday morning we decided to eat at Cafe Du Monde, the line was out the door and down the sidewalk so we decided to skip that and just eat somewhere else. We walked down the River Front to the downtown area and stopped at Harrah's to cool off since it was incredibly hot. We gambled a little while and walked away with a profit of $5. The street car stop was just right outside of Harrah's so we jumped on and rode for a little while.

Saturday night the wedding was held at the historic Napoleon House. It's a three story building with a bar/cafe on the 1st floor, the 2nd floor was reserved for receptions/parties, and the 3rd floor is an apartment. The Napoleon House is known for their Pimm's drink, which is Pimm's Liquor, Sweet & Sour topped with a cucumber. I thought we would be able to pick up some Pimm's on Sunday at a liquor store to bring home as a souveniour. It turns out you can only purchase that at the Napoleon House.

Our flight didn't leave until 7 pm Sunday night so we had time to catch the Street Car again and ride down St. Charles Street, famous for their houses. Loyola and Tulane are both located on St. Charles as well. We wondered around the French Quarter the rest of the day and then headed back to the airport.

I drove through New Orleans when I was about 12 years old, so it's hard to compare what it looked like pre and post Katrina. I can tell you the French Quarter is rebuilding and lots of construction is taking place. On the outskirts while riding the street car, we saw lots of vacant/abandoned buildings or places for sale.

We enjoyed our New Orleans vacation and of course very happy to see our little Conner again!

Quiet Weekend

I decided to start tracking the words Conner learn's. I'm sure I've missed a few but I will add them as I remember. He knows a lot more than he can say right now. See the list on the side.

Thursday and Friday we went swimming at Big Perry's Pool. He lives about 5 minutes from us and was out of town and told us to feel free to use the pool. His backyard is very, very shady so it was a bit chilly but we still enjoyed swimming for about an hour each day. Thursday we let Conner run up and down the stairs and we took him out to the deep a few times. Friday we decided to buy a little floatie for him, and he wanted nothing to do with it. Every time we put him down in it he threw a fit. We did discover that he loves to jump of the edge to us, which is a good start to his swimming days.

Saturday we drove to Aimee's to drop off a dishwasher that our neighbor gave us. Conner had fun playing with the kids and of course the hot wheels collection they have gathered over the years. We came back to the house and finished a project we have been trying to get done for sometime. Our gate latch in the back has been in need of desperate repair and in the last couple of weeks became totally inoperable. After some finagling, a trip to Aaron's shop to cut some wood and Home Depot we put on a new latch and added a lock to the back gate.

Sunday we cooked hamburgers on the grill and played in the backyard. We thought it would be fun to blow bubbles with Conner but of course he wants to do his way, (I have no idea who he inhereited this from) which means he will hold the stick and you blow, needless to say this technique resorted in lots of spilled bubble liquid, sticky hands and very few bubbles.

Conner heads to Monica's on Thursday for the weekend and we leave for New Orleans on Friday. We hope the tropical storm has passed through the Gulf of Mexico before we leave.

This to That

For some time I've wanted to put a picture like this in Conner's room. I first saw pictures done this way at an art show in Fort Worth. They of course cost more than what I wanted to pay. At a recent baby shower for Aaron's cousin, she had one hanging over the crib and it inspired me to finally make one for Conner.

Saturday, Conner and I went to Hobby Lobby to get a frame and mat for the pictures. The check out lines were ridiculously long and of course only two lines were open. One line had about 8 people, the one I was in had about 4 people ahead of me. Conner had been such an angel the entire time, patiently waiting to see the frame people in back and then in a split second turned crazy. As we stood in line waiting to check out, he spotted a car on one of the shelves, stood up in the cart and started crying hysterically. I picked him up to comfort him, refusing to give in to his wishes. When that didn't work, I decided to put him back in the cart to cry it out a little. He was so upset that he almost came head first over the side of the cart. By this point, every person in line was focused on me and Conner. In a weak and frustated moment, I gave in and gave him the car. Then, Silence! I would like to point out how evil retailers are and the frustration parents have felt for so many years. Lucky for me the car was made in China and cost me only a couple of dollars. This is the new car!

A Special Treat!

While in New York we were introduced to one of the most amazing things and I felt I should share this with my peeps (faithful Boatwright blog readers).

Sophia and Rene introduced this to us and we've been hooked since. You can make a single serving in the microwave, top it with a little vanilla ice cream and you are in chocolate heaven! No fat! Click on the picture to find out where to buy.


I've been meaning to add a link to our New York pictures. Aaron took about 800, so I've edited for your viewing pleasure to a mere 130. Enjoy! Click on the picture below.

Hot, Hot, Summer Days!

We are finally rested from our trip and back in the swing of things. The three day weekend was a perfect time to catch up on things. Friday we walked to Firewheel Town Center to watch the fireworks. There were so many cars in the neighborhood that it was nice to walk instead of waiting in the long, long, unmoved line of cars. We had a great, close up spot. Conner was a little shocked at first and then sat on Daddy's lap and was just fine. Of course Daddy's commentary - ooh, ah, and wow helped Conner enjoy them. Saturday we decided to take Conner to the local water park, Hawaiian Falls. They have a toddler area that Conner was able to run around in and it was just the right depth for him. Sunday, Aaron went to his shop for a few hours and Conner and I stayed around the house most of the day.

The weather forecast is 100+ degree days for the next week. I'm picturing myself in Conner's swimming pool all weekend!

New York

Back Home

We are back home and had a wonderful time in New York. Our flight on Northwest was cancelled on Wednesday morning so we were transferred to an American Airlines flight and lucked out by having a non stop flight and landed in New York around 3:30 pm. Conner did really well on the 3 1/2 hour flight and was just a little fussy since he didn't have much room to move around. Wednesday night we had dinner in Brooklyn, which is where our friends Sophia and Rene live.

Thursday we walked to a near by park that we ventured to every morning to let Conner run off some of his energy. It was also a good reason for me to stop at the coffee shop. Thursday afternoon we took the subway to the Top of the Rock, (top of the Rockfeller Center) we chose this option over the Empire since you can make an appointment and there are no waiting lines, then we went to FAO Schwarz, walked through Central Park to see the Dave Letterman studio and then on to Times Square.

Friday we ventured to Coney Island where we had an orginal Nathan's Hot Dog - and yes it was the best hot dog ever! Then we traveled to Manhattan to check out the Natural Museum of History. We didn't have much time to look around since there is four stories of things to see. Saturday we took the train to Battery Park to catch the Ferry to Staten Island so we could see the Statue of Liberty, then we made our way to China Town and Little Italy. We stopped and had a late lunch in Little Italy and this was by far the best food the entire time. Just as we finished eating it started to pour rain. Luckily there was a nearby cafe that we took shelter in and had dessert while we waited for the rain to pass.

Sunday, Aaron went to check out an area his friend Beaird lived in while Sophia and I checked out some of the local shops in her neighborhood. It rained most of Sunday so we stayed close to the house.

Monday, Aaron, Conner and I visited Wall Street and the World Trade Center Site, you can no longer tour the New York Stock Exchange. They have a ton of police carrying guns in the area. Very different from when I visited pre 9/11. We decided to make our way to the Metropolitian Museum of Art and unfortunately it was closed on Monday. We walked by the Guggenheim Musuem, through Central Park and then up Madison Avenue where all the fancy shops are. We had a late lunch in Brooklyn, visited another park in the area and finally made our way back to the house to pack.

Conner did really, really well the entire trip - he rode his first plane, train, bus, taxi and ferry all in one week! What a trooper. Our flight on Northwest left on time and the first leg to Memphis, Conner slept the entire way. The second leg from Memphis to Dallas, Conner gave up - we were on a much smaller plane and as we started our descent he let loose! All 20 rows of the plane stared at us and they even came up to us while we waited for our luggage to make sure he was okay.

Aaron took a ton of pictures and when I say a ton that would be approximately 800! Here are a few from the trip.