The Big Easy aka "Get Big Easy"

I gained 6 lbs in one week.  6 whole pounds.  Travis had business in New Orleans, so I decided to tag along.  The funny thing is, I don't even like seafood which is what New Orleans is famous for.  AND, on top of all that, I even worked out at the hotel gym ...........(once!).  What I can say is, the trip was worth every pound.  At least it WAS.  Now that my memory is fading, I'm not so sure.  So here's a bunch of touristy posed pictures to show a few of our recent adventures.

The view outside of the Marriott (Convention Center).  The other side was the riverwalk and the Mississippi River:

The  good old Mississippi:

We'll throw in a little captain stance for the fam:

Shout Out:

Travis at Jackson Square:

Total Michael Scott right here:

We had fun riding the cute little street cars to check out the beautiful plantation style homes:

The first couple days were cold, but after that we enjoyed nearly 70 degree weather.

Along with shopping and touring, we also went to the Catholic church at St. Peter's Cathedral.  It was pretty sweet, and even more memorable in such an old and fascinating building.  And then of course we had to nap and relax at the hotel.  What's a kid free break without a little nap here and there? 

We went on a swamp tour SO excited to spy some gators but unfortunately they were all hiding.

It was still pretty cool though.

It was hard to believe so many people live just like this:

I got so excited when we finally spotted something new and exotic, I quickly told Travis to take a picture.  He looked at me like I was nuts and said, "You mean the same bird we have all over the golf course in Richfield?"  I made him take a picture anyway dang it.

Our tour guide came prepared with a spare gator:

This is Bourbon street.  It was cool to see the jazz bands playing on every corner.  The streets were COVERED with people dancing, shopping and drinking.  I was amazed when cars would even make an attempt at driving down Bourbon Street.

Lots of good jazz music everywhere.

But even better than that was the best carmel apples I've ever had in my life, right across from our hotel.

One of the days that Travis was in meetings, I went touring with a couple of guys from Trav's weatherization crew.  I thought it was hilarious!

The best part was the above ground cemetery tour.  Underground burial is discouraged because of the water tables.  I found it absolutely fascinating.  This was the 2nd oldest cemetery in the city.  It was incredible to see.  Every tomb has several bodies in it.  Several families actually.  Pretty crazy that it's still what they use today.

Half of the tombs in this particular cemetery were just completely falling apart.

It was also cool to see all the places I remembered from the news reports from Hurricane Katrina.  Places like the Superdome.

Check out all beads from past Mardi Gras on this tree on St. Charles street:

Rams and Dale:

Why not throw in a close up to end the tour?

Trav and I had a contest to see who would jump into the freezing cold water at the hotel first.  At first Travis was a huge wuss, but as I was about to take the dive, he cannonballed in and soaked me. 

More sweet ships in the fog.

Oh so yummy beignets at the Cafe Du Monde:

I'm dreaming of them even as I type this.

Seth Lundgreen also toured the city with us.  The cemeteries are just too cool to pass up.

Inside one of the tombs.  That's where they get the term, "I got the shaft".  At the back of these slots is the shaft where they push the decomposed bodies in order to make room for more.

City Park touring.  This place was awesome.  It was beautiful, and had a TON of sculptures.

We also took a tour of the Lower 9th Ward.  It was super crazy to see the abandoned destruction that still hasn't been touched 6 years after Katrina.  There was just so much of it.  I even saw 2 boats stuck on random roofs.  I was shocked. 

Cute little street car:

The tour took us past houses owned by Sandra Bullock, Brad and Angelina, the Mannings, and numerous movie locations that I recognized, but my pictures all turned out to look something like this.  Woops.  I know, I know, I definitely need to learn a few photography tips!

That blessed carmel apple store.  Also the main enemy of my scale.

For some reason, this picture cracks me up.  Poor Rams!

 

The end!  We loved New Orleans, but were so happy to go home and hug our girls.  Thank you Mom and Dad for being so completely AWESOME. 

Brielle's 3rd Birthday Interview

From This:

To This:

It all happened so quickly.  I still can't believe she's three!  I really don't want to forget anything about this time in our lives.  And since I have the worse memory in the World, I guess I'll just have to write down as much as I can.  Hopefully this will be a start:

Brielle's 3^rd Birthday Interview:

What is your name? Brielle Kyhl
How old are you? 3
Where do you live? I don’t know. . . . .I live in Salk Lake.  Me: Oh Come on Brielle, you know where     you live.  Bree:  I live in. . . . someping. 


Favorites:
Food:  Um. . . . . Christmas. . . . . . . grapes.  (I'm not surprised there, she really doesn't like to eat much of anything ever.  She does sneak candy though, and she does ask for ramen more than any other food.)
Drink: Orange drinks.
Toy: Um. . . . . I can’t member it. . . like applesauce maybe?  (She’s in a very silly mood)
Game: I like membory.  It’s my favorite toy.  (Memory the matching game)
Song: I Love to See the Temple.
Book: The ducky book.
Dinner: I like some grapes I said.  Mommy, I just told you.
Animal: I like a horsey because I like it.
Color: Blue (even though it’s actually pink)
Movie: The Lion King
Princess: Beauty and the Beast (20 min ago it was Cinderella, and yesterday it was Tinkerbell).

(Brielle: Hold on mom, I gotta go change into Beauty and the Beast dress up, then I can talk to you. . . OK?)

Favorite things to do: I like to play membory. I like to color too and read and go to gymnastics. (Really though, I think it’s dress up.  She changes clothes like 20 times a day.  She’d rather do that than anything.)

Place to go? Somewhere.  I like to go to the house we’re building.

Favorite sport:  I like to play running.

What do you love about daddy? I can’t member.  Later: That he tickles me.
What do you love about mommy? You are funny.
What do you love about Taylee?  She plays with me.
What makes you happy? To tickle me.
What makes you sad? Being naughty.
Who’s your best friend? Noah.
What is mom’s favorite thing to do? You like to play Membory with me.
What is dad’s favorite thing to do? He likes to play games with me too.
What does our family like to do together? They like to play all the games.

What do you want to be when you grow up? I’d like to be the Princess.
What is your least favorite thing to eat? Bananas.
What are you really good at?  I’m good at looking at the tree (and not touching), and coloring.
What was the best part of your birthday party? Open presents and dress up in Cinderella.  I like to do that.
What are you thankful for? I am thankful for ducky.

 Brielle is like my breath of fresh air.  I feel so honored to be her Mommy.  Brielle, I love you more than I will ever be able to describe. I'm the luckiest girl in the world because I get to be with you everyday and forever.

XOXO,

Mommy

Parties, Other Parties, and More Parties

It all started with this adorable birthday girl.  She had been counting down the days to her birthday for a LONG time.  All she could ever talk about was November 19th.  Going as far as constantly using it as an excuse to get out of anything she didn't want to do.

For example:

Me: Breezy, it's time for bed.

Bree: Oh no, it's OK.  My birthday's on November 19th and I'm going to be 3 so I'm just going to stay up and watch a movie cuz it's my birthday soon. . . . . . Sound like a plan mom? 

(Sometimes it worked too. . . . . . I'm only human!)

We made a paper chain to help count down the days.  And then of course we had to make a necklace and a bracelet too.  Brielle is 100% girl!

Brielle loves to "write".  Mostly she scribbles, but it makes her feel very important, so she does it every chance she gets.  I was so excited when she wrote her name by herself (I had to tell her which letters to write, but she did the rest) several weeks ago.  She said she had to practice for her birthday.  I don't have a clue why she felt that way, but it works for me!

The big day finally came and Breezy was super pumped.  Trav and I woke her up by singing "Happy Birthday" to her and she was elated!  Then Trav went to work on the house and Brielle requested that we eat breakfast while watching Tinkerbell.  So that's exactly what we did.  That's about when my parents arrived along with my brother Randy.  Brielle has a little crush on Randy.  Having Uncle Randy there was the perfect present for this spoiled little girl!

The party continues at the bowling alley:

Honestly, I think Taylee enjoyed bowling more than Brielle did.  Brielle had fun, but Taylee squealed and giggled the entire time!  She loves balls, and every time the ball came back up the ramp right next to her, she thought that was the funniest thing in the world!  She wanted it to be her turn every time.  She truly could not get enough.  It was more fun watching her than anything else (at least for me).  Of course Trav and I were the top score-ers.  (Let's pretend I didn't have to use the bumpers just about every roll!)

Breezy had more fun choreographing dance moves while lying on the floor.

To make the experience more complete, she also had to do the good luck pants roll just like her Daddy:

Unfortunately, our apartment is too tiny to have a true party, but we did invite a few more grandparents to help us eat the cake.  And yes, I kind of did treat it as my own party and got two cakes that I picked out, two tubs of my favorite ice cream, and made caramel apples as well because it was what I wanted.  Selfish? Sure.  Delish? Absolutely!  I really don't think Breezy minded.  She was just excited about all of the presents!

Uncle Randy gave her a keyboard that we've had fun jamming out to.

Brielle cracked us up more than once changing her clothes right there in the middle of everyone because she just couldn't resist all of her dress up clothes.

The makeup was one of her favs.  As funny as it sounds, Brielle and I have made a lot of good memories in the morning putting on our makeup together.

Her fabulous Aunt Misty arranged for Brielle to get a call from one of her very favorite princesses - Cinderella!  She's still talking about that to this day!

Brielle with all her loot.

Sweet sisters :)

 Needless to say, Brielle's Birthday did not disappoint.

Thanksgiving Day

The most exciting part: We were able to meet Ryan and Misty's beautiful little boy just one day old in this pic.  Dylan Parker Rhodes.  It was so fun to hold him and made me want a little boy even more!

I didn't get any pictures of Thanksgiving dinner, I guess we were all too busy chowing down.  It was a fabulous day to reflect on everything we're grateful for though.  I was grateful that calories don't count on Thanksgiving!

Sneaking:

 We had a fabulous time and my parents really outdid themselves! 

Party Continuum: This Is the Place State Park

Unfortunately, Travis left later that night to go back to Richfield to work on the house, but the girls and I decided to keep the party going.  (I know it sounds terrible, I really felt terrible too but there was nothing I could do to help at the house).  So we met up with Trav's family, and went to This Is the Place State Park.  It was so much fun!

Taylee and I on the train:

I spy Comet and Cupid!

Of course we had to stop and learn the sweet Pioneer dance moves.  It was fun because it brought back a lot of memories of when I used to volunteer there with my friend Melanie Visser to teach those same dances.

Our cheering section:

My 5 year old nephew Jackson was my partner and he did awesome!  We had so much fun goofing off and learning some sweet moves.  Abbey and Tyson really got into it too.

Elf Village:

My dance partner and I:

The funniest part was when we discovered that Taylee wasn't buckled in, and had slid down until just her head was still actually on the seat.  Poor baby!  She was a good sport though, we didn't have a clue!

Santa was AWESOME!  He was super nice and sweet with the girls.  Both of them loved him.  Brielle never loves anyone right away, but she did him!  She told him she just wanted candy.  He gave her a candy cane and she was sold on him!

Taylee was mesmerized.

Discovery Gateway

Why not?

The ball pit was a favorite among my girls.  It took several efforts to get them out of there.

I love this picture!

I love that it's directed to such a wide age range.  Taylee stayed just as busy as Brielle did.

Abbey, Tripp, me, Jackson

See what I mean by wide age range?  Tyson is 32 and was just as delighted as my 3 year old!

Captain Breeze:

We've had a fabulous couple of weeks and we hope that everyone else enjoyed Thanksgiving even half as much as we did!