2 year old pictures

Check out Mati Claire's 2 year old photo session over on my link list under Vanessa Diel Photography. Can't wait to see the rest, Vanessa! Great job! Love them (especially the last two)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monumental

Growing up, I'm pretty sure my Dad put all our toys together. I've always considered anything that involves a Phillips screwdriver and wood a "man's job." Not holding it against Matt. I know he has to work this week and with my family here this next week, I thought I should go ahead and put Mati Claire's birthday present together myself. This is how it shipped to me about 3 months ago:

It sat in my laundry room since just like that. Got tired of big boxes taking up so much room. So I unpacked them with little enthusiasm. It sunk even lower when I actually organized the FORTY pieces of wood, TEN different packets of various nuts/bolts/screws, and THREE different types of screwdrivers. Somebody's gonna have to do it before next week.

After 2 hours, it looked like this. Good stopping point...went to bed. That was Wednesday.

Thursday, another 2 hours! FINALLY! The finished product:

So that's what I've been doing all week. That and attempting to potty train. She's doing well...she's been once a day for 3 days and twice yesterday! "I did it all for the cookies!"

A TEEny bit of good news

Ha! MC woke up this morning and I changed her diaper around 7:30am. We played around the house then ran our errands. We came home around 12:30 and I changed her diaper again...a completely DRY diaper! After 3 glasses of milk/juice! MC has had NO hint of training yet, so I figured what the heck. I put her on the real potty and figured she would just sit there and play. Surely she has to go...it's been like 5 hours. I said, "Mati Claire, do you need to go tee-tee in the potty?" and she replied "uh-huh"......AND WENT!

I know it was a freak accident and we're not entirely sure it will happen again anytime soon. But I'm just glad to see something good today...and the START of potty training! Yay!

What am I doing indoors?

Still here! Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. Believe it or not, we have spent every waking moment outside it seems and I have NO pictures to show for it. After our trip to New Orleans, Mati Claire is still "off schedule". We spent a very long weekend at the lake. Tyanne and I found the courage to go 'tubing'. We forgot how much fun it is...I think the last time we did that was back in high school! But then the boat broke down, James' jet skiis broke down, I think Bill's fishing boat went sour, and our dishwasher broke. Nonetheless, we still had an awesome time and enjoyed some really good food! I drove the boat for the first time...what an experience.

I worked 3 days last week then attended a funeral of a family friend ... ... ... ... ... then had a massive meltdown. I cried for 2 straight days. I was trying to help out because I do have babysitters (they disappear come school year) and I attempt to contribute financially. For me, working is my mothers-day-out. Mothers out there know what I'm talking about.

Now we're getting ready for MC's birthday party! Family will be coming to visit next weekend. I'm hoping Kennedy will teach Mati Claire the potty training basics!

Wild Times

We took our anniversary trip to New Orleans this week. We made it a family trip and took Mati Claire with us so she could visit the Audubon Zoo, Aquarium of the Americas, and Global Wildlife (in Folsom, LA). It was a great trip! We loved our hotel, Windsor Court, and we also had good weather to enjoy the zoos and walking downtown. MC had her first cab ride (lack of car seat is illegal I think), first trip down Bourbon Street, and enjoyed Cafe Du Monde beignets! Please excuse my appearance in the picture...I did not realize we would have a family photo op! I'm usually behind the camera!

First of many trips to Bourbon Street??? I think not.

I got mistaken as Miley Cyrus while ordering room service! I heard she was there doing a concert and we also saw paparazzi downtown. But only our last name showed up on caller ID and the employee thought she hit the jackpot! Little did she know.

MC enjoyed the Aquarium the best (maybe because of the air conditioner). She got to pet the baby shark and saw many many many 'shish'. Here are a few pics from the Aquarium:

The Global Wildlife Park in Folsom, LA (1 hr north of New Orleans) was really neat! Here's a collage of petting the animals! The giraffes are by far the coolest. You can only feed the giraffes and llamas out of your hand...the rest have to eat from the cup provided. But you can pet almost all of them. Zebras bite so we stayed away from them! Very neat adventure! They have buffalo, deer, kangaroos, camels, emus, beefalo (hybrid buffalo/cow), peacocks, giraffes, llamas, zebras, and various other forms of deer and antelopes.

Excited about corn! I wonder why?

Feeding giraffe Sunny

Feeding the camel

The New Orleans Audubon Zoo was sort of out of the way and took almost 30-45 minutes to get there by cab. But it was good too. They have this amazing gorilla (Katie?) that is enormous. But if you've seen 1 zoo, you've seen 'em all. Getting to actually pet the animals was worth every penny. MC went "ape $#!*" over all the adventures! She didn't complain once! She walked (wouldn't ride in the stroller) and toured Bourbon Street! Yeah, how crazy can we get with a 2 year old right? MANY restaurants won't allow children at all. That's crazy! She was so well-behaved! It was me and Matt that they should've worried about! ;)

I love you honey, but seriously. Matt knocked over a glass of water at one restaurant not only spilling it all over me, but SHATTERING the glass. Yes, I get a bit upset when there are tiny bits of glass within arms reach of our child. We fought over directions no matter where we went! Then about an hour after we left the hotel for good, he realized he left his keys in the room. What? We had already crossed Lake Pontchartrain. Had to turn around, go back, and then drive back again...with a 2 yr old that refuses to nap! Talk about an irritating anniversary! One to remember! But overall still a very fun trip! The police had already left our house when we got home! Yay! We cut Folsom a few minutes short when we got a phone call from police! All is good! Only harm done is Rachel is mortified I think.

Got home last night. Matt has to redeem himself. So we got a sitter, and headed to the new Japanese restaurant in town and to see The Hangover movie! It's vulgar, gross, has explicit language, but HILARIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cried from laughing through the entire movie! One of the funniest movies I've ever seen! And here's some more good news in the movie world if you haven't already seen it, check out the movie trailer for Twilight: New Moon! I can't wait for this movie to come out. And even if you're not a Twilight groupie, check it out and it may entice you to read it!

And a good time was had by all!

One Fish Two Fish

One Fish Two Fish
We had such a fun weekend! Friday night, I got to go out with some girlfriends while Matt watched MC for me. We saw Ghosts of Girlfriends Past after dinner. I give it 2 stars (out of 4).
Then the early bird catches the worm! Matt got up at 4 am to go fishing with some friends and the Sunday School class. Matt fishes? Apparently he does now. Then MC and I showed up later for the fish fry fun. Thank you to the Holmes for letting us use their beautiful home! And the fish was delicious! Posted some pics below.

Red Fish Blue Fish
My MIL brought us Jerry's earlier this week. Ahhhhh.....best place on earth.

Black Fish Blue Fish
I found my way back to Fresh Market at the Renaissance and bought some Orange Roughy. Basil, lime juice, and olive oil - delish!

Old Fish New Fish
Then Sunday was Matt's birthday! Happy Birthday! Miranda babysat while we went to dinner and to see X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Great movie! I give it 3 (out of 4) stars! I HIGHLY recommend Amerigo's blackfish! I may go back and get it 'to go' next week. It was awesome.


Precious babies! Walker, Caroline, Timothy (not so much a baby), Sam, MC

Guarding the jump door

This is the face that Matt gets to see when he walks in

The other children playing wiffle-ball (sp?)

Today is gone. Today was fun.

Tomorrow is another one.

Every day,

from here to there,

funny things are everywhere.

-Dr. Seuss