NOLA 2011

This past weekend I met up with some of my Northwestern friends in New Orleans. What a city! It was my first visit, and I already can't wait to go back! New Orleans has such a reputation for being a party city, but it is so much more than that. Great food, great music, culture, history - it has it all!

We did several typical New Orleans tourist activities: a horse-drawn carriage ride through the French Quarter, eating beignets at Cafe Du Monde, drinking Hurricanes at Pat O'Briens, and a walking tour through the Garden District (who needs a tour guide when you have Jill and a Blackberry?). In addition to the aforementioned beignets, we enjoyed New Orleans fare such as BBQ shrimp & grits, po boys, and king cake. Other highlights included jazz at the Ritz and a drink at Lafitte's Bar (the pirate Jean Lafitte's old blacksmith shop, which is lit entirely by candlelight).

I have fun with these friends wherever we go, but having our 2011 reunion in New Orleans made it all the more enjoyable. I can't wait to see where our next get-together will take us!

(thanks for the pictures, Maggie!)

Holiday Aftermath

As we prepare to take down the Christmas tree and put away the rest of the decorations, I can't believe the holidays are already over. Where did the time go?

We hosted Tod's family on the evening of the 23rd with a fun Feliz Navidad-themed dinner, and then headed north to my parents' for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. My mom's side of the family came to celebrate on the 26th, so it was a four-day Christmas for us! Milo and I were sick with the stomach flu on Christmas Day, so that was a bummer (it is really pathetic to hear a 3-year old say, "mom, I need the bucket!"), but we both recovered rather quickly and were able to enjoy the rest of our vacation. We stayed at my parents' for much of the following week, enjoying activities such as sledding, skiing, skating and playing hockey on the lake, going on winter walks, playing games, watching movies, and just relaxing. It was great!

We had Meghan and Alex over for a low-key New Years with fondue and a good movie. The perfect way to do New Years if you ask me!

We recently had Milo's 3-year portraits taken, so I have included some of our favorites below. I have also included some pictures that Milo took with his new camera!

Happy New Year to all of our friends and family! We hope 2011 is good to you.

This is Milo's favorite blanket (i.e. his "bockey"). He LOVES this picture!

Guinness from the view of a 3 year old...looking pretty terrified!

Murphy by Milo.