Live From New Orleans

As I write this, my boy is down in New Orleans, preparing to watch the Super Bowl with extended family. He spent the morning eating his weight in beignets at Cafe Du Monde, taking a hayride (his term for a horse drawn carriage around the French Quarter), and taking in the live music. Yesterday he went to a Mardi Gras parade with his cousins.

Word is, (no shock here) New Orleans is one big party. Scratch that: HUGE party.

I assure you, Leo is having a fantastical time. For those not in the "know," beignets are extremely sophisticated Munchkins. And you cannot die before experiencing a fresh one from Cafe Du Monde in the New Orleans' French Quarter (along with a cup of midnight black chicory coffee).

My only question is, why does Leo look so forlorn in this picture? Amy has asked a version of this question before. It seems like people with Down syndrome look (at least by appearance) either overcome with happiness or supremely forlorn. I hate to generalize, but...

Oh wait! No THIS picture is more like it. Look at my boy! Loving the fountain by the Mississippi River.

Today is a day to party, no matter who wins.

Go Saints!!!

Trip to New Orleans

So I am finally able to look at all my pictures from our trip to New Orleans, having solved the dead card reader conundrum. I admit I didn't take many pictures, and I was afraid to take any at all, for fear that there truly was something wrong with my camera.

Upon looking at this most recent set, I see that apparently all my children do is eat.

We went to the airport. We ate. We flew. We went to the hotel room and we ate some more. We came home.

Note to self: try to catch kids when they are not eating. I guess it's just easy because they are stationary when they eat. Yeah, that's it.


Waiting while Erin parked the car. Eating.


Lunch time in D.C. Those Dora alphabet flashcards Leo had were great. He was so interested in them.


I love the look on Ellie's face here. She looks...full.


Watching the planes. Leo was in Heaven. Hey, no eating!







We were all shocked when Leo fell asleep during of all things, the take-off. Just conked out.


Ellie however, did not. Here she is standing in the empty seat next to me.


Leo made himself right at home in the hotel room. He literally did a running jump onto the bed.


It was a long day. Pajama time. I fell in love with plantation shutters during this trip (see background). I have always wanted them but this hotel room sealed the deal. Someday.


And meanwhile, Ellie ate.


Another non-eating shot! This was in D.C. on our way home. Ellie made such strides in walking thist trip. Also, I remembered just how much I love the look of little girls in dresses with leggings (this was an accidental outfit--she spilled something on her t-shirt and so I threw the dress on her and she was being so squirmy I just kept the pants on). I can't wait for fall. Leggings and cute little dresses galore.

Can you believe we even went to New Orleans? I promise you we did.