Trip to NOLA

Just go back yesterday from an awesome first trip to New Orleans.  My travel was very smooth, and the weather managed to stay decent the entire time!  I got to see a little of the city, and hang with some locals and bond with my in-laws, and meet some great people from Make A Wish.  Had some good food and many tasty beverages, and what more can you ask for?  I definitely want to go back next year!

We stayed at the Hotel Montelone.  It was very nice. This view isn't so great, though.  Not much beauty along with that gray sky!


Amanda and I at the pool before the events kicked off for the weekend.

Getting ready for a fun night out!

We had drinks at the Carousal bar--a rotating bar that slowly turns at our hotel.  Was very cool.

We met some of Amanda's friends Friday night and went ALL around town.  Let's just say we were struggling a little bit getting ready for the parade on Saturday morning.  But, we managed!

The parade was so cool! We had a parade escort and a band and tons of beads.  It was HOT though--very hot.   And I guess the parade was cut short a little bit with then New Orleans police dept received a call.


It was pretty cool to be a part of it all!







We then did a bar crawl to all different places around Bourbon Street.  I took selfies with tons of people from the group all dressed up with an "Out of this World" theme.  It was a blast.








Amanda and Mike had to trade costumes in a contest!  Ha!


And Saturday night we went to a really nice dinner at Peche.  It was delicious!


Check out those dudes in the back! Hahah!

After dinner we went to some friends house to watch THE FIGHT.

And Sunday we went to the Country Club and just sort of winged it all day.  It was a great trip, and I was ready to come home on Monday!
Meanwhile, Jeff and the kids went to Cooper's Birthday party on Saturday at City Rock.

Go JR!


The birthday group:

After dinner Grandma and Grandpa came over for dinner and everyone enjoyed their visit.

We are back at it this week! The kids get a 4-day weekend and we don't have any plans!

Busy First Week

We had an awesome week! The kids adjust well to their first week of school. Alex is LOVING it.  We closed on the old house on Friday, and now can officially focus all are efforts on just ONE home.  Small project accomplished with Alex's closet that was just horrible!  I could smell the urine! So Jeff ripped it out, and we put down the Kilz, and Wednesday morning it was re-carpeted.  Just look how gross that was!  Ewe!

Second day of school!

3rd day of school! Goof balls.

My sugar and spice!


And they insisted on a picture with the pups.  Moses!

And Molly!


And I was able to pick them up early on Wednesday for a little treat.


Day 4! Ha!

And Thursday night we went over to the old house with Moses to say goodbye.  The kids were very unemotional about it, but I wanted them to have a chance to say goodbye. So we did!   Goodbye backyard!

Goodbye Alex's room!

Goodbye JR's room!

Goodbye little house.  It was a LOT of work, and very good to us.  We had some good memories here, and are very excited to make new memories in the new house.

I'm finding it hard to miss the old house when you sit on the deck with this view.

Moses loves the backyard.

And Saturday afternoon we took JR up to Woodland Park for the Rock Show.  He has been obsessed for quite some time now.  He brought ALL his money he had been saving (which we were completely unaware of), and the first rock that he saw he busted out this huge wad of cash.  He wanted to go ALL IN!  So funny!

'

He loved it. Could have stayed all day.


They had a digging area we just could not drag him away from.



After the rock show we hit up Front Range BBQ for some DELICIOUS food.  It was sooo good.
Sunday was spent running around getting stuff down around the house and making cupcakes for the afternoon BBQ.
Alex's little buddy Tycen had a "K is for Kindergarten" party Sunday afternoon. The kids had a blast!

Gavin and Alex

Cooper

Gwyn

JR being goofy and Laiken


Ms Nikki!

Jessica and Carl (who hosted the party at their house)

The full group!


And the kids that made up the class of 2030.  Which is crazy to think about!  But only 13 years from now. Wow!


Sunday evening from our formal dining room.  We may be spoiled!

And today was the total solar eclipse.  Not here in Colorado Springs, but I think we hit around 90%.
I wonder where my son gets it from...

Work did a cool little thing with Ben and Jerry's and Moon Pies and Milky Way's, and we all stood in the parking lot and watched.  It was pretty cool! Didn't get as dark as I thought it was going to, but it was still pretty neat.

I leave for New Orleans on Friday for the Make a Wish celebration taking place with Sharon and Amanda.  It should be fun!  We are going to dress up at My Little Pony's and parade down Bourbon Street.  Never a dull moment...