NOLA Pictures

Pat O's and Preservation Hall

St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square
Typical NO street
Riverboats on the Mississippi
The French Market/Flea Market

NOLA

Well, this past weekend I suprised my hubby with a 2 night get away to New Orleans. Calia went off to her Yiayia and Papa's for the nights. We flew out Saturday am, had a smooth flight via Tampa. When we arrived in NO, it didn't appear too much different than what I remembered (hadn't been down there in 5 years). Flying in, we could see lots of blue roofs, from tarps. Otherwise, some of the areas that were previously run down, were still run down, or even looking a little better than I expected. Of course, we didn't venture into the 9th ward or any of the hardest hit areas from Katrina. But, Canal Street, which was under water, looked like it was being built back up better than before. We stayed at the Queen and Crescent (a historic hotel on Camp St. between Poydras and Canal. We were maybe 4 blocks from Bourbon St. and 4 from the Mississippi River/Riverwalk/Harrah's, close to the French Market, Jackson Square, Cafe du Monde, and all the tourist spots.

We had dinner at Nola one of Emeril's restaurants. I had the best Gumbo and Kevin loved the garlic/pesto bisque. My dinner was ok (mahi mahi), but Kevin loved his (pork). And our dessert of White Chocolate-Bananas Foster Bread Pudding with Foster Sauce and Fudge Drizzle was to die for! We then headed toward Bourbon St, walked along, grabbed some Hurricane daqs to go and went back to the hotel to change. We went back to Bourbon St and settled in at Pat O'Briens piano bar. After 2 hurricanes each and a bunch of sing alongs, we decided to head to Harrahs. Quickly, we realized the effect the hurricanes had on us and decided to head back to the hotel. Doesn't help that we had been up since 5am.

Sunday, we walked around...breakfast at Jasckson square, wander through the French Market, coffee au lait and beignets at Cafe du Monde, walked back along the Mississippi toward the Riverwalk, then back to the hotel for a quick nap. We then, headed back to Bourbon St to watch the second half of the Eagles/Saints game, ate some BBQ nachos, walked around and shopped a bit more, then headed to Mother's for Po' boys for dinner. Another jaunt to Harrahs to donate some more money, then settled back into the hotel...feet killing, bellys full, and exhausted!

We didn't get to visit the garden distict, Audubon Zoo or park, Uptown, or a lot of other areas, but I'm sure we'll be making a trip back that way before too long. I'll down load some pictures tonight. Calia was a doll for my mom and Ben...of course she got up everyhour between 11pm and 2am for us last night...must've been because she missed us terribly!

Before we left, Calia cut her two top center teeth (finally) and started taking steps on her own between Kevin and I... Today is picture day at school...should be interesting! That's all for now...

Weekend in PA

Rockin' with Abby

Happy Birthday Jeremy!
With Great Aunt Rose
Standing by Coda
Watching Baby Van Gogh with Declan

We took a trip down to PA this weekend to visit with Kevin's family. John, Shelly, Abigail and Declan came over from NY. Abigail is now walking and she is quite good at it. Declan has an ear infection and wasn't quite his usual self. Still, Calia enjoyed plyaing with her cousins. On Sunday, we had an early 7th birthday party for Jeremy. Calia was mildly obsessed with the mini-rocking chairs that her Nana has. In fact, she spent almost an hour climbing in and out, then over from one to the other without her feet touching the ground. Yup, that's our monkey!

A civilized lady

So, we decided to introduce a bowl and spoon for Calia to "feed" herself with...
Here are some pictures.

Family Picture

Then and Now

The top picture is from apple picking today (10/1/06), the bottom is from apple picking lst year (10/2/05). Wow!

Apple Picking

We went apple picking today in the blustery wind. We tried to go to Sweetser's in Cumberland only to find out it wasn't pick your own, so we ended up at Hansel's in No. Yarmouth. It was small and pretty picked over, but the help of some kind of stick with a cage, we were able to get the apples up high. Calia actually kept her pumpkin hat on the whole time (a shock indeed).
Funny, Ben handed Calia and apple and she spent the whole time polishing it with her tongue and trying to eat it, a hard job when you only have 2 teeth! Needless to say, she didn't even pierce the ski, but it kept her busy! And yes, that is her highchair cover being used as a blanket. It was much cooler at the orchard than at our house, and we forgot a blanket.

Cold Weather = Fuzzy Jammies

Even if my fuzzy jammies are a little long (above),

I still love them.

Cumberland Fair

Goats will eat your fingers!

Bunnies (the only things mommy liked)

Prize winning guinea pigs?

Nasty pigs
Largest pumpkin

On Tuesday night, we headed out to the Cumberland Fair. We took Calia last year, when she was 6ish weeks old, so this year was an entirely different experience. Calia loved all of the farm animals (unlike her mommy) and tried to stick her fingers in every cage. I kept telling Kevin to walk down the center of the aisle, as to ensure Calia left with 10 fingers! Especially funny was the sheep who came right up to Calia and let out a big "Baa." Gross. She was unfazed and continued to try to touch everyting in her path, but had to settle for waving vigorously at every creature.

Then, we walked around and ate some incredible apple crisp (really the whole reason we go every year), and ran into some friends, also taking in the live stock. Finally, we settled down to watch Tony Boffa and his band play. After Calia's initial shock at how loud it was, she was happy to clap and sway with the music, as was her mommy, and the two little kids in the background. The lead singer even took notice of the little front row fan and was clapping with her. Too cute. Next year it will be all about the rides, I'm sure.

Another Saturday night...

Coda makes a great pillow

What spoon?

One busy Bubba

Coda's so funny

Playing with the Frige Farm
Where's Calia??
Bathroom girl

The new Mr. Binks??

So, this morning, I made an alarming, yet fun discovery. Calia has always had 2 Mr. Binks, one light blue, one dark blue. This morning, there was a third Mr. Binks, light blue. Kevin and I are baffled. I'm not sure how they procreated, but somehow the 2 Mr. Binks have produced an offspring, which doesn't smell quite as bad as the elder Binks. Amazing!

Calia's new ride

Bubba Luva

Papa Mulcahy

Today, my mom and I took Calia to meet my Papa. When I was one and my mom went back to work, she took me to Nana and Papa's house. They were this older couple in our neighborhood, who watched kids. I spent 10 years under their care and they are like second grandparents to me. When Nana passed away in summer 1998, Papa sold their large house and moved to a retirement village. This man is incredible. He turned 93 in March and golfs 7 days a week, although he states he has to use the cart now. He has been featured in Sports Illustrated and in our local paper/news many times. One year ago, he hit his first hole in one at 92! Calia went for Papa's fan and he said no, and I laughed she had gotten her first "no" by Papa, something her angelic mother never heard (yeah right!) Unfortunately, it was close to nap time and Calia didn't have much to do, excpet crawl around and head for that fan again and again. She was a bit crabby, but Papa said he had seen worse. He got a kick out of wiping her runny nose stating, "I haven't done that in years!" It was nice to catch up with him and for him to see my little girl who is now the age I was when he first met me!

Matsui and the Sea Dogs game

Look at all the photographers!!

For Me???

Calia and Eli

Boo, Hiss

Last night, we went to Calia's second baseball game in 6 days, this time at good ol' Hadlock Field in Portland. We met up with my coworker, Andrew, his wife, Deb, and their little guy Eli, who is 7 1/2 months old. It was game 3 of the playoffs and the Sea Dogs (Red Sox affiliate) were playing the Trenton Thunder (Yankees affiliate). To add to the drama, Hideki Matsui was playing for Trenton while rehabing his broken wrist. Like the good Sox fans we are, we booed him everytime he stepped to the plate. Kevin and I have seen him before when we saw the Sox/Yanks game in April 2004, but it was cool to see him play in little Portland. Funnier was the hords of Japanese photographers at Hadlock. Apparently, the guy is the elvis of japan. Whatever. Sea Dogs won, now if only the Red Sox could do the same.... Oh well, we'll alwyas have 2004!

Hello

To further expand upon Calia's love of the phone...She now picks up the phone and says "hello", which sounds more like "ho." She carries the little plastic phone aound the house with her.

Typical girl

Calia loves the phone, any phone. She holds it up to her ear and says hello (or what sounds like hello in 13 month old speak). She has also started saying MAMA!! Finally. When I picked her up at school yesterday, she said it and kept saying it the whole way home. Of course we get home, she sees Kevin and it's all dada. But when I said, "say mama," she'd say it. Here is video proof, listen closely. She's also started walking...well, pushing things and walking behind them. Here is a clip. She's growing up so fast!

Funny Girl

I've got the Power!

Laughing at herself
Loving her new shirt

(It's huge at a 2T, but will fit for a long time)

So, after 2 marathon nights of sleep (13 and 12 1/2 hours each), Calia has been a hoot in the am. Eating monster breakfasts and telling some stories that she finds hillarious (too bad we can't understand her).

1st Red Sox game

Post game...new Papelbon shirt.

Is the game ever going to start??
Riding on the "T" with B
Is that "Big Papi"?
Mellow on Daddy

Yesterday Calia went to her first Red Sox game! I got these tickets back in Feb. Rick, Marcy, and Brynna went with us. First, the game was pushed back from 2:05 to 4:05, no biggie we knew about this ahead of time. So, we got near Fenway around 3ish, got a table and 2 high chairs at the Cask n' Flaggon (a miracle feat), and settled in for late lunch/early dinner. The start was pushed back to 4:20, then rain delay. We walked around loaded up on Sox gear, then heard start time was to be 5:10.

Calia was energized by all of the excitement and clapped for everything that happened for the first 2 innings. She got a little crabby, then noticed about 5 20-something boys sitting behind us. She spent the next couple innings smiling, waving, trying to steal their beer, pizza, whatever they were eating. She then settled in on Kevin's lap and we made it to the 7th inning. When the Sox were losing 6-0, we were all a little tired and anxious to beat the crowd out, we left. She was very mellow on the T back to the car. We got her out of her sweaty, smelly clothes, put her in her new Papelbon shirt. With Mr. Binks and blankie in place, she was out like a light (8:00pm). She slept the whole way home, into bed and until 8:40 this morning. We should go to a game everyday!