Track Season

Peanut is running track this spring.  We are still learning all about the sport.  He's got a mean one mile and two mile.  The meets are on Tuesdays and on weekends.  A couple weekends ago, we got lucky.  The weather was wonderful.  Peanut participated in the distance medley relay.

Last Tuesday, the weather turned cold.  Of course, he ran in the second to last event.  We were chilled to the bone by that time.  It was still fun to watch him run.

This weekend, the meet was postponed.  We had some thunderstorms roll through on Friday resulting in the track being flooded on Saturday.  We ended up with a free day - but I am not sure I have anything to show for it!

Spring Break 2014::History

In the blink of an eye…spring break was history.

Pumpkin had a very early flight out of New Orleans on Sunday morning.  We waited for his flight to take off and then started our drive home.

He was teasing me that I'd have to have a little sob fest in the car.  I keep getting better.  It is not easier to say goodbye, but I'm learning.  He is so excited about his summer experiences.  We are all a bit envious.  I want him to savor it all - just wish the end of July wasn't so far away.  I wonder if I'll recognize him them...

Spring Break 2014::Day Eight

We made it to the WWII Museum in New Orleans.  Hats off to the museum for a job extremely well done.  My brain was overloaded, but that is how I roll.  The guys read EVERY plaque in the place.  We just about closed the museum.  Of course, we were thrilled to learn more about the Coast Guard and their role in the war.  

We saw the movie, Beyond All Boundaries, narrated by Tom Hanks.  Technology has come so far.  No longer limited to just the flat screen.  We went to see Final Mission:USS Tang Experience.  It is quite novel too.  It is about the last battle of the USS Tang submarine in the Pacific.

Each person is given a card with an actual crew member on it.  You get an idea of what their job was.  The sub sank in battle, but there were survivors.  Granted, not many survived, but still miraculous that anyone did.  Peanut was the only one in our group that survived.

If you are in New Orleans, save some time for the museum.  It is disturbing.  Lots of innocent lives were lost from war, Holocaust, and nuclear bombs.  We left the place discussing the impact of nuclear bombs.  It was a very thought-provoking educational visit.  We have to be educated to prevent atrocities from reoccurring.

Spring Break 2014::Day Seven

Adding to our list of tours, we took a tour of St. Louis cemetery.  Most of New Orleans is at or below sea level which presents a problem for the traditional burial.  Early on in the settlement of the city, bodies were buried above ground.  The vaults vary in size, hold family members and carry their own stories.  It is a sacred area, but at the same time lots of architecture and lots of stories.  Unfortunately, some of the cemeteries have faced vandalism.  I can't even imagine.  Save Our Cemeteries is trying to restore/maintain.  We were happy to support their cause.

In our quest to find a place for lunch, we ended up by Tulane.  We did a quick walk around after finding a parking spot.  Some of the roads in that area rival the roads in Massachusetts.  The potholes were awful.  Couldn't figure it out as the folks up north have gotten lots of snow this winter.  You'd expect it up there, but not down in NO.

We finally decided on lunch at Reginelli's pizza.  It is a local chain.  The pizza was wonderful.  The Santa Margharita wonderful.  It is of the frozen variety with infused basil.  Yum!

 Early in the evening we made our way back to the Quarter to watch a small St. Patrick's parade.

 Waiting for the parade to start.  Ahh!  Love their heads on my shoulders.

 Family Selfie!

 We all got some beads.  It was fun making me want to go back sometime during Mardi Gras.

We looked for an oyster place.  None of us have had oysters and we talked about giving them a try.  Unfortunately, we got turned around on Bourbon street.  It was getting late and I just did not feel like it was the place for a family.  We ended up eating at Charter House, a favorite of Tennessee Williams.  Best fried green tomatoes and good food!

Spring Break 2014::Day Six

Hello, New Orleans!  We got up early on Thursday to meet my sister and family.  They were on a Carnival cruise coming back to port that morning.  We did not get to go right down to their ship.  Once they disembarked, they met up with us.

We waited around for my sister for about an hour.  The boys gave me a hard time that I got them up early and it was vacation.  Oh, well!  I love the architecture in the French Quarter snapping this one of them in front of the cathedral.

We finally met up with them at Cafe Du Monde, a yummy New Orleans favorite!  It was so lovely to hang out with them, hear about their trip and have fresh beignets.

We had a culinary tour of the city planned.  We found a lovely hotel lobby to hang out and wait for the tour.  Still pinching myself that these two are my boys...

 The tour started at Antoine's, a soon to be sixth generation restaurant.  We learned so much history and tried some local favorites, gumbo, pralines, turtle soup, shrimp remoulade, brisket, and red beans & rice.

Lots of French Quarter restaurants have lovely courtyards inside the buildings.  This was after we sampled turtle soup.  It was very rich and not one of my favorites.

 This is a very old stand up bar.  Again, you can't beat the charm.

The tour lasted a good three hours.  Everyone loved it.  It was such a unique way to get to know the city.  After the tour, Pumpkin went back to buy more pralines.  The rest of us thought they were way too sweet.  I found a yarn store and bought some sock yarn.

It was such a pleasure to be a family of four - all together.  I love the way the boys thrive off of each other.  I grabbed Pumpkin's arm as we walked.  At one point, I made both boys hold my hand.  Loved it!

Spring Break 2014::Day Five

On Wednesday, we were off to New Orleans!  Peanut and Pumpkin had never been.  It is just a six hour drive from the house.  We had a leisurely morning getting on the road by 1pm.  We decided to board Buddy.  It has been such a long time.  The Big Guy took him and could not believe how nervous the puppy dog got.

We stayed at a hotel out by the airport.  There were not any rooms available in the city.  Plus, Pumpkin's plane left very early on Sunday.  We figured it'd be nice to be close.  Per the hotel's recommendation, we tried Harbor Seafood.  The wait was long - even at 8pm on a Wednesday.

 The food was good!  The Big Guy and I shared gumbo and a shrimp poboy.  Pumpkin tried frog legs!

Pumpkin seems very happy!  He adds so much life to our party.  He sings all the time bringing wonderful "noise" with him.  The other three of us are so quiet!

Spring Break 2014::Day Four

Day of Errands

All my planned activities were over.  I left this day "open" to finish everything up and get ready for our spring break trip.

We got tires rotated on the car.  We stopped into the phone store to understand the plan for Pumpkin's phone this summer.  He will turn it off for the time he is out to sea.

Pumpkin and Peanut got lots of XBOX time in.  The Big Guy finished up preparing the Volvo for sale.    Our mechanic offered to try to sell if for us.  Here I am following him on what we hope to be as the last drive.  (It's been a few weeks and no buyers yet!)  Pumpkin did not want anything to do with driving it.  It think that was his way of dealing with the emotion.  We've owned it for as long as he can remember.

We finished off the day with laundry and packing.  We worked on our taxes.  Boring!

New Orleans bound for the remainder of the week!

Spring Break 2014::Day Three

I knew we were going to be home for the first few days of spring break.  So, I organized another activity.  We signed up for the Segway Tours of Memphis.  We had to meet at the Peabody Hotel and tried to snap this family selfie.

The Bellman came right over and tried to help us out with a better family photo.  It is official.  I am the shortest!

 Pumpkin after the safety video getting ready to try out the Segway.

We all mastered it!  I even fell - still not sure what happened as I am more cautious.  The boys not so much.  The Segways have limits on them like governor permitting you to only go 12mph.  We had a great time.  If you look closely, you can see the infamous M bridge that crosses the Mississippi to/fro Memphis.

Peanut told us he'd be happy with a Segway instead of a car when he turns sixteen.  Whatever!

Spring Break 2014::Day Two

The boys tried their hands at sporting clays down near Tunica.  It turns out, Peanut won the honors!

They had a fun afternoon and Pumpkin got back to play flag football with a bunch of friends.

Pumpkin did make sure he was home for dinner, filet on the green egg and homemade mashed potatoes.  I'd make it again tomorrow, if only he could join us at the table!

Spring Break 2014::Day One

Pumpkin flew home last Saturday morning for spring break.  When he connected in Baltimore, he met up with a swim buddy from here who now swims for the Naval Academy.  Fortunately, they were flying Southwest and they got to sit next to each other.  This was my first time to get a gate pass.  It brought back memories from my childhood when we'd greet the planes at the gate.

From the airport, the plan was to head right to Peanut's track meet.  But, someone forgot tennis shoes.  We swung by the store and bought him a new pair of shoes.  We thought we might miss Peanut running.  This was the longest track jamboree ever!  We got to see him run both events completing the meet right before it got dark.  Peanut commented that Pumpkin was a good good luck charm.

We finished the day off with a stop a Pumpkin's favorite barbecue restaurant.  When I look at the picture from above, the Big Guy's hand grabs my heart.

Driving on the Interstate

A couple weekends ago, we were brave!  Peanut drove for his very first time on the interstate!

He did great.  When we got to our destination, he handed over the keys.  He was worn out.