Brielle's K4 Thanksgiving Program

Thanksgiving 2014

We made our annual Thanksgiving holiday trek down to New Orleans again this year. We went to see Grammy for lunch on Thursday...

Saturday it was the much anticipated trip to the New Orleans Children's Museum.  We spent about all our time in the restaurant and the grocery store.

Then in typical New Orleans fashion we went to a newly opened restaurant on St. Charles.  We didn't realize that it was actually opening day.  We were greeted by a band...

...both outside...

...and inside.  It was great.  My girls don't often get New Orleans cultural experiences.

It's evidenced on their faces!

Thankful for Beignets

When I was a kid my dad and I went quite often to Morning Call or Cafe du Monde to get beignets and cafe au leits.  It's really one of those childhood memories, along with Saints games, that I will always remember about my dad and me. Seriously, I love them so much I've been known to treck several blocks through pouring rain in the French Quarter just to get a frozen cafe au leit.  They're THAT good.

So of course, since I'm trying to raise my children somewhat as New Orleans girls who happen to live out of state, we took Kendall for her first experience. She received her first lesson before bite one on how to scientifically bite into a powdered sugar covered beignet.  Breathe out and you'll spray a puff of sugar all over yourself and your table guests.  Breathe in and you'll get a big 'ole snort of sugar. True New Orleanians can eat an entire order with no sugar on (or in) their noses or clothes.  It's a true test that must be mastered. (Point in case: guy behind Kendall in green shirt.  Local. No sugar remnants on his hunter green shirt, which is a brave color of choice.)

Kendall did pretty good for her first time.  And I think she likes it enough that we'll be going back for plenty more practice.

Thanksgiving 2012

Over the past few years Thanksgiving has turned into our busy travel holiday.  Way too many people to see and things to do.  Way too little time in which to do it.  Oh well.  We slam as much in as possible.

After heading down to my beloved New Olreans on Wednesday, we headed over to Baton Rouge to see my grandmother.

Here's our family picture of the season...

IF I had had the patience to wait to do Christmas cards, this one would have been the winner.  But for the first time ever it'll be just the girls but I saved alot of $$ by being an early bird.

And here's the sweetest picture of the girls.  I'm kinda glad it didn't come out perfect (in one Brielle was smiling directly at the camera...so was Kendall...but with her eyes closed) because then I would have been really upset of settling on my Christmas card picture this year.

I'm gonna dress them in matching outfits as long as I can get away with it!

CANNOT believe my sweet girl is FOUR!

Grammy, or Myrt as all her children and grands affectionately call her by her name, got to meet her newest great-granddaughter.  She was so excited to see a sweet baby.

We got another four generation picture. We have one from when Kendall was a baby.  AND we have one of me as a baby with MY great grandmother, Myrt's mom, Mamaw. 

And here's the whole fam.

The next day we took Kendall back to the NO Children's Museum.  Just like me as a kid, the grocery store is her favorite. Though she didn't seem amused by JuJu's photography.

This was Brielle's view of it all.

Kendall was a little more hospitable at the restaurant.  She proved to be an excellent waitress for Mommy and JuJu.

One more Thanksgiving.  One more enjoyable time with our family.

Thanksgiving Program

Kendall's school Thanksgiving program was so much fun. (Just as much for Mommy as Kendall I do believe.) It's not often I get to be just "mommy" and show up to preschool events. Usually I'm "director and mommy" and I'm in charge of making sure everything goes as planned. So this day I could relinquish all duties and responsibilities and just relax and enjoy. And I must say, though I love my job, it was nice for a change.

Here's Kendall dressed as an indian.

Afterwards Daddy went back to work and the girls enjoyed the beautiful weather at the park. Brielle was there but she didn't make it into any pics.

Kendall brought this home from school.  So sweet...

Making Groceries and a Little Lagniappe

While in New Orleans for Thanksgiving we took Kendall to the Children's Museum.  I remembered it from when I was a kid, and I was just as excited as Kendall to go.  I just knew that my all time favorite thing there would be hers. And I was right.

The grocery store.  It is so cool.  The kids get real buggies, load up their groceries, and get to play cashier on a real cash register.  The only unpopular job it the shelf restocking.

Here's Kendall making groceries New Orleans style.

And here she is checking Mama out.

She loved it, eventually donning a cashier apron.  She was serious about her work.

So serious that she checked out all the other kids as well!

Next she was off practicing her waitressing skills with Grandpa.

She provided excellent service.

Daddy and JuJu were loyal customers.

A quick ride on Andrew Jackson's horse at Jackson Square then we were off again.

Another favorite was the Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood exhibit.  Kendall is a huge fan of Mr. Rogers, watching episodes on pbskids.org.  She was probably the only kid there who knew all the characters' names.  She squealed with delight when Henrietta popped out of her tree house.

She loved playing with King Friday's castle puppet stage as well.

Poor thing, we had to cut her visit to a mere three hours when we left in time to grab seafood poboys and get home in time for the LSU game.  We'll definitely have to take her back on a return visit.