My Husband is an Alien!

Or at least I think he may be...  You're probably wondering why I might think this.  Well take Monday for instance.  He was up making breakfast and packing our lunches before I left the house. I'm out the door by 6 AM every morning, mind you.  He worked all day, after work he logged some hours flying for his instrumental pilots license, came home ran with our neighbor Tony, and then cooked steak and lobster.  ON A MONDAY!  Who has that type of energy on a Monday?!  I mean I went to work, came home loaded the dish washer, took a nap, worked out, marinated the steaks for Chef Alien, then sat on a barstool and talked my head off while he cooked (hmmm maybe that's why my throat is so sore) and I was so exhausted I barely made it through the entire episode of Castle.  If I could bottle up his energy I would make millions!

Homemade Surf & Turf.  It doesn't get much better.

I love my personalized lunches, they make me smile every day.

Tuesday:  More of the same.  My throat has been killing me and yesterday I started running a fever.  I like grits when I'm sick.  But Chef Alien Day would NOT let me eat plain ole grits.  No, No, No!  I got New Orleans style shrimp & grits.  

Drew has always loved to cook and he has always been THE cook in our relationship.  He cooks and I clean up after him.  He knows the way to my heart and it works for us.  But here lately he has been cooking on a whole new level.  Everything he touches turns into something delicious.

Oatmeal crepes, fresh berries, & greek yogurt

Make you wanna slap your mama!

Mmmm...I'm hungry I think I'll go find my delicious husband. ;)

Graduation Celebration!

My niece Aubrey graduated from DSHS this past Friday.  Our family loves a good celebration, we are all a bunch of party planners as well as party goers.  So lets party!...

 DSHS Class of 2011!

 Thank goodness Aubrey's last name starts with an "A" also, we got out of there just before the clouds let loose!  We all headed back to our house for some delicious po'-boys.

 Proud family with the Graduate!

 Silly!

 Have I mentioned that I love my Mama!

 The Aunt-ie with a few of my beautiful and handsome nieces and nephews. 

I sure do love ya'll!

 So us...I momentarily forgot I had strep throat, oops!

On Saturday we had a BIG family get together at my sister Stacie's house.  It was so much fun, everyone had a great time visiting, eating, and catching up on the latest family gossip. ;)

 My bro, Barry, cooking pastalaya which is Aub's favorite!

 The set up

 Nice one Aft!

Cake Redemption:  Okay so if you've been reading my blog for a while you may recall that the beautiful cake I had ordered for our wedding party never arrived from Fairy Dust Cakes.  A few days after the minor set back to a fabulous night, I received a sweet apology letter from the owner Kyleen.  She told me that if I ever needed a cake for a special occasion to let her know and she would get it done...on the house!  Well here it is, Aub's graduation cake!

 I thought it turned out beautifully! 

 Aub wanted Erin to make her a cheesecake since that is her favorite dessert!  It was SO good, Erin and I had to hide ourselves a piece while we finished cutting the other cake! :)

I am so proud of you, Aub!  You have so much to look forward to in your college years to come.  My only advice is to study hard, enjoy these years, grow in your independence, and set yourself up for a very bright future!

Happy Mothers Day,

To all the moms, grandmas, stepmoms, and Do-Dahs out there! :)  

And especially to my Mama, Happy Mothers Day!

My Mother's Day started out pretty eventful.  I was on call for our entire site this past week for the first time.  Until Sunday morning all of my call outs were pretty much easy fixes over the phone...Then came this:

If you're breathing you probably know that the Mississippi River is steadily rising wreaking all kinds of havoc.  Sunday the Mighty Mississippi set her eyes on our south river dock.  I wish I had a video of my phone conversation, "Wait what collapsed?"  Followed by the famous Sweet Home Alabama quote, "Are you sh*tting me?"  So after a few hours of phone calls, damage assessment, and contingency planning I was on my way back home to enjoy my Sunday.

Erin & Drew took their mom to lunch downtown and I went to lunch and then shopping with my sister Stacie to help her find an outfit for Aub's graduation.  Which we found at our first stop, White House Black Market.  I love that store, but then again I do love black and white, so classy.  Then we headed over to Frock Candy were I found a couple of skirts and my new favorite belt. 

Yellow is another favorite color of mine.

When Stacie and I got back to my house sitting in our driveway was something I've had my eye on for quite sometime, a Cranbrook Beach Cruiser!

Needless to say I was pretty excited and completely unexpected.  

Next to Andrew my husband has made being a stepmom an experience that I wouldn't trade for anything.  And next to learning from my own Mom being a stepmom is something that is preparing me to be a great mom to my own little rug-rats. 

Since the age of two Andrew has been teaching me so much about how a mom should nurture, protect, and teach their children to adapt to the world around them.  I have learned early that sometimes adapting is the more important lesson.  A mom (or a Do-Dah) cannot control everything life will throw at, not only themselves, but their children.  Teaching Andrew how to see the positive side of change is an ideal that will always be a priority for me as his stepmom, as his Do-Dah.

"You're my Do-Dah Brooke, and I'll always love you."- ABD IV 

 

 

 

It's not only children who grow.  Parents do too.  As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours.  I can't tell my children to reach for the sun.  All I can do is reach for it, myself.  ~Joyce Maynard

H2OOOOOOO

 First off this past weekend was Derby Weekend!  I can't wait to be at Churchill Downs next year wearing a fabulous hat, sipping on a mint julep, while holding my winning ticket! ;)  

I have already began the search for the perfect hat.  I plan on visiting my favorite hat boutique, Fleur de Paris, in New Orleans in the very near future.  Of course I wore one I had in honor of the race.

 Place your bets!

Drew and I spent Friday and Saturday at our camp on the river for the Tickfaw 200 Poker Run.  The weather was so beautiful on Saturday, it was SO nice to be on the water, and get some sun.

 Oh Prop Stop how I have missed you!

 Nothing says South Louisiana like a Worm Bucket :)

 well...maybe a swamp too!  

"Choot 'em!"

We rode the waves all the way to NO for lunch at Landry's.

There's just something about being on the water the relaxes me all the way to my bones.  I look forward to lots of weekends on the water this summer with my two favorite boys. :)