After years of saying she would, Margaret finally stayed true to her promise and came down to NOLA for a visit. She also brought her other half, Marc-Anthony, with her so we could finally meet him. We had such an amazing time with them!
QP and James were actually ending a week here when Margaret and Marc-Anthony arrived, so we all met up at Parkway Bakery for poboys. Then Kenny and I and Nola and Nopsi took M-MA to dinner at Gris-Gris and rounded out the night at Hot Tin. What a great first day!
Sunday was pretty laidback; the boys loved showing M-MA their rooms and their LEGO creations and the Switch. And we had a great dinner at Nola and Nopsi's (gumbo and jambalaya). Monday was MLK Day, so the boys were off of school. We went down to City Park, introduced MA to beignets, wandered around the sculpture garden, and then headed back home for a walk up to the levee and a red beans and rice dinner. It was the most gorgeous day.
On Tuesday the boys went back to school and M-MA moved down to the Quarter to soak in that scene for the rest of their trip. They had muffalettas from Central Grocery, omelets from Camellia Grill, and plenty of classic New Orleans drinks. They drove around Tulane's campus, rode a streetcar down St. Charles, listened to musicians playing in Jackson Square, visited the new interactive cocktail museum called the Sazerac House, and learned all about the history of voodoo at the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum. MA brought his really nice camera with him and got some great shots of our fair city.
They came back out to the house before they flew back to DC to spend a bit more time with the boys. The four of them really bonded; Riley and Rory really missed them when they left.
So very glad y'all came to visit; please come back soon!
1. I was chosen to participate in The Halftime Project, a special portrait project by local photographer Jennifer Anne, back in January. It honors people who just turned 40, and it was such a fun way to celebrate my recent big birthday. The images she captured of me were pretty stunning, if I do say so myself.
Dinner out at Kingfish with Ken after the shoot!
2. Last kingcake party at Josh and Amy's; they're moving to San Diego!
3. Partial Krewe dinner at Caretta's and then fun back at Heidi's, while the girls and their dads were at the SCR Father-Daughter dance.
4. Foggy morning on the river and a gorgeous sunset a few days later. (Neither pic is mine, but I couldn't resist sharing them both. Credit goes to James and Stephen.)
5. Rory and I started reading the first Harry Potter book on January 15. He's not quite as enamored with it as Riley was; he still prefers books with pictures. But he is enjoying it. Then Kenny took Riley to see Harry Potter in concert with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra at the Mahalia Jackson. Such a special night for the boy who now plays trombone.
6. Karen and I saw Oliver at Rivertown on January 17. Then the Krewe girls had a night out at All Barn New to paint Mardi Gras water meter door hangers on January 24. So fun!
7. Cousins, finally getting to eat the redfish I caught (delicious!), and checking out the scene at the Deutsches Haus for Kenny's birthday.
8. Gorgeous photo of New Orleans and the Mississippi River from space, taken by astronaut Jessica Meir aboard the International Space Station.
9. Bike riding with my boy!
10. More fun at City Putt with Grandma and Grandpa.
