New Orleans

The Engineer is at a conference this week in N.O. Since he still had free air miles, I had the opportunity to go too. Now that we have a brood of seven children who love to keep us hopping we’re realizing how very important it is to get away just the two of us. Almost three years post adoption, we’re feeling comfortable enough to leave the children in the care of someone else for a week or less. If we don’t have our little “getaways”, we simply fall into bed at night and discuss who, what, and where for the kids schedules and fall asleep. These getaways remind us that there is more to life than just our children. Someday they will all be gone. The house will be (mostly) silent and neither of us wants to discover that we have become strangers to each other.

We are very blessed to be able to have my parents move in for the week and take good care of our kids and critters. I have to admit, I was far more prepared for them than any other time we’ve gone away. I have lots of baking ready and dinners in the freezer ready for the oven or the crock pot. I must have really needed to get away! :o)  It’s still very much winter at home. Dead grass is visible everywhere now and I have seen some very brave tulips poking their heads out, but it still snows almost every day and the temperature barely rises above freezing. That being said, the germs are flying freely in the classrooms and lots of sick children are missing school. Not mine. Yet. I’m praying they all continue to stay healthy while Mom and Dad are there.  They certainly don’t need that added in to the busyness of our brood this week.

Meanwhile, I am in sunny, warm New Orleans enjoying the sights and sounds that are unique to the French Quarter. It’s very unique -- and I’d say, a littlecrazy. For many people, I can understand the popularity of it. The weekends are especially interesting when all the street performers come out (and the alcohol flows freely.) :o/

I especially love the French Market. Sure there are booths and booths of the same thing over and over again, but it’s the booths that carry the unique pieces that get us every time. We fell in love with a photographer’s work, bought masks for each of the girls, a cool tie for the Boy, among some other things for other people. :o)

For the rest of the week, I will read, enjoy the sunshine and heat! Glorious heat! Probably take a nap or two. Walk, walk, and walk some more. Take photos. There is so much photoworthy stuff here!No problem finding things to do. Now if only I could get the internet to work, so that I could load this post. Crazy that in a hotel this size that they don’t even have free internet. Grrr!

Hooray for coffee shops and free internet!

Happy Monday!