Next Stop- New Orleans

After San Antonio, we traveled to New Orleans. It was really difficult to capture the feel of the French Quarters with my amateur photography skills. Here's a couple of shots:






We hit the French Market just as it opened. It's similar to a farmer's market but there's no food being sold. Vendors sell jewelry, scarves, hats, purses, etc. It was fun to look around.






This little joint is is famous for it's French doughnuts. The line was so long we would have spent our entire time in line so we had to miss out.


Beautiful!




There were all of these funky shops.


Down by the water.


This was the square right in the middle of the French Quarters area.


I think this is the Saints football stadium. I'm sure JD will correct me if I'm wrong. :c)


Our Cajun lunch on our way out!

Ok, ok..... I'll update!!!

Now I'm feeling guilty! And oh boy..... I've got a lot to put up on here.
We left our tale of the Santini duo at the packing of our Tucson home. It's funny how I couldn't believe we were actually moving that I started snapping pictures. Now that we've been gone for a few months, it's a distant memory.


Simon overseeing the operation.


Our moving van- we had scheduled the ward to help us move and there was a monsoon at precisely the very hour we planned on getting help. People were so great to help anyway.


Our empty house.


Crazy.


Then we made the spontaneous decision to go down to Mexico. We had planned to head out right away but we were so exhausted that we didn't think we'd make the 12 hour drive to San Antonio without sleeping in. So we decided- why not sleep in, go see Mexico, and then leave the next day? So we did.




We came directly from packing and cleaning. Can you tell?!?




Here's the wall that gets all the attention in the news. It was crazy to actually see it.


We then delayed our trip even more by this NASTY project of replacing a bent towel rod for our renters. Easy, right? Not for us. I was about to take a hammer to the wall out of frustration, but luckily thought through that little plan.


The subject of such grief. Seems so innocent.


On our way out! This picture makes me feel a little sick. I can't say I loved living in Tucson. The people were great, but it was the right thing to move. I did absolutely LOVE our house. To drive away was much more difficult than I thought. Is it possible to get emotionally attached to a house?


So we thought we were finally on our way but then quickly discovered that Simon was not ok with the travel arrangements. We thought we'd just let him wander around the car and sleep on the front seat like Nina did, but oh no. He about clawed me to bits. I almost got in an accident in about a block. We had to stop and I had to send JD to Walmart to pick up a carrier. The cat one was out of stock so Simon got some roomy digs.


When we planned our trek across the country, we decided that if we have to drive the whole way anyway, we might as well stop at cool places along the way. We got to spend a wonderful couple of days in San Antonio with aunt Loralynn, Liana, and family. I sure miss how we all used to get together when they lived in Utah. It was so much fun and they showed us around.


We got to go see the Alamo.




And peek into one of those Ripley's Believe It or Not museum lobbies. It was a stretch to reach this guy's elbow.


JD next to the fattest documented person.




Then we visited The Riverwalk. So beautiful.








Texas is a great state. Mostly because the Rammells and Risenmays are there, but I was surprised at how much I liked it.

Not in the Mood

I just really haven't been in the mood to blog. And now there's too much to catch up on. So I did what I always do- the fun cutesy stuff. Maybe I'll get to updating. Maybe I'll do it later.....

A Recipe for the Back Pocket

Check out this recipe for Quick Doughnuts!

My Home's in Montana, I Wear a Bandanna....

This summer JD and I went home to Montana for a week. The rest of the fam was supposed to come as well, but unfortunately, things came up and Allen, Cait, Benjamin and Paige were not able to make it. It's getting so hard to get together now that we are scattered all over.


We had a blast which would have only been better if everyone could have been there. We went to the Missoula Osprey game with Grandma and Grandpa Recht and the Recht crew. I kept wanting to pinch myself over and over because it's only been a recent blessing to be able to go somewhere together with both Mom AND Dad. Usually our family has to split up so someone is home with Brooke. I never really saw it as a big deal- just the way things have to be- but the opportunity to do things away from the house together was a huge blessing and a lot of fun.


When we snapped this picture, the lady behind us said "I hope you know you have a big fat woman in the background of your picture!" What do you say to that?


Go Osprey!!


We also got to go to the Big Hole Battlefield. This is where the Nez Percé were massacred by Colonel Gibbon and his men. It's not a happy place, there was a lot of misunderstanding at that time.






Dad and JD listening to our tour guide.


These frames represent where the camp was set up when the attack began.




After the Big Hole, we stopped at Fetty's for buffalo burgers. You gotta go if you are in the area.








If you look at the black and white and compare to this picture, you can see that the only thing that has changed through the years are the cars!


On the way home we came upon this traffic light. In the middle of NOWHERE. No cars, no life of any kind. And we sat. And sat. And sat. I was beginning to think we were on Candid Camera. We literally sat for over a half hour. FINALLY, a little construction vehicle came plodding along. I think the construction workers were bored and decided to play a prank or something. When we drove through the "construction zone" I don't recall seeing anything except for a random cone or two.


We also went to Lunch in the Park in Missoula. Been a while since I've had Thia food. Yum!


Shaved ice!


Yup. This is outside our window. My parents live in paradise
.

"Hey human! Got any flower boxes to munch on?! I'm hungry!"

We had Grandma and Grandpa over for dinner one night and Grandma made homemade corn tortillas with her tortilla press. Best corn tortillas I've ever had!


An evening of golf




Isn't my mom so cute!?!


We then went to Lewis and Clark Caverns. This is the view from the mouth of the caverns.


Isn't my husband so cute!?




Isn't my dad so cute?!?






Can't go home without take out from Noodles Express. Love that ginger sauce! I remember in high school going to the mall with friends. Did I buy new shoes? No. Did I buy a new outfit? No. Makeup? No. A quart of ginger sauce from Noodles Express? Oh yeah!!!


Riding lawn mover races


JD maneuvering backward around the garbage cans.


Yeah, yeah. Dad won but he's had more practice.


I got second place. Ha!