Alexandria zoo

Most years the girls and I head to Alexandria with Mark to the All Star baseball game. We haven't been in a few years (last year was the Disney Cruise- sniff sniff) but we made it this year. This morning the girls and I visited the Alexandria zoo. It's a nice little zoo.

Purple Zebra's end of season

Monday night was Emma's last softball game.  She has truly loved this season.  Her team has really grown and improved in our short little season.  We played most of our game, and then the lightning came in.  The plan was to play our game and then drive over the park and eat pizza and get trophies, but our game got cut short and we kind of had to dodge the rain and lightning for the party.  We actually got to finish it under one of the pavillions.

Here the girls check out the trophies before Coach Tommy passes them out:

Looking for their trophies (they have their names on them):

Coach Tommy saying a few words about the season:

Emma getting her trophy:

My proud little Zebra:

Emma and Coach Tommy:

Emma and her buddies enjoying the purple zebra cupcakes we made earlier that afternoon:

She had a great time.  Can't wait until next year!

Busy, busy spring!

So much has been happening around the house, even just since baseball ended a week or so ago.  Here is a quick wrap up.  Katie had her DARE graduation, which is a Drug Abuse prevention kind of program that all 5th graders go through. 

Here she is with some of her "tinier" classmates:

Katie and Ali:

Katie and Ali with Ali's mom, Kim (one of my friends from work) and me!

We have also been playing softball (coach's pitch) hot and heavy these few months.  Emma is really loving it which excites Mark and I because we'd love to see someone playing sports in the house (as well as dancing!).  Her team is called the "Purple Zebras" because we couldn't find gold shorts (shocking around here, I know) for little girls anywhere!  Her coach's wife found these awesome zebra shorts and they have been the hit of the season.

Here is Emma about to bat discussing strategy with Coach Tommy and the opposition, evidently! (the other coach happens to be a friend of ours, and his daughter goes to school and does dance with Emma):

Little lefty is ready to bat:

Her hitting has been less than stellar, but she (and the whole team, really) has really improved this season.  She went 4 for 4 this past Saturday.  I would love to see her stay together with this coach and  this team.

This past week, we had awards day at Northside too.  At the first grade program, I mean... I don't mean to brag but Emma racked up!  Here she is getting her all A award from Ms. Mixon - she totally loves her!

Some more of the All A crew including her friend, Cameron to the left and Jacob (her sometimes, boyfriend) on the end to the left

Receiving the Reading award from Ms. Mixon:

But... the biggest and proudest award of the day was for AR.  They award the top 3 in each grade and all 3 came from Ms. Mixon's class.  Emma got 3rd place, Jacob (the "boyfriend") got 2nd place and Carson (the other sometimes "boyfriend) got first place.  She was so excited and proud (and so were we... sniff, sniff)

Her AR trophy:

Ms. Mixon and Emma:

Emma and her friend Addie (who is in another class) and their awards. (Gosh, I wish Emma would hang with a better crowd!!)

Emma and Jacob with their AR awards - I love this picture.

The next day was Katie's awards program, and it was kind of bitter sweet.  I can't believe elementary school is over, and her assistant principle was kinda sentimental during the program.  Got me a little choked up at one point.

Katie receives the highest science average award - you go, my future science nerd! (just like her mama!)

Katie and her rather tiny classmates with their AB honor roll medals:

Katie also got one of the highest reading average awards too - so proud of my baby - by the way most of the kids in this pictures are my coworkers kids (aren't teachers kids great?)

Katie and Mrs. Loretta - the assistant principle:

Katie and her 3 5th grade teachers:

Mrs. Pruitt:

Mrs. Harris:

And Mrs. Graham (who she also had for 4th grade):

Katie and one of her best buddies - Jessie (who's  mom teaches with me):

Katie and her special buddy - Kaci;  I know that Katie will miss Kaci next year b/c her parents have decided to keep her at Northside one more year. Hope to see her at the Junior high soon!

Denham Junior, here we come!  Go Jackets!

Mother's Day in New Orleans

So Mark and I had been playing with the idea of trying to get to the beach when baseball was over for a long weekend get away.  Well, that just wasn't happening, so we decided to make an overnight trip to the Crescent City instead and we had a great time.  We have already made plans to head back one more time this summer.

We found a great hotel (a Courtyard Marriott) near the convention center that had been redone and it was very, very nice.  I realized that I didn't take any pictures of the hotel, but trust me, it was very modern and the girls were impressed.

We got to the city around lunch time, so after we checked in we headed across the street to eat at a yummy pizza place:

Mark and Emma wait for pizza

Katie and I wait to eat too.

 After lunch, we headed to one of the girls favorite places - the Children's Museum.  It was about a block from our hotel.  There was a large percentage of rain for the whole weekend, but it worked out great b/c the only time it poured was while we were in the museum.



Mark gets measured at the museum;  FYI, Katie is almost 5'7"!!



Emma plays in the giant bubble maker

Emma kissing the Van DeGraff thing-a-ba-bob

Mom poses with the scientific method exhibit!

As I posted on Facebook, this is the real reason my kids want to go to NO - the beignets.  After the children's museum, we headed to the Riverwalk (which is still mildly entertaining) and got their favorite treat and did some shopping:

Katie with her beignet shirt

We ate at the hotel that night and then Sunday morning we headed to guess where?....  I'll give you a hint:

That's right, the Insectarium!  I love this place!

Emma checks out the Madagascar Cockroach - we petted it!

Can you find the bug in this picture?

Katie poses with the katydids

Yummy bugs!  Mom ate some, of course.

Emma trying to decide if she is brave enough to put her hand in the hole!  She did.

 



Katie and I on the alligator

Emma 'wrestles' the alligator



 

the butterfly garden

Emma desperately wanted a butterfly to land on her, and it never did!

So the last thing we did before heading home was go to Magazine street to eat at one of my favorite places - The Rum House and shop a little.

Here we are getting a Mother's Day treat at Sucre'.  Ice cream for the ice cream lovers in the family (Me, Mark and Emma), and a giant cupcake for Katie:



What a great weekend.  Thanks my wonderful family!