Birthday Boating

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, 

A tale of a fateful trip 

That started from this tropic port 

Aboard this tiny ship.

The mate was a mighty sailing man, 

The skipper brave and sure. 

Five passengers set sail that day 

For a three hour tour, a three hour tour. 

Luckily, that's where the similarities end. The weather never turned rough and the ship was never tossed. Okay, allow me to explain. Aunt Kelly had the brilliant idea to celebrate her 27th birthday on the open water. I won't lie, the plan made me a bit nervous at first. The idea of celebrating on a boat with 3 young kids and without an experienced captain had my brain working overtime. Luckily, our dear sweet Kathryne decided to join us for the outing. She's a true Floridian and spent a great deal of her childhood on a boat with her dad. Captain Kathryne saved the day & my nerves!

The sun was shining, and the gang was all smiles as we set out for our 3-hour tour. I packed a picnic-style lunch for everyone to enjoy, but I was especially excited to reveal a little edible birthday surprise.

Jello shots...the prettiest jello shots I've ever seen. Yes, I'm patting my own back. I thought using fruit rinds was a brilliant idea. Too bad I can't claim the idea, but I will credit myself with great execution. Ha! The adults were treated to mojito, lemon drop, and sunrise shots. Knowing that Jaxon and Baylor wouldn't want to be left out of the birthday toast, I made alcohol free Arnold Palmer jello shots (Lemonade & Sweet Tea) for them. The surprise was a big hit! Something tells me these little gems will be my contribution to many future parties.

Also on the menu...Individual 7-layer dips, taquitos, and of course birthday cupcakes. All the essential party foods!

I dare say the afternoon was perfect. The food was good. The scenery was amazing. The company was even better. Really, what else can you ask for?

The birthday girl even scored a few gifts...seriously, it was the perfect party. I say from this point on, a birthday boat party needs to be scheduled each year. The guest of honor can vary!

I know 2 party guests that won't object. Jaxon and Baylor had a fabulous time, and their excitement peaked when they got the opportunity to take over the Captain's chair and drive the boat...under the watchful eye of Captain Kathryne.

I even took a turn, but I quickly returned the responsibility to Kathryne. I'm more than content with my role as passenger. Check out the boys' attempt to "look scared" for the picture!

The water was a bit cold, but I couldn't keep the boys out of it. Jaxon is a little fish and would rather risk hypothermia than remain on the anchored boat. Baylor didn't last quite as long in the water as Jaxon, but he made the most of the experience.

Great idea, Aunt Kelly! I know you enjoyed a wonderful 27th birthday. Thanks for sharing the experience with us. I think we're all looking forward to your 28th...even if you aren't.

When it Rains, It Pours...and Tickets are Scored

The 54th running of NASCAR's Daytona 500 did not go according to plan...anyone's plans! The annual event attended by Grandfather and Anh was rained out for the first time in history on Sunday AND Monday! As a result, the unthinkable happened...I (of all people) found myself sitting in the grandstands!Grandfather and Grandma had to return home. Anh had to work. That left me with two tickets to the Super Bowl of NASCAR! I can't say that I was overwhelmed with excitement, but I do enjoy experiencing new things and figured if nothing else, I would enjoy people watching. NASCAR has an eclectic fan base. I invited Brad to join me, and we set out for the first Daytona 500 that would be run entirely under lights. All sorts of historic elements associated with the 54th running!
Immediately upon entering the grandstands, I understood why Grandfather and Anh refuse to relinquish their two seats at the Start/Finish line. The view is spectacular! You can see almost the entire track. Pit row, the pre-show stage, and the flag man are all directly in front of you. Seriously, the seats don't get much better unless you're in a suite.
Grandfather joked that he would have to compete with me in the future for the second ticket, but I assured him that the seat next to Anh at the race would always be his. The roar of the engines was exhilarating, but once was enough for me. I'm grateful for the opportunity, but content with the possibility that it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me. At least for Grandfather's benefit, I hope so. Surely, Mother Nature won't spoil his fun in 2013? Fingers crossed!

Mardi Gras Madness

Laissez les bons temps rouler! Let the good times roll! When you have 3 small children, making the 8 hour drive to New Orleans isn't always a possibility. Although, it never seemed to stop my parents! It's the memories from those childhood road trips to Grandma's house during Mardi Gras that inspire me to pass the tradition and spirit on to our boys. This year, we hosted the largest celebration yet!We put together a pretty fabulous spread, if I do say so myself. A little bit of Cajun heaven on a plate!
We started the party with a signature cocktail...
And then enjoyed a few Hurricanes...always a crowd favorite!
I tried my hand at praline making, and after a few batches discovered the perfect process. Sorry, I'm not sharing that info. I've developed my first secret family recipe!
The only disappointment on the menu was the crawfish. We had to settle for frozen, and any true Cajun knows that's just wrong. We viewed them as more of a table decoration than a part of the buffet.
Thankfully, the spicy crab dip was a hit.
As was my crawfish pie which is now another secret family recipe.
I borrowed Grandfather's muffaletta recipe which is second only to The Central Grocery in the Quarter.
Oh, and then there was my gumbo. I'm not exaggerating when I say it was fabulous. Others agreed! I hope & pray that when I make it a second time that it turns out just as amazing. That will become my signature dish!
My friend brought us the prettiest red velvet Mardi Gras cake ever! While not necessarily Cajun, it is Southern. So that counts!
And, it wouldn't be a true Mardi Gras party without king cake! We always bought ours from MacKenzie's or Gambino's Bakery, but I tried something new. Nonna Randozzo's Italian bakery in Covington has some incredible online reviews. I decided to take a chance, and boy oh boy, they did not disappoint! Yummy!
Our friend Scott found the baby and seemed a bit apprehensive when I explained that he was on the hook to host the next party. Everyone knows where he lives. I suspect he feared that 30+ people were going to show up at his house the following weekend!
By the end of the evening, we had shared good food and great times with fabulous friends while passing along some treasured traditions. I repeat...Laissez les bons temps rouler! They certainly did!

Who Could Ask For Anything More?

It's nice to have a new victim...I mean child to photograph. Ha! For the most part, Grant is a willing participant. Of course, at this age, he doesn't really have much say in the matter. I have to document how tiny and adorable he is whether he likes it or not! In order to do exactly that, I recruited the help of our friend Brad and his expensive cameras and lenses. I think he did a fabulous job!!!This was actually just a lighting test shot. We told Baylor to lay there and pretend he was Grant. What a great impersonation he gave us!Grant only had a few DIVA moments...I guess we'll cut him some slack at this age.Jaxon and Baylor are such hams in front of the camera nowadays. I'm not even sure what was going on here. I think Brad said something like, "Be crazy!" Ummm...Baylor, he said "crazy" not psycho! Geez!Actual proof that Baylor really believes he is a Super Hero. He's channeling Thor in this shot. Don't show up at our door unannounced. He may feel the need to slay you!
I saved the best for last...
Beautiful! What else is there really to say? Simply beautiful!