We celebrated the Big Girl’s 9th birthday back in October.  Then my camera ate my memory card.  Here are a few of the pictures that were salvaged:

“zombie” cupcakes for school

a BG original design

lunch with the two coolest aunts ever!

There’s a great old joke about a Cajun who dies and goes to Hell.  When he gets there Satan tries everything in his power to make the Cajun uncomfortable.  Since our little Cajun is used to heat, humidity and big mosquitoes, Satan turns down the thermostat instead—only to find that our dear Cajun is whoopin’ and hollerin’ and having a grand time in the snows of Hell!  When Satan asks why he is so happy, the Cajun exclaims:  “Hell has froze over, da Saints musta won da Super Bowl!” 

Yep.  The Saints did just win the Super Bowl and while I can’t comment on the validity of any icy precipitation in Hell, I can tell you that we got 6+ inches last week in Louisiana!  It snowed for about 12 hours before anything stuck, but when it did stick, we got 4 inches on the ground.

The joke might not be funny any more, but the irony sure is!

Thursday 4 pm:

Friday 10 am:

By Saturday morning for our birthday party, it was mostly melted, leaving a cold, soggy yard!

***DISCLAIMER***

By proceeding herewith, Reader assumes all responsibility to feign surprise on Christmas morning and hereby agrees to gush/oohhh/aahh in total astonishment with the following gift upon opening.

I decided to try something new today.  I picked up some white ceramic ornaments and a pack of rub-on transfers.  I cut apart the sayings and simply rubbed them onto each ornament.  I changed the ribbons to match the design, and Voila!  New Christmas ornaments.

The kids and I took my Father-in-Law to the American Rose Center a few weeks ago.  The light displays are beautiful.  The hand-painted giant Christmas cards were phenomenal.  And our letters to Santa, well you can read those for yourself.  Enjoy our pictures.

(or wanted for Christmas) were tickets to a New Orleans Saints game in the Super Dome.  Well, life happens: my hubby’s schedule is nuts, my sisters and parents are busy people, and—of all things!—the Saints were off to their best start ever making the demand for tickets sky high!  So on Wednesday, Daddy gently informed me that this Christmas wish just wouldn’t happen this year.  But a girl should never give up hope!

Then, on Friday, out of the blue, my baby sister “found” some tickets.  For this weekend’s Saints vs. Panthers game.  Like in just over 48 hours.  Could I get to New Orleans for Sunday at 3?  Uhm, Yeah! (Never mind that NO is a 5 hour drive at it’s quickest, my hubby didn’t get off work until 8:30 Saturday night, and I had a presentation at 9 AM Monday morning!  We’d figure that out later. Ha.)

For the next 2 days, I floated bounced flitted barely made it through everything we had to do:  homework, a swim meet, grocery shopping, laundry, dishes, etc.  Then finally, after sweet talking a supervisor, my hubby got off work an hour early and we hit the road to NO at 7:30 Saturday night.  We swung by my sister’s in Lafayette, grabbed the tickets and then hit my other sister’s in New Orleans around 2 in the morning Sunday morning! 

The entire experience was almost indescribable.  The crowds were nuts.  The fans were diehard.  The traffic was intense. The game was a nail biter. The Drew Brees-Pierre Thomas combination was on fire.  The defense was tough on Jake Delhomme.  The Saints were awesome.  And the Dome was rocking!  The best part:  one of my dearest friends and her family were one section over, Bobby Hebert’s autograph, the tailgating, 30-20 win over Carolina, the way the floor vibrated when every fan in the place chanted “Who Dat!” as the Saints went 8-0 for the first time EVER!!

Enjoy the game through my camera lens!

The Tickets:The Fans:The Tailgating:The Crowds:Bobby Hebert (Did I mention I’ve been a fan a LONG time!):Becca, Me and Jane:  The Crowd: The Offense.  Some Shockey, some Bush, some Colston and a lot of Brees and Thomas:The Defense that rocked the second half! Us:The sidelines: The Final Score.  8-0! The Dome: 

Who Dat!

Friday…

Sunday…

   And all the rest…