22 Things I Love About my Hubby

This month Hubby and I celebrated 22 years of marriage.

Here are 22 things I love about being married to my hubby:

1. He is always funny, always.

2. He is so ever patient.

3. He has given me a sense of adventure.

4. He is a wonderful dad.

5. He loves God.

6. He likes me just for me.  No pretending needed here.

7. He loves to cook and even clean afterwards.

8. There is always someone to talk to, who will listen.

9. Our walks, all of them, long and short.

10. He is affectionate.

11. He gives a different perspective on life that is very needed at times.

12. He REALLY balances me out.

13. He is rather cute, handsome and ...good on the eyes.

14. He helps around the house.

15. He is a very hard worker.

16. He helps with the kids.

17. He has been by my side through some major times and I know he will still be there for those to come.

18. He is out-going.

19. I have done, seen, tasted things & gone places I would've never tried without him.

20. He warms my side of the bed on cold nights, then rolls over to his cold side when I come in.

21. He knows me like no one else.

22. I can trust him.

That was probably the easiest list I have ever wrote. I could really go one and on.

Looking forward to 22+ more years with my best friend!

Grad Party Photos

Our daughter graduated from home school a year early!!

 The card box made by moi.

 Pre-party set-up.  I couldn't have pulled this off without all of the help I had!!

 Idea from Pintrest.

My mom (who was  BIG help) and I having FUN!

Indepence Day

We like to go watch the fireworks in different places every year.  This year we went on Hang Gliders Ridge.

 Our ride was a bit bumpy.  Oh, and my voice doesn't sound that high...I hope.

 View from our spot.  Not very clear, but you get the idea.

Instead of Flowers

Don't get me wrong, while I L.O.V.E. flowers anytime of the year,this Valentine's Day I asked for something different.

My grandparents would always sing this song and it always brings a smile to my heart.

It also completes my wall...

 
I spent a good deal of time today arranging and rearranging the wall decor.

I think I finally have it...(I am working on something to put in the blank frame.)

I just need a little something to go between the map and the photo of C.

I may try to paint one or more of the frames to make it look more uniform...this is REALLY stepping out of my comfort zone here...all of these colors!

Since it is Valentine's Day, I have to share the card I found for Hubby...it is so us.

Hope your Valentine's Day was a good one. ♥♥♥

Party, Party!

We recently had our daughter's birthday party.
I'll let the photos speak for themselves.

camera dump

 My new FAVORITE mug.  It's cream colored.  It's big.  It cost me 49 cents!!

 The big four-oh and a forty-four magnum!  What a pair!

 This was supposed to be Hubby's birthday cake.  Old Fashioned Nut Cake from Eula Mae's Cajun Kitchen.  I call it the half-baked cake.  Daughter is really the only one still eating eat.

Orange Cranberry Maple Syrup over a special waffle.  The syrup was good the waffle not.

**edited with the recipe**
Cranberry Maple Syrup
1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
3/4 c pure maple syrup
1 1/2 tablespoon orange juice
3 tablespoons water
1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon salt

Combine the cranberries, maple syrup and oj in a medium saucepan.  Cook over medium-high heat to bring to a boil.  Boil for 3 minutes.  Meanwhile, stir the cornstarch into the water.  Add the cornstarch mixture to the syrup and continue to boil for 2-3 min or until cranberries are tender.  I "smooshed" some of the cranberries.

If  the syrup is not thick enough for your liking, add a teaspoon or two more of cornstarch while the syrup is cooking until desired thickness is reached.

Syrup will last 3-4 days in the frig.

It's Birthday Month Around Here!

Three of us have birthdays this month.
Why does it go so fast.
From a colicky baby,

To a beautiful young lady, whom I love more than the first day!

The Food

Okay, so the food has to be one our favorite parts of the trip to New Orleans.  We did eat at Bubba Gumps...okay.  One of our favorites was N'awlins Cafe and Spice Emporium.  It is right in the French Market.  Good 'ole southern/cajun food.  So good we went there twice, and would've gone there daily had we stayed longer.  That poor fellow had no idea I was taken a photo.  The waitress was right up there with some of the best.  It was a cold, cold day when we took the photo.  The red beans and rice which we mixed with our mixed greens was perfect on the cold day.  If you ever go to New Orleans, you've got to go here.

On one of our first days we had a muffuletta at the Central Grocery.  People line up for this sandwich!  Hubby bought a jar of the fixin's before we left.  That is half of the sandwich below.

I can't write about food without mentioning Cafe du Monde.  Beignets and Coffee.  Personally, I thought it was a bit over rated, but still yummy.  I do love that this cafe has been such a success with selling just two main items.  Note, make sure you aren't wearing black and it's not windy when you eat there.  The beignets are COVERED in powdered sugar.  I used the extra sugar for my coffee.  We actually got coffee from a different coffee shop.

This was another fave.  We ate there twice.  The pizza is awesome; the kids loved it.  The red beans and rice are thee best!  You can get a wide variety of food here. 

 See the brick building?  It is an US Mint which is also right across the street from our hotel.

Our last night there, we had Krystals, which you can skip.  Though Hubby liked it...he likes almost everything food.  Then we met up at MIL's place and some of the fam went to get oysters and came back with a small buffet. 

Overall, the food is AWESOME in New Orleans.  Something for everyone and most at a good price.