NOLA the Anniversary Edition

Adam and I got back from New Orleans last night. It was awesomely fun. When we got there Wednesday night we just wandered around and had some drinks. Adam was tipsy and decided we were eating at the Acme Oyster House. The picture is him with a raw oyster. Ick! The next morning we didn't feel super well but we went to lunch at Commander's Palace. Unfortunately it rained the rest of Thursday and although we tried to wander about in it for a while we ended up just chilling at the hotel most of the time. Friday we made up for it by wandering all over. We went to the Faubourg Marigny area, the French Market (which the new building is almost all the way done), rode the trolley, and went to the Aquarium. Adam was entertained by an otter playing with a cup and swore that a sea horse was posing for him. We also pet some sting rays. That night we went to Irene's for dinner (pictured right) which had the best cheesecake I've ever had. After that we headed over to the Hotel Monteleone's Carousel Bar (pictured left) where I had a French 75 and we drank and spun around (slowly) and made friends with the people next to us. I happened to spot the Broom Man on Bourbon street drinking beer on a corner. I hadn't seen him working at the Gazebo Cafe that trip though. Saturday on the way home we stopped off at Oak Alley. I got us lost on the back roads trying to get back to I10 and probably added almost an hour to the drive. Oops. I also got some ear bling as my anniversary gift from Adam. Among the gifts I got him was an electric garlic roaster so expect to have lots of roasted garlic when you hang out with us. Now I go back to work and work off some of those pounds I gained!!

My work week is DONE

So...I finally did my first restraint this shift. Luckily it was one of my kids and she was easy. All of my kids decided to do crazy stuff this shift and I'm super tired. I think I'm slowly getting the hang of it. I burnt two bags of popcorn last night trying to make snack. I think everyone was ready to let me just chill at that point. I let a kid dry erase marker my face as a reward and then had to go to another cottage like that to check in with a kid that we had over there. Interesting stuff. And dry erase marker washes right off by the way so if you ever want to try it - feel free. That's enough work talk. In other news...only ONE WEEK until my man candy takes me to NOLA!!! We have reservations for Commanders Palace and are planning on Irenes, maybe NOLA and a swamp tour and a plantation tour. I can't wait!!! I'd be more annoyingly ecstatic but I'm too tired!

Jingle Bells

You might be surprised to find that my most effective coping strategy this past week for the kids was singing Christmas carols. We were in the middle of a safety - which is basically when someone isn't being safe. The "unsafe" kids were outside and the door was locked, but they like to bang on the doors, windows, etc. etc. When the banging started I saw the frustration on the kids faces who were inside and said "anyone like Christmas carols?" So we started singing and it was a lot of fun. Probably pissed off the kids outside, but we enjoyed it and it helped calm them down and get them ready for bed. It didn't help that we were locked out of the fridge, but it is much easier to tell a calm kid than an agitated kid that they might not be getting milk with their HEB Buddies. When dealing with a crazy situation you just have to bring in a little bit more crazy to stay sane.

Leave a message...

The other day I called Adam and left him this voicemail "When we're married can you sleep on the couch sometimes so that Saffy can sleep at the top of the bed next to me?"

Busy Bee

I made it through my training shift this past week. Granted the leaving houseparent was there so she was in charge and I can't take credit for the fine behavior this weekend. This next weekend I am on my own, with my kick-ass YCC that is, so it's up to us to keep the good going. I really enjoyed it and I only felt nervous around a kid once and it wasn't even one of my own kids. This coming weekend I get to take a few of the kids on a bat cruise so I'm pumped about that.

This coming weekend is ALSO Sarah's wedding, which I can't believe is here, but I'm totally pumped about. I feel like I've been in a bubble the past 5 days and I'm super excited to see my friends! It really makes me appreciate being on the outside when I know I'm going back in for 4 nights and 5 days afterwards. If you find that I'm more difficult to communicate with just know that it is because I'm at work and not because I don't heart you.