my day with phoebe.

new orleans.

after five years living in the middle of the ocean, we decided to take a road trip... across the country. you photographers out there will probably be unhappy with me because i snapped very few pics, but i wanted this trip to be about enjoying my little family and less about documenting it. a decision im sure ill regret later, but for now i love the few ive got!

in no particular order im sharing our little adventure in pieces, starting in the big easy. i loved taking pat to new orleans because its one of my favorite childhood memories, the food, the people, the gulf in general. although it looks a little different since katrina it still felt the same, warm and fun.



on the way to new orleans theres a little town called grosse tete (seriously) and there is a caged tiger in their gas station, yes a gas station.


aside from the gumbo, this place has the best beignets in the world.

love him.

i can just tell your gonna be a good frank.

happy sunday.

nobody takes resting on the sabbath more seriously than ham and pat. between the two of them they are awake for 4 hours out of the day. but i dont care, the man works harder than anyone i know and deserves some sleep! ham however has really no excuse.

bucket & bella

bella and bucket had their first show! and although we were a little late im glad we didnt miss the stylings of this dynamic duo.

did i mention bella and bucket also had matching pink extensions?

the future of rodeo. adorable.

hammy is very curious about bucket, im pretty sure ham thinks he could take him. and one day i will put ham in that saddle.

i love mexico... again.

one thing i REALLY miss about the mainland is mexican-ness. i miss california burritos, baby girl jewelry, day of the dead, blankets, all my girls at cherry, surf, senior hennings, hermana hennings and her ward of amazing cooks, dancers, and pinata makers. so in honor of my roots (the gulf of mexico and southern california) i partied. and there to support my efforts were the people that could truly appreciate the culture... FELIZ CINCO DE MAYO MIS AMIGOS!!!!!


you know its good if he's savin some for later.



even the children joined the fiesta.

dont be jealous amigas.

like his name sake... ham knows how to party.

ham wishes frank luck.

eliza is already practicing being a big sister. she confidently takes ham's toy out of his mouth and tells him its her toy. when ham gets in her space she yells SHEWWWW HAMMY!! and then gently hits him on the head. when hes not looking she gets on his back to which his immediate response his knocking her off. she practices commands like SIT! & LAY DOWN! with her stuffed animals so she prepared when she comes over to train ham. However, Eliza is quick to say, sorry in her cute little voice and give ham hugs when he seems down (which is 100% of the time). i just love both of them to pieces. good luck frank.

this is how the texans eat.

my family had a little reunion in beaumont texas a couple weeks ago, and the pictures are endless. however its amazing how much we ate while we were there!

lets start with my complimentary breakfast...


oh, already hungary for lunch? how about this place?


no, no. lets keep it classy and go with good 'ol guidos. it HAS to be good if theres a 3 ton crab on it.


some of my earliest memories are of my family sitting in this restaurant. my cousins would come all the way from switzerland to wine and dine at galveston's finest! although my granny, and aunt bobby are no longer with us i sure felt their presence with all of the laughing and off color comments its like they were there! especially since granny still insisted on paying the bill!






i'm so full i couldn't eat another bite! but willy rays is on the way home...






now this my friends is a crawdad. think if it as an extremely large shrimp, southeast texans LOVE this delicacy that you can literally dig up in your own back yard! YUM.


this is the back yard of my babyhood, and what i am pointing out would be the home of a giant crawdad.


so eat up y'all or as my cousins would say... bon appetit!

i love spring.

i love spring. all of the sudden the days are longer and instead of pat coming straight home and to bed, we have hours of sunshine to play in. pats been working on the northshore (and will be for at least another year) so when he gets off i usually meet him and go to the beach. monday however we had FHE at the skatepark with chase and ham. who obviously loved it.

helping of ham.

the duration of your flight.

after flying home to beth's wedding for three weeks, then coming back to hawaii, then flying to LA for a day, then coming home to hawaii, then flying to texas for a funeral, then coming home again... i am happy to say that i am home for a while. and hopefully will be catching up on some blogging now that my camera is all fixed up. there will be pictures to come. but heres a little memento from playing at the hotel cafe in LA. enjoy.

catpower.

while pat was having the time of his life, i was slaving away taking care of 5 kids and a dog (which the kids werent the issue as much as them being scared of ham was the issue)


but dont cry for me. i was able to sneak out for the night and go on a date with katie to go see my favorite singer of all time.


even though the concert was extremely mellow (she slowed down her songs...which are already pretty slow) her voice is amazing. end of story.

i know. im that dog person.

my adorable little nieces.



ham. you will never see him swimming.


i know. i know. but i just love him so.

you married a monster.

an ode to my husband, happy anniversary.



i love your guts.

didnt get enough ham?

ham on the beach.






ham hangin out.


ham dosing off.


ham passed out.


a little girl who thinks shes ham.