triathlon Saturday

May 18th we headed for the city of New Roads.  We stayed in a small but quaint little place called Morel Courts.  It was built in 1952 and everything is original. The first thing Audrey said when we walked in was "This is cool!"  It was totally priceless.  The reason we were in New Roads was today was Carlo's first triathlon.  I can't tell you how proud I am of him.  At this time last year he had just returned from India from his holistic procedure.  It was the procedure that brought my baby back to me. It brought MY Carlo back to me.  He has been training now since November working on swimming, (something he does during his lunch break 3 days a week, biking (for Christmas 2012 he got a cycle) and running.  This morning all the training was put to the test.  He finished 70th out of 71.  For swimming he had on a wet suit and had a great starting place.  Swimming is his strongest of the three events so as I saw a slew of long sleeved arms in the air towards the beginning and middle that it was Carlo, but it wasn't.  I then saw no more long sleeves wet suits and knew something went wrong.  I was right.  Carlo started hyperventilating and feeling claustrophobic in the full wet suit and had to grab the boat two times.  The second time he had to take off the wet suit while in the water.  Once he got out his transition time to the bike took 3-4 minutes and while transitioning he explained what happened in the water and said "I'm going to kick some butt" I told him "Go kick some ass baby"  and that he did. In cycling he placed 39th.  He averaged 20 miles an hour on the bike and was really happy with that. I should mention that he also had to stop twice because of chain issues on his bike.  In running, he kicked even more ass and placed 26th.  He finished 3rd in his age group.  Audrey and I really enjoyed watching everything. It's very fast paced and she loved cheering everyone on, especially papa.  I would tell her when I saw him and to yell.  She screeched at the top of her lungs and then yelled "GO PAPA!!!"  It was too cute.  She also loved seeing the water and looking for fish.  She would yell "Fish, where are you?"  Once everyone finished, we packed up our stuff in the room hopped in the car and headed to St. Francisville which is only 6 miles away.  St. Francisville is a sleepy little town that has many beautiful plantations and is probably most known as the place where The Myrtles Plantation is.  The Myrtles is said to be one of the most haunted places in America. To be honest, St. Francisville reminds me a lot of Natchitoches, where Carlo and I went to college.  I looked up a cool lunch place on trip advisor, Magnolia Cafe.  We asked if they could use our Udi's bread so we could have sandwiches and they did!!  I had a veggie sandwich with broccoli, carrots, bell peppers, zucchini, yellow squash, and lettuce on it. We took our food to go and looked for a park. We found a park with a MASSIVE family reuinion going and and kept on looking. We came across a nice area that was outside the court houses and enjoyed a picnic lunch.   Audrey crashed on the way home and by the time we got back it was 4:30pm.  I made a dinner worthy of the amazing athlete Carlo is!  Corn cakes, Vietnamese Watermelon Salad, and Cherries topped with a Mascarpone Whipped Cream.  I am going to write a separate post on these recipes so you can all enjoy this lovely summer meal too.    With all of this said, neither of us remember our camera, we forgot our itouch, we don't have iphones, and the phones we have were both dead! So....there are no pictures from this amazing Saturday.  It's simply in our heads.  It really was a fun and lovely Saturday and I feel as though I have Superman as my husband!!

Squeals of Joy

Alright so....I realized I never really wrote about the day Carlo came back from India.  It's been nearly two months, but seems like it was just yesterday.  Seeing Carlo after 45 days was so surreal.  I was so...excited to see him.  Sure I saw him 2 times a day via SKYPE, but it's just not the same as seeing him in person.  I can't begin to tell you how much we missed him.  Honestly, I had been missing my husband for quite sometime, since December 21st to be exact.  This fistula took every ounce of energy out of him and it definitely was a very difficult time.  It killed him to not be able to really do stuff to full strength.  He would simply get exhausted.   But, I have him back in full!!  I can say with complete certainty that he is 100+% back!!  I still say I am most excited that he is sleeping next to me once again.  It's such a simple thing, but I have REALLY missed it.  I will never forget how excited miss Audrey was to see papa.  When we got to the airport Carlo's mom, nonna, and dad, grandpa, were already there.  When the plane started unloading, grandpa put Audrey on his shoulder's, he's 6 ft 2, and when he saw Carlo get off the plane he pointed to him and said "look Audrey papa". She let out a squeal of complete joy and said "PAPA!!!" then squirmed like crazy to get down and see him.  I have never heard anything like it before or after out of Audrey, it was too cute. She was so...thrilled to see him that when he asked me to put her in her carseat so he could put his bags in the car, she very loudly protested and pushed me away. Hey can you blame her???  She was attached to papa and followed him around for the next couple of days.  She was very upset when he had to leave that Monday afternoon to attend a funeral, he came in on a Friday.  She looked ALL over the house. I kept telling her "papa bye bye, but will  be home to eat dinner and tell Audrey night night" I think she got the idea, but she was still not too thrilled that he left.
 

this was taken minutes after Carlo arrived home!

Our Birthday

It's very hard to believe that we are 27 today! WHERE DID TIME GO???!!!   Birthday's are always something special around here for Carlo and I. We see it as a day to spend together.  Gifts in the past were optional because we have always taken a trip.  Our first trip was in 2004, we went to Hot Springs Arkansas for a few days. We played mini golf, stocked up on the spring water, took a picnic and went hiking. It was the perfect trip and we had to do it on what little money we saved since we were well 19 at the time. Unfortunately our camera was stolen so we lost ALL the pictures.  We even met a couple our age and were asked to take pictures of them, then the guy got down and proposed!!!!!  It was so....adorable!!

 Of Course, 2005 is still by and far the BEST birthday  Carlo proposed!!  We went to the same park where we went on our first date, had on the same outfits and all, and he got down on one knee and popped the question!  I couldn't have been happier.  We then went into New Orleans where we spent the day at the Audubon Zoo and the Aquarium.  We had muffaletta's at Central Grocery Oh, how I miss that wonderful sandwich enjoyed some beignets from Cafe Du Monde, went to Taqueria Corona for dinner, the original location that no longer exists due to Katrina and finished up the night like we finished up our first date, at The Old Town Soda Shoppe.   Carlo wouldn't allow me to call anyone and say a word until after dinner while we were on our way back from New Orleans. I did get to call my mom for a moment before lunch but that was it.  I love that we had the day undisturbed to ourselves! :-)

On our Way to the hotel.  We even took the Porsche, FANCY US!! lol

 For some reason 2006 was a blur...not sure what happened really and neither does Carlo!! lol  I DO know that in 2007 we went to see Pete Fountain play in Mississippi.  We stayed overnight in a casino hotel, where he performs.  Afterwards we met him and even got him to sign a BUNCH of old LP's, and Carlo's wedding present from me, a signed copy of a jazzfest poster of the blue dog and Pete Fountain. It was a really fun trip.

Us with Pete Fountain!  (did I mention that Carlo owns ALL of his LP's???)

 In 2008 we went to Disney for 3 days! It was AWESOME!! We went to Jimmy Buffet's Margarita ville, we are definitely parrot heads in this house, especially come summer.  We went hit all of Disney's parks and it was  great, except the last day because Carlo started to not feel well :-(     It was okay though because we still had a wonderful time. We even wore those It's my Birthday buttons and got to get to the front of the line for a few rides!!! 

Riding Expedition Everest

In Epcot, it just finished raining so we took shelter in Norway.  (Note the birthday pins.)

I will ALWAYS Love this photo. It's the "okay we're smiling this time" but we both decided to be pirates photo.

 In 2009, we were apart for our birthday, because well Carlo was in Lafayette and I was in Albuquerque,but we celebrated by going to a Dave Matthews Concert. (We are HUGE Dave fans, I MEAN HUGE!!!  I am honestly not sure what I would do without Frank Sinatra or Dave Matthews, no lie!)    This concert was not planned, we were originally going to go to Colorado Springs, but found out a week and a half before the concert that Dave was playing in town.  That night we booked tickets and had the best birthday/cinco de mayo EVER!  

heading out to see Dave! This was Carlo's first time seeing him live!

right before the Dave started!

Me with my BIG ASS dessert from Flying Star. This was taken on our birthday. Oh and the dessert was AMAZING!

In 2010 we were also apart for our birthday. I was in Italy with some members of the UNM Orchestra playing basset horn for Mozart's Requiem.  On May 22, I suspected I was pregnant.  I just knew it.  Sure enough, when I got home from my trip on June 1st, I took a home pregnancy test, 4 to be exact, and it was positive, ALL of them. We could not have been happier!!

This was in Italy. I believe this was within a few days of when I suspected I was pregnant. Crazy to think of that now!

 In 2011 we went on a date.  It was nothing a normal couple would think was special but to us it was some alone time away from Audrey.  This year we also went on a date.  We saw Dark Shadow, which is the typical Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, Danny Elfman movie, meaning it was AWESOME! ( OMG I just looked up Danny Elfman and found out he composed the music for Pee-Wee's Big Adventure and that Tim Burton directed the movie.   For the record, I OWN that video! It is feet away from me right now in an ottoman as I type.  That was my FAVORITE movie when I was 3. Who knew I had ALWAYS been a fan of Tim Burton and Danny Elfman!!)   Sorry for my random freak out.  I should also add that we went to Masala Kitchen to have Indian food.  Carlo said it was completely authentic and we met and talked to the owner, who is from North India and even found out where to buy yellow lentils and flat rice!!  Sure we have to make a trip to Baton Rouge, but if it means more vegetarian dishes around here and a variety of food, I am TOTALLY game!  

27 looks like it's going to be a banner year for us, I just feel it!  Happy Birthday to my best friend, and my love.  You are an amazing man, husband, and papa.  I feel so lucky to share my birthday with you. 

 

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to ALL you mama's and mama's to be.  Today is just photos, enjoy.

Weekend fun

This weekend in Lafayette was Festival International. You can read more about it at the Festival website here. It's a World Music Festival that has been going on here since 1986 and it's pretty awesome!! I had never heard of it or been to it until 2 years ago because in New Orleans going on the same weekend every year, the last weekend in April and first weekend in May, is JazzFest. I have been to JazzFest for more than 6 or so years, starting in 1999.  I think I went every year in high school and then 2 more years.  It's really fun but expensive, it's $45 for a 1 day ticket, that's not counting food.  Festival International on the other hand is FREE, yup FREE! You can bring in any food or drink, you aren't searched at the gate, because well it's in the middle of downtown Lafayette and there is no one entrance, and the whole FREE thing never gets old.  you hear music from bands who are from ALL over the world, SERIOUSLY!  THIS is a great article on who to see at Festival.  It's written by a like minded mama regarding parenting and she lives in Lafayette!  We went Saturday and Sunday.  On Saturday we heard Debauche Russian Mafia Band! They were REALLY different, but fun to watch.  They were the first band we caught on Saturday.  We also caught Pedrito Martinez Band, I REALLY liked them! It was Afro-Cuban and had some amazing musicians!  We were walking by Teada, which was Irish music. I have a fascination with Irish music probably because well...I am Irish! so we stopped to listen for a few minutes. The penny whistle drew me in.  We also checked out ALL of the local artisans. They have some amazing things!  The food is also awesome and pretty cheap! We got some Pork Jambalaya, shrimp and grits, and some malibu festival punch.  The food was $5 per dish, like most of the food, and like I said was AWESOME!!   On Sunday, we caught Vishtan who we REALLY enjoyed! I loved the accordion and kept telling Audrey music. She kept pointing to the stage and dancing.  We then grabbed some grub, a blackened crawfish tamale, it was REALLY good!!  We headed over to hear the Savoy Family Cajun band where Audrey got to run around some. She visited with people, walked up some steps, danced, and had a GREAT time.  We then went shopping.  We got Audrey a couple of cool things: a small African drum, and a handheld drum that you turn in your hand and it makes noise.  She had a blast with the hand held one. I managed to get smacked in the head once with it, but it wasn't a big deal.  We then saw a really cool jewelry place.  I think  I should say that I am very very picky with jewelry so for something to catch my eye that is really saying something.  I was only looking,but Carlo had other ideas.  He bought me a necklace from a place called arts kinetic.  It's beautiful.  It's an old coin, Japanese or Chinese, with a silver key, and a ruby (they hang separately) it has 3 small freshwater pearls around the clasp and one that is above the ruby.   After our fun day at festival we came home and Carlo cooked us up some yummy blackened tilapia and lightly battered and fried eggplant. The batter he used was seasoned with tumeric, mustard seeds, cayenne, chili powder, and coriander seeds. This was something he had eaten in India, well it was somewhat similar.  Honestly, those eggplant would break anyone of a potato chip addiction.  It had that perfect crunch on the outside with lots of flavor and the inside was soft.   Well, while he fried outside, Audrey and I hung out.  It was a GREAT weekend! 

on our way to festival

Audrey's AWESOME Tom's! They FINALLY fit! :-)

my new necklace! :-)

Audrey and her wagon

toting around her wagon. Don't mind the construction, we are building a yoga space. It's in the VERY early stages

the princess

Eli buddy!

me and my boy

she was talking to herself deciding what to put in her wagon

so....happy he's home!!

swinging right before bath time

Happy Anniversary to us

Hey guys so....I figured everyone else has Wordless Wednesday so I will do Photo Friday!  Since today is me and Carlo's 5th year anniversary it's our wedding photos and some from our honeymoon in Thailand!  ENJOY! :-)

right after Carlo proposed. May 21st (our birthday) 2005

balcony on Bourbon st. during our bachelor/bachelorette party

bridal portrait

the bridal party

showing off my garter

Carlo waiting for me

walking down the aisle

at the altar during mass

view of the WTC in New  Orleans, reception was on the 30th floor, the Plimsoll Club

the Versailles room

first dance to Nat King Cole's The Very Thought of You

he's so dashing! :-)

cake pulls!

cake smash!

dancing to Shout!

leaving to second line

before hopping in our carriage

lucky bells that hang around the temple in Chiang Mai

the last floating market in Thailand

the best part of the trip! Riding the elephants! :-)

our baby elephant! :-)