Happy Mardi Gras ya’ll! Today was very un-fat for us here. Garth returned to work after a four day weekend, Jack cried his way through 6 hours of daycare, and I made 16 bow ties and caught up on some e-mail. We’re living a short card-ride away from the big easy so it’s always tempting this time of year to drop in on the festivities. Three things kept us from nola this year: it’s freaking cold, Jack needs a stroller and stroller + mardi gras crowd= ahhh!, and baby number 2 doesn’t like it when I stand for more than 26 seconds, or go more than 2 hours without a meal. So the short of it is- we’re domesticated- we’re grown up- we’re a small family trying to keep the laundry and dishes done. Life has changed.

We couldn’t just let our responsabilities limit our carnival fun though, so we went to Mobile on Monday. We found a sunny spot on the street and watched an afternoon parade- we caught moon pies and beads and Jack caught a little purple bat. We meandered down Dauphin street, stopping at Bienville books to peruse (amazing collection of used books!) and purchase a bag-full for journal-making. We ate lunch at Spot of Tea where I had a sandwich called “english cucumber”. It was a toasted croissant with cream cheese, cucumbers, toasted pecans, and a green leaf. Surprisingly delicious.

We also visited the USS Alabama and USS Drum on the way home- two WWII Navy vessels preserved and available to tour- it was awesome! I couldn’t believe how much of the ship was open for us to wander. Garth loved walking through the USS Drum- a sub- and commenting on how things had changed/were the same. And Jack, well, he was so excited that he peed through all of his layers of clothing and had the opportunity to be naked on the USS Alabama. I guess that’s not a big deal- thousands of sailors can say that very same thing.

We’re only planning on living on the gulf coast until the end of this year and there are still so many places that I’d like to go! Birmingham, Atlanta, the Louisiana swamps, Savannah (again- when I’m not so sick), Memphis, Charleston, Orlando (for the third time….), and on and on. Guess I’d better start planning those weekend trips!

hope all ya’ll are living it up.
elle

The Insectarium was so amazing. Garth and Jack both ate some crickets. I got up close and personal with some cockroaches, and we strolled through a butterfly garden.

The Saint Louis Cemetary no. 1 was amazing! Highly recommended.

We wandered the french quarter, had breakfast at Cafe du Monde, rode the St. Charles Streetcar, and dressed up for the Krewe of Boo Halloween Parade.

We stayed at Oak Alley Plantation our last night and it was the best part of the trip. Better than the parade and the cricket eating. Perfect.

Lots of love my little friends,
elle

Lat week we spent five days in Garth’s hometown. Our first full day in Salt Lake was the 24th of July, which is a state holiday in Utah. Sunshine. American flags. Funnel Cakes. We woke up early and made our way to the ridiculously crowded streets of downtown Salt Lake to watch the parade. The floats were amazing! Garth knew several of the marching band instructors, and would get so excited when the drum lines would pass. (I was tempted to befriend one in particular so that I could convince him to convince Garth to make it his profession- still working on a plan to make that happen).

(RIP Steve Madden sunglasses- they were crushed on this trip)

Later that afternoon we attended a lovely surprise retirement party for Garth’s Dad, who recently retired after 37 years with the Salt Lake Police Department. The food was delicious and everyone was delighted to see Garth and meet Jack. We got soaking wet in a post-dinner water fight.

There were lots of other family dinners and late night chats. I got the chance to go down to Springville and visit my super good friend Anna. She is 10 weeks pregnant and I am 4 months post-pardom, and our bellies look about the same. (no pics! Wish I woulda, but I was just so delighted to see her, the camera slipped my mind!). We also spent a quick few hours in Sundance (of the film festival variety) with my brother Joshua and his family. We bought milkshakes and smoothies at their little deli and played by the stream in the warm afternoon sun.

Right before we left the whole Plouzek family gathered and we had family portraits taken. 10 wiggly grandkids. These are some that I snapped (and one from Brena, thanks!).

love to everyone.
xoxo

elle

I was slightly terrified of it too. I always want to make sure that I’m never a problem for anyone around me. My parents’ golden rule when I was growing up was, “don’t embarass your parents in public” and when it was broken one would feel the death grip of Dad, or feel the penetrating eye of Mom. So it was with a little trepidation that I took yo the skies with Jack, knowing full well that he hadn’t learned this rule yet.
I wasn’t nervous that I would not have enough food (I brought enough for an army of babies) or that I would need to change his diaper mid-flight (though he did fill his pants as we were boarding our very first flight- rad!). I was worried that the people around me would be bothered by his crying. I did not want to be that lady that brought the screaming kid on board. Luckily, Jack took to the air like he’s taken to everything else: like a gentleman. He cried only as long as it took me to bend down, pull a bottle from my carry-on, screw a nipple on, and put it into his mouth. I found that in general, flying with a baby does the same as shopping with a baby and going to a movie with a baby does to the people around you. Most of them are on your side. Most of them don’t mind a little whimper. Most of them are kind enough to unfold your stroller while you juggle the baby and the bags. Thank goodness for most people.

Jack and I are home safe and sound and we’ll divuldge more of our journey in the days to come.

xo
elle

Saturday I had the pleasure of eating in four different cities.

I had cereal and yogurt in Spokane, WA.
Asagio toasted bagel with cream cheese and cranberry juice was had in Seattle, WA.
Houston, TX found me eating a Schlotzky’s sandwich and Smoothie King smoothie.
Garth took me out to eat and the Olive Garden for dinner in Pensacola, FL where I had cheesy alfredoish pasta and a caramel italian soda.
Not a bad food day.

still hungry,
elle and baby Jack.

The squares are lovely at night.

The next morning we had a delightful breakfast and made our way to Charleston, SC, where Garth’s new car was waiting. It was exciting to see it for the first time, and to see that Garth looked like a giant next to it. He bought a 1964 Austin Mini. It’s baby blue with a British flag on top. It’s also a right hand drive. It is so cute from behind!

We drove for an hour or so when Garth noticed a loss of power, and I noticed smoke. We pulled over and worried our little heads about what to do, neither of us knowing much about cars to begin with, much less vintage foreign cars. Luckily, the garage that we’d just purchased it from was very helpful, and a nice and very strange man pulled over to help us. We were able to “jerry rig” a hose, fill up some fluids, and let it cool down, before we drove (slowly!) back to Savannah.

We took the car to the only place open on Saturday in Savannah, only to have them tell us that they don’t do this kind of work. They were nice enough to let us leave it there though- and they’d transfer it to someone who might be able to help on Monday. We spent the rest of the day (the very small amount of day that was left) wandering around Savannah some more (and enjoying the lighted Christmas parade).

Sunday I drove Garth to the Jacksonville airport where he rented a car to drive back to Pensacola. I drove to Orlando to spend a few days with my sister who was attending a pharmacy conference.

Oh Orlando! The weather was heavenly after the stuff-your-nose cold of Savannah. I even wore shorts. We had many adventures including, but not limited to: sneaking me into the pharmacy expo (and pretending to be a pharmacy student) so that we could pocket all of the cool freebies, a day at Universal Orlando, and an open bar party at Hard Rock Live (which Julia and I ducked out of in favor of a movie about 15 minutes after arrival). I really couldn’t ride the rides at Universal (the two or three that I did I had to hide the belly because it was still against the rules), but it was nice to just BE there. Last time I went it was a dash to see everything and I felt rushed and it was hot- so it was nice this time to just get some ice cream and chill on the elaborately decorated sidewalk. In the sun. Delicious. I also got to catch the Macy’s parade at Universal, and Whoville, and I met the Grinch! It was fabulous. Pictures follow.

Christmas is so soon! I have much to do folks.
Oh! And…turns out, no one in Savannah wants to deal with a 1964 Austin Mini that’s smoking, so we had it towed here this week. It is sitting safely behind out house next to Blue, who looks rather large in comparison.

Loves to you. And you.

elle