TAYLOR SWIFT IN NEW ORLEANS

This past weekend I was so thrilled to be able to get away to New Orleans with a bunch of girlfriends. We bought tickets to the Taylor Swift concert months and months ago so this was a long trip coming and I was so happy and excited to go!

We left on Friday morning after we all got our kids off to school.  We stopped in Hattiesburg for lunch and got down to our house mid afternoon. We got settled in our rooms and then freshened up. We had dinner reservations but went to a rooftop bar first for a cocktail at a place called Tin Roof on top of an old hotel. It was a really fun and pretty bar with interesting drinks. After we had a drink there we made our way to Peche for dinner. 

Group shot minus a few girls who joined us later in the night and on Saturday.

Over dinner we found out that Mandee had never been to bourbon street so we decided to take her for her first time. Of course we had to go get her a hand grenade for tropical isle. Then we made our way in and out of several of the well know bars. It ended up being a super fun night and we got home a little later than we planned to but it was well worth it.

Hand grenades!

The next morning we got up and got ready and went to one of the best brunches of my life. A place called Luke. We all had espresso martinis as a little pick me up and the most delicious food. I would repeat that meal over and over if I could. 

Shrimp and grits covered in lump crab meat.

After brunch we did some shopping. We got caught in a huge downpour and all had to duck in these little stores. Sarah, Missy and I ended up in a gyros shop and took a selfie to send to the others who had ended up in some sketchy souvenir shop and that is how we all ended up with Mardi Gras masks that we wore for group pictures and planned to wear in the concert but they ended up not letting us bring them in. After the rain shopped we made it over to a mall and hit up some stores. Then we stopped at a restaurant for some more espresso martinis and yummy food before we rushed home to get ready super quick for the concert because we were running a little behind!

Taking cover in the greek food store.

We had all showered and were not happy about our hair getting wet.

Mandee surprised us with some super fun Taylor masks too!

The concert was so amazing and we had so much fun. Our friend Erin was able to exchange our tickets and moved us to a suite that was stock with food and drink. It was really nice! She played so many good songs and we had the most fun dancing and singing along to all of them. Plus the production is just amazing. One of the best concerts Ive been to. We were so incredibly sad when it was over and I really and truly want to try and go again! 

They gave everyone these bracelets that were programmed to turn different colors and light up different parts of the stadium and the effect it had on the atmosphere truly astounded me. Technology is a wonderful thing!

After the concert some of the group made the long trek to Cafe Du Monde for beignets but it was too far and I was exhausted so a few of us called a cab and ran past Burger King on the way home before heading to bed. Sunday morning we all woke up and packed up to go home. We stopped in Hattiesburg for a quick lunch and a Target run and got home in the evening. I was so tired but so happy to be home after a fun weekend.

Kenny and the kids had a really fun and super busy weekend while I was gone! So lucky to have a super dad and husband! Friday night Elle had a birthday party for her friend Zaida at the pottery place. On Saturday they went to the pool for a little while and then came home to get showers before going over to watch the Mississippi State/Kenutcky game with Jack and Jay and all the kids. They all had so much fun playing together and Holden was so nice to let Walker play with all his big boy toys. 

On Sunday they went to the park for Walker's friend Hawkin's birthday party and had a ball. On top of all that business I came home to all the laundry done, the house clean and Tiger Woods winning a major!

Elle at Zaida's birthday party!

Having fun at the Walter's for game night.

Ready to celebrate Hawkins!

Walker, Grace and Madeline.

I found a spotlight at the concert and gave it to Walker and he loved it!

Elle was happy to have my Taylor mask!

MISSISSPPI STATE VS. THE RAJUN CAJUNS

We had our second football game a couple weeks ago. It was another evening game and with the kids being older we are loving the evening games. We can wake up, have a leisurely morning and go get breakfast and maybe a bloody mary at the club. Then we come home and let the kids play while we shower and I get the tailgate food together and then we head out to the tailgate. This Saturday was so incredibly hot! Much more hot than the first game was. But we still managed to have lots of fun. Good food, good drink and the kids just have a ball running around and playing all afternoon. They get pretty dirty and sweaty but its all very easy going. 

Our friends the Rackleys invited Elle to sit with this and she was really excited about that and we were able to enjoy some one on one time with Walker. He is loving the football games so much. He gets so into them and enjoys ringing his bell and cheering. It really is fun! We joked because I always bring a big bag of stuff for the kids to piddle with in the game if they get bored and we want to stay at the game. Elle usually makes her way through most of the things I bring. But with Walker I didn't have to get one thing out. He was content with food and the game! First child and second child, boy and girl ha!

State played well and it was a blow out so we left a little after half time and headed home. Kenny ended up staying up with the kids and watching some of the game on the couch. I am always so tired so I crashed. Eventually Elle wandered into my bed because they had all fallen asleep and then Kenny and Walker ended up upstairs. We were all worn out!

Headed to the club for breakfast and working on her scrapbook while Kenny hit a ball.

Play time in the morning before we head to campus.

Elle had a moment where she got into trouble and she came down the stairs like this. 

Luckily we managed to convince her to stay.

Family picture at the tailgate before everyone got to hot or dirty.

Big cheeses with my sweet boy.

Elle had so much fun entertaining Bailey while she waited on her friends to get to the tailgate.

We took Walker to the Dawg Walk. He wasn't totally into it because the 

players were in suits and it was hot.

Walker was so happy his new friend Jon Kyle came by the tailgate and they had a rowdy game of football. Jon Kyle's parents have been good friends of ours for a while but now they are becoming great friends who love each other!

And of course there was lots of great Grace quality time.

Bailey, Addison and Elle.

BJ and Kenny right after Ole Miss scored in the first few minutes of the Alabama game. 

BJ was happy.

Little Caesars pizza at the game is so good!

Elle having fun sitting with her friends.

They actually started at the game longer than we did. 

They live a few houses down from us so Cal brought her home for us.

BIRMINGHAM GETAWAY

Last weekend Mississippi State had an away game in Kansas so Kenny and I took the opportunity for a really quick getaway to Birmingham for the weekend. We went with Margaret and Jay and Saturday  was Jay's birthday so we had a big time celebrating!

Friday evening we left Starkville after Jay got off of work. Ann and Ken came in town to keep the kids and they were so excited to see each other. As soon as we got into Birmingham we drove straight to Ocean where we had dinner reservations. We were starving and enjoyed dinner so much! After dinner we went and met up with our friend Daniel at a little dive bar before checking into our hotel that was downtown. It was called the Redmond and really old. I love hotels like that!

Enjoying a french press coffee with our dessert.

The boys outside of Nicks.

In order to get into Nick's you have to to join their club and get a membership card.

Elle painted Mrs. Ann's fingernails.

Playing in the playroom.

On Saturday we slept in which isn't all that late for us and ordered coffee and bagels for room service and watched College Game Day. It was so relaxing. Then we got dressed and went over to our friend's Laura Catherine and Ryan's house to watch Mississippi State play Kansas. It was a really fun game and we cooked out and had appetizers and drinks while we watched. Then mid afternoon we moved locations to Back Forty brewery. That is what Jay had requested to do for his birthday which was go around to different breweries. So we went to Back Forty,  Good People and ended up at Avondale where we contemplated going to see Chris Robinson play but ultimately went to a nice dinner at a restaurant called Ovenbird. While we were there University of Florida was playing Kentucky and we were keeping up with the game through our waiter. After we were done eating it was later and we ended up moving inside to watch Kentucky beat Florida! Take that Dan Mullen! Then it was home to bed! 

Sunday morning we had brunch at the hotel before we left to come home. It was a quick trip but much needed! 

Ryan Jay and Kenny watching the game!

Headed out to the first brewery.

Good People brewery. There was some really strong beer there that I choked down but 

after all of our brewery stops I can still conclude I do not love beer.

Didn't really take this bike for a ride.

I love foose ball and we had a rather heated match and the Cooks won in an upset.

We ran into Daniel and another friend Drew at the Avondale brewery 

where they went to see Chris Robinson.

The food at Ovenbird was so yum!

Elle and her doll in their matching nightgowns from Gramma and PopPop.