Louisiana Trip/ Interview

Hans and I went to Louisiana this last weekend for an interview.  We left Arlee with my mom and then Abbie would pick her up after work. My mom took us to the airport and then took Arlee back to her house to wait for Abbie. I was about to cry when we were walking away and I looked at Arlee with her arms out stretched screaming and crying for us to take her with. It is always sad leaving our little bug, but we must do it every now and then. : ( She was fine soon after. Thank goodness for everyone!

We left Friday afternoon and came back Sunday night. It was a fast trip, but worth it. Hans had his interview on Saturday and it lasted a little more than six hours. It went great until they said that they didn't need us to come down for a year! WHAT the... I thought that was crazy. I don't really think that is going to happen, but that is just my thinking that I don't want to move rather than maybe that might be something that we need to do.  We will see. They are going to keep in touch with us.

Here are some pictures from our trip:

Sugar cane fields are every where. Lining them are roads and huge trees.

Hans riding in the car with the people "interviewing" him were showing us around.

 Hans looking out at all the sugar cane... As you can tell it goes on forever.

 Sugar Mill

 Sugar Mill

 Sugar Mill

 Sugar Mill

 This is where the sugar gets dumped into the barges to be shipped all around.

 Bayou Teche from the car.

 Louisiana is very flat and green, except when the sugar cane has been cut down.

 Hans standing next to some trees that were by a place dedicated to the first Franklin guy to die in some battle (can't remember right now)

Me and Hans standing together with the trees. They are tall and skinny and have moss on them. I actually didn't get any pictures of the huge oak trees that canopy the trees. Weird, I know.

 Hans and Jerry Fournet (interviewer/business owner) walking over the bridge to look at the Bayou Teche

 Here is a better picture of the Bayou Teche

 A little restaurant off the Bayou Teche

 A picture of the trees that Hans and I were standing next too. The Fournet's house is just a few to the right of this picture. They also took us to their house.

 The houses that are built off the Bayou Teche

 I thought you might be able to see the water under the bridge, but I guess not, but this is what the bridge is made out of.

Here are some pictures from the plane. I always have to get some.

 Louisiana

 Colorado.... I thought this was pretty cool with a bunch of mountains with no snow and then one in the middle of them all with snow.

 The white spot on the top left is from the same mountain from above, just zoomed out.

 This is the same mountain as as above, just zoomed in... way in!

 Even more zoomed in. I like to play with the camera. Can you tell?

 River from the airplane.  This is also in Colorado.

Colorado again. This time with clouds.

The pictures from the plane are just if you like to see the difference, but no real significance.

OH YES!!!
I tried shrimp and liked it. Those that don't know me really well, I don't eat seafood, lake food, creek or stream food. This however, my cousin, Natalie talked me into trying. I wanted to try it and told her I would try things once, but I have to tell you I was scared out of my mind. The last time I tried shrimp I hated it. The last time it was dipped in cocktail sauce and absolutely gross. This time it was with a jalapeno and wrapped in bacon. Hans had to tell me wear to bite it off and once I did; it was delicious. Now, I am not going to think that I like any kind of shrimp now, but this was good. Natalie was telling me that it is really fresh there so that may make the difference. Who knows? I am not going to be the judge of that.

Ulla you should be proud of me. I actually like some kind of variation!

We are so happy to be home even though we enjoyed our visit. 
Thank you to the Jordans for being our hosts.
Thank you to my mom for picking us up and dropping us off at the airport. Also for taking care of Arlee.
Thank you to Abbie and Matt for being second parents to Arlee while we are gone. Sorry she was not the best sleeper, but what little kid is? Well maybe it is just her, but she enjoyed the time with you.
Thank you to Hans for letting me tag along on the adventure.

Where will we go next? Stay tuned....

Chels

Arlee had a birthday shout HOORAY!

Here are some pictures from Arlee's 2nd birthday!

 Arlee sleeping her birthday away... waiting for Hans to come home from his rotation

My mom and Kasiah with Arlee opening the present my parents gave her. TOY STORY 3 figureens

On Arlee's birthday we invited a couple people to Jungle Jims. The following came: My mom, Kasiah, Brock, Amy, Landon, Laura, Jon, Gage and of course me, Arlee and Hans. Here are some of the moments that the kids had.

 2nd car: Arlee, Brock and Kasiah (the favorite ride for Arlee I think.)

Arlee being the cow girl that she is on the merry go round. Me too! Giddy up: )

 We just did simple cup cakes for Arlee's birthday since Kali was making her a cake. Plus they are a whole lot easier to do for little kids.

 Jon and Gage (Laura didn't want to be in the picture)

 Amy and Landon

 Brock showing off his tash!

 Hans and Arlee (the frosting could have been lighter to not stain their clothes, but it has been noted for other affairs.)

 Arlee and Gage (Arlee saying Vroom Vroom Mommy!)

 Okay this was actually really funny. Brock was riding the bumper cars and he thinks that you just drive them and not run into anyone. The other kids had a different look at it.  As you can see here, brock is pretty upset. This happened again and again and... again. Each time he would upset, but he wanted to keep riding them. I guess you could say the lesson was not learned, but it was sure funny for all that was watching. HAHAHAHAHAhahahhahahhahah aaaaaa!

Arlee and Gage. At first, Gage was not liking the idea of the rides, but when we were about ready to leave he wanted to ride... figures! Just joking. It was a lot of fun seeing him and Arlee riding together.

This is the Woody that we gave Arlee for her birthday. She loves watching Toy Story 3 so it was a huge hit. I actually got the idea from my nephew, Jayden. He has a Woody just like this one.  Come with the pull string and an interactive hat. When you take off the hat it says some different phrases like "Where did my hat go?" "A cowboy with out a hat is like a yoodle with out a hey-he-oo." Arlee loves the last comment and it is so funny to hear her say it. When you put his hat back on: "You found my hat! Thank you, thank you... THANK YOU!"

The day after her birthday (26th) we took Arlee to the Living Planet Aquarium for the 1st time. Here are some of the pictures.

Arlee sitting on the giant toad/frog (not exactly sure the difference with out reading something)

 Hans and Arlee by one of the exibits.

 As most 2 year olds... Arlee was pretty excited to see the NEMO fish from another popular movie

 She loved looking at this huge turtle as well, but didn't think of CRUSH off of Nemo. : P Also in this tank there were some sharks that would swim right next to the glass. They kept surprising me and Arlee as we were usually looking at something else.

Arlee saw this fish (NEMO) and tried ripping it off to take it with us. We told her it was stuck and she had to leave it there. 

 Family picture. They really captured Arlee's favorite past time. haha

Here are some pictures of my side. Arlee's birthday party.

 The Jessie cake that my little sister Kali made for Arlee. Arlee loves Jessie and Woody as you may be able to tell.

 Kali and Arlee (I didn't get a good picture of them both, but I figure Kali would care more if she was the one not looking her best.)

Arlee cheesing it up. LOVE IT!

Arlee tried grabbing the candle after not being able to blow it out and WAAAALAAAAA!

Hans ended up blowing it out. (she did blow the cup cake one out though) I was sitting with her so this didn't happen, but I was toooooo tooo too late. Darn it.

Other than that it was generally a happy birthday experience for her.

Happy Birthday Cakes!

Love,

MOM

Happy Birthday Bug!

Love,

DAD

We love you so much. MUAH!



Landon's 1!

Hans' nephew is now 1.  Here are some pictures for the family and friends if ya wanna look too.

Arlee, Landon, Amy and Brock opening the presents

This is what we gave him

Arlee loves TOY STORY 3! Landon got something from the movie (can't remember), but she loved looking at it.

Landon is getting so good at walking. Still falls down a lot, but for being 1 I would day that he is doing pretty well.

DIRT CAKE! Delicious...

The monster truck was on top of the cake along with some gummy worms.

Happy Birthday Pants!