Pam and I decided to visit Tim in New Orleans - it was Tim's birthday and also 2 years since we lost our mom. We thought it would be nice to spend some quality and fun time together.
When the word got out that Pam and I would be going to NOLA for a long weekend, others thought it would be great fun to get together too.....so Tim rented a 6 bedroom house in the Garden District of NOLA, so we could all stay together. The Dusty Mansion was our home for a few days.
As I stated it was going to be just Pam and I visiting Tim....so the two of us grew to the..
three of us.......which grew into......
the twelve of us! What a party!!
Adam and Jalena came....and many other family members.....fun times were held by all...
Ben grilling salmon and bacon wrapped shrimp......
Emily and Jenni working on dinner....
relaxing in our beautiful backyard...
Pam reading on the patio......the weather was very hot!!
Jenni working on the salad!
Hudson was looking cute as always!
Hudson loves his Uncle Nick...they would laugh and laugh...what a pair!
Hudson wanted to play "farm" or play "cars" - there was always someone ready to play with him!
Jalena, Adam, Pam and I played a mean game of scrabble...
Mom would have been proud!!
Brooke having dish patrol..
Peeling shrimp for the grill...
The Holtvluwer kids were in charge of one meal while we were there, boy did they put on a spread...we had bacon wrapped shrimp, salmon, 7 layer salad, twice baked potatoes, baked asparagus, wine, etc. It was delicious! While we were eating, Jenni says, "it looks like the grill is on fire!" The kids made a mad dash out to the back and quickly distinguished the fire....the grill was a goner, but thankfully everyone was safe.....it could have been a catastrophe!! God was watching over us!!
There was a pool table -- game room, Tim was showing us how to play pool - quite the shark!!
Jenni is just too gentle, ya gotta be tough, Jenn!
Adam and Brooke catching up on their computers in the TV room. Sometimes we had 4-5 people on computers, while some were watching TV, and Hudson was playing "farm" and...
Ben was playing guitar....Adam had his guitar along also, and we enjoyed listening to them play.
Nate playing pool...
Jalena taking a bow at her concert! She gave a concert at the college where she was going to camp. She is a very talented viola player and the family enjoyed her concert very much!!
Jalena playing her viola - they combined the big kids with the little kids at the end of the concert for a special number!
Jenni, Emily, and Brooke posing by the Mississippi River...
Tim, Emily, and Adam
Nick and Jenni
Nate, Brooke and Hudson by the Mississippi River
Nick and Emily hamming it up while eating baguettes
Adam and Ben
Emily and Tim
Pam and Jenni
Nick and Emily
The group at the Mississippi River (Jalena was in music camp)
Holland State Park, what a beautiful day! After shopping in Holland we took a drive to Holland State Park and walked on the pier, and posed by the "big red building" as a sailboat was sailing past. (some people will get "the big red building" and others will not!)
Emily and I had a great lunch and enjoyed our time together! As always the time goes so fast when she is here, but we were happy to spend some time together.
What a great daughter! She is now enrolled in grad school to become a nurse practitioner! She will be amazing at this...God has blessed her with many gifts - intelligence, a wonderful personality, caring for others, a great work ethic, and the list could go on! I am very proud of her and I know she will study hard and meet her goals!
