An Afternoon with the Saints

While I was hanging out with Rivers, which I totally enjoyed, Stephen, Keri, Mark, Ryland and Easton went to watch the Saints practice.  Pretty neat experience for all of them.  

 AHHH, the blocked punt!

 After practice the family got into a little football action themselves.

What a neat guy Drew Brees is.  He came over to the family and played some catch with them!  He thought Keri was a "natural".  All the adults mentioned that they really didn't want to drop a ball that Drew Brees threw to them.  I don't think any of them did!

 Go out for the long one from Drew, Mike!

 Easton with open arms waiting for that ball.

After some catch with Drew Brees everyone went and had some food at the Saints facility.  They feed the players after each practice!

 What a spread!

 Easton looks like he is really enjoying that ice cream.  Who wouldn't!

 Yum!

 Dig in Mike!

What a great experience for all.  Thanks Stephen for taking them to the Saint's practice and thanks Drew Brees for the game of catch!  The family was thrilled!

Thanksgiving 2011 in NOLA

Well, here he is!  Rivers V. Gleason

There have already been a lot of highlights here in New Orleans but little Rivers tops the list!  He is precious!

We arrived very early on Thanksgiving morning.  Our flight landed at 1:00 AM.  We got a few hours of sleep and headed over to Michel and Stephen's.  We went with Keri, Mark, Easton, and Ryland.  Ryland and Easton found the helmet cam! They could hardly hold their heads up with the helmet on!

Easton looked like he was going to fall over!

Mike was in charge of cooking the turkey.  He loves cooking!  He is watching his creation in the oven!

OK, the weather was much warmer in NOLA.  Squirt gun wars seemed like a good thing to do.  Ryland and Easton's guns were filled. 

Little did we know that we would become targets of the spray of water!  I guess we should have known.

These boys look so sweet here but they were out to get their mom and grandma!

Rivers!  Snoozing!

Fun, fun, fun! 

So sweet getting to hold him and feed him. 

Rivers meet your grandpa Mike!

Here is Stephen and Michel's house.  It is long and narrow.  Bigger than it looks.  Cute house.

When the turkey was done we had to pack it over to the Varisco's.  Dinner was at their house.  Not exactly sure why Mike didn't cook it there!  It all worked out.  Mr. Turkey rode in the back of the car!

This is the view from Stephen and Michel's house.  A bayou.  They got married on that bridge!

The chef delivered the turkey safe and sound!

Michel is pointing to where the water settled after Katrina.  The picture was up on that mantle.  They had the bottom half restored!

Two beauties!

Keri kept stealing Rivers from me!  Just three minutes she would say but I guess she doesn't know how to tell time because three minutes came and went!

Mark and Rivers!

The kids table for Thanksgiving!

Paul did the turkey carving!

The private school that Michel's nephews go to raised some money for the Gleason Trust!  Very cool!  This was in the Varisco's house.

Time to dish up!  Hillary and Mike getting dinner!

Mark and Mike waiting for everyone so they can get started!

Here is everyone (Mike is taking the picture).  What a great family we were able to share Thanksgiving with!

Caroline is the baby on the left.  She was born a month early and weighed 5 ish pounds.  He is healthy and beautiful!  Caroline is Rivers cousin!

The kids were playing with some Fisher Price toys.  There were little Fisher Price people.  We kept hearing how Michel loved to play with the people.  Turns out she named everyone of them.  She had a chart with their names and more information about each one.  She even made them backpacks with papers inside.  She is holding a backpack!  The rest of the backpacks are right on the table.  Unreal!  Talk about and organized persistant child!

It was a good Thanksgiving. Lots of kids, family, and laughter.  Good food too!  Thanks so much to the Variscos!