It’s been two years since I had been to New Orleans to visit Lauren and the family. Since Renee and Bruce moved down there a month ago, it was perfect timing to celebrate Iris’s 5th birthday and to see the rental house Renee will be living in while they are building their new house hopefully soon. If you missed my sister’s moving post, check that out. They sold their house in Marietta and have moved permanently to LA to retire down there and build their dream home.
I flew down and spent a few days with Lauren and my sister came over to stay too. We drove back to Covington, where they are living for a day also and to meet up with one of my readers on Instagram.
Just in from the airport, I snuggled with sweet baby Alex. She’s the sweetest and best baby!
While I’m in LA, I always like to get my favorite foods and we are all about food down there, so we plan our meals accordingly. Muffalettas are one of my faves and I got one the first day from R & O’s which is in Lauren’s neighborhood.
We picked up the girls and took them to the playground. The weather was very nice while I was there. It was supposed to be more rainy, but it didn’t turn out that way.
The girls love playing on the playground.
For dinner that night we went to Station 6, also in their neighborhood. It’s a great place to go, delicious food and it was packed every single time we drove by there.
We ate outside on the patio and it was delightful.
Photo opps with the girls. They don’t mind posing. Parker is getting her permanent teeth back in.
With my sister too. The girls are growing and are so much fun. They both have unique personalities and it’s fun to watch them grow.
My sister and I split the garlic shrimp and that delicious chopped salad.
The baby was there too and she’s getting bigger by the day at 8 months.
Dessert was in order and we all had a taste. We also got a bread pudding which was delicious.
The next day, Renee and I headed to Covington, LA such a cute town with lots of shops and restaurants. We didn’t take time to shop this time, but met for lunch at del porto, a wonderful Italian restaurant. We met up with Gina, one of my readers on Instagram and she was so sweet and helpful. She had reached out to meet my sister once she moved down here and she will be so helpful to my sister in getting settled in her new town. It’s so nice to meet my followers out there, always a treat!
I got this fried seafood special with shrimp and fish and fried veggies on a bed of aioli and it was SO good!
We stopped in one decor store while we were there and now I can’t remember the name of it.
Out for dinner the next night, we went to a fave, The Blue Crab, also in the Bucktown area of Metarie. It’s always good too.
I got the wedge salad with blackened shrimp a dish I’ve had several times and always love.
By the water with the girls.
Iris got a new multi-colored robe in the mail from her great grandma, Doris (Bruce’s mom) She loved it so much and wanted to wear it all the time.
I always have to get beignets when I’m there, so we went to City Park and Cafe DuMonde. Always delicious!
The girls wanted to play in the park so we stayed for awhile and they climbed trees.
Such cute girls!
There was a singer in the big gazebo and it was fun to hear him singing.
These old live oaks are perfect for kids to climb.
I climbed up one limb for picture and told the girls I used to be a big climber myself.
Snoballs are another fave NOLA treat, so we got one that night.
Sunday was Iris’s pool party and Lauren and Philip have been working SO hard in their backyard to get things ready. They are also having their stucco house painted and the painters had just really gotten started, so they had to clean up for the party and will be back to finish. The rain had slowed them down.
Lauren and Philip have been in their house for 8 years now and have worked a lot in the backyard and it’s looking beautiful. I love their cabana and they’ve made it so nice. They added those planters which are so pretty.
Philip set up a tent for the adults to have some shade and to add the food tables. Lauren ordered some great Mexican food for the adults and pizza for the kids. It was such a beautiful picture perfect day.
The house is being painted White Dove and trimmed in Urbane Bronze. Lauren has asked me for some paint color ideas and I gave her those. They tried them out and loved them. it’s going to be so pretty when it’s finished. They have so enjoyed having a pool in the backyard and the girls are swimming like fish now.
It’s a great compact backyard.
The fountain is such a pretty addition and Philip has added these large rocks for easy maintenance in the landscaping.
Lauren got this swing when mom and dad sold the mountain house and it has a perfect spot in the cabana. I know she will cherish this swing for years to come.
Here’s dad on that swing several years ago. He loved it dearly!
They’ve made the cabana a great place to hang out with a cooking area, with fridge, sectional sofa and a TV.
This is nice as well and Philip built that privacy screen behind. It has artificial greenery on it.
People were starting to arrive for the party and it was a big success. Lots of kids in the pool and Lauren had a lifeguard there to watch the kids.
TV over the fireplace for watching football. Lauren found those huge armoires on Craigslist and they are perfect for storage out here. They are painting the ceiling blue out there and it’s going to be so pretty.
Lauren, Philip and Philip’s cousin Amanda.
Lauren and family, such a great day for Iris’s birthday party.
Lauren bought the cake at a local store and decorated it herself. I’ll share a bit about how she did this in another post as I thought it was genius and a great way to save money.
Ready for cutting the cake.
Iris blowing out the candles.
Bruce and Lauren serving cake and ice cream.
Renee and Alex, love this pic.
Me and Alex.
Alex is the sweetest, she’s such a good baby.
Lauren looking stylish in her coverup.
And the party in full swing.
It was such a fun trip for a few days at Lauren’s house. We didn’t do any typical touristy things. I’ve done much of that before so this time it was family fun and hanging out together. I’m so glad I had the chance to get down there again and it won’t be too long I’m sure before I’m down there again. I’ll be going more often after Renee and Bruce start their house build to help Renee with sourcing and choosing things. That will be fun too! I want to take Mark down there too and take him to some of the places I’ve been and to see new sights too. It’s a fun place to visit!
Happy Birthday to sweet Iris. She is so aptly named as she looks so much like your mom. Lauren has a beautiful family. So glad Renee is close enough to visit often now. These are the best years of your life, I think. Thanks for sharing your wonderful family with us.
What a beautiful Family you have! Family is everything!
I’m a LA girl living in West Texas so I enjoyed seeing your post today. I went back to see the post about your sister’s house and am wondering what you would call her design style? I’m looking forward to seeing her new house and all the choices you help them make.
Hi Teresa, I’m not sure what her old style house was called, but I’d say traditional for back then. It was built in 1998 and that style was very popular then.
Happy birthday to Miss Iris! I’m so happy that you got to visit your family for her birthday.
Rhoda you have a wonderful family! Such a treasure to have three nieces and all beauties too! Enjoy them as much as you can. Thanks for sharing.
Great post. I am from NO and enjoyed reading about the restaurants, city park, and Covington.
Your granddaughters are beautiful! Thanks for sharing those fun pictures!
Thank you, Cyndy, they are my great nieces.
Happy birthday, Iris! What a great party she got. Rhoda, you look so happy and relaxed on this trip. Everyone looks beautiful, and I can’t get over how Lauren can have a baby and so quickly get right back to that slender figure.
Thanks Jana, we did have a great time. Lauren is looking so good!
Thanks Rhoda, for sharing all these wonderful pictures and stories about your visit to new Orleans and LA. the girls just keep getting cuter and cuter….I can’t believe how big they’ve gotten since I last saw their pictures! I feel like I know everybody just from following your blog all these years. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful family with all of us. It will be fun to see as you help your sister with her new house. We had friends in South Carolina who had a wonderful water fountain like that but they kept finding big snakes in it so ended up just planting dirt in it and flowers! Hope that doesn’t happen to Lauren’s fountain!
Thank you, Diane, it is amazing how time flies so fast. Lauren and Philip have been married 10 years this year and now have 3 girlies. I hope that doesn’t happen to their fountain either.
Our 8yr old grand daughter would love that bathrobe! What is it about unicorns? Please post more on that cake-so cute and clever Really like that back area design and pool ,etc! It appears that you all had a wonderful family time. I am hoping for more of that this summer in N.C. mts.
Hi Rhoda, I have been following you for awhile but just now commenting. Your granddaughters are beautiful. Looks like a good time. I am seeing two of mine this weekend. Can’t wait. Happy Mother’s Day!
Thank you, Kathy, just to clarify Lauren is my niece and the girls are my great nieces. So many people think they are my grandchildren, but they are my sister’s grandchildren.
I always love reading about your family.
Do you have details on Lauren’s coverup? I love it!!
Hi Maria, She did say it came from Thredup, the 2nd hand shop online.
Hi Rhonda!
Your blog is my absolute favorite! I love your faith, your family, your style, and your transparency! You looked so relaxed and happy in these pix! Sisters are the best and their children are too! Her home is lovely and her pool…..Wow! My most favorite thing about your blog? Your precious Momma and Daddy videos!
Thank you so much, Donna!
Have loved watching those girls and following along with your sweet parents.
How wonderful that you spent time with your precious family. Those girls are growing up so quickly. They are beautiful little gals. The birthday party for Iris looked like so much fun! The cake that Lauren decorated was so cute! Thanks for sharing your precious family with us! Enjoyed seeing all your pictures!
Hi Rhoda – sure seems to me that all the gorgeous girls in your family share the same eyes…. Do y’all think so too? (Including your mom)
I choked up when I saw the swing from the mountain house and then, the photo of your dad sitting in it. To me, there is no better furniture decor than pieces from your parents and/or grandparents. I thrive being surrounded by family memories…
Love your sunglasses – Do you happen to know the brand? Have never seen any like those…
HI, Janice, we haven’t ever discussed all our eyes, they are not all the same color. My sister and I have blue and I think the girls are more green like my moms and maybe Lauren.
Those sunglasses are from a site called Italic, it’s a designer subscription site that has better prices on name brand designs. I love them too, check out Italic. These are the ones I have, but you have to join to buy them:https://italic.com/products/grove-square-sunglasses?Color=High+Contrast+Tortoise