World War II Museum

The only place Daddy said he really wanted to see in New Orleans was the World War II Museum. So on our 2nd full day there we planned that as our main event.
When we first arrived at the Bed and Breakfast and unpacked our suitcases, Daddy pulled out a t-shirt and dog tags the Museum had sent him the week before we traveled. He was so proud of them and now his name will be on a wall in the museum as a special member of the veterans there.
We all knew we would hear some special stories this day and the museum jogged his memory of some tales we had not heard before.
He thought about some of his good friends who lost their lives in planes like this one.
Overall, he thanked God for allowing his life to be spared as a young physician during the war. His job taking care of soldiers and prisoners medically was a hard one though.
Amy enjoyed the musuem too as she knows what it means to be a wife of a soldier.
We all thoroughly enjoyed the new film at the museum titled BEYOND ALL BOUNDARIES. It was shown in a 4D theater, narrated by Tom Hanks, and told the stories of actual World War II particpants. The seats were leather rockers (most comfortable I've ever been in) and they shook/rumbled when the tanks were rolling. Snow came down from the ceiling during the Battle of The Bulge scene and steam rose from the stage when they were fighting in the jungles of Guadalcanal. There were other special effects too but the biggest effect it had on me was watching Daddy recall that part of his life.

Thank you to all the veterans who have paid the price of freedom for our country.

When is the last time you went to an Aquarium?

Anyone seen that commercial that says "when is the last time you went to the aquarium on a Tuesday with your daughter? Well, here is our 90 year old Daddy with all 3 of his daughters at the New Orleans Aquarium on a Friday!
and here is your typical dentist checking out the teeth of a whale in the aquarium!
and here is a stingRAY on the loose at the aquarium!

And here is what life is like in a fishbowl at the aquarium:



I just couldn't resist posting those 3 pictures...my siblings MADE me do it!!!

and twins will be twins at the aquarium!
and getting 5 of us on a plastic whale was kind of funny!
AND we had to pay Daddy to stand here with us! I think he wanted to disown us at this point of the trip :) it was one of those parental moments when one says "I really don't know who those children belong to but they sure are embarrassing me"!

In True Williams Style

So with every big celebration in our family we have always had a poem or a skit or something like that to add to the fun. The poem/skit gene was handed down to me through our mother and I was determined to do this one "up right". I took the 12 days of Christmas song and turned it into the 9 decades of Daddy's life. But we brought props to add life to each verse and lots of the props were family history/momento things that gave it a little pizaz :) Everyone's favorite was the "FIVE GOLDEN CHILDREN" verse (instead of Five Golden Rings) when we wore gold halos that I made out of hairbands.

Noni took some pictures (some are a little crazy -I think she was laughing a lot) but we don't have it on video. Daddy kept saying "where did you get all these things?"! Speaking of laughing, there was some really big laughing happening by the second verse...if you know our history here then that is enough said!

Our props took up the whole dining room table!

really 90

We have been planning Daddy's Birthday trip for months and when it finally came to life and all obstacles were removed, I must say that 6 people were very relieved and excited. With such a big family as ours, it seemed the best way to spend time with our 90 year old father and treat him to a trip where he wanted to go. My father has traveled all over the world in his life time and to New Orleans many times. When we first mentioned a party or a trip for him to decide, he had just heard of our good family friend, Noni Haigler, opening up a new Bed & Breakfast right outside the French Quarter. Noni used to operate Noni and Company Catering in Montgomery and we knew her food was outstanding as well as our family ties going way back. It was nice that it was within driving distance for most of us too and her place just happened to have 5 total bedrooms which meant we would have the whole place while we were there. It was perfect for us and the pictures should tell you what a wonderful time we all had together. Noni did a super job of making it extra special too.
It was unique that 5 siblings could be with their 90 year old father walking all over the French Quarter, seeing the World War II Museum and the Aquarium together and eatting high on the hog as they say. It was also the first time since we have all grown up that all 5 of us were with Daddy alone without spouses or children on a trip. You can just imagine what memory lanes we all walked down and how much it meant to see Daddy enjoy himself on his 90th birthday. I would not give anything for this celebration we had with him.


View from our room of the courtyard where we had our first little party with cake for Daddy
Now let me take you on a small tour of the B&B:


notice the famous MoseT paintings (artist from Montgomery) in the room where Barbara and I stayed

Amy in her pretty canopy bedroom

Some of us needed to stretch our legs after riding and then eatting cake so we ventured over several blocks to the French Quarter.




Later we all got ready to celebrate at Daddy's specially requested restaurant
It was wonderful and EVERYONE working there made a huge deal over Daddy and his being 90.
They put their special chef hat on him :)
My brother Tim surprised all of us this week by shaving his mustache off. He has had it since he was 18 and we all had forgotten what his upper lip looked like. Amazing how siblings don't think we really look alike but now that he did this we think he and Barbara favor.
The bread pudding and creme broulé are Daddy's favorites and it was fun watching dessert time at our table.

I thoroughly enjoyed my filet mignon but also this trio of soups. They were the famous turtle soup, gumbo and a sweet potatoe fancy named soup that I can't recall!

Happy Birthday Granddaddy from the Murés

"Did you say you you are gonna be 90?" Wow! - I think I'll eat something instead of sing this year! Happy Birthday to the nicest great granddaddy ever!

*****Stay tuned in for more about this 90th birthday celebration coming up!****

Happy Birthday Granddaddy from the Lawsons

"I'm kicking up my heels for your 90th, Great Granddaddy"!

Adventures with Knox

My last adventure for the weekend was to keep baby Knox while his mommy and daddy went to the Alabama football game. I spent the weekend at their house so they could get off early and arrive home late. Judging by the pictures I think you could say we did just fine


Babs, Reese, and Jennifer came by to see Knox and Lolli that day but Knox was sleeping his best nap while they were there so we were disappointed the 2 babies could not interact and we could not stroll together. Oh well, baby Reese sure had fun watching Maddox run around and her little belly laughs kept us all entertained.

I could hardly wait for Knox to wake up from his morning nap to stroll him around the little park nearby. He loved being out! Seeing his face as we strolled under some trees was priceless.


Well, baby Knox this is just the first of many adventures with your Lolli. Just you wait :)
Maddox is doing very well with the new baby but definetly wants to be in a few pictures with him.
Tummy time :)


What fun I had dressing him up in his little blue daygown for church the next day. Regan had to drive up to BHam to help give a baby shower so it was just the guys and me. Going back to the church Lee was raised in was a sweet moment for me and I really enjoyed my experience during the church service in the crying room with Knox as the only grandmother among 5 breastfeeding young mommys :)

I left Knox with his daddy for the rest of Sunday afternoon. I am positive Regan broke some speed limits coming home from the party in BHam late Sunday afternoon that she helped give. It was her first time to be away from baby Knox this much in one weekend and we all know that first time is the hardest. I thank her for this adventure I had, to be with the most precious baby boy I know :)