Metro New Orleans DISers - check in!!! - Part II

[shovan]

Glad he is okay and nothing was shoved up his nose!!! I shoved apples up mine as a very small child . Thankfully , my children did not inherit this from me. They are smarter than I am. Thank God.

If you are interested or know someone who may be, our homeschool assoc(HEA) is having a used curriculum sale for Thursday at the fire station b/t Hwy 36 and 21 in Covington. It is from 3-6pm, then a curriculum review, then sale again from 9-10pm. I saw the amount of curr. for sale and it is a LOT! I am getting there for 3pm, list in hand for next school year.

On another note, I FINAALY updates Ashton's webpage, for the final time(probably)-it is long, it is boastful and oh so wonderful. If interested, here is the link...

www.caringbridge.org/la/ashton

Most of you know this info anyway, but thought I'd post it since it s a sentimental last entry.


Lori

Lori, Your "final" post is soo touching! I am so happy for y'all. As you said so eloquently, God has truly blessed your family!

 

[shovan]

Wow - glad to hear that everyone's kiddos are okay.

I'm back in New Orleans - wasn't it great this past weekend. A good friend of mine from Dallas came to visit and fell in love with the city. She left her husband at home so we had a girl's weekend.

We went to lunch at Commander's last Friday. Love those 25 cent martinis. The strawberry shortcake was to die for. I'm eating cottage cheese and strawberries today after all of the food I ate this weekend.

I only have one dog (Tchoupy) with me. I left little Breaux with my dad for company. I think Tchoups is enjoying a break from the puppy.

Hey Tricia! Sounds like a great weekend!!! Lunch at Commander's sounds too good! But you have to tell us what your entree was! Or did you just have martinis & dessert?!

 

[Ms Marigny]

Lorie, You got a really good deal on that grill pan! I bought one for DD last year, the old fashioned kind that needs seasoning & I paid about $35 for it. I bought her the old type, it's what I've had for years & liked using. Have you used your new dutch oven yet?

So you decided to go with traditional school? Will Sienna be 2, when she starts? Is that Audubon Montessori or a new charter school?

I love the old cast iron skillets! We have a few from MIL's house that look like hell (very rusty) that I'm going to try to restore. That may be quite a project! I haven't used the dutch oven yet- I may put something in our dinner menu next week to use it. Do you think it would be good for paella?

We are going to try for Audubon Charter first- she'll be 3 (in pre-K 3). It is Audubon Montessori renamed now that it is officially a charter School. If she doesn't get in, then the next year we'll try again for Audubon, then for Lusher or the International School of LA. If none of those pan out, then we may look at homeschooling. I swear, what we have to go through for education in Orleans Parish is just unreal.

Welcome back Tricia II! Sounds like a great weekend! Strawberry Shortcake sounds really, really good right now! Time for lunch....

 

[MrsKreamer]

Glad he is okay and nothing was shoved up his nose!!! I shoved apples up mine as a very small child . Thankfully , my children did not inherit this from me. They are smarter than I am. Thank God.

If you are interested or know someone who may be, our homeschool assoc(HEA) is having a used curriculum sale for Thursday at the fire station b/t Hwy 36 and 21 in Covington. It is from 3-6pm, then a curriculum review, then sale again from 9-10pm. I saw the amount of curr. for sale and it is a LOT! I am getting there for 3pm, list in hand for next school year.

On another note, I FINAALY updates Ashton's webpage, for the final time(probably)-it is long, it is boastful and oh so wonderful. If interested, here is the link...

www.caringbridge.org/la/ashton

Most of you know this info anyway, but thought I'd post it since it s a sentimental last entry.


Lori

Oh drat! I would love to go but I have my class that night.

 

[TigerKat]

Good Morning guys. Boy is it a nasty morning; especially for hair!

I went to the zoo with DD's class yesterday. It was nice but humid. I definately got my excercise too! I had not been back since the week before Katrina. It is the same but some of the bamboo trees are still leaning over.

Sounds like a fun day!

Kathy, When will your schedule clear up?

Looks like baseball may end earlier this year than in the past, this Shaw team just isn't hitting the ball and may not make the playoffs. So that would mean I'm pretty free after graduation which I believe is May 16.

Hi y'all. My dad sent me this pic of cars about to cross the causeway from Metairie in 1956. I thought you might enjoy seeing it:

Thanks for posting this, it's amazing how desolate the area looked.

Kathy - how is your baby?

She's doing fine. I am waiting on a call from the Vet. They called while I was at work this AM and left a message that all of her lab work came back fine and for me to discontinue the thyroid med and the prednisone. Well, I'd like to know what about putting her on anti-seizure meds to prevent this from happening again.

 

[shovan]

I love the old cast iron skillets! We have a few from MIL's house that look like hell (very rusty) that I'm going to try to restore. That may be quite a project! I haven't used the dutch oven yet- I may put something in our dinner menu next week to use it. Do you think it would be good for paella?

We are going to try for Audubon Charter first- she'll be 3 (in pre-K 3). It is Audubon Montessori renamed now that it is officially a charter School. If she doesn't get in, then the next year we'll try again for Audubon, then for Lusher or the International School of LA. If none of those pan out, then we may look at homeschooling. I swear, what we have to go through for education in Orleans Parish is just unreal.

I think that you probably need a big flat frying pan for paella. To get the rice to cook evenly, it needs to cook in a thin layer. But if your dutch oven is really big, you could probably use it. Your dutch oven is going to be better for braising & roasting. Like a good old fashioned pot roast or mmm an Osso bucco.
I was googled & found several sites with tons of dutch oven recipes. Here's a couple:

http://www.cookingcache.com/cat/dutch_oven_recipes/default.aspx&pagesize=100

http://papadutch.home.comcast.net/~papadutch/dutch-oven-recipes.htm



I know the school decisions are so hard & really scary. One good thing is all of the options & choices you have since Katrina with the opening of all the charter schools.

The school choices are just as bad in Jeff Parish. and J.P. still has only a few maybe 5or 6 "charter" type schools & they are all for advanced students only. From what I've heard the testing requirements are way up there, and like in N.O., lots of kids applying for the very few openings. J.P. still does not have any montessorri schools nor any schools dedicated to the arts. There is only one advanced school for pre-k & elementary grades on the Westbank & one on the Eastbank. And the rest of the schools, well you know, pretty bad.

The catholic schools are good but I wouldn't say great. And of course they are expensive. I find that the catholic schools are still sadly lacking in arts, music, & foriegn language classes.

I know that doesn't help you feel any less stressed about it all. I think deciding on schooling was one of the hardest & most stressful decisions we had to make!

 

[Ms Marigny]

Oh, I am just so, so frustruated right now! I have to bring my car in the shop on Friday. When I started my car this morning it made a horrible squealing sound until I turned off the ac- now the ac isn't working. It sounds like it needs a new ac compressor, but I really hope not because that is $$$$$.

First the dead battery this weekend (we had to buy a new one), and now this. Ugh!!! If things like this keep happening, our trip in September will have to be cancelled or greatly reduced.

 

[Ms Marigny]

I think that you probably need a big flat frying pan for paella. To get the rice to cook evenly, it needs to cook in a thin layer. But if your dutch oven is really big, you could probably use it. Your dutch oven is going to be better for braising & roasting. Like a good old fashioned pot roast or mmm an Osso bucco.
I was googled & found several sites with tons of dutch oven recipes. Here's a couple:

http://www.cookingcache.com/cat/dutch_oven_recipes/default.aspx&pagesize=100

http://papadutch.home.comcast.net/~papadutch/dutch-oven-recipes.htm



I know the school decisions are so hard & really scary. One good thing is all of the options & choices you have since Katrina with the opening of all the charter schools.

The school choices are just as bad in Jeff Parish. and J.P. still has only a few maybe 5or 6 "charter" type schools & they are all for advanced students only. From what I've heard the testing requirements are way up there, and like in N.O., lots of kids applying for the very few openings. J.P. still does not have any montessorri schools nor any schools dedicated to the arts. There is only one advanced school for pre-k & elementary grades on the Westbank & one on the Eastbank. And the rest of the schools, well you know, pretty bad.

The catholic schools are good but I wouldn't say great. And of course they are expensive. I find that the catholic schools are still sadly lacking in arts, music, & foriegn language classes.

I know that doesn't help you feel any less stressed about it all. I think deciding on schooling was one of the hardest & most stressful decisions we had to make!

Thanks for the dutch oven links! I'll have fun looking through those. And I agree exactly about the Catholic schools, which is why we aren't going that route. Of course, if I had absolutely no other choice I would (like I had to go back to work), but we're trying hard not to. And the cost now is crazy! $7000 a year for pre-K! Aye carumba!

 

[shovan]

Lorie, Awwww that stinks!!! I hope it's not too expensive to repair. Cancelling a disney vacation is NEVER a good thing!

Chris (Alexis's Mom) is paying around $4000. with registration & fees. But then there is some type of fundraiser almost every week.

 

[Ms Marigny]

Lorie, Awwww that stinks!!! I hope it's not too expensive to repair. Cancelling a disney vacation is NEVER a good thing!

Chris (Alexis's Mom) is paying around $4000. with registration & fees. But then there is some type of fundraiser almost every week.

Our tax rebate is paying for our trip- I would much rather help out the economy with a WDW trip than with a new ac compressor.

Is $4000 for all day pre-K? The school I was looking at it was $6000 plus registration, fees, uniforms, etc- this was for all day pre-K (which is all they offered).

 

[shovan]

Lorie, Here's a link to the tuition page for her school. I know some of the "elite" schools ( like Sacred Heart) run a lot more, but I think most of the schools on the Westbank cost about the same give or take about $500. I thought that the EastBank Schools ran about $1000 more, but maybe that has changed. The cost also varies, diff. cost for parishioners/non-parishioners & non-catholics. Highschool costs do jump quite a bit.

http://vol.org/vol/school/info/tuition/vol_tuition.pdf

 

[lori1043]

Lorie, your school choices sound GREAT. I am hoping for you that your first choice wins out. ANOTHER reason(of the very many) we homeschool is tuition and wanting our kids in a Christian based school. HS'ing is the compromise for us. We were going to have Ash(and eventually Haley) in a school that is $5000 a year. I would have been back at work a few more days per week. I think it has gone up since then(4 years ago). We went the PS route for 2 years. I know of no charter or montessori schools nearby(hammond is closest) that have higher grades. Once Haley was there, I'd have to work F/T. Nothin's wrong with that but we feel weekly involvement is important. SO HS'ing is very much less $$ than that and I could still work. I work about 6 days a month.

Good luck in your decision making.

Lori

 

[MrsKreamer]

I know the school decisions are so hard & really scary. One good thing is all of the options & choices you have since Katrina with the opening of all the charter schools.

The school choices are just as bad in Jeff Parish. and J.P. still has only a few maybe 5or 6 "charter" type schools & they are all for advanced students only. From what I've heard the testing requirements are way up there, and like in N.O., lots of kids applying for the very few openings. J.P. still does not have any montessorri schools nor any schools dedicated to the arts. There is only one advanced school for pre-k & elementary grades on the Westbank & one on the Eastbank. And the rest of the schools, well you know, pretty bad.

The catholic schools are good but I wouldn't say great. And of course they are expensive. I find that the catholic schools are still sadly lacking in arts, music, & foriegn language classes.

I know that doesn't help you feel any less stressed about it all. I think deciding on schooling was one of the hardest & most stressful decisions we had to make!

Which is why we are probably homeschooling for now at least. We plan on buying a house 3-5 years from now. So that will determine what we do about schools later on.

 

[TigerKat]

Good morning NOLA!

 

[shovan]

Morning Y'all,

Which is why we are probably homeschooling for now at least. We plan on buying a house 3-5 years from now. So that will determine what we do about schools later on.

Stephanie, Did you see the link I posted above for Visitation's tuition. You've probably checked into all that already, but just in case! After hearing what some of the schools on the Eastbank are costing, I guess it's a little better over here. But jeez when you have more than one child it really adds up!


I feel for all of you having to make these choices & decisions! Home schooling is such a big commitment, "good" schools are too expensive, and then you have the religious or secular influences of the schools to deal with. Whew!

I was lucky enough to work mostly part-time when my DD was growing up. I tried full time for a while when we thought the best thing for her was the expensive private school with all the extras. For us the fancy school didn't make up for me & DH working ourselves to death & then being less than great parents because of it. For us it was a hard choice because of Bob's MD & not knowing how that would progress & how long he'd be able to work. But some kids need lots of parental influence & our DD was one of them!


Lorie, I don't know if you get the WF e-mails but this month's Secret Ingredient Video Blog is a chef that we were able to see her Culinary demo. & taste her food at the last Food & Wine Fest!! And it's the same dish! It was yummy too. I have the recipe, but I put it away & forgot about. I'll get it out & go get the things I need from WF's! Cool!

Here's a link if anyone wants to see what I'm talking about!

http://wholefoodsmarket.com/socialmedia/secretingredient

Kathy, Hope you're feeling better today!

Have a good day everyone!

 

[lori1043]

Morning Y'all,




Stephanie, Did you see the link I posted above for Visitation's tuition. You've probably checked into all that already, but just in case! After hearing what some of the schools on the Eastbank are costing, I guess it's a little better over here. But jeez when you have more than one child it really adds up!


I feel for all of you having to make these choices & decisions! Home schooling is such a big commitment, "good" schools are too expensive, and then you have the religious or secular influences of the schools to deal with. Whew!

I was lucky enough to work mostly part-time when my DD was growing up. I tried full time for a while when we thought the best thing for her was the expensive private school with all the extras. For us the fancy school didn't make up for me & DH working ourselves to death & then being less than great parents because of it. For us it was a hard choice because of Bob's MD & not knowing how that would progress & how long he'd be able to work. But some kids need lots of parental influence & our DD was one of them!


Lorie, I don't know if you get the WF e-mails but this month's Secret Ingredient Video Blog is a chef that we were able to see her Culinary demo. & taste her food at the last Food & Wine Fest!! And it's the same dish! It was yummy too. I have the recipe, but I put it away & forgot about. I'll get it out & go get the things I need from WF's! Cool!

Here's a link if anyone wants to see what I'm talking about!

http://wholefoodsmarket.com/socialmedia/secretingredient

Kathy, Hope you're feeling better today!

Have a good day everyone!

Thanks for the link, even though not specifically for me. I was at WF again last night getting meats and a few veggies and fruits. We did leave with one 'dessert'-Promised Land Chocolate Milks for the ride home!! Yummo. There were only 2 lowfat versions so me and DD10 had those while DD8(my beanpole) had the whole milk version-yummier!

Good luck with all the schooling decisions-it is VERY hard to figure out what is "right" for your family. But once the decision is made, it is a load off. But then, like me, the Homeschooling bug(or other) may come buzzing at you!

 

[shovan]

Thanks for the link, even though not specifically for me. I was at WF again last night getting meats and a few veggies and fruits. We did leave with one 'dessert'-Promised Land Chocolate Milks for the ride home!! Yummo. There were only 2 lowfat versions so me and DD10 had those while DD8(my beanpole) had the whole milk version-yummier!

Good luck with all the schooling decisions-it is VERY hard to figure out what is "right" for your family. But once the decision is made, it is a load off. But then, like me, the Homeschooling bug(or other) may come buzzing at you!

Your welcome, of course I didn't mean to post it just for one person! I've been to Whole Foods a couple of times in the past 2 weeks. If I had one closer I'd be soo broke! Last Friday I went get a haircut off of Magazine, then went to Whole Foods, spent too much money then treated myself to a 10 minute chair massage! Which of course I explained to DH was only 10 bucks! His comment was that we'd probably come out cheaper if I went to a regular masseuse & got a one hour massage and skipped WF's!! Yeah but then he wouldn't get to eat all of the yummy dishes I've been cooking!!!

 

[Ms Marigny]

Hey y'all!

Good to hear that y'all are spending at Whole Foods- DH's bonuses are partly based on sales, so the more you spend, the more WDW souvenirs for me! Thanks for the link Sheryl- I love using the Whole Foods website for recipes, they do have some good ones!

And here's some insider info on Whole Foods on the Northshore: they are actively looking for a site, however they have pulled back a bit because the commercial real estate prices are really, really high out there now. They found a site, but the CEO nixed it because the price was way too high. He wants better demographic numbers before shelling out premium dollars for more real estate in LA. There will mostly likely be a store eventually, but it may take a few more years. However, Lafayette looks good and there will probably be a store out there before a Northshore store.

As far as schooling goes, we have to start the application process for Audubon Charter in mid-October for the next school year. Then we have to observe some classes there and attend a PTO meeting. They also have to meet and test Sienna to see if she would be a good fit for the educational style there. After all of that, THEN there is a lottery to see if she makes it in. We found out if she's in or not in March. Sounds like a very stressful process, but very worth it if she got in. DH has several coworkers whose children attend Audubon and they all love it! I would also try to enroll her in the pre-K French immersion program, which I'm very excited about! I really hope she gets in, those are going to be a very stressful couple of months!

 

[TigerKat]

Just popping in to tell Lorie that I think I'm finally going to get to try her Cuban Pork Roast recipe this weekend....at least that's what my plans are.

 

[Ms Marigny]

Just popping in to tell Lorie that I think I'm finally going to get to try her Cuban Pork Roast recipe this weekend....at least that's what my plans are.

I hope it comes out good! That mojo marinade is so yummy!

Ok, I would love some opinions-
I'm finding out that free dining will probably be during our next trip. I currently have 30% off, but free dining would probably save us some money based on our current ADRs, if we keep all of them. However, we are not big fans of the dining plan because it comes with dessert with every meal (while I like sweets, it is just too much), it crowds up the TS restaurants, makes it impossible for any last minute ADRs, you have to eat a TS meal every day, etc. DH is also now agreeing to stay one more night cheer2. Since the trip is getting longer, go with dining plan and save a bit of money (~ $150) or keep the 30% off?