By TERRY R. CASSREINO
NEW ORLEANS (Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010) -- I'm still exhausted.
After a full day of activities with the Krewe of Endymion on Saturday -- including the parade that night and the Endymion Extravaganza following in the Superdome -- Pam and I didn't get home until 2:30 a.m.
This year's event was spectacular. The crowds were simply amazing, literally wall-to-wall all along the parade route that took the procession through Mid-City and into downtown New Orleans.
In my six years of riding in Endymion, I have never seem the crowds that large.
While I don't have a nice representation of photos showing the floats, I am posting a slideshow giving you an idea of the enormity of the crowds. And they were huge. I hope you enjoy this -- and have a great Mardi Gras in 2010.
Copyright 2010 by Terry R. Cassreino. All rights reserved.
A little about Mississippi, a little about Louisiana, a little about New Orleans and A LOT about our adoption story. This blog and our adoption story is dedicated to Camryn and Matthew Cassreino so that you both will know. Copyright 2021 by Terry R. Cassreino
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Christmas 2009 with the Cassreinos
By TERRY R. CASSREINO
PEARL RIVER, LA. (Saturday, Dec. 26, 2009) -- No sleeping late for Matthew, Camryn, Pam and I.
Matthew was up bright and early at 6:30 a.m., playing with his train table and eating bowl of oatmeal and bananas. Camryn followed shortly, playing with her toys before joining Matthew for cereal.
Christmas was a long, quick, exhausting day -- one capped by a nice evening at my sister's house for dinner and a last-minute visit by Santa himself. The menu included beef brisket, ham, oyster dressing and sweet potato.
After that, it was back home to put two incredibly tired kids to bed while Pam and I watched the season finale of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" we taped last month but never got around to watch (the verdict -- very funny).
Below is a short slide show of photos from our Christmas. Enjoy. And don't forget: Click the closed-caption box in the bottom of the window to eliminate the captions -- and click the photo itself for a larger version of the picture.
Copyright 2009 Terry R. Cassreino. All rights reserved.
PEARL RIVER, LA. (Saturday, Dec. 26, 2009) -- No sleeping late for Matthew, Camryn, Pam and I.
Matthew was up bright and early at 6:30 a.m., playing with his train table and eating bowl of oatmeal and bananas. Camryn followed shortly, playing with her toys before joining Matthew for cereal.
Christmas was a long, quick, exhausting day -- one capped by a nice evening at my sister's house for dinner and a last-minute visit by Santa himself. The menu included beef brisket, ham, oyster dressing and sweet potato.
After that, it was back home to put two incredibly tired kids to bed while Pam and I watched the season finale of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" we taped last month but never got around to watch (the verdict -- very funny).
Below is a short slide show of photos from our Christmas. Enjoy. And don't forget: Click the closed-caption box in the bottom of the window to eliminate the captions -- and click the photo itself for a larger version of the picture.
Copyright 2009 Terry R. Cassreino. All rights reserved.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Cassreinos celebrate Matthew’s baptism
SLIDELL, La. (Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009) – Just a few days before we celebrate the first anniversary of "Gotcha Day" with our son, we joined with family members at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church to celebrate Matthew's baptism.
The service began at 1:30 p.m. and lasted about 45 minutes. It was incredibly uplifting and moving. And a great way for us as adults to welcome our son into the Catholic Church, share our Catholic faith with our son and remind all of us the meaning and importance of baptism, faith and family.
After the service, we headed to my sister's home to watch the New Orleans Saints continue their amazing season and enjoy an afternoon of fellowship with family.
As I sit and think back over the past year – from our trip to China exactly a year ago to Matthew's baptism – I am reminded how eventful this year has been for me and my family. We added a new member to our family, moved to a new city, took new jobs and faced major upheaval.
As stressed out as we all are and have been, we are still together growing in love and faith. I married late in life in 1999 at age 38; my wife and I started late in our own lives creating a family. But you know what? I wouldn't change any of it.
My wife, Pam; my daughter, Camryn; and my son Matthew mean the world to me. They make me happy. They give me a purpose. They renew my faith in God. And they are the reason I do what I do every day in my life.
Next up: Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009 – the first anniversary of "Gotcha Day," the day we met Matthew in Zhengzhou, China. My wife and I have decided to make this a special day for Matthew, just like we do for Camryn on her "Gotcha Day" in April. We'll probably head out for some great Chinese food.
And, once again, we'll realize how lucky all of us are.
Copyright 2009 by Terry R. Cassreino. All rights reserved.
Relive our adoption journey to get Matthew by visiting our archives on the left and start with Dec. 2, 2008. Then read forward. You can do the same with our adoption trip to get Camryn. Visit the archives, start with March 27, 2006 and read forward.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Cassreinos return from successful cruise
By TERRY R. CASSREINO
PEARL RIVER, La. (Sunday, Nov. 29) -- Well, we made it. We survived seven days at sea in the Western Caribbean with two children -- and lived to tell about it. Actually, it was a great vacation, one of the best cruises my wife and I have taken.
The chief reason: We really enjoyed spending a full week with our children and watching them have a great time on the Norwegian Spirit and at the beach in Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico.
They loved every minute of it. And I hope to post a collection of photos from our travels. First up is this brief glimpse at Day 1 of the cruise. I also will offer a critical review of the trip and the NCL service (which was good, but not on par with previous NCL cruises).
Copyright 2009 Terry R. Cassreino. All rights reserved.
PEARL RIVER, La. (Sunday, Nov. 29) -- Well, we made it. We survived seven days at sea in the Western Caribbean with two children -- and lived to tell about it. Actually, it was a great vacation, one of the best cruises my wife and I have taken.
The chief reason: We really enjoyed spending a full week with our children and watching them have a great time on the Norwegian Spirit and at the beach in Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico.
They loved every minute of it. And I hope to post a collection of photos from our travels. First up is this brief glimpse at Day 1 of the cruise. I also will offer a critical review of the trip and the NCL service (which was good, but not on par with previous NCL cruises).
Copyright 2009 Terry R. Cassreino. All rights reserved.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
The First Official Cassreino Family Vacation begins
By TERRY R. CASSREINO
PEARL RIVER, La. (Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009) – The First Official Cassreino Family Cruise Vacation Adventure to the Western Caribbean begins today at about 9 a.m. when Pam and I leave with Camryn and Matthew for the cruise ship terminal in New Orleans.
Hmmmm. Let’s see. Traveling with a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old on Norwegian Cruise Lines. This is either going to be a major disaster on the scale of Pompei or Hurricane Katrina – or it will be a huge success the likes of which our generation has never experienced.
Actually, I the optimist and think this will be a success. The kids are excited about traveling on a Big Boat. And Pam and I are looking forward to leaving behind the day-to-day stress of life for a seven-day cruise.
Pam and I are cruise veterans, having sailed on Carnival or NCL out of New Orleans on seven separate times during the 10 years we have been married. We love it. The trips were casual, relaxing, enjoyable; the ports were fascinating.
We’ve lowered our expectations traveling with two children. But I still think we will have fun.
And one thing is certain no matter what: Ole Miss defeated LSU in Oxford in one of the most spectacular, exciting Ole Miss-LSU games I have ever seen. Too bad I was there for what had to be an incredibly humiliating loss.
Take that, LSU.
Copyright 2009, Terry R. Cassreino. All rights reserved.
PEARL RIVER, La. (Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009) – The First Official Cassreino Family Cruise Vacation Adventure to the Western Caribbean begins today at about 9 a.m. when Pam and I leave with Camryn and Matthew for the cruise ship terminal in New Orleans.
Hmmmm. Let’s see. Traveling with a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old on Norwegian Cruise Lines. This is either going to be a major disaster on the scale of Pompei or Hurricane Katrina – or it will be a huge success the likes of which our generation has never experienced.
Actually, I the optimist and think this will be a success. The kids are excited about traveling on a Big Boat. And Pam and I are looking forward to leaving behind the day-to-day stress of life for a seven-day cruise.
Pam and I are cruise veterans, having sailed on Carnival or NCL out of New Orleans on seven separate times during the 10 years we have been married. We love it. The trips were casual, relaxing, enjoyable; the ports were fascinating.
We’ve lowered our expectations traveling with two children. But I still think we will have fun.
And one thing is certain no matter what: Ole Miss defeated LSU in Oxford in one of the most spectacular, exciting Ole Miss-LSU games I have ever seen. Too bad I was there for what had to be an incredibly humiliating loss.
Take that, LSU.
Copyright 2009, Terry R. Cassreino. All rights reserved.
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