WARNING - Super long post ahead - proceed with caution!!!!
We just got back from an amazing trip down to New Orleans!! I was so nervous about going down there with 2 kids. But it was great. Matt had his annual HOPA convention that we like to try to go to with him. It is a good excuse to go on a trip. We left last Monday and just got back tonight. It was a full week of so much fun stuff!! The kids did awesome. I was so nervous about how they were going to do. Not a problem. Everyone was super flexible (even Kate who loves her routine). Ben was on his best behavior. If only we could be on vacation at all times!! Here is our week in pictures.
Kate excited about hitting the streets of New Orleans
So are the boys
The first thing that we did was ride the St. Charles Streetcar. It was a fun ride through the Garden District down to Audubon Park.
Chilling in the park. Look at the beautiful huge tree!!
Taking a break from the fun. Ben had a blast playing on the playground.
Kate and Daddy
The streetcar. I didn't realize how big a thing they were. It was lots of fun and of course Ben thought it was fun to ride the "train."
Wednesday morning started with breakfast at Cafe Dumonde.
Sharing some chocolate milk
Just to make all of you jealous!! They are so good. Ben called them "Ben - yays" When we were eating them he said "it is snowing" because the powered sugar would go everywhere!!
Kate at Cafe Dumonde
Jackson Square! Ben kept saying "this on the Amazing Race." We love the Amazing Race and he thought it looked like something on the show. We thought that was hilarious.
I love Jackson Square and all the wonderful art vendors all around it. I got a caricature done of the kiddos that turned out super cute.
We took a walk down to Bourbon Street just to say we had been there. I had been joking about cruising down Bourbon with the double stroller. Matt told me not to post this picture because he will get kicked out of the Southern Baptist deacon ministry! We didn't even walk down the street. Just took the picture!!
We did go to Preservation Hall which Matt was super excited about because it is the birthplace of jazz. He loves jazz music!
Walking down the riverwalk by the Mississippi River
Wednesday morning was our last time with Matt before he headed off to his convention. From this point on I was on my own with the kiddos in the city. I was so nervous. But we did it!!! And survived to tell about it. Our first adventure was to the aquarium. Kate was very intent on looking at the fish.
Ben had a blast. He loved seeing all the fish and asking a million questions about them. I am so excited that he is asking questions these days. He loves to learn and experience new things.
Cool fish picture
Ben the starfish
They had a fun play area for kids. Ben played for about an hour. He had a blast jumping and climbing!
Kate napped. This was the only meltdown we had. I timed it so we would be heading back when she got hungry only she got hungry a little early so there was lots of crying. When we got to our hotel the room key didn't work so we had to go back down to the lobby and get another one. Poor thing was beside herself. And the poor people in the hotel heard how upset she was!!
The kiddos and daddy chilling in the hotel. We enjoyed him getting to join us for dinner in the evenings. Both of them slept awesome the whole week!
This was our view from the hotel. We were staying at the Sheraton in downtown. We were on the 45th floor. Beautiful views of the city. The only other time I have been to New Orleans was when I was a freshman in high school on a band trip. The city has really changed since Katrina. There are so many abandoned buildings. The population just has not returned. The downtown area looks about the same but when you get out of that you can really see the changes. The streets and sidewalks are also a mess! We were thankful for our "Jeep" stroller.
We ate some GREAT food!! My friend Lisa went to seminary in New Orleans so she gave us lots of great suggestions! Thanks Lisa they were all awesome!! This is some good ole Red Beans and Rice (for you dad)!
At dinner - the whole family. Only picture of the 4 of us!
Thursday - Day 2 on our own the kids and I walked to the Louisiana Children's Museum. It was lots of fun. Ben loved playing and checking everything out.
Kate chilled in her stroller (what she did most of the trip).
They had a neat exhibit on boats that Ben loved.
"Driving" a streetcar
They were so worn out! They fell asleep on the way back to the hotel. I just let them both sleep in the stroller.
Thursday night we went and ate at the Camilla Grill. It was an old fashioned counter diner. So much fun!
Friday the 3 of us headed out to the zoo. Ben loves zoos so this was a huge treat for him. He loved the monkeys!!
As you can tell we had a great time. It was a busy few weeks and we are tired but it was great!! I love travelling and so far so do both of the kids which I am so thankful for. I am so excited about all the future trips we are going to go on as a family. Next year's conference is in Salt Lake City. That sounds fun!!!!
Taking a break from the fun. Ben had a blast playing on the playground.Kate and Daddy
The streetcar. I didn't realize how big a thing they were. It was lots of fun and of course Ben thought it was fun to ride the "train."
Wednesday morning started with breakfast at Cafe Dumonde.
Sharing some chocolate milk
Just to make all of you jealous!! They are so good. Ben called them "Ben - yays" When we were eating them he said "it is snowing" because the powered sugar would go everywhere!!
Kate at Cafe Dumonde
Jackson Square! Ben kept saying "this on the Amazing Race." We love the Amazing Race and he thought it looked like something on the show. We thought that was hilarious.
I love Jackson Square and all the wonderful art vendors all around it. I got a caricature done of the kiddos that turned out super cute.
We took a walk down to Bourbon Street just to say we had been there. I had been joking about cruising down Bourbon with the double stroller. Matt told me not to post this picture because he will get kicked out of the Southern Baptist deacon ministry! We didn't even walk down the street. Just took the picture!!
We did go to Preservation Hall which Matt was super excited about because it is the birthplace of jazz. He loves jazz music!
Walking down the riverwalk by the Mississippi River
Wednesday morning was our last time with Matt before he headed off to his convention. From this point on I was on my own with the kiddos in the city. I was so nervous. But we did it!!! And survived to tell about it. Our first adventure was to the aquarium. Kate was very intent on looking at the fish.
Ben had a blast. He loved seeing all the fish and asking a million questions about them. I am so excited that he is asking questions these days. He loves to learn and experience new things.
Cool fish picture
Ben the starfish
They had a fun play area for kids. Ben played for about an hour. He had a blast jumping and climbing!
Kate napped. This was the only meltdown we had. I timed it so we would be heading back when she got hungry only she got hungry a little early so there was lots of crying. When we got to our hotel the room key didn't work so we had to go back down to the lobby and get another one. Poor thing was beside herself. And the poor people in the hotel heard how upset she was!!
The kiddos and daddy chilling in the hotel. We enjoyed him getting to join us for dinner in the evenings. Both of them slept awesome the whole week!
This was our view from the hotel. We were staying at the Sheraton in downtown. We were on the 45th floor. Beautiful views of the city. The only other time I have been to New Orleans was when I was a freshman in high school on a band trip. The city has really changed since Katrina. There are so many abandoned buildings. The population just has not returned. The downtown area looks about the same but when you get out of that you can really see the changes. The streets and sidewalks are also a mess! We were thankful for our "Jeep" stroller.
We ate some GREAT food!! My friend Lisa went to seminary in New Orleans so she gave us lots of great suggestions! Thanks Lisa they were all awesome!! This is some good ole Red Beans and Rice (for you dad)!
At dinner - the whole family. Only picture of the 4 of us!
Thursday - Day 2 on our own the kids and I walked to the Louisiana Children's Museum. It was lots of fun. Ben loved playing and checking everything out.
Kate chilled in her stroller (what she did most of the trip).
They had a neat exhibit on boats that Ben loved.
"Driving" a streetcar
They were so worn out! They fell asleep on the way back to the hotel. I just let them both sleep in the stroller.
Thursday night we went and ate at the Camilla Grill. It was an old fashioned counter diner. So much fun!
Friday the 3 of us headed out to the zoo. Ben loves zoos so this was a huge treat for him. He loved the monkeys!!
They had some really fun play areas as well. I thought the city had some wonderful things for kids! Highly recommend it for kiddos!
Kate loved the sunshine. The weather was great for the whole trip! So glad spring is finally here!!
Kate loved the sunshine. The weather was great for the whole trip! So glad spring is finally here!!
As you can tell we had a great time. It was a busy few weeks and we are tired but it was great!! I love travelling and so far so do both of the kids which I am so thankful for. I am so excited about all the future trips we are going to go on as a family. Next year's conference is in Salt Lake City. That sounds fun!!!!
6 comments:
Wow, what a great post! I was wondering where you were, sounds like a great trip, thanks for sharing all the photos :). ~Jess
Looks like so much fun! LOVE all of the pictures!
looks like you had a great time together! Glad you enjoyed it and how great that you all get to join Matt on these trips!!!
Looks like y'all had so much fun! That's great that the kids did so well. So jealous about the beignets :) I love Cafe Du Monde!
We looooove New Orleans. Brian and I have been but without the kids. Glad to know it can be a kid-friendly place! Looks like fun!!
Glad y'all had so much fun! We've never been there long enough to get much farther than Jackson Square, but I'll certainly be looking back on this if we go again! So fun! Glad everyone behaved...and slept :)
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