New Orleans

This past weekend the weather was beautiful and Chris had a few days off from work so we took a family vacation to New Orleans!

On our way through Alabama we stopped to show the kids the cotton fields.

We arrived in New Orleans in the late afternoon, did some walking around, and then had an early dinner at this resraurant The River's Edge across the street from the well known Cafe de Monde on Jackson Square.

It was dark after dinner but we thought the kids would enjoy a carriage ride around the French Quarter.

Tyler and Ainsley liked seeing the horses.

Our tour guide did a great job...but a little too much history for 2 year olds. :)

Us after our tour.

The next morning we had breakfast at Cafe de Monde. Tom Hanks (actor) was also dinning there. I hated to take his picture when we were literally right in front of him, but I couldn't resist trying as he left. However, one of the columns is blocking his face in this shot....oh well. He is the one near the middle of the picture in the grey sweater with the white undershirt.

Anyway, back to the beignets. Ainsley loved them right from the start!

Chris wasn't too impressed by the glorified breakfast of 'Funnel Cake aka Fried Dough', but others can't get enough of these things. (Marianne, yours is the one on the left. It was yummy!)

Tyler wasn't sure about the beignets, but he did enjoy the powdered sugar.

We were lucky enough to get a table right in front of the street musicians. They were very talented. They even played a song for the kids, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. Tyler just stared at them...probably thinking I know that one too...

The very recognizable St. Louis Cathedral.

Playing in the fountain in Jackson Sqaure in front of the cathedral.

Inside the cathedral. The kids both walked in and said Wow!. Then said it and again and again listening to their voices echoing. Which was fun, so they started to say more...so it was time to leave.

Next we took a steam boat ride down the Mississippi River on the Natchez.

Before the trip there was a calliope concert...like a steam organ.

Listen to the Calliope and see Ainsley dancing.

Tyler checking out the view. We took the kids all around the boat. They loved it! They even saw the huge paddles.

We had a cajun style lunch in the dinning room during our 2 hour trip. When we were finishing up our lunch a little boy came over to the window by Ainsley and would pop up and make faces at her. Ainsley started to call him Joe. She would say 'Where's Joe?' Then he would jump up again so we could see him. After lunch we went outside to meet "Joe". Both kids were too shy to talk to eachother. But for the rest of the tour Ainsley would ask and look for "Joe".

View torward the French Quarter.

St. Louis Cathedral from the steam boat.

Me and the kids on the boat.

One of the captains giving signals to 'park' the boat.

On our final day we went to tour a plantation about an hour outside of downtown New Orleans. This is Oak Alley Plantation.

The kids loved running around the gardens.

Ainsley thought all the tour guides dressed in period clothing were princesses. Here is Ainsley showing the 'princess' her shirt.

The 'Oak Alley' of 28 oak trees were planted back in the 1700's. More than 100 years before this house was built. Several movies and tv shows have been filmed at this location, and they are also known for their Mint Juleps. Yummy!

Tyler crawling around the tree roots.

One more stop by the Mississippi River before heading home.