Sunday, August 24, 2008

New Orleans

Kit has been pestering me to get blogging already about our visit to New Orleans...so, baby, here it is!

Disclaimer--This post is LONG


Kit was called out to help in an oil spill (quite large, actually) on the Mississippi River in New Orleans, LA. He was gone for a total of 3 weeks, with a series of night-duty watching an oil spot on the river and making sure it didn't get larger, then day-duty watching the spot on the river and finally doing what he loves to do-overseeing clean up efforts in the swamps off the river. He missed us, but enjoyed the stay and the opportunity to visit the city. We missed him tons, so last weekend the boys and I decided to head west to visit. With it being only 2.5 hours away, the drive seemed a breeze and we got there Friday evening. We brought our belongings up to the hotel room then headed out for dinner-FABULOUS barbecue at Voodoo Barbecue. Yummy! I love me some barbecue. Seriously, their pulled pork was yummmm...just thinking about it makes my mouth water. We then went walking around and enjoyed the evening.

Kit was able to take Saturday off, so we grabbed some breakfast then headed off to take a tour. We walked through the French Quarter and learned some cool things I wouldn't have known without a tour...how to recognize Creole cottages, slave quarters and of course the beautiful french work. We then headed for a cemetery and learned about entombing and were able to visit the tomb of Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen, and Edward Degas 's grandparent's tomb. We visited one of the beautiful cathedrals and just enjoyed the 2 hour tour, or at least Kit and I did. The boys protested most efficiently. Of course, the latter part of the day was for our boys when we visited the amazing Insectorium. We got caught in a rainstorm between lunch and the Insectorium. Not much fun, but quite the experience. We were soaked even though we huddled under the eaves of the shops while Kit dashed to the car to rescue us-always the hero! We cleaned up at the hotel and headed back out. The Insectorium was so much fun! They had awesome exhibits where the kids could look at, touch and learn about all sorts of bugs. Kit and I even got to taste some. Gavin was all talk about eating some until he saw the bugs, but seriously, the crickets I ate tasted like a spicy crispy piece of bacon. Not too bad...if you don't think about what you're eating. Kit tried a number of dishes, french-fried mill-worms, Cajun crickets, mill-worm marmalade, and a crispy piece of mill-worm quesadilla. I stuck to the crickets, since they didn't look so...crickety. It really was a wonderful experience and I would suggest it to anyone traveling there to visit.

On Sunday Kit had to go back to work (at 4:30 am...uggh) so the boys and I decided to go exploring on our own. I swear I walked a zillion miles. It wasn't easy pushing my two boys in our giant double-stroller and wearing Gunner in his sling, but it sure was fun! We garnered many smiles and a few comments. Together we explored the River Walk, the French Quarter, the Warehouse district, etc. The boys were really good and we were out and about from 9 until Kit got off work at 4. I absolutely loved walking the housing areas of the French Quarter. They were so quaint and beautiful with their hanging gardens and iron work. It was such an interesting walk, seeing the beauty and the filthiness of the city. Not just in the physical sense, but also in the moral sense. Once Kit got off work, we rode a street-car (one of my boys' favorite memories now) back to Voodoo Barbecue for dinner (my choice) then caught one back to the hotel. It really was so much fun, I loved it! We were all set to go home, much to my and the boys' sadness, when our car wouldn't start. Not something great to find out at 8 o'clock on a Sunday evening. Hmmm...our battery was dead and wouldn't jump. So the boys and I headed back into the hotel (gosh, weren't we sad ;)! ) and off to bed. Kit went into work the next morning, but they allowed him to take time off to come back and fix our car. He took care of business (thanks honey!) while the boys and I went to the French Market-bought sunglasses for me and tasted Pralines (I wasn't too impressed). We then met up for lunch at the River Walk. After enjoying our stolen day, the boys and I headed home to get ready for school the next day.

It really was a fun trip-almost a mini-vacation. I can't wait to go again, but maybe next time Kit and I can go alone...we'll have to see!







I know...and I'm sorry for this LONG post. As you can see, though, we had a lot of fun and made great memories! Anyone wanting to come visit us, we'll pop on over there for an experience!

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yippee!! I am so glad that you listened to Kit and came back to the blogging world...I've missed you!
I am so jealous of your visit to N.O. It sounded like you guys had a lot of fun and got to see and experience some really interesting things. I am uber impressed that you ventured out on your own. Thanks for the cute pics (you're looking great) and little Gav looks like he isn't so little anymore. I am glad that Kit is home safe and sound now and you aren't having to single mother it. We'll definetly have to go when we come down and visit!
Oh...p.s. sorry that the link didn't work- I'll have to figure it out. Whitty has the same link if you want to try it.

Andrea said...

That looks like so much fun! We have only been to N.O. once--we went to the zoo and aquarium, but after reading about your adventures, you gave me the desire to go again! Although, I don't think I could bare to eat a cricket. LOL.
Oh, and I too am impressed that you ventured out with the boys by yourself. I am way to chicken to do that.
I'm glad you had such a great time.

Haylee Munk Brown said...

Look slike you guys had a great time in New Orleans!! We went there at the end of March when we moved here to Houston and we loved it! The architecture there is so amazing!! How far from there are you? It is about a 5 hour car ride from Houston....

Jules said...

What a fun trip! What amazing things to see and do. I'm sure your kids will remember the experience forever. I love all the pictures, I almost feel like I was there with you. The kids are adorable as always.

Lively Luckinbills said...

You are so lucky that you are able to see so much of the country's culture. I have never been to New Orleans or seen much of the South. It seems like so much fun! I can't believe you like crickets?!? J/K At least you know that a good meal awaits you in the back yard (cause it seemed like Kit was hungry at the museam)! Glad you are home safe and that you got your car started (what luck)!

whitney said...

You ate bugs. That's really...ummm...gross. I'm kinda impressed, but mostly disgusted...especially at Kit :P ;)

Anyway, I loved the mini-mini-trip we took to N.O. when we were there, so I'm sure it was SO much fun spending the whole weekend! Yay that your hubby's home! I'm sure you're enjoying it.

Annie said...

I can't believe you ate bugs! But like others said, I'm very impressed that you took all the kids out on your own. That is inspiration for the rest of us.

whitney said...

PS-super cute pics of your kids! They really were photogenic on your mini-vacay ('cause we all know how much they looove to take pictures, especially gavin;). That picture of you and Gunner is fabulous!

Mamapierce said...

Adorable pictures! Your boys are so cute! What a fun trip that was, isn't it nice when your husband's work can turn into a family vacation? :o)

Coty said...

okay, i seriously cringed when i saw the roaches...aahhh.
it looks like it was a ton-o-fun and i loved the personalized (kit gav and jos) paperweight thing-a-ma-jig, fabulous.

Jenny said...

I can't believe you drug three kids around in those shoes! Most impressive. I guess I've got a few tricks to learn yet about being a mom and going on adventures. Jeff went to N.O. a few years ago and absolutely fell in love with it. It was before Hurricane Katrina so I wonder how much has changed. He still talks about the southern food. Oh, we need to come and visit you!!!

Grammy said...

What a great trip!! I'm so glad that you took the adventure. Not surprised at all at Kit's cuisine experience(he'll eat anything!) but very impressed with you! I love seeing my little boys, darling as always. Maybe we can do a New Orleans on our next trip! Hug everyone for me!!!

Sandy said...

Sounds like an awesome trip. I have always wanted to go to New Orleans. Your pictures are awesome.