New Orleans Getaway!

Jimmy submitted a poster to present at the ASA conference (anesthesiologist group) in New Orleans this year, and he was accepted.  When we originally found out he was accepted, we assumed Jimmy would go by himself.  After talking with my parents, whom would have most likely loved to watch the kids, we found out they were going to be in California visiting my brother.  To the rescue aunt Cindy and uncle Linton!  They offered to watch Grace and Wesley so Jimmy and I could go to the conference together.  It was a two-fold blessing with the kids being in great hands and us only having to pay for my flight (since Baptist covered all of Jimmy's expenses).  It worked out best to drive to Rock Hill (where Cindy and Linton live) on a Thursday after Jimmy's work to get the kids settled in.  We flew out of Charlotte on Friday and returned home on Monday.  The trip was made even sweeter since one of Jimmy's classmates and his wife came and we hung out with them most of the time. 

Y'all, the trip was just FANTASTIC.  Nothing short of it!  We ate delicious food, had great company, saw awesome (and quiet sketchy) scenes, toured historic areas, SLEPT without a human alarm clock, and just plain did whatever we wanted!!  One morning Jimmy was gone for a few hours so I had breakfast in bed and watched HGTV because I COULD.  Every now and then I would look around and just giggle to myself because it was so nice being able to relax that way!  Insert a thank you to Jimmy's parents, my parents, and Cindy and Linton for gifting birthday money to Jimmy; it was put to good use in NOLA!  Jimmy and I realized how rich the trip was for our marriage and we are going to try and get away for a long weekend like this once a year. 

Landing in NOLA

One of the most yummy sandwich places I have dined!

 

We ate dinner at this super delicious restaurant that I have already forgotten the name of...anyways, they had this Zoltar thing that was in the movie Mr. Big.  I am blanking on the details from the movie as Sara is the one who pointed it out.  We felt cool!

Parts of NOLA reminded me of Charleston.  There were even more beautiful streets with iron terraces and fences...just gorgeous!

Sara and I went on a plantation/swamp double tour while the boys did work one afternoon.  Look at that place! 

 

 

 

And look at that alligator....this was a small one compared to the big boy we saw at the end.

 

 

We even got to hold a little baby alligator.

Beautiful!

River walk

More river walk...we didn't get to ride the steam boat, but it looked fun!

Random parade one evening.  I guess there are always parades in NOLA.  We had a great view from our dinner table on the balcony.

Famous café where you eat beignets. 

So delicious!

I had to get a picture of the trolley for Grace.  Anyone know about the tv show called Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood?  Well, enough said if you do.  If you don't, it's about a little tiger that rides the trolley places in town.  Cute, cute show.  Grace was very impressed that we got to ride one to the Garden District.

The Garden District is composed of lots of big, beautiful houses like this one.

 

We got lucky and were able to walk through an open house of one of the homes...it was only listed at 1.3 million.  You see that place of chocolate chip cookies on the table?  They were delicious!  It was a smaller home compared to others...I can only imagine!

Yummy, fruity drinks!

I used my phone for the pictures, so forgive the blurriness although this is a picture of Bourbon street, so you should also thank me that it's blurry. :)

Pretty

Harrah's Casino.  Jimmy and I had never been in one, so my poker lover of a husband was like a kid in a candy store.

 

In case you were wondering how the kids were doing...does it look like Grace was sad?  NO.  That's because Cindy and Linton spoiled her and Wesley rotten :)  Grace got to bake cupcakes, paint pumpkins, play golf, watch tv, etc.  She had a blast!

Playing at Cindy and Linton's house.  A house that is way cooler than ours because it has stairs.  Stairs that Wesley is now a master ninja at crawling up!  The kids had fun and Grace is already asking when they get to return!