Spring Break 2013

Be warned...this post is a lengthy play-by-play.  Cute photos at the conclusion.

Our first trip as a family of 3, outside of going home to Memphis and staying with family, was a success.  I read an article while traveling back about vocabulary changes once becoming a parent.  One of the changes listed was the difference in meaning between a vacation and a trip.  This week was most definitely not a vacation - stick your toes in the sand, sleep until lunch, and have no real plans.  It was a trip, but we had a very enjoyable trip and I am grateful for the opportunity.  Sometimes I complain about my job, but one thing I can definitely get on board with is having a full week of Spring Break.

Originally I was planning to send C to school, at least part days, while I stayed home and worked on projects and party prep.  But when the opportunity arose to go to New Orleans with Will for him to complete his Doctoral Oral Exam, I jumped at the chance.  We needed some time away.  We needed to take on the challenge of traveling 300 miles, staying in a less than stellar hotel room for 5 days, and navigating a somewhat intimidating city with an 11 month old- and all the gear that comes with her- in tow.  The projects could wait.  So, that is what we did. 

We were gone Monday - Friday.  It was just long enough to allow us to do a good amount of things, but not so long that we were dog tired and cranky.  I was thankful to have Saturday at home in order to ease back into real life before the business kicked in on Sunday.

....

Monday morning we left Longview around 7:30 - a little later than planned, but not too bad.
Travel was smooth.  We stopped for breakfast in Natchitoches, LA.  About midday we arrived at the outlet mall in Gonzales, LA.  They have expanded since I was last there, so I was excited to do some shopping.  We spent a good 3-4 hours at the mall, oops, including a break to eat our picnic lunch on the grass of a parking median.  We arrived in NOLA for dinner and decided to go straight to eat before heading to the hotel and preparing for bedtime.  We chose to have our first meal at Mahony's, a Poboy shop on Magazine St.  It was a beautiful day and we were able to sit at a table out on the sidewalk.  After dinner we got checked in at the seminary and got C through her bedtime routine - including a bath in a laundry basket. 

Tuesday was expected to be rainy so we planned to do indoor activities - the Aquarium of the Americas and the Audubon Insectarium.  First, we needed to fuel up with beignets.  C was fussy that morning after not going down for her nap.  As we pulled out of the hotel parking lot and around the corner to Walgreens to get cash for our breakfast, the rain began.  I had hoped to make it through breakfast before the rain arrived - since Cafe du Monde involves a park and walk and stand in line down the sidewalk routine , but it was not to be.  Unfortunately, the newbie parents forgot the umbrella cover to the stroller in Longview..duh, so C was a little out in the open.  We were able to keep mostly dry until we got under the beckoning green and white striped awnings.  Will and I thoroughly enjoyed our pound of powdered sugar and fried dough while C looked on and ate her yogurt.  It was neat to have C with us for the first time in a place that we have been many times before.  I fully expect to one day have photos of her covered in powdered sugar. 

After breakfast it was still steadily raining so we browsed the shops along that strip.  In Aunt Sally's we found a cute children's book entitled "Goodnight NOLA."  We already read "Goodnight Moon," and this book was just too cute to pass up for C's first souvenir.  We also bought an umbrella...yeah, no umbrellas in Daddy's car.  With some strategic planning and distribution of gear, we finally made it safely back to the car and headed to the Insectarium.  C and I hoped out of the car on Canal with the diaper bag and camera, got our ticket in, and headed to the bathroom to nurse and change a diaper.  We have nursed for over 11 months now and this was the first time she nursed while I stood holding her in a bathroom stall. 

Will joined up with us and we proceeded to explore the exhibits of termites, grasshoppers, and various other insects.  We watched a 4D movie and sat on a giant slug.  One of the highlights, the part I expected C to most appreciate, was the butterfly garden.  She was able to feel a butterfly on her hand and see it up close.  After the butterflies it was nearing time for lunch and C was in need of a nap.  Given long enough she will fall asleep in the car so we drove around town while she slept and then ate our lunch in the parking lot of the aquarium.

The aquarium was fun.  It was in better shape than when Will and I were last there in 2009.  Here C got to feed a parakeet.  Will was holding her and the stick of food.  As soon as we walked in, 3-4 birds converged on them.  C didn't really react in fear or delight.  She was her typical - observant, stoic self.  A time or two she reached out for a bird or flinched slightly as one flew by.  When it was Mommy and C's turn to get a bird, we had a harder time attracting them.  I have to think that Daddy's height was a factor in attracting them.
After experiencing the Insectarium and the Aquarium my mom asked me what caught C's interest/what she noticed.  My response, "the people."  She loves to people watch.  We probably could have gone to the park or the mall and she would have been content, but as we repeated numerous times throughout the week..."We're making memories."

We went back to the room to attempt a little rest time.  C fought it so bad that she actually, but briefly, fell asleep sitting up in her pack 'n play.  For dinner we went to Sassafras.  It was a let down.  Service was slow and the food wasn't that great.  Waiting on our check C got really sleepy.  We put her straight to bed when we got back.  Even then we had to lay in the bed as if we were asleep so that she would settle down.

Wednesday was a big day for Will.  He had his Oral Exam at 12:45 (He passed with flying colors!!) and needed to spend some time in the library prior to that, so C and I headed over to Metairie to shop at the Esplanade Mall.  It got us out of the hotel but was manageable for me by myself.  We met back up with Will that afternoon.  It was a nice, but very breezy day.  We briefly went to a playground on campus and let C experience the swing and a slide for the first time.  Jury is still out on the swing.  Feet dangling and out of control...not so much.  The slide, however, was a hit.  Wednesday night we went to dinner at New Orleans Hamburger and Seafood.  It is very family friendly and they have the best thin fried catfish.  Afterwards we picked up dessert and went back to the room for the routine.

Thursday was another fun, play day.  Will started the day by going to the sign shop and purchasing 29 more street signs to add to his collection/Ebay inventory.  The weather was nice- sunny, but cool.  We bundled up and went to the Audubon Zoo in the Garden District.  It is a really well done zoo and they are currently expanding and improving some exhibits.  Memorable moments...C and Daddy fed a chicken, we saw an elephant up close, enjoyed some more slide time, and rode a carousel for the first time.  The carousel ride was going splendidly at first - after switching animals from the tall zebra that Mommy could barely reach to the nice low panda bear, but by the time the ride actually started C was a little over it and ready to leave.   You do what you can and it is what it is.  Mommy fail of the week

Will and I never ate lunch and we had a craving for some good red beans and rice.  We also had an errand to run on Magazine so Google.."best red beans and rice on Magazine St."  That led us to Ignatious, and boy was that assignment correct.  So good.  I imagine we will go back.  And, it just so happens to be about a block from Sucre, so of course.  That combination was by far the best meal we had all week.  Now everyone needed a nap.  In reality, I think Will was the only one who actually napped.  C "talked" and threw everything out of her pack 'n play.  After bath time we talked to Lollie on FaceTime before bed.  Will ran out and grabbed us a pizza from East of Italy.  C was asleep when he got back so we literally sat on the bed in the dark and ate it right out of the box. 

Friday morning it was time to pack up and head home.  Before leaving town we drove through the Quarter and got our Muffaletta from Central Grocery for the road.  Next stop was Beurgeron's on the other side of Baton Rouge so Will could get boudin balls.  (as an aside...I'm sure you have noticed by now..much of our trips center around food; especially when in NOLA)  From Lafayette we went north to go through Ruston to pick up Penny Lane from her week with Julie and Zach.  One more stop out of desperation at a Sonic somewhere on the other side of Shreveport and straight on til morning...ok, until Longview, about an hour away.

It was a great week, but it was good to walk into our house, put C down on the floor and let her walk free to her heart's content.  I realized that all week she had pretty much been in a car seat,  her pack 'n play, a stroller, on our the bed in the hotel, or held.  She had much less time than usual to get out her seemingly boundless energy.  We even commented that she needed to get her sea legs back.  She was a little more wobbly. 

Oh, and it was TIGHT, but we were able to get everyone and everything back to Longview, even with the addition of 29 bracketed New Orleans street signs, the dog and her gear, and the various clothes and souvenirs we purchased while away.  That in itself is a feat to be applauded. 

Here's to more trips as a family.

Now for the cuteness...