New Orleans: Beignets and Plantations

Mike's President's Club trip for work this year was in The Big Easy.  We loved it.  It is not a place we would have necessarily visited on our own, or would bring the young'uns, so it was great that they picked it for us.  I loved the Louisiana accent we heard everywhere.

We started the first morning of the trip with a visit to Cafe du Monde--"the place" to have beignets.  We waited for over an hour, and never actually received our order before we had to leave.  Thank goodness some friends came and we got to have one of their beignets before we had to run to catch our shuttle to our first excursion--plantation tours.

We passed several plantations on our way to our first stop at Laura: a Creole Plantation.  This map shows the plantations that existed along the Mississippi River.  All of the plantations in southern Louisiana grew sugar cane.  Cotton was grown in the north.

We saw beautiful architecture, blooming flowers and learned lots about the history of the plantations.

There were 69 slave cabins, and approximately 175 slaves worked and lived here.  They have a slave roster posted.  I noticed one particularly interesting name to our family--Patience.

They have posted the rules for how slaves should have been treated.

We then visited Oak Alley.  It is a 25-acre, beautiful plantation, lined with 28, 300 year-old live oak trees.

This is the slave registry at Oak Alley.  I'm a little obsessed with all things Antebellum South, Civil War, Abe Lincoln right now, so this was fascinating.

They have begun reconstructing the slave quarters.  By law, the cabins had to be 16 feet by 16 feet.  They usually built them duplex-style, where two slave families lived.

Just as we began the trip, we ended it at Cafe du Monde.  After the awards dinner, we went with a group of friends to have some farewell beignets.

They certainly make sure you have plenty of powdered sugar.  In fact, the floor is covered in a powdered sugar dust.

Disneyland: The Rides

We tagged along on a trip to Disneyland with my sister Camille and her family.  My parents went as well.  A great time was had by all.  

We couldn't wait to do the new ride--Radiator Springs Racers.  Well, I guess we could wait, because we did--for 90 minutes.  Mike got us fast passes while the rest of the gang waited in line, so everyone got to go at least twice. It was a pretty amazing ride, and Cars Land in general was so neat.

I just love the facial expressions the camera catches.  

So happy that we finally made it to the front of the line.

It looks just like Southern Utah.

My favorite ride is the Tower of Terror, although it looks like I'm about to lose my lunch here.

Mickey's Fun Wheel...not so fun.  It made us all a little sick to our stomaches.

Jessi didn't want to to on it, but we made her, and she ended up loving California Screamin'.

Dumbo.

Small World.

Jungle Tour.

Autopia.

Splash Mountain. (I love Max's face in this one.)

On our early entry day, this gang did Space Mountain and Star Tours three times each.

week 7

Monday we took a trip to Target to get the goods for Valentine's Day.  We also got the supplies Bev needs for her science fair project.

When it's homework time, I'm glad I have my partner in crime.  He usually takes the math.

I take the other stuff.

These two were supposed to be doing homework, but instead, Drew was filling her in on what middle school is like.

Whenever I go to pull photos off my phone, there are lots of photos I didn't know I had.  This is a real life picture of where I spend about one hour every day--cooking, dishes, etc.

Tuesday was the Blue and Gold Banquet for Cub Scouts.  It was a luau theme, and the boys, along with their families, were to make a Hawaii-themed cake.  I got this idea from Pinterest.  He insisted that the cake be orange jello poke cake, and he made the cake.  I helped him with the frosting.

I put the coconut bras and grass skirts and sunglasses on the Teddy Grahams.  He did the swimsuits and placed all the bears on the sand or in the ocean.

We made one bear to represent each member of our family.  Jessi is in the orange swimsuit with a bow in her hair.  Christian is face down in the ocean, snorkeling.  Drew and Bev are sunbathing on beach. Mike is walking in the water with snorkel gear on.  I am the surfer, wearing only a lei.

By the end of the week, I had five of these from the school in my car.  Between Chinese New Year, School Community Council and Valentine's Day, it felt like I lived at the school.

As much as I don't like it, Andrew has a Valentine.

The three younger kids picked these little sack kits.  They looked cute, but they required a lot more work than I was anticipating--times three.

Christian's were ninjas.

Bev picked rock star girls.

Jessi picked the princess kit.

We made animal Valentine's boxes--another example of a good idea that required a lot of work.

Bev made a cat.

Christian did a cheetah. Picture taken at his class party.

Jessi did a zebra. Picture taken at her class party.

Mike and I celebrate Valentine's Day with the kids and go out together a different night.

I did the tradition--butcher paper on the table and heart-shaped breakfast foods for dinner.

We write love notes to each other.

Between all of the animal needs and parties, I have taken multiple trips to Petco and Hobby Lobby this week.  I'm glad they are so close.

I had a lunch date with my besties, and this guy joined us.  I could listen to his stories all day.

The kids are happy that the sidewalks are finally clear of snow so that they can ride scooters and skateboards to piano lessons.

Mike and I went out and left Bev in charge.  She made dinner--mac and cheese and fruit--and planned some activities for the little kids.  Mike also got them a Redbox.  He and I went to dinner and a movie and then to the Nike store because there is always something we "need" from there.

Christian took Freddy out for a potty break, and took one himself.

This dog is very well-loved.

Bev is having a lot of pain in her toes, and may have an infection.

Mike helps coach Christian's Jr. Jazz team.  It was the last game of the season.

The weather was fabulous after church and C and J walked home.