Laissez Les Bons Enfants Roullez

So we took the kids to New Orleans. Mere, my mother, is from there originally, and there are still many family members there. I hadn't been in many years, though we used to go for Mardi Gras when I was little. It was such a treat to go back! Sophie had met a few of the residents last year, but Austin had never met any of his Louisiana roots before. And going at Christmas was particularly great :)

In NOLA, Santa's skiff is pulled by alligators

The first thing in the morning after we arrived, we walked the kids through the French Quarter to meet the river. Austin told me it was "the bay."

We frolicked in Jackson Square, where the carriages wait for fares, and we pet all the mules' noses.

We ate out.

We waited for the streetcar.

And rode them.

And we made new friends at the aquarium

Tune in for part deux tomorrow!

Farmer Austin

Wow, it's been a long time since I posted! Sorry about that! But I'm bearing gifts and stories and pretty pictures, so that should be worth something, right?

Anyway, we went berry picking today! This place was close to Santa Cruz, right on the ocean, so it was nice and cool. Windy and salty too.

He who walks between the rows

And licks strawberries

Two-fisted strawberry licking

And to think Mom thought we might take some home

As usual, most of our pictures are walking away... :)

When Austin decided we'd had enough strawberries, we had to go visit the cows in the field adjacent to the strawberry picking. He rode on my shoulders along the road and kept reaching into the bucket under my arm for more berries. To eat on my head. And when we got back to the farmstand to weigh our berries, there was delicious hot apple strawberry cider.

Southern Exposure

This is the story of Austin's first trip to LA to see Grandpa and Mere...


We stayed in a fancy hotel. Actually, the elevators at the hotel may have been his favorite part of the trip. I would have gotten a picture of him enjoying the koi pond too, but keeping him out of the pond took both hands.
















We got to sit in a big boy chair because everyone with toddlers hits the buffet at the same time.

















Here we are visiting the Farmer's Market. Everyone eagerly anticipated Austin's first pony ride...


















Except Austin. Here we see some intense negotiations...
















And here we see Austin leaving the pony rides...












We rode Dad instead.


















We'll have more on the bubble gun later. It merits a post all by itself. Let's just say that the guy parked between the market and the park selling those suckers was a genius.















And travel is just exhausting! Thank goodness we have people to drive us home and put us to bed :)

First Trip to the Aquarium!

I think we mostly had fun. It was a little dark, and fish are kind of unfriendly looking.



And we did not appreciate the penguins, even though they were very interested in us.



And maybe we dreamed fishy dreams on the drive back, with our new otter friend.