NOLA Trip - part one

Two weeks ago Kevin and I got to take a trip just us to New Orleans for a couple days while the girls and puppies stayed in Lufkin with Cathy and Gary.

Day one - lunch in Baton Rouge, a plantation tour at Houmas House, and dinner in the french quarter at Chartres House.

on the drive

Plantation tour

trophy room

cafe du monde for dessert wednesday night

Big day part 2

Carrousel after lunch 

Waiting with Nana to enter Lego land

I want one of these! 

Taylor enjoyed the toddler area 

Getting strapped in for the bunge trampoline 

Look how high she went

Our big day

Allison and Taylor got to see the attractions at Grapevine Mills today.  We started with the aquarium, then food court lunch with carousel ride.  Next up Lego land and finishing the day with a bounce thing.  

Waiting on the crew

Taylor's first time in the stroller without the car seat

Allison in a bubble

Taylor gets a good view

Allison had so much fun

The shark photo bombed us!

Allison and her cousin Sarina 

Crystal Bridges Museum

On the way home we stopped in Bettonville for lunch and a visit to the Crystal Bridges.

Allison was delighted with the outdoor sculpture but had a hard time with the exhibit.  

Both girls enjoyed the kids area.  Allison cried when we had to leave and repeatedly asked to go back.  

Welcome to Texas

We made it back it Texas, it was a great vacation but can't wait to be home.

We love ice cream

Ice cream cones before lunch?  We must be on vacation.  Currently in mountain View, Arkansas we were headed to the cultural center when someone needed a snack.  This town has about 6 ice cream places and we found fantastic homemade ice cream.  Vanilla with M&Ms for Allison, Strawberry Cheesecake for me, and Bat Guano (chocolate with Oreo) for Kevin.  

Welcome to the farm

Our 8 hour drive took about 10 hours but we made it to the farm.  We got to help with the evening feeding and milking.  Allison was fascinated watching Grace milk the goats then Allison got to bottle feed several baby goats.  She kept getting so excited she would drop the bottle.  

Yes Allison is in her jammie's.  We left at 7:30am and hit the road while she was still a little sleepy (she had a rough night). At several rest stops we asked if she wanted to put her clothes on but she wanted to stay in jammie's.  At one rest stop she wore her bunny slippers to go inside and hopped like a bunny all the way there and back to the truck.  

Playgroup at the Farm

Our moms and tots group went to Homestead Farms this morning.  Allison had the best time with the baby chicks and ducks, I'm shocked she didn't beg to take one home.  She did however give them all hugs and kisses.

First trip to the Texas State Fair

Kevin took a vacation day so we could go to the State Fair today - we had great weather and very reasonable crowds.  

Our highlights were the petting zoo (that included zebras, kangaroos and a baby giraffe), the puppet show, and the bird show.  We each had a corn dog and Allison ate hers all by herself.  

San Francisco Highlights part 2

Flowers at the farmers market

Saturday morning we rode the street car to the farmers market.  Then to the hop on hop off tour bus.  Ours broke down right after we crossed the Golden Gate Bridge so we got to do that twice.  We spent the afternoon walking around little Italy and seeing the painted ladies.

Sunday we picked up the rent car, drove around some cute neighborhoods and went down the curvy part of Lombard street.  Then across the bridge to Sausalito for lunch and window shopping.  We got in two wineries before the end of the day in Napa - Duckhorn for a tasting (for everyone not me) and a tour and tasting at Jarvis.  Tapas for dinner in Napa.  

On Lombard Street

Monday morning we drove the Silverado trail then a champagne tasting at Domaine Carneros then off to the airport.

Domaine Carneros

What Cathy and Stacey drank

What I drank - yummy but not champagne

Sam Francisco Highlights Part 1

View of the city from Alcatraz

Watching the sea lions at the pier

Thursday we explored Union Square and Chinatown.  Friday we rode the cable car to breakfast at Ghirardelli then walked around Fisherman's Wharf.

So much chocolate 

We saw the sea lions, the musee mechanique and all the tourist areas.  After lunch at Fog Harbor we spent the afternoon at Alcatraz - thankfully Cathy booked tickets early, the soonest they had tickets available was 11 days out.  Dinner at Boudin with the requisite sourdough bread bowl.

Crab and corn bisque in a sourdough breadbowl

Sourdough bread animals - almost too cute to eat

Easter morning

Due to weather concerns we planned an early Easter morning as all ended up leaving at 9am due to a storm coming through Tyler. Allison loved her little basket - especially a lip balm and fairy wand. The girls did an egg hunt for the eggs they dyed and we had a pancake breakfast.