A Weekend in Nawlins

The boys had SO much fun this weekend, but we were BUSY!

As I previously mentioned, we went to New Orleans (aka Nawlins) for the weekend. We got tickets for the Aquarium, IMAX, Insectarium and Zoo. We bought them online before we went, so we knew it would be busy.

We got there Saturday morning and went to the aquarium first. It sucked. It was not that the aquarium was bad, but the crowds. OH MY GOSH!! It was packed. So we kinda rushed through that. It was neat though. The divers were out - one cleaning the glass and one feeding the "creatures" - which the boys LOVED.

After that we went to the Insectarium. NASTY!!

Seriously.

I mean REALLY NASTY!!

Now that I am over the cringing....the Insectarium just opened in June, so it is BRAND new! It is nice - for what it is. It is educational, for those interested in wanting to be educated in bugs (more educated than the normal they are nasty and we don't want them living with us). They have this six minute movie inside the Insectarium. We took the boys in to see it. You go in and take a seat - looks like a normal theater. BUT....it has a twist. It is an animated movie. In front on all of the seats is a rail - looks like a normal rail. WRONG. There is air that blows out of the rail (like when a bug "passes gas" and when the bees and wasp are flying). The seats play tricks too. Each different bug has a different response from your seat and rail (there is also air that blows sharp at your legs). So, it was a little to realistic for my taste, but the boys all loved it - including AJ. The grossest part - they have a "pantry" set up. It has all of the things you would find in YOUR pantry - same brands and all - but COVERED in roaches. And they have one of those domes where you can "get in" the pantry with them. NASTY!!

Then we went to the IMAX. Bugs 3D. It was as nasty as the Insectarium! Andrew even enjoyed it most of the time, although he would not wear the glasses for more than a couple of seconds at a time. It was a good movie, for a bug movie. This was the first time we had seen a 3D movie - pretty cool.

We spent the rest of yesterday exploring the French Quarter (our hotel was also in the French Quarter). We ate dinner at Bubba Gumps. The boys loved it. I had some awesome ribs - YUM!!! Paul and Caleb had seafood. Isaac and Bryce - pizza. One thing about being in LA - the boys are eating LOTS of seafood and LOVING it. Daddy and I finished dinner off with some "adult" yummy drinks to go!

We had to be back in our hotel by dark - because we were afraid of what the kids might see if we are out after dark! On the way to dinner they saw a "statue" - if you have never been down there, there are people that pose in the middle of the road and freeze like a statue. This man was on a ladder. The boys watched him (standing right in front of him) for several minutes asking if he was real. I kept saying yes, they did not believe me. A group of young, barely dressed girls went by and the man turned his head to watch them go - everyone started laughing and the boys then believed he was real (then he froze again). We got back to the hotel and we spent the rest of the evening in the pool. This pool did not have steps like most and that is where Bryce normally hangs out. This was the first time EVER we have been able to get Bryce IN the pool and OFF the steps. He played in the pool the entire time (after a few minutes of screaming and crying). Andrew cried for a few minutes, but finally started splashing and playing. For once, EVERYONE enjoyed the pool!!

This morning we got up, packed up and went to the zoo. This zoo is AWESOME! The boys had a great time. There was lots of shade and lots of misting fans. They really work hard to keep everyone cool. We walked the ENTIRE zoo - saw everything. Went through the gift shop and headed back home. Everyone went to sleep shortly after eating lunch and slept the entire way home. No arguements about going to bed tonight either.


I must say, as an afternote - I HATE BUGS!!! The fact that I spent a weekend staring at bugs goes to show how much I love my boys and are willing to do just about anything for their happiness. I hope I don't have to go again....but I would.