NOLA part I.

We took some time off last week for a family vacation. We had so many ideas when we were deciding where to go and ultimately landed on New Orleans. We wanted to go somewhere that was not overwhelming and in a reasonable driving distance. In hindsight I wish we had gone to a beach on Lake Michigan or something because the humidity was killer. But New Orleans is a very unique place and I am glad we experienced it before it is entirely under water or destroyed by another terrible hurricane!

We stopped in Nashville on the way there for bbq ::

We also found a TCBY. We don't have these in Kentucky anymore and they carry my favorite ice cream- white chocolate mousse. We even found an old school TCBY with parfaits and I got all the sprinkles like I did as a child::

We took Zara to Storyland at New Orleans City Park. It is a beautiful fairytale themed park nestled in trees and spanish moss. Zara like pretending to capture us on the pirate ship. She really likes to play 'jail'- sometimes we are in jail and sometimes she is a lion or cat that we make a jail for::

Next door to Storyland is Carousel Gardens. We took Zara on a few rides but she was on the brink of a meltdown so we took her out of the sun and had lunch at a yummy Vietnamese place called MOPHO::

We spent time on the rooftop pool everyday. This was definitely Zara's favorite part of the trip. Her swimming even improved over the week (I cannot wait to put her in swim lessons next year!)::

SO pregnant  but I can still squeeze into my swimsuits::

We had lunch at Elizabeth's. I wholeheartedly believe in friend green tomato eggs benedict now. & I love all the signs they had hanging up that said 'Be nice or leave'. There is an artist in the Bywater that creates all of the art in the restaurant and those signs (Dr. Bob)::

Colorful homes all around::

Trees and plants thriving in the city::

I don't think I could handle living in New Orleans. The weather is harsh. The higher parts of the city are in good shape but so many parts of the city seem to be fighting a losing battle against flooding. Still, I can see why people see the charm in it and fall in love::

We took a kid's ghost tour with Zara in the French Quarter. We learned some edited versions of Jean Lafitte's life and the LaLaurie mansion ::