Beach day!

I'm pretty behind in posting this. My computer has been giving me some fits but it seems to be working now!

Our last day in New Orleans we drove about an hour and a half to Gulf Port Mississippi. It was the day that Chelsea was REALLY looking forward to. BEACH DAY!  Chelsea is like me, salt water in her veins. She just wanted to be at the beach. We had an awesome time. When we drove up we could see an area that was a sandbar so we set up there. We were able to walk out for ages without it going past our knees. Which was great for both my water-nervous boy and my fearless girl.

Finally at the beach!

Fun!

Got right into the important stuff. Building stuff with sand!

Dad helped too.

Always need a moat. 

Floating around! 

Pink floatie build for 2!

The boys built a crabby castle. 

Comfy lady

I stinkin' love this one! 

I literally had to drag him but I got him out in the water for a few minutes. 

Time to go!

Swimming fun!

swimming buddies

brrrr

Brandon THREW ME IN! 

Throwing Zach

This baby does not like to be thrown!

New Orleans Day 2

For our second day, we went to the aquarium. Zach and I are big aquarium lovers so it was a treat for us. Chels and Brandon done hate them either. The aquarium is part of the zoo and its pretty impressive also.

teaching them to flash peace signs for pics

going upstairs

in the treehouse

in the treehouse

Piranahs!! 

rotten kid wouldn't take a nice pic with me

Shark attack!!

There is a parakeet feeding area that was super fun. You can buy treats to feed the birds for $1. We spent quite a bit of time feeding the birdies. It was really fun.

Chels feeding the parakeet

.....your doing it wrong....

aww!

Double parakeets!

seahorse...

Lionfish

Am I the only one finding this kinda hilarious?

Stingrays

While we were at the aquarium we saw 'Born to be Wild' at their 3D IMAX theater. It was so beautiful and amazing. All of us loved it. It even made Brandon a bit weepy. I highly recommend it.

After the aquarium we were headed to the insectarium but got distracted by the riverwalk and our hunger. We ended up at the riverwalk for a long time and didn't make to the insects.

Riverwalk fountain

Jack Sparrow

Chelsea wanted her parrot to see a girl pirate.

Bazinga!

BUBBLE BATH!

We were going to go see The Avengers also, and we were all looking forward to it but we got to the theater too late. Going to try again tomorrow, although seeing it for Mothers Day would have rocked. =D

New Orleans Day 1

 After a long day of getting here we are having a lot of fun in New Orleans. Getting through the airport with 2 kids, 2 suitcases, 2 carry-ons and 2 booster seats was no picnic. Plus I did awesome at paying attention and got us to the airport about 3 hours early. I was a little stressed out getting through but once we were on the plane everything went smoothly. Delta had our seats spread all throughout the plane and I was nervous about them giving me issues to change it but we ended up together no problem. We got the very back row of the plane. The kids were super good on the flight. Right after the seatbelt sign went off someone went to the bathroom right behind us and after they went through Chelsea looked at me wide eyed and asked if they went to jump off the plane. I thought that was hilarious. 

Sleeping in

We made it in a little bit early and Brandon was waiting for us. The kids were so very excited to see him. They both went running for him. It was adorable. We went back to the hotel and hung out then tried to sleep. Sleep was pretty elusive. Excited kids and up too late = kids too tired to sleep.

Pretty awesome fountain

I was so afraid this lelly was going to topple over the side!

Flamingos

My big guy photographer. 

Lola!!

<3 Otters <3

Right?

Chattin' it up

With their real family

Big big Bob!

This is seriously a 2 headed snake. It freaks me the eff out. 

I told Brandon "it looks like an artichoke." He said "thats its defense,
look like a vegetable and no one will eat you"

Dancing in the rain

After finally getting to sleep then sleeping in too late (even Zach who NEVER sleeps in) we got up and went to the zoo. The zoo here is pretty fun. Its really big. After about an hour it just started pouring rain. It rained the rest of the time we were there. We just made the best of it.














































They have a HUGE reptile area, we were in there for ages.





















































They have a really neat dino area that we went into. The dinosaurs are animatronic and move around and growl and stuff. Chelsea never could tell if they were real or not. It was pretty adorable. She was so brave touching them. They were surprisingly realistic.

Wet dude

Biggest freaking spider I have ever seen. Brandon took it
outside for the girls working in the gift shop and they gave us
free ponchos for saving their lives. =p

This is my drown rat look. 

Staring contest

High five!

Hi dino!

bravery

they aren't afaid to be graphic. 

Poncho dude

Poncho kidlets

Peacocks don't run away when its pouring. 

White alligator 

kid trap!

The zoo was great, we had a lot of fun. It was a big big day (in Chelseas words) We went swimming after we got back, I have pictures of that but they will have to get their own blog later. =)