a new orleans valentine's

This weekend was awhile in the making.  I told Stephen early on that I was going to take care of Valentine's.  

We are weird about Valentines.  I {of course} love the excuse to be crafty and make things {i.e. make a big deal out of a small one}.  I also love a day dedicated to love.  That being said, Stephen and I both have never thought this day was really that important.  I mean, we love each other and don't really need one day set aside to remember that.  We don't have to have some huge earth shattering plans to make it "a day."  

I, however, wanted to take advantage of the holiday as an excuse to go do something together.  I knew good and well that it would be near impossible to get a baby sitter on Valentine's Saturday night, so decided early on that we should spend the whole weekend together.  Just us.  Something we definitely don't get to do enough of! (aside from the everyday after work times)

I tried to think of somewhere close (driving distance - driving distance that Bennett could handle=no more than two hours away) we could go, and decided to hit up the Big Easy.  Now, growing up, New Orleans wasn't ever the scandalous sinful dirt ball debauchery filled slum that it is to so many today {was that a little harsh? my apologies}.  My family took many, MANY a day or weekend trip to New Orleans for the shopping, sights, food, and family fun.  We went at least two times a year:  one usually being around Christmas.  We loved it.  It wasn't until I was much older - college age - that I ever saw Bourbon Street as more than just a crazy street with a lot of lights and people.  

So, I was determined for my husband to see it the same way.  I haven't been back since Katrina, and have heard mixed reviews.  Almost everyone said that the French Quarter was as it always was, so that is where we planned to spend most our time.  We traveled over on Friday, checked in our hotel (Iberville Suites - highly recommend to anyone with kids - or even without. Every room has a den area with a teeny kitchenette, that is separated from the bedroom and bathroom by a door.  Perfect for putting Bennett to sleep early and still being able to use the bathroom and watch TV without disturbing him!!  It is also in a perfectly prime location.  AND I got a really really good deal on it through gtahotels.com.)

Anyway, we went to dinner at Red Fish Grill on Friday night (it was OK but nothing really to write home about), the Aquarium Saturday morning (have really fond memories of this as a child - I think they were missing a couple displays, but we had a great time!), French Market and surrounding areas Saturday afternoon, rest time in the hotel, then dinner at Gordon Biersch Brewery for Valentine's night.  This morning, we strolled down to Cafe Du Monde for some Beignet's then headed home!  

We had a great time - the most fun thing was being together!!  When we got home today around lunchtime and then put Bennett down for a nap - we both got a little stir crazy.  It was a strange feeling to come home and be completely relaxed already and not need to rest up for anything!  Usually on Sunday afternoon's we are pooped and just want to lie around.  Our crazy New Orlean's weekend proved to be quite the relaxing one!

{now, i know the saying is 'less is more,' but today, i am running with the 'more is more' idea. here are half a million pictures to tickle your fancy}

Bennett snacking on a cracker

looking out onto Bourbon Street with Daddy while we wait on our table...MUCH later than originally planned.  our little champion didn't make it to bed until 9pm friday night.  i honestly don't think that has ever happened before.

saturday morning, after a banana, grapes, and a few bites of oatmeal at the hotel continental breakfast, bennett proceeded to throw up all over himself, his stroller, and mama and daddy's hands.  nothing warned us of this, and nothing else happened that day (or today).  everything was ok, except for the terribly sad truth that bennett's special aquarium outfit was left to soak in the tub while it's owner moved on to another, much cleaner, outfit for the occasion. mama shed an imaginary tear as she watched her son's special themed outfit be left behind.

waiting in the IMAX lobby for the aquarium to open.  we got there a little early and came inside to get out of the humidity after walking along the river for awhile.  the weather held out for us and we were never rained on, thank goodness.

bennett loved the walk through aquarium at the entrance.  he was enthralled by the fish, as well as all the kids.

the parrots, however, proved to be bennett's ABSOLUTE favorite.  he pointed and fussed when we repeatedly tried to move on to something else.  

watching the penguins eat their lunch

climbing on all the animals in the discovery zone play area

shark!!  stephen especially loved this exhibit, which contained sharks, redfish, grouper, cobia, amberjack, and many other fishies we see in our local waters

after the aquarium, we strolled back to the french quarter for some lunch. one sleepy bennett fell fast asleep (i must say again, for the record, how much i love our phil and ted's stroller!!!!) and stayed asleep while daddy and mama ate a nice leisurely lunch at felix's.  he slept for almost two hours, and woke up for some snacks in the jackson square park.

yes there was a wedding going on...and people didn't realize it until they were pretty much walking right through the middle of it.  we were sitting on the stairs below watching a street show, and when the bride and groom kissed, they seriously kissed for an uncomfortable amount of time.  not that you really care too much, but it was a little intriguing, in an i-cant-believe-they-are-getting-married-here-and-then-kissing-for-THAT-long kind of way.

bennett watching the show.  and eating a granola bar.

did i mention that it is MARDI GRAS? yes, this tiny little detail that i failed to remember in all my valentine's weekend planning....

after dinner at a local (loud and kid friendly) restaurant, we put a sleepy head baby to bed and enjoyed some wine out of our two remaining lucite christmas glasses i mentioned in a previous post.  wellll stephen somehow managed to drop one on the floor, so we are now down to ONE functioning glass (which i have now just thrown away - they were all a lost cause!)  the qtip and cotton ball holder provided a temporary fix.  how romantic! :)  i wouldn't have it any other way

sunday morning: bennett and his beads heading to cafe du monde for some beignets before we head home

so, yes, he loved them (who doesnt??)

we ran in to a friendly, calm walking parade on our way back to the car.  bennett quickly became the center of the bead-throwing attention and racked up quite a collection.  he also caught a beanie baby type tiger thing that, if he was only a couple years older, he would have certainly treasured as the best thing ever.  or at least i would have at that age.

bennett was not in the smiliest of moods this day. 

then bennett gave his mama and daddy the best present - he slept almost the entire way home!  he has rarely done this since switching to his forward facing carseat.  gone are the quiet car-riding baby days!

whew! what a weekend.  we had a blast and all three learned a lot! (like how to travel with a baby!! - i have mucho respect for those who venture out on much more serious vacations with babies this age. (summer!!!))

i cant wait for more family trips in our future!

happy valentines day/weekend!

KEEP THE LOVE ALIVE :)