New Orleans Getaway...

What started as the boys and Sam going to a Pelicans game as their Christmas gift from Sam turned into a little two day New Orleans getaway.  We packed a lot into two days and had the best time!!!

Made it to New Orleans in time for lunch at the Ugly Dog...a little hole in the wall barbecue place Matt found that turned out to be pretty yummy. 

After lunch we headed to Christmas Fest in the Convention Center...there were rides, ice skating, ice tubing, rock climbing, inflatables, etc...

They started off riding a few rides while Matt and I waited in line to ice skate...

I think they were most excited about the ice skating...

Anna Lauren really got the hang of it this time and was able to skate all over without hanging onto the wall...

I tried to skate once...I was horrible.  Therefore, I just watched and took pictures...

Just being themselves...

They rode a few more rides while we waited in line for us to ice tube...

After ice tubing, it was time to conquer the rock climbing wall...

All smiles as they all three made it to the top of the wall!  

That night Sam and the boys headed to the basketball game while me and this cutie got to hang out.  She wanted to go to Riverwalk to shop a little and eat beignets.  We stopped and took a few pictures along the way because the lights were still up and so pretty!

This little guy was beyond excited about the basketball game!!!

He found the face painting...

He is use to going to basketball games at Millsaps so this was HUGE to him and so cool...

Taking it all in...

When it's your "special treat" you tend to get what you want...like a jersey and a basketball...

Meanwhile, me and Anna Lauren were "shopping"...not sure you call the candy store shopping, but what she chose to buy with her money.  

And eating beignets...

Not sure who was having more fun...

Anna Lauren decided she was ready to head back the hotel and just chill...again, I made her take a few pictures because the lights were so pretty.

And it just happened to be snowing...not really but the fake snow was fun!

Cooper was still going strong...not sure if he enjoyed the game or everything else more.  He found someone to spray his hair...

Could eat him up...doesn't take much to make him so happy!

Like I said...think he enjoyed the "extras" as much as the game...

They all had a super fun time and Cooper is still talking about this "huge" arena...

We woke up to rain the next morning but that didn't stop us from getting out and about and enjoying the French Quarter...

Yes, it's worth standing in line in the rain for beignets...

The kids are good at finding other things to do while we stand in line...

This is just everyday life with Matt...geez...this boy!!!

We are not perfect, and we are for sure not always smiles.  But...I love this family of mine and treasure every minute of making memories with them.

A carriage ride was a perfect way to see the city on a yucky/rainy day...

Cooper loved all the characters out and about on the streets...

This is the craziest story!!!  We met this family last Christmas on South Beach in Miami when they were there to watch their son play in a football game.  The night before, Anna Lauren and I ran into them at the mall and then we saw them again the next day. What are the chances we would see them two years in a row and have no clue really who they are???

After our carriage ride, we watched the New Year's Eve Sugar Bowl parade...this was a fun surprise as we had no idea there would be a parade.

After the parade, we grabbed a bite to eat and headed home.  We didn't think it was the best idea to be in New Orleans after dark on New Year's Eve with the little ones.  We love to travel and it seems no matter where we go, we always have a fun time!