NOLA

The Yaeger's are early risers.  Example, at 8am when Ron, Grant and I walked close to 10 blocks to meet up with Jim and Jody they had been awake since 5:40am and had spent hours already exploring New Orleans.  This came in handy when it came time to snatch up a table at the famous Cafe Du Monde. Our table was right up front so we could see everything going on on Decatur Street.  Artists setting up their paintings to sell that day, fortune tellers setting up their card tables, the horse and carriages arriving and preparing for tours.  There was a lot of activity and I ate it up... as well as those famous beignets.

We were all excited for what the day had in store for us, after all, we got a very early start!

Grant got a haircut on my birthday and since I can't help but think, he looks even more grown up.  Just look at that face!

Family photo in front of Jackson Square

Ron posed with his Mom while Jim took work phone calls

The gorgeous cathedral

After eating our second breakfast at Stanley's we took a horse and carriage ride around downtown New Orleans.  Grant loved the mules!

Boy, was this a treat.  Grant's first trip to an aquarium.  He freaked out!  You know the expression, "Like a kid in a candy store?"  In my case it's, "Like a kid in an aquarium."  He exclaimed upon walking in, "A FISH, A FISH!  ANOTHER ONE, ANOTHER ONE!  WHOA, WOW!"  We all delighted in his excitement and said that the trip to the aquarium was worth every penny spent to see the joy on his face. 

A humongous fish swam up beside Grant in this tank and scared him to death, he jumped, startled and then died laughing.

JAWS!  Show us your teeth Grant!

This is take #2 on this photo.  We didn't quite capture the school of fish the first time and waited for them to swim back by.  The tank was amazing!  It was filled with various sharks and sting rays.

We spent the rest of the afternoon shopping on Magazine Street, eating at Willy Mae's as seen on the Food Network's "Diners Drive-Ins and Dives" and exploring the city.  We had a great time and it was the perfect birthday weekend getaway!

We came back Saturday so I could partake in the Baldwin County Home Builders Association Parade of Homes.  I held a Model Home open while Grant and the crew took naps and rested up from our trip.  Later that evening, we took Jim and Jody to one of our favorite spots in Fairhope, Fly Creek Cafe.  We enjoyed a great band, good food, a gorgeous sunset and Grant played in the sand with some pretty girls. 

It was the perfect weekend.  Just Fabulous.  I wouldn't mind watching this every night...