Louisana!

Daddy went to Arizona for a week to work so I decided to take the kids and go on a road trip to Baton Rouge, Louisiana where my cousin and her family live. We left Wednesday afternoon and got stuck in traffic so it took us 3 hours just to get out of San Antonio, we had to go to the airport twice to give something to Daddy that he forgot. The kids were troopers. They just watched movies the entire time. We made it about 1/2 hour past Houston the first night and then had to drive about 5 hours to Baton Rouge. I was nervous about having to drive so long but it was actually really fun. I loved the drive, it was beautiful, the kids did awesome, no fighting or whiny and we drove like 30 miles on a bride over swamps. I love driving new places and exploring. We got there Thursday afternoon. We just kind of hung out that day at Megan and Trevan's house. Kai was so excited to see Kaleigh and Emma. She really loves playing with them. 

One day we went to this Swamp. There were no Alligators here but it was fun to just walk around and explore it. 

We did see the really creepy snake. At the visitor center they have all the animals and snakes that you might find or see in the swamp. They said to keep an eye out for snakes on the path. Didn't think we would actually see one but we did. Creepy!!

Kailie insisted that I take a picture of all these little fish! 

Checking out the fish!

Baton Rouge is so beautiful. One of the first things Kailie said when we first got there was how green the grass was. She was right not only is it green but it is everywhere and there are so many trees everywhere. The plantation homes were beautiful. We went to a park and Kailie did the Monkey bars for the first time completely by herself. She was so excited and ever since is all wanting to go to park where she can do them 

How many kiddos can take a bath together. McKean was kind of the odd one out. Megan's little boy Madsen was only 7 months old so he didn't really have a buddy to play with. 

The Baton Rouge Temple is right next to their church so of course we had to get some photos for our temple wall. Poor Kaleigh was sick this day so it was just the three of them. 

Trying to get a photo with all 3 looking and smiling is kind of impossible. 

These flowers were gorgeous!

This is the best we got!

Kai and Emma loved playing with Emma's dollhouse!

After church Kaleigh was feeling better so we went down to the river to throw rocks and just enjoy the beautiful weather. 

This kids loves loves loves to throw rocks!

The pretty sunset poking through the pier. 

The girls in their own little imaginative world. 

Megan and Trevan enjoying the night with Baby Madsen. 

Kean loves his bow tie. 

The gang!

On Monday Megan and I and all the kids headed down to New Orleans. Megan didn't want to go because she was scared to go, she is not a big fan of driving in big cities. I was like I am going so you can come or I can just go with my kids. She decided to come and it was fun. New Orleans is a beautiful little town. I loved all the cool buildings. 

We of course had to get a Beignet at Cafe Du Monde. They were delicious but what isn't that is fried and then covered in mounds of powder sugar. 

This kid especially love it and went to town licking the sugar off the second he got his plate. Everyone around us definitely got a kick out of him. 

Who needs the beignet, just give this kid a plate of powder sugar. 

He was in heaven!

Then we got some Balloons from a guys making them for the tourists. Balloons can be so annoying, everyone is happy until they pop and then it is complete meltdown. 

Right at this time, Kaleigh was melting down because her balloon popped. I was so grateful and surprised that my kids didn't freak when theirs popped. 

One side note, Kaleigh and Emma would fight a lot. Like full on hitting each other and Kailie kept telling them that we need to love each other and be nice. I was so shocked since she is usually fighting with McKean but not nearly as bad as Kaleigh and Emma were fighting. Made me happy to think that she actually does listen to us when we talk to her about being nice and loving each other.

After the Beignets we just walked around and enjoyed seeing some of the city. It would have been fun to do a swamp tour but we obviously couldn't do that with all the kids. 

Kaliegh and Kai check out all the old buildings. 

Me and my two favorite kiddos. 

Kaleigh, Megan, Madsen, and Emma

Walking back to the car we checked out the Levy's and the water. No wonder they had so much damage done during the hurricane. The break walls are not very tall and the city definitely is below sea level. Crazy!

Back at the apartment the kids just had fun playing all together. 

Kai could have done this magnetic mosaic all day long. 

We went out to play one night. Man, staying in their small apt. definitely makes me grateful to have a home with a back yard and a places to ride our bikes. 

We headed back home Tuesday. We spent Tuesday in Houston. We went to the Children's museum there that I heard was awesome and the drove home Wednesday morning. It was such a fun trip. I loved seeing Beautiful Louisiana and was so amazed how well my kids did in the car.