The pictures are of the famous Houmas House and also the bend in the Mississippi River in Natchez (taken by Almira). The girls are sitting on one of the limbs that lays on the grounds of the Houmas House. Those trees are just unbelievably beautiful. Almira was washing her feet in one of the waterfalls on the grounds after her swan and fire ants incident. I'll post more pictures from Mom's camera.
Sorry it has been so long since I’ve updated. We have been busy this last 2 weeks. Almira has been busy working on her English lessons and her ESL. We took a break last week and headed down to Baton Rouge on Thursday and then on to New Orleans on Friday. Mom and I headed down with Sarah and Almira and Jon drove down to meet us after work on Friday night.
We drove across the Mississippi River and into downtown Natchez. We stopped at the overlook over the river to let the girls see some of the big antebellum homes and the river. We took the girls on a tour of Stanton Hall, one of the most beautiful white column houses. We then had lunch at the Carriage House restaurant on the grounds of Stanton Hall. After lunch we drove down through St. Francisville, just north of Baton Rouge. We stopped at the Myrtles, which is supposed to be the most haunted house in America. We were going to take a tour, but would have had to wait about 45 minutes. We decided to head on down to Baton Rouge and visit the State Capital. The State Capital was beautiful and we sat in on a session of the House of Representatives and the state senate.
We spent the night in Gonzales, which is just out of Baton Rouge on the way to New Orleans. The girls swam that evening and then we had dinner. The next morning we got up and headed towards New Orleans. We stopped at the Houmas House, which is truly one of the grandest houses in the south. We did not tour the house, because it was $20.00 a person to tour, but we could tour the gardens for $10.00 each. The gardens were just beautiful and there were swans on the grounds and walking paths. There were also 300 + year old live oak trees on the grounds.
We drove across the Mississippi River and into downtown Natchez. We stopped at the overlook over the river to let the girls see some of the big antebellum homes and the river. We took the girls on a tour of Stanton Hall, one of the most beautiful white column houses. We then had lunch at the Carriage House restaurant on the grounds of Stanton Hall. After lunch we drove down through St. Francisville, just north of Baton Rouge. We stopped at the Myrtles, which is supposed to be the most haunted house in America. We were going to take a tour, but would have had to wait about 45 minutes. We decided to head on down to Baton Rouge and visit the State Capital. The State Capital was beautiful and we sat in on a session of the House of Representatives and the state senate.
We spent the night in Gonzales, which is just out of Baton Rouge on the way to New Orleans. The girls swam that evening and then we had dinner. The next morning we got up and headed towards New Orleans. We stopped at the Houmas House, which is truly one of the grandest houses in the south. We did not tour the house, because it was $20.00 a person to tour, but we could tour the gardens for $10.00 each. The gardens were just beautiful and there were swans on the grounds and walking paths. There were also 300 + year old live oak trees on the grounds.
One of the funniest things that happened, but also was scary, Almira was taking lots of pictures of the swans and their babies on the front yard at the Houmas House. I was standing close to Sarah about 100 yards from her. She had on her crocs and all of a sudden I heard her scream "Mama, mama!" She was running across the lawn as fast as she could kicking off her shoes. I knew right away what had happened, she had stepped in a bed of fireants. I started towards her as she ran to me. I checked her feet and went to gather up her shoes she had run out of. While we were walking to a fountain to put her feet in, she stepped in a pile of swam poop. After I knew she was okay, we had quite a laugh. But I have to say it also made me feel good that she cried for Mama and ran for me as fast as she could.
We headed on down to New Orleans and went to the zoo. We had a good time at the zoo and Almira was so excited to see the Louisiana part. They had a lot of alligators and one big grand daddy alligator that was just huge, probably about 10 feet long. Then we went inside and saw the white alligator. We stayed at the Riverside Hilton which is very close to the Aquarium of the Americas.
On Saturday morning we rode across the bridge and went to see the New Orleans operations of Bradford Lumber. Then we headed into the French Quarter headed to the Café DuMonde’. There was such a long line outside and looking like rain that we found another breakfast place. Then we set out on a long walk to the aquarium. I thought it was about 2 blocks, but it turned into a 30 minute walk and we got caught in the rain. Jon had driven his truck down to park it and wait for us at the aquarium and waited on us quite awhile. Once we made it to the aquarium we were pretty wet, but ready to see all the fish, birds and other good stuff. Almira reminded me of an excited 5 or 6 year old. She was running from one thing to another. She had my Mom’s digital camera with her. I think by the end of the weekend she had taken about 400 pictures.
We then headed to the shopping at the bottom of the Riverwalk connected to the Hilton. Jon and Mom went back to the hotel rooms to rest, but Sarah, Almira and I hit the mall for shopping. I bought the girls cute skirts and tops for dinner that night with Jon. We drove over to Biloxi that night to see the devastation and to have dinner.
Biloxi was so depressing. The grand houses that sat along the beach were all gone. There was nothing but slabs left. So many of the restaurants where we had eaten in the past were gone. The little theme park where Jon and Sarah had been before was gone. It was just so surprising to see the Mississippi coast still in such bad shape. The Beau Rivage had been re-done and looked great and there were some new condos there, but very few restaurants.
We headed home Sunday and Almira rode home with Mom and I and Sarah rode with Jon. Almira rode with us and worked on her English coming home. She was really using a lot of English and Mom was surprised at how much she could communicate.
For the 4th of July we headed up to Lake D’Arbonne with my family and spent the day cooking out, having homemade ice cream and took the kids out in the boat. After lunch Almira kept asking if she could go fishing. Dad took her down to the boat dock and she ended up catching some fish. We were run in by a storm, but as soon as the heavy rain stopped Almira started asking if we could go back and fish. She suggested that we all put on rain coats. She was so funny. I didn’t think she would get hooked on fishing so fast.
We headed on down to New Orleans and went to the zoo. We had a good time at the zoo and Almira was so excited to see the Louisiana part. They had a lot of alligators and one big grand daddy alligator that was just huge, probably about 10 feet long. Then we went inside and saw the white alligator. We stayed at the Riverside Hilton which is very close to the Aquarium of the Americas.
On Saturday morning we rode across the bridge and went to see the New Orleans operations of Bradford Lumber. Then we headed into the French Quarter headed to the Café DuMonde’. There was such a long line outside and looking like rain that we found another breakfast place. Then we set out on a long walk to the aquarium. I thought it was about 2 blocks, but it turned into a 30 minute walk and we got caught in the rain. Jon had driven his truck down to park it and wait for us at the aquarium and waited on us quite awhile. Once we made it to the aquarium we were pretty wet, but ready to see all the fish, birds and other good stuff. Almira reminded me of an excited 5 or 6 year old. She was running from one thing to another. She had my Mom’s digital camera with her. I think by the end of the weekend she had taken about 400 pictures.
We then headed to the shopping at the bottom of the Riverwalk connected to the Hilton. Jon and Mom went back to the hotel rooms to rest, but Sarah, Almira and I hit the mall for shopping. I bought the girls cute skirts and tops for dinner that night with Jon. We drove over to Biloxi that night to see the devastation and to have dinner.
Biloxi was so depressing. The grand houses that sat along the beach were all gone. There was nothing but slabs left. So many of the restaurants where we had eaten in the past were gone. The little theme park where Jon and Sarah had been before was gone. It was just so surprising to see the Mississippi coast still in such bad shape. The Beau Rivage had been re-done and looked great and there were some new condos there, but very few restaurants.
We headed home Sunday and Almira rode home with Mom and I and Sarah rode with Jon. Almira rode with us and worked on her English coming home. She was really using a lot of English and Mom was surprised at how much she could communicate.
For the 4th of July we headed up to Lake D’Arbonne with my family and spent the day cooking out, having homemade ice cream and took the kids out in the boat. After lunch Almira kept asking if she could go fishing. Dad took her down to the boat dock and she ended up catching some fish. We were run in by a storm, but as soon as the heavy rain stopped Almira started asking if we could go back and fish. She suggested that we all put on rain coats. She was so funny. I didn’t think she would get hooked on fishing so fast.
In the boat Almira had another scare with a spider and insisted on sitting in my lap on the boat the entire ride. I am suprised at times how she still seems like such a little girl. Sometimes she will just come sit by me and lean over on me or just touch me. I have to remind myself that even though she is a big girl, she missed so much of what our kids have experienced since birth, lots of touching and loving.
We took a lot of pictures, but I will need to get them off Mom’s camera. I will post a few that I took of the girls and some of the places we went with my camera.
I will be going back to work next week, so many I can post some more pictures later.
Till later,
K
We took a lot of pictures, but I will need to get them off Mom’s camera. I will post a few that I took of the girls and some of the places we went with my camera.
I will be going back to work next week, so many I can post some more pictures later.
Till later,
K
