"N'awlins" during Christmastime

We just got back from N'awlins (how the locals pronounce New Orleans). We drove out there to meet my parents who flew in. We stayed pretty close to the French Quarter and had a great time sightseeing.

The kids were all about finding the perfect mask. My mom joined in on the fun. :)

The first night we were there we walked the French Quarter to find a place to eat. We walked behind the Cathedral-Basilica St. Louis where a light on a statue of Jesus Christ casts a shadow. 

Stephen took this photo of my parents walking down the street.

The next day we hopped onto one of the St. Charles street cars and saw all the beautiful homes (mansions really) along St. Charles.

We got off the street car at Audubon Park. It's like New Orleans "central park". Very pretty. I found the growth on these trees interesting.

My parents by a lake at Audubon Park.

James found a beautiful fountain there, he was busy throwing pennies in.

Here are the kids in front of the famous Lafayette Cemetery in the Garden District. I was so bummed because it was closed on Sundays.

I really wanted to walk around and see these interesting tombs.

We waited an hour and a half to see the annual famous Christmas Concert at the Cathedral-Basilica St. Louis. The entire Church was packed with people standing on the sides and in the rear.

We had great seats and the orchestra and choir sounded so beautiful. They also had a boys choir, their voices sounded so angelic. And lastly there were 3 famous opera singers. It was a powerful concert.

On our last night there we were able to leave our kids back at the hotel with mom and dad and meet up with Stephen's cousin who lives there. Huang (he likes to go by "Spence") is the son of one of Stephen's dad's brothers. We haven't seen him for about 7 years since a family wedding. We met him at Igors, the bar and restaurant he works at and also lives above. 

After some drinks he took us upstairs to see his place and meet his dog, Brutus. Perfect name for him huh!? His apartment was very nice, I love the architecture in New Orleans. It feels very European to me.

Stephen was a bit bummed because he didn't eat any Gumbo while we were there. He had Jambalaya but was really craving Gumbo. Well his cousins neighbor whom we met in the bar downstairs and bought us a round of drinks, is a retired chef. He happened to have a batch of Gumbo he just made. So he gave us some! So nice. Stephen was stoked! Overall we had a fun weekend in N'awlins! 

We made a pit stop driving home and stayed a night at my Oom Folly and Tante Patty's in Humble, Texas (near Houston). They had a wonderful Christmas party with LOTS of yummy food! We were also able to go out and watch MNF with my cousin Whitney and his wife Pamela at a local bar and grill. Before we headed home the next day we stopped by my Oom & Tante's 2nd home by the lake. The kids had fun playing fetch with their tenant's dog, he even fetched some sticks out of the lake!

Here is Madeline following the dog on the dock (see him swimming in the lake below the dock?). Their tenant also does a lot of fishing, and caught some catfish while we were there.

This is my mom with her brother, my Oom Folly. So glad we got to see them on our trip home.