A Tale of [family madness in] Two Cities - Final Thoughts & PTR Link!

[coneygoil]

Hi Brooke! I came across your TR links on another TR thread anf thought I'd check 'em out. I read ALL of your TRs. You really got me hooked! Yall seem to have such a fun time and try stuff that I had very little or no knowledge of at WDW! For example, I didn't know you could have proper tea at Grand Floridian. I want to do that on my next trip!

Anyways, it is awesome to see that you have continued this TR and are going back real soon! Can't wait to see what your next trip has in store
Henry is so adorable, by the way!

I have also enjoyed your TR about New Orleans. I was born and raised N.O., but live in Mississippi now. All the stuff like the cracked sidewalks and the streets stinking made me laugh because growing up with it, you don't really notice stuff like that. Beignets and cafe au lait are so delicious! Seeing the pics made me want some. The ferry you talked about wanting to ride just to ride, that goes to Algiers. Trust me, you don't want to go to Algiers...lol!

If you ever go to N.O. again, you'll have to visit my family's restaurant - Adams Catfish House. Best catfish in the city!

 

[SoonerGirl]

OK, being the sports nutty family that we are I was cracking up that you guys didn't know that the Saints were a football team! I'm sure that driver must have thought you landed there from another planet

I love all of your pictures from this update, especially the ones from Cafe du Monde - the powered sugar noses and big smiles are fantastic!

 

[blessedby3]

So many great pictures!! I love all the sweet pictures of Henry and the beautiful ones of the area. Looks like you all area having a great hunk of sweet family time Love the simple things that were special to Henry--the fireman and policemen that made his day

 

[onelilspark]

Former Band Geek here...that is hilarious.

Is it weird that I keep seeing the pictures and thinking, "it looks just like POFQ!"

And I love how excited Henry is over cars. It's too cute. He was obviously playing it cool at the Fire Dept

 

[ptcrn]

What a great update!!!

I love the powdered sugar noses- those pictures of Henry are priceless! And those beignets (and the coffee) look DE-LISH!!! I have never had them, but I'm looking forward to trying them at POFQ in September!

Love the beautiful old houses in NOLA. The dog prints in the sidewalk made me LOL!

Henry looks like he had a great time with the fire truck and police car! Too bad they didn't have toddler shirts- that would have been so cute on him.

Marching Network TV? Too funny!

Yeah, Savannah at St Patrick's Day is pretty much a city-wide party. It's pretty cool- they even color the water in the fountains green! I don't think they have the Tide routine down though, because I was back the next morning and all I remember is the smell!

 

[nodnol]

Great update! And I'm looking forward to your PTR!!!

 

[All7OfUs]

Your pictures are so artsy cool! I like your self-portrait one and the palm tree one!

And who couldn't resist all the pretty houses in NO??

Looks like you had some stroller issues with all the cracked sidewalks.

Cafe du Monde was the highlight our our trip there for my kids as well. They still remember our beignets there!

 

[Charleston Princess]

What a fun, exciting day!!! Henry must have been in heaven (and completely speechless with awe) to see both a firetruck and a police car both in one day!

Hurray for getting to the Cafe du Monde! Isn't it just a little bit of heaven for those of us that love both sugar and coffee? That powdered sugar gets everywhere, though, doesn't it?

Beautiful pictures of the Garden District and Loyola -- I have a former student who is starting there this fall. I am so proud of her I could just burst!

 

[jenjolt]

I just adore New Orleans!! I wish the last time I went hadn't been for taking three tests in a row so I could have really enjoyed the city!! However we did stop at Cafe DuMonde and it was AMAZING LOL! Love the pictures of you guys there enjoying beignets!!

I actually stayed right up the street there at the Hotel Place de Arms! It was a wonderful location and I loved being able to walk around the French Quarter and down the French Market!

Love the pictures of Henry in the firetruck, even if he doesn't have any reaction, he is just adorable!!!!

 

[pooh'smate]

Loved the update. The beignets look divine. Henry is such a little cutie. I would love to visit NOLA some day. It looks so pretty.

 

[Lovemy3babes]

I'm just catching up on our NOLA posts. You are such a wonderful photographer Brook!! Seriously, wow. I felt like I was right there with you.

 

[praisehisname]

Awww, I love how Henry was so speechless at the fire station! I would love to know what what racing through his mind right then!

Yum, those beignets looks so good! Were they warm? Mmmmm...

Love this pic!

The garden district is so pretty! I just showed Tom some of your pics and asked him if we could visit someday. He's not interested... I'll have to plan a trip with my mom and/or sister!

We are not sports people and didn't realize the Saints were THISCLOSE to the Superbowl! We didn't even know the Saints were a football team...

 

[MeMom]

It would be so awesome to go into all those houses and see how they are decorated and soak up the history they hold. What a cool city!

Such cute pictures of Henry and the beignets!

I love the fact that I can see your pictures at school!
I need everyone to go and put their pictures in the same place you put yours so that I can see them all!

On second thought, for the good of the education of my students -
maybe not. I should probably teach while I am here, huh?

 

[claryche]

Love the self portrait. Since I'm the picture taker in our family, I will have to remember to do that on our next trip.

Also love the powder noses, and love the look on Henry's face when you had some on your nose. There is nothing us moms won't do for our little ones. No matter how silly we look.

Can't wait for the rest of your report, so that you can start that pre-trip report. Since we are going to Disney in November, I can use your pre-trip and trip report to help make the wait seem less.

 

[mrsksomeday]

This picture is FANTASTIC!!!

What a great thing to treasure from your trip. Another great installment, I love all the old houses, they are simply beautiful.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Thanks for that info. I just worry that we could get seperated. I would hope someone would move if need so Claire wouldn't sit alone. Beleive me they wouldn't want that. LOL!

Since you will automatically get Boarding Class B, you should find an empty row somewhere - might be toward the back, but there should be one. Otherwise I'm certain a flight attendant would encourage people to move.

We joked on the SAME thing though. Drop Henry off, "Here ya go baby, here is your seat. Have fun with our 2 year old, we'll be 10 rows back...!" Of course we would never do that, but it was funny!

We must've been posting at the same time. I have yet to have a beignet, but they look so good!

They are delish! Basically a light donut. Joe got irked from all the powdered sugar. He has a thing with being messy, whereas my motto is "Messy food usually means it's good!"

What afun day. Love the marching netwrok. Who would think they would make such a thing. I would be laughing too. And then watch a bit....

Our hotel had like 78 Spanish Channels, the Disney Channel and Marching Network!

Awesome mega-post! I loved all of your pictures. Thanks for taking us along on your stroll!

Henry's got love for all of the city services and emergency responders.

And this picture...

...is FANTASTIC!

Oh yes, he is not discriminatory against any public serviceman or woman. He loves them all equally!

And, thank you on the picture! I really like that one too - shows how much fun we were having!

Great update...and I know I am itching for you to start a PTR!

The pictures were great again. Boy did you get my mouth to start watering looking at the pictures of those beignets.

Looking forward to reading about your last day in NO.

My goal is to start it on August 2nd at the very latest. Hopefully this week!

The beignets were so tasty. I want to try the ones over at POFQ sometime too!

What a fabulous update!

I'm ready for you to start your PTR too. I'm selfish like that.

While I loved the beignets, I was not crazy about the powdered sugar, there is just waaaaay too much. I felt like it was going all over. Not a fan of that.

Joe is the exact same way. He liked the taste but didn't like to deal with the mess so to him it wasn't worth it.

I loved all the great pictures of New Orleans. They brought back great memories of when my SIL lived there.

I know you liked the Beignets, but what did you think of the Cafe Au Late?

I am looking forward to your PTR.

I thought the Cafe au Late was great! I've had many, many of them in my life, and this one didn't stay in my memory as the best - but it certainly was good! As per the recommendation of the lady in black that sat near us, I tried the powdered sugar in the drink and that made it even better!

Good gravy - what a bunch of great updates!! I love all the pictures and info you posted of your adventures around N.O. Um, "you had me at hello"...at Cafe Monde!! YUM-O!! I couldn't get over the plateful of powdered sugar that was left behind, too funny!

I also think it would be cool to visit N.O one day. It's on my long list but it's at least on a list.

I'm sorry your first Southwest experience left a bad taste for you. I was extremely reluctant to try them for the first time on our April trip but I was reassured by so many loyal followers so we braved it. We had a great experience and what I appreciated the most about them is they really have their stuff together and they keep things moving along. I thought about this because clearly they were in a "hurry" to get you out of the aisle and they were hustling. Give them another try one day! We were so pleased with the service, being on time and efficient AND not having to pay $130 in extra bag fees that we booked them for our October trip and still have to drive a little over an hour to get the the airport that services them. What's bad is we live like 5 mins from our airport!

Thanks again for all your detailed information and sharing with us.

Heather

My SIL, KK, had fun with that sugar. She made it into a mountain and other creations. There was SO much of it!

We may try SWA again if the price is enough to endure what I think is frustrating about the airline. We don't always check bags, and when we do, it's only 2, so that is only a $60 savings total, which alone isn't worth the hassle to me. I really don't like having to line up between the poles and WAIT and then do the race for a seat. It's not fun with a child...when he is older it will probably be MUCH better though! And while other people always seem to get great deals, almost each time I have checked SWA it was much more and had a stop versus a non-stop on another airline. I want the deals!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Hi Brook! All caught up, again

Your NYE in WDW sounds lovely! I can't even believe the amount of people!!!!! WOW!!!!!! That's just complete insanity!!! I'd have an anxiety attack! The poly beach dis meet sounds like so much fun!!!!! I can't wait to meet more dis friends in Oct and Dec! I would have been bummed too not being able to spend that time with my hubby and little one! But it's not like you didn't try! Henry looked so cute with the present!

Your trip to New Orleans sounds so great! I can't even believe the fake $20 and your experience on the plane though! YIKES! I'm glad Joe got the cell phone back! I'll admit, I love SW, but DS7 got really sick on the plane while landing one time and the flight attendant was not nice to me! I really want to smack her! Those Beignets and Lait look soooooo divine! YUM! And more YUM!!! WOW!

 

[John's Mom]

Love all your updates and pictures--so many great memories to share with Henry when he is older.

Kathy

 

[brookelizabeth]

Loved the powdered nose pic and the self picture of your shadow on the sidewalk!! You're getting me excited for our adults only trip next year to Nawlins!!

Gotta love all the friendly people that the south is known for!! So glad Henry got a few magical moments !!

Cafe Du Monde is a must must do for us in January!! I've got so much research to do. Do you have any recommendations for good books/websites to check into?!

Can't wait to hear about Joe's Nawlins requirement....

I'm sooooooooooooo ready for you to start your PTR too!!! I cheated by about 3 updates and started mine before I finished my last TR. Just couldn't stand it anymore. I'll be lookin for ya over on the PTR board!

I'm glad to provide a "sneak peak" into the City for you! Did you get my reply on Facebook?

I didn't do much planning/research into New Orleans. We kinda did things on the fly...our room had free internet, so we would search out things to do/restaurants and go from there. I put so much of my time and energy into Disney, we just did whatever in NOLA! I did use the City tourism site some though. In pretty much all the hotels are little brochures and books with things to do. We wanted to do an air boat tour, but it was pretty pricey and we were at the end of the funds. I think it would be AWESOME though.

The 'Nawlins' moment is coming up...and if I forget to write it in, let me know!

I'll be sure to post a link here too when I start the PTR, it will probably be the same day I finish this!

I'm finally all caught up. Great updates BE! Love all the photos and video clips! I can't wait to hear about your upcoming trip as well!

Thank you! I can't wait to start the PTR, I already have so much going on to share - you know, important things like new shirts, a bag, shoes...

Love all the pictures of your New Orleans trip. I enjoyed the tour through your great pics.

I love the ones of Henry being so serious in the fire truck and then enjoying himself with the powdered sugar.

Those are some of my favorite of the New Orleans trip too! He had SUCH a great time throwing powdered sugar on the floor at Cafe Du Monde, it was cute!

So THAT is what a beignet is! LOL. OK now I sound like an idiot. Oh well.

Great New Orleans pictures!

No, you don't! A lot of people don't know what they are. I only know because of a Travel Channel show I saw on New Orleans! (which got me interested!)

Loved all the pictures of New Orleans. Want to vist some day.

Hi Brooke! I came across your TR links on another TR thread anf thought I'd check 'em out. I read ALL of your TRs. You really got me hooked! Yall seem to have such a fun time and try stuff that I had very little or no knowledge of at WDW! For example, I didn't know you could have proper tea at Grand Floridian. I want to do that on my next trip!

Anyways, it is awesome to see that you have continued this TR and are going back real soon! Can't wait to see what your next trip has in store
Henry is so adorable, by the way!

I have also enjoyed your TR about New Orleans. I was born and raised N.O., but live in Mississippi now. All the stuff like the cracked sidewalks and the streets stinking made me laugh because growing up with it, you don't really notice stuff like that. Beignets and cafe au lait are so delicious! Seeing the pics made me want some. The ferry you talked about wanting to ride just to ride, that goes to Algiers. Trust me, you don't want to go to Algiers...lol!

If you ever go to N.O. again, you'll have to visit my family's restaurant - Adams Catfish House. Best catfish in the city!

Thank you for reading and following along!!! The tea at the GF is fantastic (and will be even better if you don't have a crabby 2 year old with you! ). I dream of the food there...yummmmmmm!

I can't believe how close our next trip is! This summer has just flown by. Every day Joe and I talk about how excited we are.

Your family's restaurant sounds amazing! I tried catfish for the first time while I was in the south many, many years ago - and I loved it! It's not a very common dish in the north. If we ever get there again it WILL be on our list!

I know what you mean about the sidewalks and smell - it's just daily life when you live there, it's the norm! Those sidewalks were something else though.

Algiers sounds familiar now that you mention it - I think my MIL read that in a tour guide book about the ferry. What is it? And dare I ask...why do we not want to go there? (I'm glad we skipped it!)

OK, being the sports nutty family that we are I was cracking up that you guys didn't know that the Saints were a football team! I'm sure that driver must have thought you landed there from another planet

I love all of your pictures from this update, especially the ones from Cafe du Monde - the powered sugar noses and big smiles are fantastic!

I am sure you are right!! We can reformat your hard drive. Or install RAM into your motherboard. But football?!?! CLUELESS! I do understand baseball pretty well, but Joe doesn't. He can't see the ball due to his vision problems, so he has never bothered to understand the game!

 

[brookelizabeth]

So many great pictures!! I love all the sweet pictures of Henry and the beautiful ones of the area. Looks like you all area having a great hunk of sweet family time Love the simple things that were special to Henry--the fireman and policemen that made his day

We really did have a great time. I was exhausted the entire New Orleans trip, and battling a bit of a cold that kept hanging on, but aside from those things, it was wonderful to take it easy and enjoy each other.

Henry is always entertained by the simple things - ducks at Disney, video games without money in them, firetrucks, flashing lights...I gotta milk that for as long as I can!

Former Band Geek here...that is hilarious.

Is it weird that I keep seeing the pictures and thinking, "it looks just like POFQ!"

And I love how excited Henry is over cars. It's too cute. He was obviously playing it cool at the Fire Dept

Oh good! Glad I didn't offend! It was so funny, we were in awe that it had it's own channel!

Not weird at all - I thought the same thing while I was there! We have only ever visited POFQ, but it really does look the same! Which makes POFQ even cooler in my opinion!

your comment about Henry playing it cool made me smile! Ah yes, that must be it.

What a great update!!!

I love the powdered sugar noses- those pictures of Henry are priceless! And those beignets (and the coffee) look DE-LISH!!! I have never had them, but I'm looking forward to trying them at POFQ in September!

Love the beautiful old houses in NOLA. The dog prints in the sidewalk made me LOL!

Henry looks like he had a great time with the fire truck and police car! Too bad they didn't have toddler shirts- that would have been so cute on him.

Marching Network TV? Too funny!

Yeah, Savannah at St Patrick's Day is pretty much a city-wide party. It's pretty cool- they even color the water in the fountains green! I don't think they have the Tide routine down though, because I was back the next morning and all I remember is the smell!

I really want to go to POFQ and get some myself! They are messy, but tasty! (at least the ones in New Orleans were!) Too bad our dates don't cross or we could have a Beignet Meet!

I would have loved to get him a NOFD shirt. I should really look into getting him a NYFD, he's be so excited to look like a fireman!

Oh, I think I remember hearing about the green water in the fountains in Savannah now that you mention it!! That would be really cool to see! They should take a tip from New Orleans on the Tide, it works!

Great update! And I'm looking forward to your PTR!!!

One more full day in New Orleans, departure and then a final thoughts. Hopefully by Monday I'll be on the PTR...we'll see though!

Your pictures are so artsy cool! I like your self-portrait one and the palm tree one!

And who couldn't resist all the pretty houses in NO??

Looks like you had some stroller issues with all the cracked sidewalks.

Cafe du Monde was the highlight our our trip there for my kids as well. They still remember our beignets there!

I try to do some funky shots - it's fun. Since I'm the cameraman 99% of the time I have to appear in the TR somehow, right?

The houses were amazing! So, so beautiful! I had to restrain myself from taking 100's of pictures of them.

Isn't Cafe du Monde a blast? We all laughed so much and had a great time.

What a fun, exciting day!!! Henry must have been in heaven (and completely speechless with awe) to see both a firetruck and a police car both in one day!

Hurray for getting to the Cafe du Monde! Isn't it just a little bit of heaven for those of us that love both sugar and coffee? That powdered sugar gets everywhere, though, doesn't it?

Beautiful pictures of the Garden District and Loyola -- I have a former student who is starting there this fall. I am so proud of her I could just burst!

Yes! It is a little bit of heaven! The best of both worlds in one place. The mess is worth it all, and part of the experience! Messy food usually tastes the best.

That is very cool about your student going to Loyola! Congratulations to her - and YOU - as you helped develop what a great student she is! It's a beautiful campus what we saw of it. I'm sure she'll love living there too!

I just adore New Orleans!! I wish the last time I went hadn't been for taking three tests in a row so I could have really enjoyed the city!! However we did stop at Cafe DuMonde and it was AMAZING LOL! Love the pictures of you guys there enjoying beignets!!

I actually stayed right up the street there at the Hotel Place de Arms! It was a wonderful location and I loved being able to walk around the French Quarter and down the French Market!

Love the pictures of Henry in the firetruck, even if he doesn't have any reaction, he is just adorable!!!!

Have you been there before you had to go and just take tests? That would stink - being there and not having time or energy to go enjoy it all!

I think I remember seeing, or hearing about your hotel! Such a great location!!

Loved the update. The beignets look divine. Henry is such a little cutie. I would love to visit NOLA some day. It looks so pretty.

It really is a beautiful City - so much history!! If we ever go back I want to do some historic tours and I know that would make me appreciate it all even more.